Southern Hoops Report Summer Showcase: Underclassmen Standouts

<p>On the second weekend of the June NCAA live period in Georgia, hundreds of coaches flocked to McEachern high school once more to evaluate the top 100 prospects in the state. Between that showcase and the live period team camp the weekend before, there were plenty of offers handed out to players at the Division I level. The two “@NCAAGeorgia” events were a success in every sense of the word, however players looking to sign on the Division I as well as the Division II, III, and NAIA levels made there way to Kell High School on Sunday to showcase their talents on a similar platform put on by the Southern Hoops Report. Several players enjoyed productive afternoons and earned offers from those lower level programs in the process. Here are a few of those underclassmen standouts:</p> <ul> <li>2021 <strong>G Andrew McConnell</strong> (Lanier High School) <ul> <li>The recent Lanier transfer caught my eye at this showcase during 3v3 activities with his ability to fill it up from the three-point line on three straight possessions. When the rising junior is aggressive, he is at his best and his point guard skills are improving as well. McConnell has unlimited range from outside which opens the lane when he utilizes his shot fake and puts the on the deck. His July with “Team YRN” as well as junior season with the Longhorns will be an important one moving forward, but when it comes to scoring the ball, specifically from the perimeter, there’s a lot to like about this prospect.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>2021 G <strong>James White</strong> (Heritage High School) <ul> <li>Heritage high school in Conyers, Georgia will have a formidable backcourt for years to come with rising junior White and recent transfer and Georgia top 100 prospect <strong>RJ Noord</strong>. At 6’4” the combo guard showed his smoothness at the point and aggressiveness at the shooting guard position. More effective off the ball on offense, White wasn’t afraid to attack the rim hard and used his long arms to finish in traffic. His set shot from three-point range makes him effective from that level, not afraid to pull up without taking dribbles with a defender right on him. White has a high IQ and it is evident on the floor. He and Noord could very well lead the Patriots to a third consecutive final four next spring in Georgia's 6A classification.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>2021 <strong>G Jaylen Jackson</strong> (Douglas County High School) <ul> <li>One of the more athletic prospects at the Southern Hoops Report Summer Showcase came in the form of the Douglas County rising junior. Damaging the rim on one occasion while almost posturizing a defender on another caught my attention during games. Jackson is another lanky 6’4” guard that looks to still be getting comfortable playing in his frame. He has a nice hesitation dribble with the ball in his hands which he used often to get into the paint and did a good job of crashing the glass and cutting on the offensive end. He is a good rebounder on both ends and can affect the passing lane as an off-ball defender. Jackson will be one to watch for on the south side of Atlanta for the next two years.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>2021 G <strong>Tyreik Boyd</strong> (Miller Grove High School) <ul> <li>Smoothness is one word to describe Boyd and his game when running the point guard position. He can change speeds and I loved his burst when making his way to the rim for points. Boyd is a three-level scorer that is crafty when creating space to get shots off. Like Morgan, Boyd is quick in the open court and can go coast to coast on a defense in an instant. The Miller Grove floor general enjoyed a very good sophomore year, earning region first team honors and playing on the Under-Armor circuit with B Maze Elite will only allow his game to expand over the next two seasons.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>2022 G <strong>Tyler Griffin</strong> (Southeast Bulloch High School / Hollywood Stars) <ul> <li>There is so much to love about the rising sophomore out of Brooklet, Georgia and his showing at Southern Hoops Report Summer Showcase made that evident. The dual sport athlete stands at a solid 6’4” and looked like a prospect heading into the 12^th grade, let alone the 10^th. He used that size and strength to get to the rim, often finishing through contact. He is raw in his perimeter ability right now but he can hit the occasional set jumper and handle the basketball for in the half court. He can rebound, block shots, create instant offense off put backs from missed jump shots by teammates. Running with Hollywood Stars’ 2022 squad, Griffin will look to expand on his game which could be a scary sight for those in the southern part of the state for the next three seasons.</li> </ul> </li> </ul>