Adidas Gauntlet Series: Best 1-2 punch

<p><strong>Birmingham, Ala.</strong> – Some AAU programs aren't fortunate to have players who play so well together, with the natural instinct of where one another will be on the court on every possession.</p> <p>Amongst the Tennessee prospects, 6-foot-7 forward <strong>Johnathan DeJurnett</strong> and combo guard <strong>Jalen Bo Montgomery</strong> were the best 1-2 punch on the floor for the Hoop City 17U team on Sunday. Both DeJurnett and Montgomery have been playing together since their early teenage years, so the chemistry on the court shouldn't take people by surprise.</p> <p>DeJurnett is dangerous on the offensive end, only if a guard gives him the touches he needs. Montgomery knows that. So, in Hoop City 17U's 65-61 win over Texas Allegiance in the Bronze 1^st round losers Championship game, Montgomery found DeJurnett in transition and in half-court sets.</p> <p>DeJurnett knew to look for the pass whenever Montgomery came down the floor. Montgomery can affect the game without scoring, thanks in large part to his court vision and the attention he gets because of his 6-5 frame and athleticism. He finished with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists in the win, and DeJurnett added nine points and two rebounds.</p> <p>“It's great to play with him,” DeJurnett said. “I've been playing with Bo since the eighth grade summer. When you play with someone for so long, you begin to know each other's tendencies. But, it's great playing with him. He's a great player, and he elevates my game.</p> <p>“And seeing how hard he works makes me want to work just as hard.”</p> <p>With the AAU season just about over, DeJurnett will start turning his attention to the upcoming high school basketball season. He and the rest of his teammates have a chip on their shoulders due to what happened in the first round of the Division II-A West Region Tournament last season against <a href="https://prephoops.com/2019/02/tipton-rosemark-academy-gets-spot-in-regions-final-4-with-win-over-lausanne/"><strong>Tipton-Rosemark Academy</strong></a>.</p> <p>Lausanne has a group of players that have postseason experience and knows what it takes to win when it counts.</p> <p>From DeJurnett's point of view, he feels the Lynx' 1-2 punch of himself and Montgomery plus the nice complimentary pieces of <strong>Dylan Woods</strong>, <strong>Dylan Andrews</strong> and <strong>Nick Floyd</strong> have what it takes to win a state championship.</p> <p>“We may not have the biggest roster in height like my last three years, but we are definitely the most skilled roster from top to bottom,” DeJurnett said. “I was definitely happy about how we played this summer, and in that little time, I saw that we have a very good chance to win a state championship.”</p> <p><strong>News from other players in Tennessee</strong></p> <p>Small forward <strong>Marcellus Brigham Jr.</strong> (Hoop City 17U/Briarcrest) picked up his third offer from Kent State University on Sunday. His other two offers are Georgia Southern and East Tennessee State.</p> <p>Scoring guard <strong>Deovaunta Williams</strong> (Hoop City 17U) picked up his second offer from Loyola Marymount University on Sunday. He also has an offer from Virginia Military Institute. Williams reclassified to the 2020 class after last season with Raleigh-Egypt and planned on going to Tennessee Prep Academy. Now, he's back in the 2019 class.</p> <p>Knoxville Webb's senior point guard <strong>Emory Lanier</strong> (BMaze Elite 17U) will not be with the team this upcoming season as he's moving to Georgia with his family. <em>This story will be updated in the coming days.</em></p> <p>Florida Southern, North Georgia and Alcorn State have inquired about 6-6 forward <strong>Decorian Payton</strong> (Center Hill/Bluff City Legends Gold 17U).</p> <p>Senior guard <strong>Jaylon Sanders</strong> ([program_tooltip program_id='2078774' first='Tennessee' last='Panthers'] 17U) picked up an offer from Pittsburg State. Sanders also has an offer from Canisius College.</p> <p>Senior guard/forward <strong>Ryan Wilcox</strong> (WHBH 17U/Hillsboro) picked up an offer from Florida College.</p> <p>Senior guard <strong>Jesse Payne</strong> (Whitehaven/Bluff City Legends Gold 17U) picked up an offer this week from Reinhardt University. He's also receiving interests from UAPB, Henderson State and Christian Brothers.</p> <p>Senior guard <strong>Michael Malone Jr.</strong> (Briarcrest/Bluff City Legends Gold 17U) added to his list of offers with one from Alcorn State and another one from Chipola College.</p> <p>Senior guard <strong>Tariq Daughton</strong> (Knoxville Webb) picked up an offer from Lee University.</p> <p>Junior point guard <strong>Kennedy Chandler</strong> (Mokan Elite 17U/Briarcrest) added to his long list of offers with one from Memphis. He's now receiving interests from North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Louisville and Kansas.</p>