Early Saturday Morning Standouts from Best of the South

Here are some of the standouts from Saturdays early action at Best of the South. This weekend has continued to produce high level talent seeking opportunities at the college level.    Gruber was one of the smartest players I watched all day and consistently impacted winning with his high basketball IQ. He made several high level passes effectively in transition, and always seemed to make the right decision with the ball in his hands. Beyond his offensive production, he embraced the little things by taking charges and crashing the offensive glass. He is also a legitimate perimeter threat who can knock down open shots while attacking aggressive closeouts to create offense in the lane. His combination of size and strength allows him to switch defensively and even guard post players when needed. Gruber's versatility and understanding of the game make him one of the more complete prospects in attendance. One of the most underrated prospects in the state of South Carolina who already holds a couple small college basketball offers.     Miller-Brown is a shifty guard who excels at getting into the paint and putting constant pressure on opposing defenses. He plays with excellent pace, never looking rushed, and uses his quickness to create driving lanes throughout the game. Around the basket, he showed impressive toughness by finishing through contact and converting multiple three-point play opportunities. His ability to collapse the defense opens up opportunities for both himself and his teammates. He consistently attacked the rim with confidence and forced interior defenders into difficult situations. Miller-Brown's ability to get downhill makes him a dangerous offensive weapon.     Spear is a knockdown shooter who provides valuable floor spacing every time he steps on the court. He has the ability to handle primary ball-handling duties as well, giving his team another option to initiate offense. His confidence as a perimeter shooter forces defenses to stay attached to him, opening driving lanes for teammates. On the defensive end, he competes with great intensity and consistently brings energy on every possession. He doesn't shy away from guarding opposing guards and embraces tough defensive assignments. Spear's ability to contribute on both ends makes him a valuable backcourt piece.     Magee is a shifty scoring guard who has the ability to create offense whenever his team needs it. His tight handle, combined with an impressive package of step-backs, side-steps, and hesitation moves, makes him incredibly difficult to defend one-on-one. He repeatedly knocked down difficult shots throughout the game and answered every Hoop Gwinnett run with timely baskets of his own. Beyond his scoring ability, Magee played with outstanding poise and never looked rattled under pressure. Defensively, he created numerous transition opportunities by jumping passing lanes and forcing steals. His ability to impact the game on both ends made him one of the standout guards of the day.     Hawthorne is an athletic scoring two guard who brings a ton of offensive versatility while making a strong impact on the defensive end. He had an impressive showing Saturday morning, using his pace, strength, and body control to consistently get to the basket and put pressure on the opposing interior defense. He finished through contact and attacked gaps with confidence. Defensively, Hawthorne was just as productive, playing with high energy while coming up with several timely steals, rebounds, and hustle plays that swung momentum in his team's favor. His motor stands out as much as his athleticism, allowing him to impact winning even when he isn't scoring. With his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor, Hawthorne has the tools to develop into a complete two way guard and a prospect worth following closely.

Here are some of the standouts from Saturdays early action at Best of the South. This weekend has continued to produce high level talent seeking opportunities at the college level.