7A Final Four Game 1: Milton vs Wheeler Takeaways

It’s far from unheard of for a spectacular talent to do it all and lead his team to a championship. But it’s hard to be a one-man show at this stage of the season, and Saturday in Buford in the 7A semifinals even another maestro performance from sophomore guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bruce-thornton/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bruce-thornton/">Bruce Thornton</a></a> wasn’t enough to overcome a team the quality of Wheeler, as the Eagles fell to the Wildcats 59-47. Wheeler showed off its defensive chops, limiting the rest of Milton’s lineup to just 19 total points amongst 7 players who saw action, and clutch senior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-hines/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-hines/">Sam Hines</a></a> again led the way for the winners with 19 points. A Trifecta of takeaways from the day: Tough and disciplined Playing without star freshman point guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-collier/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-collier/">Isaiah Collier</a></a>, out since January 28 with a shoulder injury, Wheeler and superb coach Larry Thompson has done a tremendous job of adjusting, inserting new pieces into roles and others stepping up responsibility. Senior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nash-kelly/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nash-kelly/">Nash Kelly</a></a> has assumed the primary ball-handling duties, a role he had been excellent in playing behind and alongside Collier all season. Against Milton, he took on high-level defensive heat on his way to dishing out 6 assists while also grabbing 3 boards. Junior Maxwell Harris, a valuable reserve throughout the season, stepped into the starting lineup and was outstanding playing off the ball, contributing 11 big points. Two other backcourt players gave Thompson some valuable minutes, sophomore <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/juvon-gamory/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/juvon-gamory/">Juvon Gamory</a></a> spelled Kelly and did a solid job up top, while junior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aj-burke/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aj-burke/">AJ Burke</a></a> showed a nice shooting stroke and could be an intriguing contributor next season in his senior year. It’s Sam’s World In seeing Wheeler multiple times this season, it’s always easy to appreciate the effort and ability of Hines. Facing a Milton defensive philosophy of trying to put him on the floor as often as possible, Hines still battled through constant doubles, putting together his variety of in-close finishes and short jumpers. Denver is getting the kind of player coaches dream of, a fighter who also shows poise to go with a boatload of ability and room to grow yet still. Junior <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaheim-hudson/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaheim-hudson/">Ja’Heim Hudson</a></a>, surely a post presence to watch at 6-7 both this spring and next fall for his senior year, was a handful for the smaller Eagles as well, adding 7 rebounds and 2 blocks to his 8 points. He’s got a polished game from 8 feet in, and with more space to work next year could be a breakout riser. Not always a gaudy stat sheet stuffer, senior wing <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/prince-davies/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/prince-davies/">Prince Davies</a></a> nonetheless does a ton of good things for the Wildcats, on this day getting 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while using his long, wiry frame to defend at a high level as well. He may be flying low on the radar of some next-level programs, but someone would be wise to insert the 6-4 Davies into their program, where his all-court game has all sorts of potential for growth. A bright future for all It’s not just Thornton that has a lot to look forward to in his immensely bright future, but it’s Milton basketball in general, as this young core will be back almost fully intact after 26 wins and a Region title. Thornton was once again spectacular Saturday, he a 2022 stud who’s racking up the high major offers. His 28 points came almost always either under duress on the break slashing through a string of defenders, or from spots on the floor where most wouldn’t even consider launching. Much like Chattahoochee’s <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aj-white/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aj-white/">AJ White</a></a> from the 6A semis Friday, Thornton has it all as a scorer and ball-handler, but already possesses a college-ready body at a stout 6-3. Not able to do enough to help Thornton on this day, six more players will be back next fall for coach Allen Whitehart, led by a pair of good-looking freshmen in post man LT Overton and shooting guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kanaan-carlyle/">Kanaan Carlyle</a>, both of whom have developed games for young players but whose ceilings are exciting. Add to their obvious talents a year of natural mental growth both on and off the floor, and these two have the potential away from the spotlight on Thornton to shine themselves. Senior shooting guard guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/evan-hurst/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/evan-hurst/">Evan Hurst</a></a> graduates, but a quartet of sophomores in athletic forwards Cam Walker, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/seth-fitzgerald/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/seth-fitzgerald/">Seth Fitzgerald</a></a>, and Mo Clipper, together with the speedy <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devin-farrell/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devin-farrell/">Devin Farrell</a></a> at guard, all will be returning, and surely the experience of a highly successful season will pay dividends as Thornton and the Eagles will be poised to make another deep run.