Baseline “Drive” Club Report – MvaOutlawz 17U

<p>The fine folks at Georgia Legacy Basketball Club were kind enough last week to host at Furtah Prep both myself and the visiting MvaOutlawz out of Alpharetta, and this group of mostly North Fulton County kids showed a lot of versatility and skill, and is comprised of many players looking to step out of the shadows and into larger roles this coming winter.</p> <p><em><strong>Some notables:</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Steven Lyles (Johns Creek, 2021, SG)</strong> - The 6-3 Lyles caught my eye both times I saw the Gladiators last season, and it was his versatility and athleticism which makes you look twice, while not a point man he can handle the ball if needed and is a terrific passer, but likes to be out in space where he can get downhill and slash through traffic, a terrific leaper he’s also a swiss-army knife defender because he can guard 4 positions with his strong build and instincts, and with ball-dominant 2020’s [player_tooltip player_id="806537" first="Chase" last="McKey"] and Jordan Johnson moved on, Lyles can assume more of a lead role.</p> <p><strong>Keith Murray (Chattahoochee, 2021, SG)</strong> - Speaking of ball domination, there weren’t enough on the rack to get Murray as many looks as he might’ve liked last season with the electric [player_tooltip player_id="830573" first="AJ" last="White"] and Hooch legend [player_tooltip player_id="868086" first="Cam" last="Sheffield"] leading the Cougars all the way to the 6A title. He’ll team with White again this coming winter, but against Legacy he showed why he can take a big step forward in ’20-21, as he showed near limitless range from 3 but also a keen awareness of the mid-range, where he sunk several from the 12-15 ft range while smartly sniffing out gaps, he’s sneaky quick enough to blow by you off the bounce and at a long 6-4 and a quick release he could develop into a consistent point producer night in and night out.</p> <p><strong>Jayden Stephens (Alpharetta, 2020, SF)</strong> - On the high school level, Stephens presents as more of a 3, but he showed last week that his excellent handle and ability to create with the dribble means that at Iowa Central next year at 6-5 with plenty of lift his future is solidly at the 2, I was impressed with his inside-out play against a big Legacy frontcourt, tough and heady on the glass as well, that ability to slide to the 3-spot will serve him well.</p> <p><strong>Immanuel Lewis (2021), Malachi Chipp (2021), Isaiah Lewis (2022) {All 3 Alpharetta]</strong> - If the Raiders are to climb back from a down year last season, this 3-headed guard rotation (along with 2021’s <strong>Jamari Denson</strong>) will be the drivers, all three can handle it, shoot the long-range shot, and defend, with the elder Lewis more of a lead guard, Isaiah is a spot-up shooting threat, and Chipp is a little more physical and falls into the combo guard category.</p> <p><strong>Mohammed Mbye (2021, Johns Creek, PF)</strong> - A stretch 4, the 6-4 Mbye will team nicely with Lyles to give the Gladiators two versatile threats, he can step out to the line or beat you from the block, and against the bigger Legacy frontline he defended and battled on the glass very impressively.</p>