Live Period Guard Watch
Zawdie Jackson (SE United)- Jackson has been steady every time I’ve watched him since this winter, always giving solid production one way or another. He is a PG who can play various roles and adapts to what each game requires…
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Continue ReadingZawdie Jackson (SE United)- Jackson has been steady every time I’ve watched him since this winter, always giving solid production one way or another. He is a PG who can play various roles and adapts to what each game requires of him. I’ve seen outings where Jackson steps up with his shooting and scoring ability, but he also loves to pass and excels as a facilitator. He was good throughout the spring with SE United but looked even better in June as the leader of a talented South Gwinnett. He is very vocal and energetic, getting his team going in the right path each game. This type of mentality helps him on the defensive also as he locks in and gets after it defensively both on and off the ball. Jackson doesn’t do a ton that’ll just jump off the page but he always gives significant contributions.
Roman Son (Georgia Knights)- The Knights team is filled with tough, competitive guys, but Son might be the heart and soul of this group. One of the best defenders in the state, Son loves when he gets to match up with high-level PG’s. He will harass you all over the court and never give you an inch to think or breathe. To along with his defensive prowess, Son has made considerable strides with his offensive game over the last few months. He has always attacked the basket hard and shown he can finish, but is now expanding on that. Son’s confidence and consistency with his jumper has improved, taking and hitting more 3’s, as well as connecting on his FT’s. He has also displayed a nice in-between game fairly often, elevating well on floaters and using the glass well. His recruitment should get going soon.
London Riley (AC Georgia)- One of the best shooters in the state, Riley possesses the trait that coaches always talk about needing. Already with offers from NC A&T and Morehead State, more should come in soon if Riley has a hot-shooting week with AC Georgia. I expect Riley to make an effort to show the other parts of his game this week as well. He is an exceptional athlete who uses his athletic ability primarily on the defensive end right now. He has proven to be an asset on that side of the ball and that is something coaches will appreciate when watching him. When I watched Discovery in June, he continued to show flashes of what he could do when putting the ball on the floor. He looked more confident trying to create off the dribble and mixing things up some in the paint. There will be no shortage of coaches at Lakepoint this week so I’m sure he’ll be determined to take advantage of the opportunity.
Jamonte Wallace (AC Georgia Black)- Wallace is a very under the radar prospect at the moment. Having seen him with his travel team and high school team over the last few months, I was impressed with his play in both settings. Wallace has a strong frame and solid speed, allowing him to attack and finish in the lane. His outside shot is compact and consistent, he uses his shooting ability effectively while not settling and being too trigger happy from deep. Wallace has to be more of a scorer for his Apalachee team, but his vision and ability to distribute are good as well. He finds guys and makes the right pass often, getting many involved and making sure things run smoothly on offense. When you pair his well-rounded offensive game with nice defensive tools and effort, you have a PG that should get attention.
Evan Hurst (Hype Hawks)- After not being on the travel circuit most of the spring, Hurst rejoined Hype in late May and then had numerous strong showings throughout June with Milton. His play last month has put him on the radar of multiple schools and he has some nice momentum heading into the live period. His 3-point shooting is the quality of his that will probably be most valued by college coaches, but he can hurt you in other ways as well. He has a smooth, patient game off the dribble and is sufficient at hitting a variety of mid-range shots. Hurst is also an underrated athlete who will show his leaping ability in transition occasionally, as seen by a near poster against Greenforest at the NCAA Georgia Team Camp. If he keeps playing efficiently on offense Hurst should catch the eyes of coaches throughout the week.
Jaylon Simpson (Game Elite)– He might go overlooked on a Game Elite team with numerous D1 guards, but Simpson is a valuable player for them and a solid player himself. Simpson is an intense competitor who gives great effort on both ends of the floor and does not shy away from physical play. He is a really good athlete who does not need much momentum to explode towards the rim; I’ve seen him get up out of nowhere multiple times to challenge opponents for a big block or dunk. While Simpson is best slashing to the basket, he isn’t one dimensional. He’s somewhat of a streaky shooter who doesn’t hesitate on his jumper, and is also capable of creating for others off of penetration. Simpson could help his recruitment a lot over the next two weeks by continuing to be a tough, energetic player.