Pace Academy Shot Clock Scrimmages Monday Notebook

Dropped by Pace Academy Monday as an honored guest of accomplished Head Coach Sharman White, and it was a blast of a first night as I got eyes on all 10 teams participating. Some thoughts from opening night: LOVE THESE LOVETT GUARDS I had seen 2024 PG [player_tooltip player_id="1131770" first="Christian" last="Anderson"] (pictured above) of Lovett last season and was immediately impressed with his overall game despite being around just 5-8. That size means little as he can score it from anywhere and has a tremendously high IQ as a lead guard for running a team, defending the ball, and creating scoring opportunities for himself and others. The ATL Xpress speedster dropped an easy-looking 35 with six 3s against Whitefield Academy in the day’s opener, and I’d expect him to make waves all month while assuming the role of high flow-engine for Lovett without the departed [player_tooltip player_id="754266" first="Ryan" last="Mutombo"]. Alongside him in what constitutes as good a backcourt as you’ll see in Class AA is 2023 SG [player_tooltip player_id="820317" first="Kyle" last="Walters"]. Walters has good size at 6-4 and a well-rounded game of his own that can beat you from the 3-point line or in the mid-range, where he really makes his mark. He can get into the teeth off the dribble with underrated quickness and rebounds really well from the guard spot. The ATL All-Stars guard having a solid spring with them added 17 in their win. SMALL SCHOOL, BIG GAME Those in the know around town, and certainly college coaches doing their homework, know about the ability of Galloway 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="870161" first="Anthony" last="Arrington"]. Playing in A-Private can obscure a talent of this level, but thankfully a great staff at Galloway, an engaged AAU program, and the power of social media can remedy some of that, as will his consistently superb play, which you can almost book every night out. He’s got all the measurables for a successful D1 guard - good size at 6-2 with a strong safety’s frame, an ability to score at any level with equal joy either off the catch or creating it himself with the bounce, he’s an elite rebounding guard who’s work rate is what makes up for not being as tall as some others, I’ve seen him guard posts with the same effectiveness and energy as he does speedy perimeter guards, adding to his versatility. He didn’t have his usual monster output (was locked in a spirited battle with good-looking scoring guard TJ Lewis of North Atlanta) in their win over NA, but he was typically solid with 17, and it’s a fun package to watch and one sure to drive increased eyeballs this live period and into the fall. Lastly, we can’t sleep on 2022 backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id="677691" first="Quentin" last="Alterman"], one of the area’s most underrated point men, he takes great care of the ball, shoots it a high clip, is underappreciated for his quickness to the hole, and just and makes all sorts of winning plays for the Scots (and his PG-battle with riser K'hamani Olivacce of North Atlanta and PSB Atlanta was fun to watch). He will land at a next-level program and be a steal for whoever recognizes his value. WATCH OUT FOR FALLING OBJECTS I knew going into Pebblebrook’s game with Drew Charter that we were going to get stud athletes across the board, what I didn’t expect was for a somewhat revamped Falcons lineup to look so physical and so good again so fast. Gone are accomplished 2021’s [player_tooltip player_id="754278" first="Jamall" last="Clyce"], [player_tooltip player_id="806718" first="Danny" last="Stubbs"], [player_tooltip player_id="754256" first="Tyler" last="Shirley"], [player_tooltip player_id="754283" first="Blake" last="Hadley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1043317" first="Aaron" last="Reddish"], but little appeared to have changed as they are reloading with some powerful and high-flying younger contributors from that 25-4 team and some returning guard talent that cannot be overlooked. 2022 guard [player_tooltip player_id="870158" first="Kami" last="Young"] wasn’t playing (but had a big Wednesday night), but we know he can score in bunches with his speed and physical play, fellow 2022’s [player_tooltip player_id="870173" first="Nyle" last="Hillmon"] and [player_tooltip player_id="758373" first="Andre" last="Young"] have logged quality minutes before and are polished veterans who can handle the ball and score inside and out. Two 2023’s who were too good to miss, 6-6 forward Jaiun Simon and 6-4 guard Xavier Bell, look like worthy successors to those departed 2021s, Simon was a high-riser who has a great frame and was too much to handle near the basket who will quickly emerge as a top target in the class I believe, while Bell got downhill with a head of steam and looks like an outside linebacker stalking a running back out there as he approaches the basket. Looking forward to seeing them more next Monday. HOME COOKING Home-team Pace Academy looked sharp against a Riverwood bunch I’m looking forward to seeing more of (2024 PG [player_tooltip player_id="1145563" first="Karris" last="Bilal"] is special), as they too like many are breaking in new pieces. 2022 stud forward [player_tooltip player_id="677695" first="Josh" last="Reed"] returns though and is piling up the D1-offers, he’ll pile up the stats just as swiftly this month as he keeps rolling in that man vs boys tour I keep referring to for AC Georgia out on the grassroots scene. I love the upside of 2024 guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="1054788" first="LJ" last="Moore"], who looks a little bigger and stronger from last year, he’s a slithery threat from the wing or near the basket and at around 6-4 or so can be a versatile piece for the Knights at both ends. I look for complimentary pieces Frank Caldwell and Kendall Evans to make a mark this month as well for Coach White, and those two aren’t the only ones, we’ll see more next week. TUNE IN TO THE NEXT ARTICLE FOR A FULL LIST OF STANDOUT PLAYERS FROM THE EVENING