Thursday “Dagger” Sheet: Gems from Jan 3-9

Was only able to get out to 2 games the opening full week of January, but knew among the teams I saw there would be players to watch. Here’s a few names who made a strong impression: [player_tooltip player_id="830573" first="AJ" last="White"], 5-10, Senior, CG, Chattahoochee Each night out you don’t now if White is going to explode and knock down everything or quietly go about his business of doing damage, as he did in a home win over Sequoyah he had plenty of positive moments at the offensive end despite facing a rotating array of defenders often playing full denial, still the exciting threat off the dribble he’s been his whole career with near-unlimited shooting range to boot, White was efficient, controlled and fun to watch as always in compiling 18 points. [player_tooltip player_id="687647" first="Jordan" last="Brown"], 6-1, Junior, CG, Chattahoochee Recently aboard with the Cougars after a late 2020 transfer from St. Francis, Brown was there true star in the win over Sequoyah, doing his offensive thing with his usual mix of power steps off the bounce and a sweet-stroking stroke from the mid-range he led the Cougs with 19, but where he really impacted the game was at the defensive end where he matched up against Chiefs backcourt mates [player_tooltip player_id="870202" first="Dylan" last="Wolle"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1050042" first="Kyle" last="Keener"] and made life difficult for them all game, he and White both handled the ball out front and also did a nice job in the assist department. [player_tooltip player_id="1047098" first="Keith" last="Murray"], 6-3, Senior, SG, Chattahoochee In a 10-point 4th quarter which helped reverse a big run by the Chiefs Murray showed how his game has developed from pure spot-up bomber to a more well-rounded attacking player, he got to the rim on several occasions with a force not seen last season or summer and gives the Cougars yet another dangerous scoring option to be aware of when teams pay to much attention to White and Brown, great length means he can guard multiple players and help get to the glass for a team without a ton of size. [player_tooltip player_id="869618" first="Ayden" last="Watson"], 6-3, Senior, SF, Sequoyah (pictured above) Watson brought the kind of physical, athletic, grown man’s game against Hooch we’ve known was there but sometimes lays dormant, getting to the rim whenever he wanted he used his strong frame and quick move with the dribble to blow-by defenders and play through contact, he guards 4 positions as well often forced to play the post for the smaller Chiefs and can be a real factor on the glass, has always set up as a potentially worthwhile wild-card get for a D2 or D3 program with so much in the athletic-gifts department to develop. [player_tooltip player_id="870202" first="Dylan" last="Wolle"], 6-3, Junior, SG, Sequoyah Wasn’t perhaps on top of his game last week but still walked away with 15 points and three treys, remains among the state’s rising 2022 talents crawling up rankings boards with the kind of shooting skill to go on streaks from the field but who’s also a tireless worker on the floor who relentlessly seeks opportunities, has seen his dribble-drive game continue to evolve both from the summer and early season and it’s another weapon in his arsenal. Tyrese Elliot (6-2, Junior) and [player_tooltip player_id="870177" first="Kaden" last="McArthur"] (5-11, Junior), Grayson Loved this 1-2 backcourt punch in their home win over Newton last Friday - speed, decision-making, crafty ballhandling, scoring, tough defense - the Rams received it all as the two interchanged at the point and even played together in spurts and were simply too much for the bigger more physical Newton guards, Elliot cruises around the floor with a fascinating ease but when he kicks it into another gear he can be by you in an instant, likes to get to the rim but has enough shooting range to keep defenses more than honest, McArthur has great moxie and enthusiasm in his game, a superb passer both on the break and in the halfcourt, he’s also a blow-by threat and while a little smaller than Elliot still is seeking gaps to exploit and get to the rim and the FT-line and force defenses to play on their heels. [player_tooltip player_id="754255" first="Ian" last="Schieffelin"], 6-8, Senior, PF, Grayson The clear main man on this team after playing a secondary role last year to the likes of D-1 grads [player_tooltip player_id="527797" first="Caleb" last="Murphy"], [player_tooltip player_id="868075" first="Deivon" last="Smith"] and [player_tooltip player_id="868082" first="Toneari" last="Lane"], did it at both ends with his usual terrific shot-blocking and glass-cleaning, such a great understanding and IQ for where to be along with exceptional timing, showed off an offensive array in dropping 20 which now comfortably extends from out past the arc all the way through points in the mid-range and down to the block where he can unleash baby hooks and power lay-ups in bunches, a great get for Clemson and one of the state’s best power forwards. [player_tooltip player_id="870154" first="TJ" last="Clark"], 6-2, Senior, SG, Newton Also stepping into a primary role with the graduation of Caleb Byrd and [player_tooltip player_id="868117" first="Shawn" last="Smith"], you got glimpses last season and more this summer of Clark’s scoring acumen, he’s always been a deadly long-range bomber but is finding spots closer to the basket to do damage, a smart and creative scorer who sees his openings and knows how to exploit them, and with the stellar sophomore trio of [player_tooltip player_id="820274" first="Stephon" last="Castle"], [player_tooltip player_id="1059025" first="Jakai" last="Newton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="820270" first="Qua" last="Brown"] to help take pressure off I’d expect Clark to continue to have more productive nights than not.