#WoodlawnInvitational Immediate Takeaways
Coach Demetrius Turner has brought together a solid lineup of teams to participate in the #WoodlawnInvitational. There was a lot of talent on the floor throughout, and here are my immediate takeaways… Quay Lynch (5’8/CG/’26/Woodlawn HS) Instagram: Rockout__quay Twitter: @Quay_Lynch2 For…
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Continue ReadingCoach Demetrius Turner has brought together a solid lineup of teams to participate in the #WoodlawnInvitational. There was a lot of talent on the floor throughout, and here are my immediate takeaways…
Quay Lynch (5’8/CG/’26/Woodlawn HS)
Instagram: Rockout__quay
Twitter: @Quay_Lynch2
For several weeks I have been getting texts and messages via social media about a freshman kid at Woodlawn that I needed to take a look at. Needless to say, I was excited about watching this young prospect play. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it was, as I was very impressed with the promise that Quay showed. On a team that is very young, he stood out as he was productive on both ends of the floor. He scored the rock in a variety of ways, got his teammates involved, brought the heat with his on-ball D, and was unusually vocal for a freshman. He was solid as the primary ball-handler and a source of point production for his squad. He made some freshman mistakes, but they were not the kind of mistakes that would sound the alarm. He will be a prospect I will be keeping my eyes on as we continue the season and look for him in our 2026 state rankings.
Terry J. DrakeHe finished with 23pts in the contest against Leeds.
Shannon Jones Shannon Jones 5'10" | CG Midfield HS | 2023 State AL (5’11/PG/’23/Midfield HS)
Instagram: Glee.shannon
Twitter: @3Gleeshannon
Coming into the season, I spoke with Coach Jones, and he was extremely high on the possibilities that Shannon had before him in his final season of high school. He believed that the Patriots would go as Shannon goes, and with this being my first time this year watching the patriots, I agree with Coach Jones wholeheartedly. Shannon is a difference-maker as he can score and facilitate and was one of the best playmaking guards in the entire tournament. He has lightning quickness from end to end and a great first step, and he can honestly get whatever he wants off the bounce whenever he wants. He is a mature lead guard that is in complete control of the Patriots’ offense. He takes care of the ball, which will be valuable as he looks to lead his team to a deep playoff run. The question isn’t if he is going to play at the next level; the question is where will he be taking his talents.
Terry J. DrakeHe finished with 16pts in the OT loss to Fairfield.
Noah King (5’9/PG/’23/Fairfield HS)
Instagram: 4lx_noah
Twitter: @Noahkin1
This was my first time laying eyes on Noah, and I liked his ability to play the lead guard spot. For the Tigers, he has to be a score-first PG, and he gets most of his points by getting downhill or being able to turn the corner coming off high ball screens. He has really solid handles and can shake his defender, get into the lane, and create space for his shot. When he gets two feet in the paint, he fights thru contact to finish strong. He is a ball-dominant guard that Fairfield runs everything through, and he is capable of getting his own and setting up his teammates for success. He is a lead guard that teammates love to go to war with because Noah is a player that is not backing down and brings it on both ends.
Terry J. DrakeHe finished with 14pts in the OT win over Midfield.
Michael Shipp (6’5/PF|C/’23/Minor HS)
Instagram: mikeyyyy_205
Twitter: @MikeShipp24
Michael is a senior that has not been playing long, per his coach; however, he is a player that could find himself at the next level, especially if he can find a program that does not mind redshirting him. Michael made a significant impact on both ends of the floor as he scored with touch around the rim and was a shot-blocking presence with his athleticism. He is a hard-playing dude that is working his way into having a chance at the next level. He is raw in some facets on offense, but he makes up for a lot of it with his athleticism. He gets out in transition and finishes well in the open court, and he also can put it on the floor in the halfcourt and attack out of the face-up. I truly believe he can be a good role player in the right program in the right situation. He finished with 10pts in the contest against Sylacauga, and even though I did not speak with their stat person, I am sure he finished with double-digit rebounds.
Terry J. DrakeI truly believe he can be a good role player in the right program in the right situation.
Jeremy Chatman (6’1/SG/’26/Center Point HS)
Instagram: iss._chat
Twitter: @Jchat.10
Jeremy is another 2026 kid in this article, and he was very impressive as I watched him play. He is a youngster who knows how to score the rock and can do it at all levels. He is needed to score for his squad this year, and he is getting some valuable experience that will pay huge dividends as he continues his high school journey. There is some inconsistency in his game but remember, we are talking about a freshman that is providing huge production on the varsity level. He functions as a triple-threat player that contributes as a shooter, passer, and driver. Even though he is the primary scoring option for his team, he still looks to get his teammates involved. He competes on both ends of the floor, and as long as he stays on the trajectory that he is currently on, he is a player that will be sought out in a couple years.
Terry J. DrakeHe is a youngster who knows how to score the rock and can do it at all levels.
Grant Hickey Grant Hickey 6'6" | SF Sylacauga HS | 2023 State AL (6’5/SF/’23/Sylacauga HS)
Instagram: grant__hickey
Twitter: @GrantHickey15
Grant is dealing with a leg injury but still was in the lineup. Even though he was hobbled, his presence on the floor was a factor. He still showed his versatility and ability to score inside and out. He did not have his usual lift, so some of the shots that I am used to him making he struggled with. He is a player who, when at 100%, can be productive offensively in all facets. I am talking about Grant in this article because, despite the injury, he is a very good prospect that, once he is back at 100% or close to it, will be a prospect to keep an eye on for the remainder of his senior season.
Terry J. DrakeHe is a player who, when at 100%, can be productive offensively in all facets.
William Lloyd (6’1/CG/’23/Briarwood Christian)
Instagram: W_lloyd09
Twitter: @Lloyd09W
William is listed as a combo guard but spent most of the time at the lead guard spot. His game is polished, and he is a masterful orchestrator. I have seen him in the past be very aggressive in looking for his shot, but in the match-up against Center Point, he was looking to facilitate and get his teammates involved. When his opportunities came to score, he was efficient with his production. He shot the ball well from deep and made timely buckets to help his squad get past the Eagles in a low-scoring contest. William did a lot of things well in the game, as he was a good outside shooter, a good 1 on 1 attacker and set-up man, and a solid defender. His all-around play helped the Lions and will be key to all the success that Briarwood will have this year.