Tabo’s Tip-Off Day 2 Standouts
2020 G Patrick Jackson & 2020 SF Peyton Polk (Lumpkin County)- Jackson and Polk gave Lumpkin solid production on both ends in their win over Monroe Area on Monday. Jackson hit multiple 3’s early in the game, but changed his…
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Continue Reading2020 G Patrick Jackson & 2020 SF Peyton Polk (Lumpkin County)- Jackson and Polk gave Lumpkin solid production on both ends in their win over Monroe Area on Monday. Jackson hit multiple 3’s early in the game, but changed his offensive approach as the game progressed. Monroe got in foul trouble quickly and Jackson used that to his advantage by initiating contact and getting to the free-throw line at will. Jackson has some speed and quickness with the ball that allowed him to penetrate the defense often and create lots of opportunities for the Indians. He was also an important piece on defense, forcing numerous turnovers with active hands and feet, and good anticipation.
After a few nice moments in the 1st half of this game, Polk turned it up a notch in the 2nd half. He showed a variety of offensive skills, stretching the floor with his shot, putting the ball on the floor, and finishing around the basket. At 6’6”, there weren’t many Monroe Area defenders who could matchup with him and he knew which of his tools to utilize in each situation. Although his offensive versatility was impressive, Polk was even better defensively and when rebounding. He swatted away multiple shots and also impacted a number of others in the 2nd half when Monroe ramped up their comeback effort. Polk is a decent leaper and was able to secure traffic boards and rise up for a few energizing dunks in the 2nd half also.
2021 SF Derrick Brown & 2021 G Kendric Lyles (Monroe Area)– The junior duo of Lyles and Brown combined for over half of Monroe Area’s points in their matchup with Lumpkin. In a game where Monroe battled with heavy foul trouble throughout, both of them were able to produce and negate some of the impact from the fouling. Brown is 6’6”+ with long arms, shooting ability, and a frame that should fill out nicely. Despite his slender frame, Brown rebounds in traffic fairly well because of his length and mobility. He’s quick off his feet, extends for boards, and times rebounds well. Brown connected on soft jumpers from multiple areas on the floor and showed range that extends beyond the 3-point line. Those aforementioned physical attributes also allow Brown to guard multiple positions on defense. His combination of tools on both ends should attract a healthy number of college coaches once the spring comes around.
When Brown and others had to sit with fouls, Lyles stepped up his play and kept Monroe in the game. Lyles was able to connect on outside shots well behind the arc and also showed the ability to attack the basket. He got past guys consistently for open layups, but was also not hesitant to mix it up and challenge bigger defenders inside. The versatile scoring of Lyles’ kept the defense guessing and he made mostly good decisions based on how they decided to guard him. He finished with 22 points and 4 3’s.
2023 W Lamariyon Jordan (Dacula)- Although he has only played a few varsity games, Jordan already possesses the confidence of an upperclassman, and for good reason. With his size, length, and skill on the wing, it has not been too difficult of an adjustment to high school basketball for him. Jordan has a soft, effective shot that he never hesitates to pull the trigger on. He is comfortable off the dribble and is good from both mid-range and beyond the arc. Jordan’s length and ability to move makes him an asset on the defensive end as well. He is capable of guarding multiple positions and gets deflections frequently. Although he is that strong yet, Jordan does not shy away from contact and has the dexterity to finish in some traffic. As he continues to build on his versatile set of tools, Jordan should be the complete package in a few years.
2020 G Tyreek Perkins (Winder-Barrow)- After scoring 28 points in Winder-Barrow’s first game against St. Pius, Perkins kept it going in an eye-opening victory over the host Jefferson to advance to the finals of Tabo’s. He had some early struggles, but Perkins got better and made smarter decisions as the game went on. His best attributes are his speed and strength, using these qualities to get by defenders and take contact at the basket. Jefferson played him as a slasher, but Perkins proved he was more than that by draining 4 3’s in the contest, including a few that came at important times in the 2nd half. Perkins also rebounds well and plays with a vocal, energetic style that leads the Bulldogs. He has a college-ready body and should start to gain traction among coaches with continued production.