RYZE Tipoff Classic – Saturday Notebook Part 1

<p>It was a mega weekend in Atlanta, with two of the biggest events of the whole season going on at the same time on different sides of town. Dropped by Suwanee Friday, and then headed over to RYZE Hoops opening event at LakePoint for a loaded field.</p> <p>Here is Part 1 and just a few of those that I saw with a lot of folks there to see and talk to and all 12 courts going at once during points in the day:</p> <p><em><strong>Eddie Hendricks, 6-7, PF, Norcross Heat (2023, Meadowcreek)</strong></em></p> <p>Showed how he can dominate with his burgeoning inside-out combo game, now possesses a must-guard 3-point game to go with his ever-evolving post and mid-range attack package, an absolute glass-cleaner and smart and skilled post defender, ascending rapidly to the top of the PF lists across the state.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="820288" first="Nazir" last="Griffin"], 6-0, CG, Norcross Heat (2023, Shiloh)</strong></em></p> <p>Consistently ups his own profile as one of the best defensive guards in the ATl-Metro I’ve seen, as he gets bigger and stronger getting around or past him becomes that much harder, add to that an offensive game which really came alive at Shiloh this year and was on display again Saturday with a combination of consistent mid-range shooting and explosions at the rim.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="820290" first="Keishawn" last="Hampton"], 5-11, PG, Norcross Heat (2023, Meadowcreek)</strong></em></p> <p>Heated up in the 2nd half of their game against TSF 2024, his range continues to expand further out making it tricky to decide when to mark him up, as he too has seen some body maturation it’s allowed him to use that to drive it with more confidence and with a crafty understanding of how to wiggle through traffic he can be a brutally tough match-up.</p> <p><em><strong>Lavonta Truvon Ivery, 6-2, PG, TSF (2024, Thomson, pictured above)</strong></em></p> <p>Playing up as they all were against Norcross Heat’s 16U, he was exceptional and has been that so far in the young travel season after seeing him Saturday now for the 2nd time, has it all as a freshman - terrific range well part the arc, incredible quickness with the ball, a fearlessness getting to the hole, tremendous defensive instincts, and a natural feel for the game as a lead guard which puts him 1/2 step ahead of everyone else, a monster PG prospect out of the Augusta area. </p> <p><em><strong>Katayvon Jeffries, 6-2, SG, TSF (2024, Newton)</strong></em></p> <p>Chalk up another Newton athlete to add to an already impressive array both out in Covington and on this impressive TSF roster, but he’s more than just a pure athlete, strong-framed and strong-willed he goes after every possession hard and like Ivery has natural gifts as "ball player" that separate him from the everyday youngster, shoots, sees the floor, passes, defends, a special talent on the rise.</p> <p><em><strong>Marcellus Brigham, 6-3, SF, TSF (2024, Laney)</strong></em></p> <p>Another Augusta-area product possessing elite athletic ability to go with a nose for the ball and a drive to go after it, so impressed with how hard the TSF guys play, no shred of elitism playing for such a prominent organization, Brigham was slick getting downhill tot he basket and active turning defense into offense and showing off an open floor game to watch.</p> <p><em><strong>Eltramon Smith, 6-6, SF, Wood Elite (2023, Sandy Creek)</strong></em></p> <p>Had a slew of wow moments in their strong win over a really good GA Stars team, seeing him workout was one thing but in live action we saw the true comfort level from 3-land, the movement out in the open floor to finish with authority, the slithery moves around the basket that at 6-6 make him almost unstoppable, plays with a group of guards who will get him the ball in the right spots and is by all accounts poised for a monster breakout summer.</p> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="793816" first="Cameron" last="Pope"], 6-2, PG, Wood Elite (2023, Cherokee)</strong></em></p> <p>Skilled and well-schooled just as I saw him at Wood’s workout recently, loved seeing him put some of those talents into effect in live action, deceptively fast as he blows by people without seemingly exerting a ton of effort and part of that is his long stride, can destroy you from 3 if you back off but has a good frame for getting into the teeth of the D and either finishing strong or getting to the line and tagging your bigs with foul trouble, he too is shaping up as a potential must-see 2023 for the summer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>