Tournament of Champions Showcase Preview

Atlanta, Georgia - Yes it is finally here. The first annual Tournament of Champions Showcase is set to tip off this weekend at the famous and powerhouse Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. The event is loaded with some of Georgia's major and consistent basketball programs and we already should expect a plethora of talent that will be put on display. Holy Spirit, McEachern, Wheeler, Legacy (SC), Lincoln Academy, Meadowcreek, and more are expected to compete in the first ever event. Top prospects in Jalen Benjamin, Sharife Cooper, Anthony Edwards, Charles Smith IV, Damian Dunn, Elias King, Ebenezer Dowuona, Isaac Okoro, and plenty more will have the Wheeler High School gym packed to the fullest.

Note: Greenforest Christian will face Cumberland Christian to begin things off followed by Jonesboro against Berkmar

Pebblebrook High School vs The Heritage School - 3pm

The third game that is scheduled to be played in the TOC Showcase is a very interesting matchup between two pretty even squads. Most of you probably are familar with the name Pebblebrook High School. Yes the same high school as now Cleveland Cavalier Colin Sexton. This year the Falcons bring in a very young squad led by two of Georgia's top available senior guards in PG Jalen Harper and SG Devin Gordon. Jalen Harper, the younger brother of Auburn point guard Jared Harper, is a physical and tough point guard who is without a doubt the leader of this seasons Pebblebrook program along with McEachern transfer Devin Gordon. Their guard play should be a good one with Heritage guards Gardner-Webb signee 2019 PG Lance Terry, 2020 PG Kasen Jennings, and 2020 G Connor Thompson. The Heritage School also holds one of the nations key prospects in the 2020 class in C Ebenezer Dowuona. The 6-foot-10 center has already been put on a few college coaches radar and holds multiple offers from high level programs.

Lincoln Academy vs Legacy Charter (SC) - 5:30pm

The 5:30pm matchup between to private schools in Lincoln Academy and Legacy Charter (SC) should be an exciting one. These two programs hold a plethora of talent with Mississippi State signee 2019 W Elias King headlining Lincoln Academy and 2019 F Jalyn McCreary, who is from Atlanta, headlining Legacy Charter (SC). Georgia native, Jalyn McCreary, has had a great start to his senior campaign. He is a 6-foot-8 versatile forward who is a solid inside scorer. Alongside Jayln in the front court for Legacy Charter (SC) will be another Georgia native, Ole Miss signee 2019 C Rodney Howard. Rodney will be matched up with Dayton signee 2019 C Moulaye Sissoko of Lincoln Academy. Both programs hold major wins against some of the other top programs in the country combined, defeating squads like Christ School (NC), Huntington Prep (WV), Holy Spirit Prep (GA), and Hamilton Heights (TN). Both programs come into this one only losing three games total combined, so losing is not an option for neither squads.

Holy Spirit Prep vs Meadowcreek - 7:00pm

Here we have a battle of two of Georgia's defending state champions. Holy Spirit Prep took home the GISA 2018 title while Meadowcreek surprisingly took home Georgia's class 7A state championship last season. This game could possibly be the most exciting match all evening. Newly reclassified 2019 SG Anthony Edwards of Holy Spirit Prep is not only one of the top prospects in the nation but one of the most exciting players to watch regardless of class. Edwards recently dropped a monster 41 points last weekend during the National Hoopfest event in Washington D.C and where he put his talents on display in front of a packed house. Edwards will have to deal with the physical and toughness that this season's Meadowcreek squad has shown all year. UAB signee 2019 PG Jalen Benjamin has been on a tear this season for Meadowcreek along with his teammates South Florida signee 2019 SG Jamir Chaplin and Temple signee 2019 SG Damian Dunn, who will be questionable for this game due to injury. How will they defend one of the nations best players? We shall see.

McEachern vs Wheeler - 8:30pm

Following the Holy Spirit Prep-Meadowcreek contest, this matchup between two county rivals should keep the gym filled to the max, maybe. The McEachern-Wheeler matchup has been one to see over the last couple years. Since 2016, McEachern holds a 3-0 record over Wheeler and that includes an elite eight playoff matchup back in 2017 when Wheeler visited McEachern. 2020 PG Sharife Cooper and Auburn signee 2019 F Isaac Okoro have built this McEachern program back up to the national spotlight. Both Okoro and Cooper are 60-4 as a pair while wearing that McEachern jersey over the last two seasons, let that sink in for a minute. But could this season be different for Wheeler? The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the state once again led by Denver signee 2019 PG Jaire Eastmond and Cal signee 2019 SG Charles Smith IV and have already pulled one upset after defeating powerhouse Norcross earlier in the season. Eastmond's matchup against Sharife will be one to keep an eye on as he is one of the best on ball defenders you will come across, especially at his size. McEachern should expect to be in a dog fight in this one and it will be a great test for them after not playing a game in the last couple of weeks and before they head to the famous annual City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Florida.

Other Players To Keep An Eye On:

2020 PG Myson Lowe - Cumberland Christian

2019 PG Michaiah Jeremiah - Holy Spirit Prep

2021 C Bretner Mutombo - Lincoln Academy

2020 G/F Sam Hines - Wheeler

2019 PG CJ Jamison - Legacy Charter (SC)

2022 G Jalen Carruth - Lincoln Academy

2019 PG Mikale Stephens - Lincoln Academy

2021 G RJ Noord - Greenforest Chrisitan

2019 F Ahmir Langlais - Holy Spirit Prep

2019 F Jared Jones - McEachern (Northwestern commit)

2019 PG Quinton McElroy - McEachern