A-Town Showdown - Sunday Superlatives

Sunday’s Day 2 at the A-Town Showdown may not have run as long as Day 1, but plenty of players left the floor having made big impressions. Let’s break them down by team and performer. Team: Atlanta All-Stars 17U [caption id="attachment_1022552" align="alignleft" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_094422-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022552 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_094422-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> Cam Lee[/caption] Cam Lee (SG, 6-1 Walnut Grove) - Continued his summer tour of destroying foes with superior athleticism and offensive understanding, absolute deadeye 3-point bomber who can also embarrass you off the bounce, an innate understanding of how to score and not afraid to go right at you, a D-1 level on-ball defender, played on a fine Warriors squad last season with a lot of good players, will step to the forefront more and is one of the ATL-area’s true sleeping giants for next winter. [caption id="attachment_1022553" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_094334-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022553 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_094334-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> Nate Brafford[/caption] Nate Brafford (PF, 6-7, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee) - One of the weekend true surprises as a new addition to the All-Stars program, dominant defender at the rim with unmatched instincts, has a sweet-looking mid-range J which with his lift at his wiry size is virtually unblockable, better athlete than his lean silhouette might indicate as shown in his willingness to run the floor and beat you to the rack, high IQ passer from the forward spot as well, a big-time emergence from him at this event. [player_tooltip player_id="806756" first="Isaac" last="Brito"] (CG, 6-3, Trinity Christian) - Love his frame, can really out-physical guards at this level, like Lee had another really strong week as well on the scene, can shoot it from distance, drive it hard, defends at a high level, and can slide over and play either guard post, his versatility will make him an attractive target on the recruiting trail. [player_tooltip player_id="806726" first="Broc" last="Bidwell"] (PG, 6-0, Milton) - You routinely get consistent steadiness and heady play from Bidwell to go along with his deadly 3-point shooting, has always been willing to put it on the floor to create space but has shown the last 2 weekends a little better speed off the bounce evading inevitable close-out defenders, sound defender who plays excellent position defense, just solid, smart and well-drilled in all facets. Team: Georgia Legacy 16U [caption id="attachment_1022554" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_105554-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022554 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_105554-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1011350" first="Caleb" last="Richardson"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1011350" first="Caleb" last="Richardson"] (SF, 6-6, Cherokee) - More solid play from Richardson as he solidifies his place among the summer’s breakout performers, saw again a real willingness to drive it hard and look for contact on the finish, definitely been working to add strength to his frame, shooting it from 3-land at a higher clip as well, really good weekend for Legacy. [player_tooltip player_id="870202" first="Dylan" last="Wolle"] (SG, 6-3, Sequoyah) - Already among the leaders in the clubhouse with Richardson for the summer’s breakout star, the junior-to-be did nothing this past weekend to deter from that, more timely shooting as he’s never afraid to take the big shot, more impressive work off the bounce as he continues to develop a shake-and-bake game to swat away "knatty" defenders, showed his head for the game in drawing and dishing and finding open teammates, like the entire Legacy roster plays smart and really understands the nuances of the game. [player_tooltip player_id="870203" first="Braden" last="Pierce"] (C, 6-9, River Ridge) - With his RRHS teammate [player_tooltip player_id="870150" first="Jared" last="Russo"] beginning to find his heralded form, it’s got to be exciting for Knights fan to think of the ever-improving Pierce alongside Russo in next year’s frontcourt, bouncing back from a shoulder strain he has really shown a monstrous development in both his offensive game and the confidence that comes with it, more willing to look for his own shot in close he showed a really nice turnaround game to go with a hook-shot game that was already under construction, possesses really good natural instincts around the basket already so as his offense continues to blossom he’ll be hard to miss with his notable next-level size. [caption id="attachment_1022557" align="alignleft" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_105941-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022557 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_105941-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="598745" first="Alex" last="Acosta"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="598745" first="Alex" last="Acosta"] (PF, 6-4, North Cobb) - The ever-present Acosta had yet another productive weekend doing the things coaches need to win ball games, the consummate hustler who’ll find and get his offense where he can, a superior rebounder, top-flight defender, runs the floor as smartly as any forward we’ve seen this summer, terrific hands means anything near him gets gobbled up or put back at the rim. Team: Georgia Rebels 16U [caption id="attachment_1022559" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_160019-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022559 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_160019-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1020292" first="Curtis" last="Head"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1020292" first="Curtis" last="Head"] (SG, 6-3, Perry) - Great to see some South GA kids come up north and make an impression and this group captured one of the 16U brackets going 4-0, Head is a tremendous athlete and very physical at a stout 6-3, can really move up and down and off the floor beating you on the break, skying for finishes or snatching rebounds, uses the muscular frame and athleticism to really guard you, good handle with the ball and can beat you off the bounce to either side. [player_tooltip player_id="1020681" first="Daequan" last="Wright"] (CG, 6-4, Perry) - Big body but surprisingly agile and has a true basketball players understanding of angles, movement and how to beat you be it from the perimeter or getting at the rim, very active rebounding from the guard spot which means he could easily slide to small forward and be just as effective, like Head a big-time sleeper in the southern part of the state. [player_tooltip player_id="1020294" first="Temarius" last="Mathis"] (PG, 6-0, Peach County) - Good looking PG prospect, excellent ballhandler with some spice but also recognizes control, really good shooter from both mid-range and deep, smart passer with some flair but also sound judgment, another solid on-ball defender who gets after it, a nice find for a school looking for solid play all-around down by the border. Team: Quiet Storm 16U [caption id="attachment_1022565" align="alignleft" width="159"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_082502-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1022565 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/07/20200719_082502-rotated-e1595639413469-159x300.jpg" alt="" width="159" height="300" /></a> Jesse Taylor[/caption] Jesse Taylor (SG, 6-1, Butler) - The 2021 product got it done offensively from all 3 levels, smooth moving athlete, fine stroke from deep as well as from the mid-range, great understanding of getting to the rim and finishing with a flourish, an A+ defender. Ahmed Soumahoro (SG, 6-2, Berkmar) - Incredible athlete and another fluid mover, showed tremendous floater game under control as a penetrator, among the easiest handles as an attacker from the wing I saw all weekend, explosive off the deck rising to the hoop from all angles on the floor.