HoopSeen Tip-Off: Toughness Wins

<p>This article highlights some local teams that displayed toughness throughout the weekend, which allowed them to have successful showings. I'm not talking tough in the way a lot of people use it today, but tough as in not backing down, doing the dirty work, and making winning plays.</p> <p><span id="more-714561"></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Georgia Knights’ game against Game Elite yesterday was like déjà vu. When I first saw them last spring at the IndiHoops Tip-Off, they had wins over the Georgia Stars and the Atlanta Celtics. This weekend they took down EAB and ended the weekend with a nice win over Game Elite. Every player on their team is fearless, intense, and competitive. Their guys commit to defense and embrace contact on both ends of the floor. Against Game Elite, Chris Youngblood and Roman Son stepped up in particular in the absence of Brandon Stroud. They combined for 46 points and really energized the team. I think it’s only a matter of time before Youngblood picks up multiple MM offers. He has great physical attributes, shoots it from the outside, and plays with an impressive mixture of poise and confidence. Son’s jumper is still a work in progress but he plays with good pace, can finish inside, and is an exceptional defender. Fellow PG John Allen was tremendous on the defensive side as well. I’ve always appreciated what Kirshon Thrash does for this team also. He is a thick guard who has nice vision and rebounds well. Thrash can create his own shot but prefers to get others involved; he always seems to put together a well-rounded stat line. Ben Raspberry is a glue guy for this team. His length and ability to move on defense gives opponents headaches and he provides efficient offense where he doesn’t need the ball a ton. Ra’Sean Frederick didn’t have his best game in this one but he adds a lot of value as a long, versatile SF who can slash and rebound at a high level. What I like most about this Georgia Knights group is that their success has not affected them negatively. There is no sense of arrival or let up from them, which is uncommon.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I’ve seen G3 Elite the past two weekends and they’re a joy to watch because of their cohesiveness and balance. They’ve only carried about 7 guys but all of them are capable and ready to contribute. In the game I saw Friday night, Zion Wimby led them with 16 points but 5 others scored at least 5 points. Wimby is a confident shooter who makes pesky plays on defense too. G3 is a vocal group that is undersized but plays much bigger than what they are. Everyone chips in with rebounding, guards multiple positions, and knows where each other will be on the court. I’ve felt like Areyon Johnson from Archer has set the tone with his energy in both games I’ve seen of this team. He is always around the ball, coming out of nowhere for offensive rebounds and scoring in a variety of ways. Fellow Archer teammates CJ Hines and Justin Edmondson have been good also. Hines is a patient player who shoots well from the outside, picks his spots well and makes good decisions. Edmondson is very physical, drawing fouls often and getting to the basket with ease. Sebastian Augustave, Wimby’s teammate at Mill Creek, stepped in this weekend and did some good things on Friday. He has an effective lefty stroke and makes nice passes frequently too. Caleb Williams of Buford does a little bit of everything for the team. He has impressive strength and knows how to use it. I think he could be even more assertive as a scorer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It wouldn’t be fair to do an article on toughness without mentioning a Stackhouse Elite team. I saw their 16U group twice this weekend, in which they picked up wins over Upward SE and Garner Road. They are led by guards Peyton Daniels and Kedrick Green, who both play beyond the years. Daniels did not shoot the ball as well this weekend as I had seen from him previously but found other ways to be effective. He is really good with the ball in his hands, showing smooth movements and facilitating effectively. He scored from mid-range and looks to have added considerable strength. Green doesn’t put up gaudy numbers but is poised, savvy, and runs a team very well. He thrives in big moments and uses his body to his advantage well. Will Montana from Tennessee is with Stackhouse this year also; he will be mentioned in the next story on out-of-state prospects at the event. Stackhouse has great size for a 16U team, which includes Ian Schieffelin, Jordan Mitchell, and Taje Kelly. They are imposing inside and make most opponents think twice about challenging them in the paint. Schieffelin is the most skilled of these 3; he is comfortable shooting from both 10-15 feet and from beyond the arc. His big body and touch allows him to be effective around the basket also. Against Garner Road, both Davon Cottle and Ian Davis stepped in and made quick, significant contributions. Both hit multiple 3’s in the 2nd half that were important in getting a comfortable and securing a win. They positioned themselves off the ball well and took advantage when their opportunities came.</p>