Prospect Watch: No. 6 Wheeler vs. No. 8 East Coweta

<p>With first-place in Region 2-AAAAAAA up for grabs on Friday night, No. 6 Wheeler (13-5, 5-1) went into John Thrower Gymnasium and dictated the next 32 minutes against No. 8 East Coweta (12-6, 3-2) for a 60-52 win to take sole possession atop the standings. Wheeler’s length frustrated East Coweta’s D-I backcourt of Kennesaw State-signees Chris Youngblood and Brandon Stroud, holding them to 24 points. The Wildcats punished the Indians in the paint with Denver-signee Sam Hines and 6-foot-7 junior Ja’Hiem Hudson, the two combining for 33 points, 21 rebounds and 6 blocks. East Coweta sparked a run in the fourth quarter and trimmed a 16-point deficit to 50-43 midway through, but Wheeler regained composure and was able to put away the Indians.</p> <p>Below are some individuals that stood out.</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;"><strong>Wheeler</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>2020 6-6 F Sam Hines (<span style="color: #800000;">Denver</span>)</strong></p> <p>Mr. Do-Everything, Sam Hines hurt East Coweta early and often in the paint. The Denver-signee posted a game-high 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Hines is a complete player that fills so many needs for Wheeler. He can provide quality minutes on the wing and knock down shots out to the three-point line but as Friday proved, Hines still does his best work in the paint, battling for rebounds and finishing in traffic. Hines’ toughness will allow him to see minutes at either forward position at the next level and his winning DNA is something that can’t be taught.</p> <p><strong>2021 6-7 F Ja’Hiem Hudson </strong></p> <p>Division-I offers need to start piling in for Hudson. The big man improves every time I see him. Hudson is a skilled low block scorer. He has a hard drop step and a nice baby hook with both hands. The South Gwinnett transfer also has a soft touch on his jumper, able to hit the mid-range and even step out beyond the arc when needed. Hudson moves exceptionally well and can start his own fast break off rebounds. East Coweta had no answer for his physicality and skill inside, both offensively and defensively. Hudson dominated the paint, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 blocks. Hudson will continue to develop under Coach Larry Thompson, who loves to feed the ball down low and play inside-out. Kennesaw State Head Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim was in attendance to watch Chris Youngblood and Brandon Stroud, but Hudson stole the show. Low &amp; Mid-Majors need to get on Hudson right away; he is one of Georgia’s premier 2021 bigs.</p> <p><strong>2020 6-0 PG Nash Kelly</strong></p> <p>Senior leadership doesn’t always have to come from your star players. Kelly was inserted into the game after Isaiah Collier was injured in the first quarter and quickly found himself as Wheeler’s new primary ball handler. Give credit to Kelly who was ready when his number was called. Kelly had 3 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and helped calm Wheeler down in the fourth quarter when the Indians started to make a comeback. Kelly valued the ball and got the ball where it needed to go.<br /> <br /> </p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #800080;"><strong>East Coweta</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>2020 6-4 SG Chris Youngblood (<span style="color: #ffcc00;">Kennesaw State</span>)</strong></p> <p>Chris Youngblood didn’t have his best game as Wheeler’s length and ability to bottle up the Indians in the half court slowed down the game. He finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 block. Youngblood did his best to contribute in other areas other than just scoring the ball but East Coweta needs his offensive production on a nightly basis, especially if Brandon Stroud is in a slump as well. Youngblood will still make a major impact as a freshman at Kennesaw State next year, but Friday night he looked like a mere mortal. Expect a bounce back game on Tuesday vs. Pebblebrook.</p> <p><strong>2020 6-6 W Brandon Stroud (<span style="color: #ffcc00;">Kennesaw State</span>)</strong></p> <p>Traditionally, Brandon Stroud has been the streakier of the two between he and Chris Youngblood. He had a nice two-minute stretch in the second quarter but couldn’t ever get comfortable after that. Wheeler made him defend and he picked up four fouls and had trouble slowing down Ja’Hiem Hudson when they got matched up.  Stroud finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Getting to the basket with more consistency and rebounding and defending with his length are two areas he can still grow in.</p> <p><strong>2023 5-7 PG Austen Colton </strong></p> <p>During East Coweta’s 13-4 run to get back into the game in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t Stroud or Youngblood who sparked the Indians, but actually diminutive freshman Austen Colton.  The little man had a personal 8-0 run when he hit back-to-back threes before another hoop. Colton finished with 9 points and 2 steals. He was able to get up under ball handlers on the Indian press and helped turn over Wheeler. Colton stepped up in a major way and showed his maturity and why his future looks so bright.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-3 SG Samuel Moss</strong></p> <p>Moss finished below his season average of 12 points per game, scoring 7 on the night to add to his 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block, but the athletic guard played with a reckless abandon at times, challenging whoever he could at the rim with his bounce. Moss’ first two rim attacks resulted in Ja’Hiem Hudson swatting it off the backboard while the second time it was Isaiah Collier who crashed in to pin the shot but was hurt on the play and did not return. Moss continued to get to the basket in transition however as he had a dunk and a rim-grazer in succession late in the second quarter to jumpstart the Indians. Moss didn’t show much of an outside shot on Friday, but his hardnosed mentality was a positive sign.</p>