AAU Workout Visit: Georgia Fire Part 1 “Elite”
After watching them over the last 4 weeks run roughshod over a good deal of their competition I was excited to get a closer look at the two upper age-group clubs for Georgia Fire, their Elite and Premier teams. Ron…
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Continue ReadingAfter watching them over the last 4 weeks run roughshod over a good deal of their competition I was excited to get a closer look at the two upper age-group clubs for Georgia Fire, their Elite and Premier teams.
Ron Porter, Chris Burnett and crew do a terrific job now in their 11th year of existence, and their growth, stature and loyalty by players and families is a testament to the program they’ve built from the ground up. It’s a deep roster of talent from predominantly Clayton and Henry counties south of Atlanta, here first we look over the Elite group, many of these names have already have made moves in scout’s eyes:
17U ELITE
Jordan Fordyce, 6-4, SG/SF (2022, Eagle’s Landing)
So good was this past season’s state championship ELHS team that an athletic talent like Fordyce was reduced to a supporting role, still he made a mark in their run and with the chance to be in a more feature role with the Fire has put those immense athletic gifts to work on the floor, quickly emerging as a fast-rising 2002 to watch, explosive off the deck both in the halfcourt and off the break he’s becoming matchup nightmare due to his long frame and exceptional gifts, his perimeter shot is showing a lot of improvement and that aspect is what takes him to the next level, as said as impressive a riser as I’ve seen so far this grassroots season.
Yannis Woods Yannis Woods 6'7" | PF Jonesboro | 2022 State GA , 6-7, PF (2022, Jonesboro, pictured above)
Right with Fordyce in the fast-rising department is Woods, my radar is not the only one that’s been highly aware of his emerging status, at 6-7 looks and feels more like 6-10 as he gets up and down the floor with such ease and is a dynamic finisher around the basket even with his wiry frame, erases shots with regularity on the defensive end and fights hard defending the block even though he could stand to add a little weight to help with that, a face-up jump-shooting game is in the arsenal but will need to be utilized more so scouts can really see the emerging upside, great energy and attitude, as with the whole Fire bunch, is yet another positive.
Nasir Turman, 6-5, SF (2021, Mt Zion)
Rangy and a great mover with top-notch instincts as a defender and rebounder, his offense is a downhill combination of high-wire finishes at the rim and short range J’s, excellent motor and at his size can really affect the game when the Fire pushes pace and he’s able to slice in and take advantage of slow-recovering defenses, has several offers he’s mulling.
Nigel Banks, 5-11, PG, (2021, Mundy’s Mill)
Tough to choose one among the 3-headed guard monster out front that is Banks, Jaden Wills and Jaquell Clayton, each handles the ball, distributes wisely and can shoot it from range, Banks and Wills are more pure points that can both shoot it and see the floor well in distributing roles, Clayton is more of a combo guard with a really stout frame who likes it off the wing and uses that physicality to rebound and defend with muscle, all 3 are terrors guarding the ball and that among everything is what separates the Fire’s across the board, versatile guard play.
Ryan Brown, 6-4, SG (2022, Fayette County)
Love his size and energy, had some nice moments both in the halfcourt set shooting it and using his athletic ability on the break, good feet allows him to guard smaller players but he can dip down and mix it up closer to the basket with his fearless and high IQ play.
OTHERS TO WATCH: Christian Welcher (2021, Mundy’s Mill), Geo Stratton (2022, Locust Grove), Nate Adams (2021, Jonesboro), Grant Sanders (2021, Union Grove), Evan Courville (2022, Starr’s Mill), Will Trammell (2022, Stockbridge), Eugene Bond (2022, Union Grove), Marcus Mills (2022, Stockbridge)