Team Preview: Good Better Best Academy

It's a new regime at Good Better Best Academy as Quintin Austin returns to take over after a successful tenure at Southern Wake Academy. Coach Q has over 100 wins and helped lead the Lions to three straight conference championships. A tactician with his half-court sets and always has the team well prepared and equipped to adjust in game if the script is not going their way.   This will be a complete roster turnover but a highly talented one to say the least. They have a lot of size, length, and athleticism which not a lot of teams in the state will be able to compete with. For a group that has not been together long, the guys have rapidly developed good comradery. With a tough schedule ahead, they will need to continue progressing and building healthy habits that will translate into wins.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dynamic Wing Duo</h2>    The biggest addition to the team is [player_tooltip player_id='2857137' first='Aaron' last='Parker']. One of the best wings in the country for the class of 2029. Aaron comes over from Southeast Raleigh and will be the centerpiece of the GBB team. The motor is what sets Aaron apart from a lot of prospects. His ability to compete at a high-level possession after possession is amazing to watch. During drills, he was consistently finishing first and refused to take a possession or rep off.   Aaron is an elite level athlete that glides through the lane and soars in the air with ease. The finishing ability is already at a high level with either hand when he's not finishing with force. With this new roster, he will have a lot more space to operate and get downhill without seeing two and three defenders. Despite the thin frame, contact does not bother him on either side of the ball.   Coach Q has challenged Aaron to enhance his ball handling as well as develop a more consistent outside shot. During live sessions, the work was showing as Aaron shot the ball well from deep during his GBB debut. There is so much untapped potential in Aaron that it's scary. Turning into a high-level two-way player is the next step for him and the way he works, I'm sure that will take no time under this new system.     The rise of Khaleil has been fun to watch. He's developed and got better consistently year after year. From averaging four points per game as a sophomore, to around 20 points last year, the proof is in the work. Now joining this GBB team, Khaleil is in a perfect position to keep that momentum going. The two-way upside is visible with how well he can score from all three levels as well as defend anyone on the floor.   He has been one of the hottest prospects this summer with how well he performed for No Guts, No Glory. In a system that thrives on pace, space and transition opportunities, expect an even bigger jump this season. Being one of the only upperclassmen of the group, the staff is challenging him with being more of a leader which he's excelled at since the summer. Playing alongside Aaron, he will have more one-on-one opportunities and be able to showcase his improved ball handling.   With the offers already pouring in from the summer, expect more to follow this year as Khaleil will be highly effective in Coach Q's system.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Floor General</h2>    Joining Coach Q from Southern Wake is his point guard and the perfect piece to this new puzzle. Kobe comes in as an extension of the coach on the floor. He has played for the staff and understands what the standard is. During his Southern Wake tenure, Kobe was named Central Tar Heel 1A Player of the Year. He also surpassed the 1000-point total, which is impressive as he's a more pass first guard.   Between Aaron, Kahleil, and all these high-level athletes, Kobe should roll out of bed and average 5+ assists. Over the last two years, he's averaged 5 and 5.5 assists per game respectively. I expect that number to get to the 9 or even 10 range with how well he passes. His diagnosing of coverages off pick and rolls is a skill Kobe provides consistently. The shot making puts defenses in a bind of what coverage to play which makes the team dangerous under a guard like Kobe.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Man In The Middle</h2>    North Carolina does not have a ton of traditional big men but of the few, GBB has one that should be on your radar. Dwayne comes over from Southern Durham after not having a huge year, but he was a star in the role he was tasked with. Coach Q is excited about the potential of the big man, who he says has improved drastically since the summer. Putting an emphasis on his footwork, offensive repertoire, and defensive mobility, Dwayne is primed for a breakout season.   Already a big powerful presence, his ability to have reliable hands and a soft touch around the rim is critical. It's rare that he gets to the rim and does not dunk, but he's added jump hooks and reverse pivot turnaround jumpers from 8-10 feet. Occasionally, he stepped out and showed the ability to stretch the floor but I'm sure the staff would much rather live with the higher percentage looks until he's more consistent outside.   He runs the floor like a deer in the woods and the motor is always running. Rebounding and rim protection are absolute musts when Dwayne is on the floor. The team's ceiling rises even higher when he's effective in both departments. There is a lot of offense on the wings, so being able to do the little things will result in a big impact for the big man.    [player_tooltip player_id='2270049' first='Justin' last='Frye'] Is another wing piece that comes over from Southern Wake. Battled an injury during the summer but is back and ready to take another leap. He has good positional size and his ability to space the floor will pay dividends for GBB. Another piece Coach Q is excited about is [player_tooltip player_id='2454018' first='Matan' last='Mizrahi'] from Panther Creek. Another floor spacer that can really shoot it. Good footwork and is gaining his athleticism back after coming off an injury. Two key pieces that will be pivotal in the success of the team.   Coach Q has done nothing but win from his initial stop at GBB to the AAU world and at Southern Wake Academy. He's won multiple coach of the year honors, been to a state championship, and a final four. Out of all the accomplishments, I'm sure the one he's most proud of is the 3.52 team GPA at Southern Wake. It's safe to say he knows how to build a winning culture on and off the floor, so expecting anything less is a non-starter.

It's a new regime at Good Better Best Academy as Quintin Austin returns to take over after a successful tenure at Southern Wake Academy. Coach Q has over 100 wins and helped lead the Lions to three straight conference championships. A tactician with his half-court sets and always has the team well prepared and equipped to adjust in game if the script is not going their way.