CTC Fall League Final Thoughts

<p><strong>CTC Fall League Final Thoughts</strong></p> <p>There was a lot to digest from eight weeks of the Create The Culture Fall League. Here are the biggest takeaways from Georgia’s best Fall League.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/IMG_9208-crop-1512x993-1634227708.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1308318 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/IMG_9208-crop-1512x993-1634227708-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><br /> D-I Coaches, have you done your research on [player_tooltip player_id="1131512" first="Authur" last="Johnson"]?</strong></p> <p>Tucked away in Class A-Public in tiny Bowdon, Georgia there is a star guard that is putting up prolific numbers. Only a rising junior, dazzling scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1131512" first="Authur" last="Johnson"]</strong> is the real deal. Time to give up on the tired old notion of being “too small”, the 5-foot-8 dynamo earned CTC Fall League MVP honors averaging 38.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and drilling 31 threes in just seven games. Johnson has a high workload. His top help is on the football field right now, so he hasn’t had any support, but AJ is used to facing double and triple teams and still scoring in an efficient matter. The lefty set the CTC single-game record with a 54-point bomb earlier in the season and finished with 49 points in his finale. Obviously, his usage rate was through the roof, but 16-32 from the floor, 4-10 from the three and 13-16 from the foul line plays at any level. Pound-for-pound, Johnson is the best scorer in Georgia. His ability to change speeds and craftiness with the ball is elite. He’s built like a running back and of course can play above the rim when he needs to. The secret is close to getting out. A few D-I programs have come in to watch his workouts. Speaking of work ethic, he’s a tireless worker that has done everything imaginable to put himself in the best position possible to earn a scholarship except grow a few more inches. As he gets to play with more talent, he will be able to showcase his court vision and defensive skills more often. Don’t be a school that regrets not doing their due diligence on Johnson and if he somehow slips below D-I, it will be bad news for which ever level of competition he will see.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Not so fast Class 6A, Osborne may have something to say<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_9087.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1308320 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/IMG_9087-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>There has been an accumulation of talent taking place at Osborne. Just 8-14 a season ago, expect the Cardinals to challenge Wheeler and Kell for a region title. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="598771" first="Zocko" last="Littleton"]</strong> is the headliner but <strong>2022 6-6 F [player_tooltip player_id="1264018" first="Cristian" last="Carroll"]</strong> is mismatch that can overpower people in the paint, beat defenders off the dribble and shoot the three. Brother <strong>Jon Carroll</strong> brings toughness and size inside while Midtown transfer <strong>Kyle Hanson </strong>and McEachern transfer <strong>Keshawn McPherson </strong>add playmaking to the back court and a versatile scorer from 15-feet and in. <strong>2025 6-2 SG Akai Fleming </strong>looks like a budding star with his length, creativity on the perimeter and shooting touch. <strong>2023 6-4 W [player_tooltip player_id="1300746" first="Justin" last="McCarter"] </strong>is a long scorer that can crash the glass and <strong>2022 6-0 PG [player_tooltip player_id="1264019" first="Jahmeir" last="Chapman"] </strong>is a tenacious on-ball defender. The Cardinals went 8-0 in the fall league and saw new players step up each week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Yes, [player_tooltip player_id="952583" first="Sebastian" last="Tidor"] is a D-I player<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/148_Sebastian-Tidor_2.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1058365 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/148_Sebastian-Tidor_2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>College coaches can’t fall back on “he’s too small” as an excuse as to why Tidor isn’t swimming in offers of all levels. JUCO likely will be the best route for Tidor, but don’t be surprised when he pops up at a Low to Mid-Major program in due time. At 6-foot-5, the senior wing does everything for his team. He led East Paulding in scoring (19.6), rebounding (9.3), assists (2.0), steals (1.9) and blocks (1.5). He’s wiry and strong with great leaping ability and instincts. Sebastian can take over games with his defense in the press, gobbling up steals and finishing through contact for And-1s. He’s a bit of a streaky shooter but hit 13 threes in eight games. Allowing him to focus on basketball as a job and get into a strict regimen between books and ball will help him explode once he gets to college. Coaches are missing the boat on Sebastian and will be remorseful for not taking the time to acknowledge the efforts of his coaching staff trying to help him get seen.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1235076" first="JoJo" last="Bell"] can play<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/IMG_9231.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1273993 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/IMG_9231-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a></strong></p> <p>At 6-foot-2 with a 4.1 GPA and 22 ACT, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1235076" first="JoJo" last="Bell"] </strong>checks a lot of boxes before he even steps on the floor. Much like [player_tooltip player_id="952583" first="Sebastian" last="Tidor"], Bell can do it all. He’s a great athlete that makes plays on both ends of the floor. A breakout season is on the horizon after averaging 21.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Bell has intriguing upside. Not only is he an impact player with his defense and slashing abilities, he’s a very good shooter that nailed 18 threes in eight games. D-II, D-III and NAIA programs should all be courting Bell. He has a chance to take off once he gets to college. All the tools are there.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/158_Trey-Harris_2.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1058373 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/158_Trey-Harris_2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="952587" first="Trey" last="Harris"] – Why wait?</strong></p> <p>The time is now. After showing tantalizing glimpses of his upside throughout his career, <strong>2022 6-5 W [player_tooltip player_id="952587" first="Trey" last="Harris"] </strong>is officially ready to announce his presence as one of the better wings in Class 7A. Harris put it all together at CTC Fall League posting 17.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Known for his feathery stroke, Harris cranked it up and stayed aggressive – the last piece to his development. He drilled 27 threes in eight games and was able to shoot over top of defenders from the mid-range when attacking off the dribble. Don’t forget, Harris is a great athlete as well. He will throw down posterizing slams on defenders that don’t have the scouting report. Harris should be a legitimate target for D-II programs while D-III schools should pray that he somehow slips through the cracks.</p>