Tuesday “Transition”: Backcourt Gems Nov 30-Dec 5 Part 2

<p>We’re looking at more guards in Part 2 from the week of Nov 30-Dec 5:</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="806746" first="Jax" last="Bouknight"] (6-1), Ben Hamacher (5-9), Jonathan Franchi (5-11), all Seniors, Blessed Trinity</strong></em></span></p> <p>Bouknight gets both most of the attention from writers and opponents alike, and while he wasn’t at his best this night he still impacted the game with his hustle, enthusiasm and timely scoring, however it was Hamacher and Franchi’s shooting and steady hands that spurred the BT comeback win over Trinity Christian, both can knock down the 3-ball and act as PG when called upon, but it was their poise and experience that helped guide the Titans, Hamacher had 5 total treys on the game including two huge ones in the 4th, while Franchi had 8 of his 13 points in the 2nd half and was at the spearhead of a defensive surge which locked up TCHS late in the game.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869590" first="Travis" last="Burrus"], 6-0, Senior, PG, South Cobb</strong></em></span></p> [caption id="attachment_1096711" align="alignleft" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/20201204_202114-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1096711 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/20201204_202114-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="869590" first="Travis" last="Burrus"][/caption] <p>All summer long when I popped in on a Team Huncho game I couldn’t help but notice Burrus and all the intangibles he brings to the PG position, all of it was on display again last Friday night in a hyped PG-matchup with Pope’s [player_tooltip player_id="869626" first="Will" last="Kolker"], such speed with the ball and yet he’s seemingly never out of sorts or getting ahead of his high basketball-IQ mind, a marvelous mid-range game with a controlled floater as well as plenty of range out to the arc, as good a defensive guard as there is in the state, has a bevy of options to deal to on the Eagles roster (even without [player_tooltip player_id="1043311" first="DaQuan" last="Riggins"] in this one) and isn’t afraid to play a pass-first role, still got 18 points and was the glue to a solid road win at Pope.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="869626" first="Will" last="Kolker"], 6-2, Senior, PG, Pope</strong></em></span></p> <p>Facing down Burrus as well as several other athletic guards and small forwards from South Cobb, Kolker still managed to shine in the areas where he always excels - taking care of the ball and finding open teammates, he’s added to his scoring resume this season as he’s had to assume more of that role and coming into this one had posted several 25+ point outings, battled his way to 19 points Friday and as always dealt out a bunch of pretty assists while several others were either missed or dropped by teammates sometimes not ready for the passing brilliance, honored before the game for the single-season assist record last year and will soon take over the top career assist spot in Greyhounds history. </p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1020671" first="Dylan" last="Pumpian"], 6-0, Senior, SG, Walton</strong></em></span></p> [caption id="attachment_1096712" align="alignright" width="225"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/20201205_152500-rotated.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1096712 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/20201205_152500-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1020671" first="Dylan" last="Pumpian"][/caption] <p>Known for his 3-point marksmanship, Pumpian had it going early in a road win at Johns Creek Saturday, his three treys in the opening quarter (17 total pts) were a catalyst getting Walton off and running, definitely more assertive in now his senior season both on and off the ball, he showed the poise and awareness of a veteran throughout with fellow backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id="869645" first="Luka" last="Avaliani"] not in his top form per say on this day, stepped to the FT-line late to help salt things away.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Sam Witt, 6-1, Junior, SG, Johns Creek</strong></em></span></p> <p>Witt came off the bench to provide a huge lift for the Gladiators who fell just a little short to Walton at home, finishing with 15 points, he was very aggressive looking for his own offense and showed excellent athletic ability converting off the break and driving it into the paint, the talented frontcourt pieces are the engine for JC, but Witt can be a nice component for them on the energy side in a young backcourt rotation whether in the starting lineup or continuing to come off the bench.</p>