A-Town Showdown: Day 2 Standouts

The A-Town Showdown wrapped up on Sunday at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville, Georgia. Games started at 8 a.m. ET and ran through until 4:45 p.m. ET as there was plenty of talent on the floor. Here is a look at the top standouts I saw on Day 2. ICYMI: <a href="https://prephoops.com/2020/07/a-town-showdown-day-1-standouts/">A-Town Showdown: Day 1 Standouts</a> 17U [player_tooltip player_id="714983" first="Tarence" last="Guinyard"], [player_tooltip player_id="818666" first="Dean" last="Gabrelcik"] & [player_tooltip player_id="773463" first="Michael" last="Phillips"] | Team Speights Team Speights won the Passion Region bracket, finishing 4-0 on the weekend as 2021 6-3 Lee guard [player_tooltip player_id="714983" first="Tarence" last="Guinyard"] was consistently really good. After having 27 points on Saturday afternoon and followed that up with a 19-point game in the finals win over the Alabama Celtics. He can shoot it well, loves to attack the rim and is highly athletic. ...As for Gabrelcik, the 6-4 guard had 22 points and 12 points on Sunday and was in his groove from long range, hitting key shots. Phillips is a 6-8 forward is in for a postgrad year in the fall. He was really good in the morning win over North Metro Elite with 15 points as he scrapped inside for boards and buckets. [player_tooltip player_id="818673" first="Zyhir" last="Sims"] | 6-3 | Star Ready Athletes In its last game of the weekend, the Star Ready Athletes won in overtime against the MVA Outlawz behind a 28-point outing from 2021 6-3 Fletcher guard [player_tooltip player_id="818673" first="Zyhir" last="Sims"]. A long and speedy athlete, there is so much to like in his game. He was hitting jumpers, getting out on the break and finishing lay-ins and most importantly being a vocal leader. He is maturing right before our eyes. [player_tooltip player_id="953083" first="Bryce" last="Johnson"] & Jakare Newton-Carroll | Tampa Bayhawks The Tampa Bayhawks earned a nice one-two punch game from 2021 pair [player_tooltip player_id="953083" first="Bryce" last="Johnson"] and Jakare Newton-Carroll. Johnson, a 6-3 guard had a team-best 23 points in a loss to SOH Elite. He is a superb outside shooter and his attack is coming along nicely. He will see a bump in confidence at Oldsmar Christian in the SIAA. Newton-Carroll is a long body who plays at Boca Ciega and I loved his resourcefulness and slashing ability. [player_tooltip player_id="869604" first="Bobby" last="Moore"], [player_tooltip player_id="537310" first="Darwin" last="Randolph"] & Marcus Long | North Metro Elite North Metro Elite is a gifted group. Falling to Team Speights in the morning tilt, 2021 6-5 McEachern guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id="869604" first="Bobby" last="Moore"] had 23 points in that matchup. He was a man amongst boys and played with endless confidence and strength. A pair of Tennessee East Hamilton guards [player_tooltip player_id="537310" first="Darwin" last="Randolph"] and Marcus Long were steady both days. Randolph, a 6-0 guard had 14 points in that game and continues to get inside and finish with finesse. Long is a similar player at 6-2 but he does a lot on the boards as well. [player_tooltip player_id="818876" first="Jordan" last="Cooke"], [player_tooltip player_id="818777" first="Reggie" last="Luis"], [player_tooltip player_id="953077" first="Raphael" last="Houssou"] & [player_tooltip player_id="714808" first="Craig" last="Starks"] | SOH Elite SOH Elite won a classic matchup behind [player_tooltip player_id="818876" first="Jordan" last="Cooke"]'s game winning 3-pointer with less than a second left on the clock. The 2021 5-10 Miami Country Day guard saved his best for last as he punched in 17 points. A lead guard and smooth one at that, Cooke does plenty on both ends of the floor and if left open, he can shoot from anywhere. 2021 6-5 Colombus guard [player_tooltip player_id="818777" first="Reggie" last="Luis"] scrapped his way to 17 points and continues to show more and more upside. 2021 6-2 Sagemont guard [player_tooltip player_id="953077" first="Raphael" last="Houssou"] (12 points) plays with purpose and is a good passer/finisher. 2021 6-7 Miami Beach forward [player_tooltip player_id="714808" first="Craig" last="Starks"] is a strong worker inside and had a steady 11 points working down low. [player_tooltip player_id="798860" first="Jamal" last="Mott"] | 6-1 | Alabama Celtics In his team's final game against Team Speights, 2021 6-1 Huffman guard [player_tooltip player_id="798860" first="Jamal" last="Mott"] came up clutch often in the second half, dropping all of his team-high 18 points. He was knocking down 3's right in front of defenders and scoring at will at times. Mott is a gifted athlete who plays with very good pace and energy. 16U Gabriel Pastrana, Will Biven & Trey Morrow | Tennessee Fury Gold Hats off to Tennessee Fury Gold who went 4-0 and clipped the Iron City Huskies in the Passion Region Bracket final 87-85. 2022 6-0 West High Knoxville guard Gabriel Pastrana rained in 20 points in a win earlier in the day over Tampa Bayhawks. He is a very instinctive athlete with smarts and a reliable shot. As for Will Biven, a 6-3 West High Knoxville guard, he had 16 points and did work inside and out in the final with his pure athleticism. Trey Morrow, a 6-3 guard from Scott County did more of the same and is full of instincts and a true jumper. This is a well put together group right here. Demarcus Lacey & [player_tooltip player_id="701334" first="CJ" last="Blount"] | Iron City Huskies The Iron City Huskies have athletes all over the place. In the Passion Region Bracket loss to Tennessee Fury Gold, Demarcus Lacey (21 points) and [player_tooltip player_id="701334" first="CJ" last="Blount"] (19 points) were really good from start to finish. Lacey, a 6-2 Pleasant Grove guard has wide receiver like speed and can get up and down the floor in the blink of an eye. He has a variety of finishes. Blount, a 6-1 Carver Birmingham guard was hitting some important outside shots late and was getting to the cup when he needed to. Jesse Taylor & Ahmed Soumahoro | Quiet Storm Quiet Storm plays so hard and it showed on Sunday. 