LakePoint Fall League Top Performers: Weeks 1 & 2

LakePoint Champions Center has two weeks under its belt for their 6-week Thursday Night Fall League featuring 2020-21 varsity teams (boys and girls as well as JV), here we take a look at some of the varsity players who’ve made strong impressions out of the gate heading toward team practices in October. WEEK 1 [player_tooltip player_id="1020674" first="Jordan" last="James"] (6-3, Senior, CG, Kennesaw Mountain) - James’ club SEBA F.C.I. Warriors made the difficult choice to shut its season down due to Covid-19 concerns after capturing the Passion 17U bracket of our own A-Town Showdown, which left James I’m sure with eyes on the coming fall league slate, he picked up right where he left off earlier in the summer in week 1 against Christian Heritage, showing his physicality at the guard spot, playing more like a 4 for his varsity he found himself posting on the block, driving it from the wing and top of the key, and going coast to coast off the defensive glass as the primary ballhandler, together with dynamic scoring wing senior [player_tooltip player_id="1020672" first="Nick" last="Hein"] they make a formidable combination as the Mustangs look to use this summer to find additional options to complement the two highly regarded seniors. Nash Bingham (6-2, Senior, SG, Christian Heritage) - Bingham was impressive doing a lot of things as his young and talented Lions played very well for early "fall" action in taking down James and K-Saw Mountain, he showed a fluid 3-point stroke which absolutely requires steady marking, he also had a polished attacking game from the wing and wasn’t averse to taking it through the painted area, with so much youth around him (4 freshmen and 1 sophomore) as likely members of the rotation his versatility at both ends and passing eye were also catchy components of a strong first evening. [caption id="attachment_1042123" align="alignleft" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200820_193844-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1042123 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200820_193844-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> McEachern vs Sequoyah[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="870202" first="Dylan" last="Wolle"] (6-3, Junior, SG, Sequoyah) - More of the same excellence from Wolle as he took to the floor with a somewhat revamped Chiefs team replacing some key veterans from last year, shot it well from distance against a very athletic McEachern bunch (aside from [player_tooltip player_id="806708" first="Chance" last="Moore"] playing with a mixed group of typically good-looking youngsters) and continued showing off the dribble drive game which has been among the many components gaining him more and more attention from next-level programs and vaulted him into the must-see risers of the 2022 class, athletic senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="869618" first="Ayden" last="Watson"] and fellow junior center Fisher Mitchell also have been notable this summer and were sharp as well in the close setback to the Indians. [player_tooltip player_id="1016314" first="Josh" last="Hughes"] (6-5, Junior, PF, Etowah) - The Eagles as a whole were terrific in dismantling Pope on night 1 and Hughes had his combination game of growing inside moves and face-up mid-range J’s on full display, his post presence as well as post defense against some decent Greyhound size was also noticeable as that part of his game has really shown huge development this summer, with outstanding sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id="873083" first="Mason" last="Etter"] (always filling up the stat sheet it seems) playing more of floater role this summer and with senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id="1011334" first="Brock" last="Rechsteiner"] and Colby Flaig not participating, it’s a great opportunity for Hughes to be the centerpiece on the interior benefitting from so many talented Eagle guard options. [player_tooltip player_id="1042849" first="Brandon" last="Rechsteiner"], [player_tooltip player_id="1016305" first="Dajuan" last="Devonish"], [player_tooltip player_id="1016306" first="Jonah" last="Hamilton"] (Etowah) - Speaking of guards, these three were terrific in the Pope win as each looked sharp having put together highly productive and highly noticeable summers, the younger Rechsteiner is an impressive 2023 prospect at the point who at 5-11 has an advanced handle and understanding to go with a great release and pretty shooting stroke, playing with the 5-10 junior Devonish makes for a devastating two-headed PG/SG combo as each can hurt you with and without the ball in their hands, be it knocking one down from multiple spots or setting up teammates with quickness and great vision, add to them the sharp-shooting Hamilton, a 5-10 junior having a fine summer as well as a marksman, and that 3-guard look had the Greyhounds looking around for answers. WEEK 2 [caption id="attachment_1042120" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200827_202328-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1042120 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/20200827_202328-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> Cayden Charles[/caption] Cayden Charles (6-2, Junior, CG, Allatoona) - Surrounded by a veteran team, most of whom have been playing and playing well all summer, Charles stood out with an intriguing combination of A+ athletic ability and craftiness with the ball, showing great vision and an ability to find the small opening he set up multiple easy buckets for his upper-class teammates, he looked most comfortable at the 1 but with that athleticism can be a contributor on the wing, as mentioned the outstanding group of 5 terrific seniors led by 6-5 all-purpose forward [player_tooltip player_id="869638" first="Kevin" last="Taylor"] (PG [player_tooltip player_id="869652" first="Isaiah" last="Logan"], guard Nasir Muhammad and forwards [player_tooltip player_id="869655" first="Marshall" last="Willingham"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1012730" first="Cameron" last="Baldwin"] are the others) will be spearheads toward what could be a great season for the Buccaneers. [player_tooltip player_id="1016298" first="Trent" last="Jackson"], [player_tooltip player_id="869634" first="Jayden" last="Cox-Young"] and Umar Rashid (Creekview) - The 2 seniors and junior Jackson were terrific in a dismantling of a pretty good King’s Academy team, loved seeing the 6-0 Jackson apart from Georgia Legacy where he could show his ball-dominant abilities as a lead man, we knew he could both shoot it and drive it and he did both in spades helping the Grizzlies post 83 points, his confidence and comfort-level as a seasoned vet was evident, Cox-Young has had a very strong summer with the Atlanta All-Stars and the 6-0 off-guard showed his polished mid-range game and his sweet stroke, he too can handle the point but makes his living from the wing peeling off ball-screens and using speed off the bounce to get to the rack or pull-up and beat you, Rashid too showed his worth having been a part of deep and talented Georgia Canes team that has been impressive all summer, at 6-5 he was a handful in close to the basket with an array of moves but is your prototypical modern face-up 4 with a great stroke from beyond the arc, he’s a tough matchup for opposing bigs not willing to venture out too far from the basket.