Battle of the Bluff (Friday Night Special)
Hosted by Bartlett High School, the Battle of the Bluff invited top teams from around the state along with prep schools from as far away as Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin. The event is absurdly loaded. Friday night two strong Memphis-area…
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Continue ReadingHosted by Bartlett High School, the Battle of the Bluff invited top teams from around the state along with prep schools from as far away as Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin. The event is absurdly loaded. Friday night two strong Memphis-area public high schools found their opportunity.
Featured within are only players from the following games:
Milwaukee Academy of Science (WI) vs. Hamilton
Spring Creek Academy (TX) vs. White Station
Tayshawn Bridges Tayshawn Bridges 6'2" | CG Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2024 #86 Nation GA – MAS ’24
Tayshawn was incredibly athletic, offensively so. Beyond the dominating quickness and explosion, Bridges danced with the small, choppy steps of a squirrel. Only a sophomore, Bridges looks at first glance like a future Top 50 player in the nation. His physical gifts and creativity are just so unique. In the first half, Bridges scored 19 points.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the game clearly settled, Tayshawn beat his man in the backcourt, took the ball the length, and dunked on everybody and their families. And it was so.
Bridges holds D1 offers from: Auburn, Maryland, Grambling State, Iowa.
Ayden Kelly – Hamilton ’24
Ayden Kelly is a nice player, but the moment overwhelmed him Friday night. MAS’s wings and electric guards simply swarmed Kelly and the entire HHS backcourt, causing multiple turnovers. To his credit, Ayden did find his way to the free throw line repeatedly. Kelly looks like a quick guard that just needs to find his flow in the game over the night 2.5 years of high school. Kelly did lead his team in scoring in the first half, but any guard trailing 14 at the half will tell you that personal accolades are trivial.
Devan McGee – Hamilton ’24
Devan McGee fouled out very early in the fourth quarter. He did not play great, but so much of his foul problems reflected the guards’ inability to keep the lane free from penetration. Too often, Hamilton’s post players broadly and Devan specifically found themselves in desperate situation(s) defensively. McGee will be critical for Hamilton this year and next because they truly lack size on the blocks. McGee is, in addition to a strong rebounder, a scrappy, unselfish teammate.
Marlon McShane – Hamilton ’24
Elite end-to-end speed. Marlon had a tough game, much like Ayden. He probably set a season high for turnovers. Still, his speed and handles are already elite. He probably will max out at 5-foot-10. His awareness of the gaps and seams in the defense is exceptional already.
Nacir Beamon – MAS ’24
Nacir played with the strength and savvy of a veteran. Beamon was too physical and to patient for the Hamilton Wildcats to rattle despite their hungry pressure. Beamon is an eventual Top 25 point guard in America. Nacir holds an offer from Grambling State.
Calvin Triggs – Hamilton ’23
Calvin Triggs has a sleepy, peaceful face and a curious game. He plays with the soft hands and lofted shots of a young Zach Randolph. Triggs was scrappy early but did not play the second half much with the reason unclear. He hit his first three-pointer, which was unexpected considering his familiarity with the post position.
Hamilton Roster (Starters*)
#0 Michael Bearden (2023)
#1 J. Brown* 5p
#2 LaDarius Telford
#3 G Marlon McShane* (2024)
#4 Jamarion Moore
#5 PG Ayden Kelly* 7p
#11 SF Devan McGee* (2024)
#13 Wing C. Davis
#15 D. Matthews
#20 Elijah Patterson 4p
#21 Calvin Triggs* (2023)
#24 M. Johnson
#33 Jackson
#35 Richardson