2021 6-1 North Carolina Butler guard Jesse Taylor was the top playmaker with 18 points in a win over the Atlanta Nets. He is a fancy finisher and a very talented lead guard. Taylor had 16 points in a night loss to SOH Elite. Ahmed Soumahoro, a 6-2 Berkmar guard had 16 and 9 points in two games and showed a lot of grit as a driver to the hoop. ...Two other names from this program that performed well: 2021 6-2 guard Malik Scipio (13 and 12 points) as he was hitting shots and being aggressive while 2022 5-10 Covington Academy guard Jaylin Houlder had 7 and 9 points respectively and does a lot as a scrappy rebounder and quick twitch defender. [player_tooltip player_id="598786" first="Cristian" last="Willis"] & Khalil Porter | Atlanta Nets I enjoyed watching the Atlanta Nets hang around and battle with Quiet Storm. 2022 6-1 Lithia Springs guard [player_tooltip player_id="598786" first="Cristian" last="Willis"] flashed his smooth jumper and confident guard play with 13 points. He kept staying aggressive all game long. As for Khalil Porter, the 2022 6-3 Pebblebrook guard is more of a hybrid player who can really dig in down low. He had 13 points and finished strong often. 15U Keith Floyd & Juwan Boggs | Georgia Ignites In the Grind Region Bracket final, the Georgia Ignites held off We Get Buckets in overtime behind very fine guard play from 2023 pair Keith Floyd and Juwan Boggs. Starting with Floyd, the 6-0 Robert W. Groves guard had 22 points which included five in overtime allowed to put the game on ice. He was tough for the defense to slow down all game long. Boggs, a 6-1 guard from Herschel V. Jenkins paced him with 19 points and was connecting on big shots all over the floor. There might not be a better guard duo in the 15U division than Floyd and Boggs. They are fun to watch. Jamichael Davis | 6-1 | We Get Buckets We Get Buckets started the day winning in overtime against JSI Elite and ended it by losing a close one in overtime to Georgia Ignites. 2023 6-1 Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe guard Jamicheal Davis had consecutive lay-ins in the game against JSI Elite included the winning bucket under a minute left. He followed that up with another strong 14-point outing against Georgia Ignites in the final and impressed me with his pure ability to finish through contact. ...A few other names from We Get Buckets: Nemiah Bloodsaw, 2023 6-1 Tyner guard and 2023 5-8 Brainerd guard Dennis Lewis Jr. Bloodsaw is a commanding lead guard and Lewis plays so quick and hard and hurts you with transition points. [player_tooltip player_id="814550" first="Dylan" last="James"], [player_tooltip player_id="709234" first="Joel" last="Harrison"] & [player_tooltip player_id="812621" first="Chandler" last="Davis"] | Team Speights Team Speights won the 15U Passion Bracket over Team Forrest and went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend. The 2023 standouts for this young group were [player_tooltip player_id="814550" first="Dylan" last="James"], a 6-8 forward who transferred to The Rock from Winter Haven earlier this summer. He is still raw, but his length is endless and once he becomes more aggressive, he will be dangerous. He has good footwork and speed. ...[player_tooltip player_id="709234" first="Joel" last="Harrison"], a 5-11 guard turned heads with his jumper and his flashy handles. Once he becomes more vocal, he will be a dangerous point guard. 6-5 Wharton guard [player_tooltip player_id="812621" first="Chandler" last="Davis"] is an intriguing prospect with so much length. He can shoot it well but when he puts his head and down and draws contact is when he is at his best. [player_tooltip player_id="974549" first="John" last="Broom"] | 6-0 | JSI Elite In the back and forth loss to We Get Buckets on Sunday morning, 2023 6-0 Alabama Jacksonville guard [player_tooltip player_id="974549" first="John" last="Broom"] came to play. He is a bonafide floor pusher and lead man. Time and time again, he hit mid-range shots and got inside to finish with lay-ins. Twins Camren and Caden Johnson, also from Alabama Jacksonville did plenty as well showing their athleticness and high flying ability. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The first day in Atlanta was packed with talent ????????????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATownShowdown?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATownShowdown</a><a href="https://twitter.com/bama_celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bama_celtics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Mospeights16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mospeights16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LakePointSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LakePointSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/eL0uPvDWBL">pic.twitter.com/eL0uPvDWBL</a> — Prep Hoops Circuit (@PHCircuit) <a href="https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1284887043781341190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>