AAU Workout Visit: AC Georgia 17U Part 2

<p>After taking a look at the first portion of talent in the AC Georgia stables, we dive into the remaining player pool of 2022s (and some unsigned 2021s), and several stand out and expect to be major contributors for either of the two 17U teams.</p> <p><em><strong>Kourtland Tolbert, SG, Denmark</strong></em></p> <p>A long-time participant in the AC Georgia family, Tolbert saw his minutes and role jump for his Denmark team this year, and the explosive wing guard is primed to both have an impactful summer for his club as well as be one of the true leaders of the Danes success next winter. He’s the kind of scorer at a rangy 6-3 that can bury you in spurts with a flurry of athletic plays either getting at the basket or slicing into the mid-range for a pull-up, it’ll be fun to see him playing the kind of top-level summer competition he’ll see here and then translate that into big-time Danes success for Coach Tyler Whitlock.</p> <p><em><strong>Jayden Hilliman, SF, Denmark</strong></em></p> <p>Part 2 of the Denmark contingent ready to make big jumps comes in the form of Hilliman, who came in from South Gwinnett this past season and really gave the Danes a lift in the frontcourt. His work rate at 6-4 is exceptional as he doesn’t quit on any possessions, and he’s got plenty of offensive variety near the basket to become more of a feature guy next year. Meanwhile this summer he can hone some of those skills and add range to his shot, something which could vault him up a lot of lists. Has the look of that classic AC Georgia guy (see Mannie Harris last year) who blows up on the scene this grassroots season.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="758356" first="Jalen" last="Boston"], PF, Heritage-Conyers (pictured above)</strong></em></p> <p>Perhaps the most tantalizing prospect on the entire roster to me, Boston has waited his turn at Heritage contributing mightily and playing alongside while departing D1 guards [player_tooltip player_id="934248" first="James" last="White"] and [player_tooltip player_id="806714" first="RJ" last="Noord"] saw most of the ball and most of the fanfare. It’s his time now, both this summer as a powerful 4-man around in close who can also step out and has a nice soft touch, and assuming a much larger role in Conyers next winter. His versatility at around 6-5 at the defensive end is also intriguing, as he’s athletic enough to guard in the backcourt but plenty strong enough to body up bigger players. Love the upside and potential for a monster summer.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="598759" first="Jairus" last="Griffin"], SG, Peachtree Ridge</strong></em></p> <p>Upside and potential are watch-words as well for this top 2022 football prospect, who is a load at 6-4 out there as he’s either rolling downhill to the bucket or scoping out spots for his soft J at the arc like a linebacker eye-balling an oncoming RB. But he’s not just a football player masking as a basketball player, he’s got keen instincts and top-level athletic gifts that can be harnessed, and he’s in a great spot with a seasoned Director like Garrick Respress to see if it can be unleashed. </p> <p><em><strong>Usman Barry, PG, Forsyth Central (2021)</strong></em></p> <p>Really showed me a lot on the evening when they went live, perhaps not the physical specimen of some of his teammates but has a deft quickness about his first step and made a few guys look silly as he blew by. Has great energy and enthusiasm out there, an often overlooked quality but not one next-level coaches miss. He’s vocal at both ends and has noticable qualities as a leader with the ball in his hands, a slew of things I know Respress respects. T<span style="font-size: 1rem;">ogether with his high IQ ball, those traits may very well earn him key minutes in a deep guard rotation.</span></p> <p><em><strong>Josue Caples Torres, SF, Apalachee</strong></em></p> <p>Like Barry loved the energy here, but combine it with a sneaky game that at 6-4 is more physical than it might look and you’ve got one of those great under-the-radar packages for a guy that plays a bit off the radar in Winder. He will almost certainly be among AC Georgia’s leaders in the hustle categories and find his way onto the scorer’s sheet through that combo of unbending will and nifty skill particularly right around the basket. </p> <p><em><strong>OTHERS TO WATCH: [player_tooltip player_id="1045092" first="Wade" last="Kahl"] (Centennial, not present), Justin Birch (Lanier), Donovan Gray (Brookwood), [player_tooltip player_id="1139524" first="Charles" last="Stone"] (Columbus), Amari Floyd (Carver), [player_tooltip player_id="1130597" first="Tyrhell" last="Branch"] (Social Circle, not present), James Darden (Westwood, not present) </strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>