#PrepHoopsLiveATL Day Two Gamechangers

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops.

Day two of the #PrepHoopsLiveATL powered by @PUMA and @hibbettsports tourney gave all in attendance a full day of exciting games and fantastic talent to watch. Many players impacted the outcome of their games in ways other than the scoreboard, and these players were the Gamechangers. Let’s look at a few of the players whose play shifted the game…

Marquis Combs-Pierce (6’8/C)

Team: Oklahoma Chaos Elite 2023

Instagram: marquispierce03

Twitter: @combspiercekids

Marquis is a 6’8 force in the paint. He clogged up the paint and made it extremely difficult for DC United to get any clear looks in the paint or lanes to the basket. He is not very mobile in the paint, and when DC United decided to spread the floor, it put Marquis in a compromised situation on D. Offensively, he has a combination of power and strength that he uses to finish around the rim, and he often bullied his way through his defender. The biggest challenge for Marquis was when he ran into the big-man issue in the paint, which is the difficulty of officiating someone with his size against smaller players. There were several calls against him I questioned and just chalked it up as the difficulty of officiating a player his size.

What made him a Gamechanger:

The fact that Marquis could lock down the paint and allow the rest of his teammates to put immense pressure on the ball, knowing they had the big man protecting the paint, is an intriguing gameplan until opponents make adjustments. As long as teams have a big that wants to play in the paint, the advantage goes to the Chaos. 

Wyatt Hawks (6’7/PF|C)

Team: Northstar Titans

Instagram: wyatthawks

Twitter: @WyattHawks5

Wyatt is a high-end role player that can do it all on both ends of the floor. Once he got into the groove of the game, he began showing his ability to make his impact by making the most of his touches on offense and protecting the rim on defense. He showed his ability to put it on the floor and get to the cup, but the times he showed it was not as frequent as it could have and possibly should have been. He is adept in pick and roll situations on both ends of the floor as he sets solid screens on offense and defends with hard hedges, disrupting the ball-handler’s flow. Wyatt’s all-around game could be seen more clearly as the game went on. Continuing to expand his game beyond the paint with a tighter handle and a consistent jumper could help his stock rise in his final year.

What made him a Gamechanger:

He is a post player that was solid in the paint and was a difference-maker with the advantage favoring the Titans at the 4/5 position.  

Cayden Davis Cayden Davis 5'8" | CG/SG Mae Jemison | 2028 State AL Lancaster (6’5/F)

Team: Griffin Elite Bordas

Instagram: Cayden_lancaster5

Twitter: @Caydenlancaster

You will not see robust numbers in the scoring column for Cayden, but the impact he made went far beyond what he could do regarding point production. He is a selfless player that did all the un-sexy things such as chase down loose balls, defend, battle on the glass, set screens, be in the right place on defense, and make the right defensive rotations. He is a relentless competitor whose game, under most circumstances, would go unseen. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat at camps that had parent meetings and the question of how can your son/daughter get seen/recognized if they are not scoring high numbers. Well, there is a lot to unpack when answering that, but as for Cayden, who only scored 4pts in the 75-65 win over Cenla Dynasty ’23, it was his play that kept the energy running through the Griffin squad.

What made him a Gamechanger:

His effort and energy were contagious, and he did all the dirty work for his team that made huge differences in determining the outcome of games. He did not score much, but his impact on both ends of the floor was a massive factor for the Griffin squad. 

Turner Jarrett (6’4/SG)

Team: Team Truth Elite

Instagram: turner2xx

Twitter: @ByronJarrett2

The momentum in this game for a good portion of the game between Team Truth and Team TMac ’23 favored Team TMac. When Turner began to assert himself in the 2nd-half, everything started changing for Team Truth. Offensively, even though he is not a first or second scoring option, he stepped up and made up in his mind to not settle and began attacking the rim off the bounce. He had difficulty converting, but he was getting to the line, and it began to put Team TMac defenders on their heels. TJ’s aggressive nature began to rub off onto his teammates, and their body language changed, and they began to play a more aggressive style of ball on both ends of the floor. TJ also made his presence felt on the boards as he began getting his hands on missed shots, and he tipped the ones he couldn’t secure, giving his teammates the opportunity to secure. If you wonder how things went wrong for Team TMac, who was ahead by double-digits, look no further than Turner.

What made him a Gamechanger:

His effort and energy on the offensive end and the glass gave his team life. His play was inspiring, and you could literally see the momentum-changing on the floor as he laid it all out in the second half.

Malachi Klock (6’5/F/’24)

Team: DMV Stags

Instagram: Malachijk312

Twitter: @Malachijk312

Malachi is an athletic forward that played tremendous on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor. He is quick off the floor and rebounded at a high rate, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Once he secured the rebound, he made impressive outlet passes that catapulted his squad out in transition. He runs the floor, which gives ball-handlers a nice option to kick to in transition. He defends vertically without fouling in the paint as he protects the rim with his ability to quickly get off the floor. One good thing is that Malachi has another year to improve his skill set as he is a ’24 prospect. He has a lot that he can improve on and add to this game as he seeks a career at the next level.

What made him a Gamechanger:

His ability to control the boards and keep Beast Elite to one-and-done possessions on offense was a significant factor as Beast Elite could only manufacture 28pts for the entire game. Malachi’s activity on the boards kept Beast Elite from having any second chance opportunities.      

Kyaire Gregory (6’3/SF)

Team: Omaha Elite ’23

Instagram: Kyaire.x

Twitter: @Kyairegregory 12

Kyaire is listed as a 6’3 small forward, but as I kept looking, I wondered if the 6’3 might be stretching it. What is not a stretch is the impact that Kyaire had on the game in the paint. He has a knack for rebounding and had to have finished with double-digit rebounds. I kept wondering how one of the smallest players on the court was so dominant in the paint and on the boards. Some players just have a feel for the ball and a tenacity to not be outworked, and it is safe to say that Kyaire has both traits. I do not know how Kyaire can make a living at the next level playing the way he played against BOLD ’23, but I am not going to put much stock in that thought as he did not show much out on the perimeter, but that is not to say he cannot get it done outside of the paint.

What made him a Gamechanger:

His effort and energy in the paint, particularly on the offensive glass, was at times demoralizing to the BOLD players. BOLD coaches kept telling their players to block out, but Kyaire kept securing rebounds. It was Kyaire’s play in the paint that helped Omaha Elite stay in striking distance. Kyaire finished with 10pts in the contest.

Adam Cade Herod (6’3/PG)

Team: Better Off Living Dreams (B.O.L.D)

Instagram: adam_cade_herod

Twitter: @adam_cade4

Adam came out in the contest against Omaha Elite ’23 in attack mode. He was aggressive early on in the half-court as well as in transition. One bright thing about Adam is that he played his role and did not try to force the action, even though he had it going early in the game. He was at his best off the bounce, as his ability to accelerate was key to getting to the cup before the defense could make their rotations. Adam was able to put pressure on the defense without having to keep defenders honest with his jumper. He can get anywhere he wants off the bounce, and he has the strength to get thru contact and explode at the rim and the skill and touch to finish when he gets there.

What made him a Gamechanger:

He was an early source of offense for his team and set the tone for how BOLD would play the remainder of the game. He helped his squad get off to a solid start, even though they could not pull it out in the end as they lost on a four-point play at the buzzer.