Battle For Georgia: 16U Standouts

<p><strong>2022 6-2 PG [player_tooltip player_id="870146" first="Bruce" last="Thornton"] – TSF Mack 2022 – Milton</strong></p> <p>Another weekend, another championship for [player_tooltip player_id="870146" first="Bruce" last="Thornton"]. Playing with TSF, Thornton didn’t have to put on his Superman cape all that much and score 20+ to win games. With the way the offense was flowing and how they were blowing teams out, Thornton was able to pick and choose his spots without overdoing it. He had 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a rout of the Atlanta Celtics before posting 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal in the title game against the Atlanta Xpress. Thornton was good as usual, protecting the ball and playing lockdown defense on the perimeter. He used his skillful footwork and crafty head fakes when he found himself in the lane. Thornton is among the nation’s most polished guards.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-4 W [player_tooltip player_id="870181" first="Cameron" last="Walker"] – TSF Mack 2022 – Milton</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="870181" first="Cameron" last="Walker"]’s value was apparent in the title game as he stepped up big time with a team-high 14 points and 8 rebounds. Walker provides some toughness as a wing that can affect games inside and out. He’s a reliable glue guy that will defend, rebound and score when needed. He knocked down two threes and scored in a variety of ways.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-10 C [player_tooltip player_id="870203" first="Braden" last="Pierce"] – Georgia Legacy – River Ridge</strong></p> <p>Georgia Legacy’s matchup against Double Trouble Elite was one to forget for everyone except [player_tooltip player_id="870203" first="Braden" last="Pierce"]. The big man scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half and added 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Pierce works methodically out of the low post but has a soft touch to score in the paint. He can float in short shots overtop of the defense and likes to duck in to score from different angles. His performance drew the attention of D-I coaches.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-1 G Tyrese Elliott – Atlanta Celtics – Grayson</strong></p> <p>Tyrese Elliott was the lone bright spot in the Celtics’ loss to TSF Mack. Elliott poured in 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s a top-notch scorer that uses his strong upper body to fend off defenders on his way to the rack. He absorbs contact and draws fouls when he puts his head down. Elliott went 9-11 from the charity stripe. Tyrese also has a reliable jump shot that pulls out defenses. He hit two threes in the loss.</p> <p><strong>2022 6-8 C Emeka Iloh – Double Trouble Elite – McIntosh</strong></p> <p>Emeka Iloh did damage in the paint against Georgia Legacy. He finished drop-off passes with ease and was active inside, altering shots and rebounding in traffic. He’s got a strong build that could likely pack on even more muscle. The intimidator can make opponents think twice when coming into the lane. He finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. New to Georgia from New Jersey, Iloh is a name to remember.</p> <p><strong>2023 6-4 G [player_tooltip player_id="820274" first="Stephon" last="Castle"] – Atlanta Xpress – Newton</strong></p> <p>Every time [player_tooltip player_id="820274" first="Stephon" last="Castle"] entered the game, he helped change the momentum with his energy and activity. The big guard who played up this past weekend helps out in a variety of ways. His rebounding really stood out as he both earned second chance opportunities and limited opponents to one shot. Castle does a good job getting into the paint and drawing fouls. He went 6-8 over two games. He had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists against D-Favors before adding 6 points and 6 rebounds in the title game. I like his versatility and willingness to do other things than just score.</p>