GAC Session 4-Top Performers

Yesterday on the campus of Mt. Zion Prep, session four GAC play took place featuring prep and high school programs along the East Coast. I caught four of the five contests that took place and shine light on the top performers who stood out. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Wisler-Sanon.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1374339" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Wisler-Sanon-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Wisler Sanon | Phelps School ’22 (St. Francis PA) It was my second time seeing Sanon this high school season and it further confirmed that St. Francis (PA) is getting a good one. The 6-foot-3 guard is a bulldog who helped lead his team to a win over West Nottingham to the tune of 23 points. He was lethal in transition in the first half and helped counter a slow start. Even when heavily contested around the rim, Sanon absorbed contact and finished with regularity. His presence as a leader and a communicator on defense is an energy that runs through the four teammates he shares the floor with. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Yves-Missi.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1348662" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Yves-Missi-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1286680" first="Yves" last="Missi"] | West Nottingham ’24 Missi looked all sorts of dominant especially in the early goings against Phelps. He was scoring inside over both shoulders, utilizing fundamental and patient footwork on up-and-unders all while being a shot eraser in the paint defensively. Phelps is a team that was filled with guards who subbed five-in five-out, so eventually the speed caught up with Missi, but there’s not doubt that his ceiling is that of a coveted big in the 2024 class. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Vakaris-Grauslys.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1344741" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/Vakaris-Grauslys-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1358497" first="Vakaris" last="Grauslys"] | West Nottingham ’22 While much of the West Nottingham group was gassed, Grauslys sustained a high level of effort throughout and got limited rest on the bench. He led all scorers with 30 points and showed his ability to put the ball in the hoop from anywhere on the floor. There were times where he was lured into tough shots, but his aggressive mindset demanded the utmost attention from Phelps throughout. The unsigned senior operated well in ball-screens and finished high, soft-touch layups around the rim over extended arms. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Chas-Kelly.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1374337" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/Chas-Kelly-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Chas Kelly | Phelps School ’22 (Boston College) This was my first time seeing Kelly since the summer with Team Durant and as the primary option for Phelps, the Boston College commit looks comfortable playing both on and off the ball. He has good size at 6-foot-4 that he used to his advantage when smaller guards defended him by getting to his spots in the 12-to-15 feet range and rising over top for fluid jumpers. He was efficient on his catch-and-shoots from three and make sound decisions with the ball in space as a creator. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/SJ-Hutchinson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1374338" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/01/SJ-Hutchinson-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> SJ Hutchinson | Phelps School ’22 Hutchinson was more of an offensive-minded guard next to Kelly who provided shot-making ability from three, good size that translated to defensive versatility and was tough playing through physicality. The 6-foot-4 lefty scored 26 points in a loss to Olympus Prep where he knocked down three triples and converted on 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. [player_tooltip player_id="836479" first="Guy" last="Fauntleroy"] | Olympus Prep ’22 (Austin Peay) It was good to see Fauntleroy back in action after watching him as a standout at Riverdale Baptist. The 6-foot lead guard is and explosive scorer who capable of lighting it up from all three levels as indicated by his 30 points in a win over Phelps. He converted on three’s off the dribble with range, blew by defenders in isolation situations with his quick-twitch ability and used soft touch on floaters after getting into the paint. Fauntleroy is a competitor who plays with a chip on his shoulder and exposes mismatches whenever they are presented. Tariz Cantey | Olympus Prep ’22 Next to Fauntleroy was Cantey who was also an aggressive scorer, but in a different manner. The 6-foot-2 guard has a strong frame that embraces contact on drives to the rim and he so often finishes through that contact in his performance yesterday. The combination of both he and Fauntleroy pushed the tempo any chance they could and for Cantey, made life for his defender difficult with his shifty ways to get to the rim. Cantey recorded 28 points in the victory. Xaivian Lee | Perkiomen School ’22 (Princeton) I wasn’t familiar with Lee before yesterday, but it didn’t take long for me to admire the way he plays. He’s a skinny 6-foot-2 guard who wouldn’t stand out by the eye test, but plays with a relentless competitive edge and despite his team coming up short against Scotland, he was the main reason they were able to stay in reaching distance. 15 of his 23 points came from beyond the arc and after establishing himself as a lethal three-point threat, he made plays off the bounce both for himself and others. Lee will need to continue to add mass to his frame, but should be a nice long-term addition for Princeton. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Devon-Barnes.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1299742" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Devon-Barnes-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1277422" first="Devon" last="Barnes"] | Mt. Zion Prep ’22 Barnes got off to a quick start finding his mark from three in yesterday’s dominant win over Spire. He totaled 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, which may not be a stat line that blows you away, but I remain a fan with what he can turn into as a point guard that can stretch the floor, provide tough defense and be a vocal leader for his team. Victory Naboya | Mt. Zion Prep ’22 Naboya is one of the better available bigs in MD/DC and I enjoyed watching how active he was as a paint presence for the Warriors last night. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the effort. Naboya is 6’8-6’9 with explosive athleticism and is effective when it comes to rebounding out of his area. He doesn’t try to play outside of his limitations and keeps his scoring inside the paint on tough post-ups, hard rolls following ball screens and feasting on the offensive glass.