GameChangers at #PHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase
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The #PHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase was loaded with talent. Players showed their ability to shoot the trey, facilitate, defend, and hit the boards, and they were impressive in doing so. While those things were great to see, I looked beyond them to see if I could find some players that impacted and changed the game through their play in some of those areas and other areas. Here are a few of the guys that emerged as #PHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChangers…
William Dopfer (6’4/PF)
School: Lambert HS
Instagram: Will_Dopfer14
Twitter: @DopferWilliam
William has good positional size at his age and was difficult to deal with on both ends of the floor. He impacted the games with his size and athleticism. He’s not a freaky long player but has plenty of length to go along with good vertical rise. He played above the rim and was impressive when he was able to get out in transition and operate in space. He showed his versatility on the defensive end of the floor as he was able to guard multiple positions. You really saw Will’s impact on the glass as he was a force to deal with due to his size and ability to secure rebounds at high points.
What Made Him a GameChanger: William showed a lot of promise at the showcase, but what he did exceptionally well was dominate the glass on both ends of the floor. He got a lot of easy put-backs because of his activity on the glass, and those easy buckets kept adding up on the scoreboard. It was his production on the glass and the easy scoring opportunities that were created because of his activity on the boards that got him added to the GameChanger list.
He impacted the games with his size and athleticism.
Terry J. Drake
Chase Dupree (6’1/PG)
School: Southwest HS
Instagram: Ballsohard_chase
Twitter: N/A
Chase showed his athleticism throughout the showcase, which is the one thing that captured my attention about his game. Once he had me on the hook, he delivered the goods showing his ability to score the rock and finish in the paint as well as at the cup with both hands just as effectively. As a PG, he handled the rock, broke down defenders, and created for his teammates. He made good decisions with the ball when getting into the paint, and if his scoring opportunity were not there, he made the right passes. His PG IQ is still developing, but not for one moment should Chase not be on the watch list in his state for this class.
What Made Him a GameChanger: He is a good rebounding guard, but what made him a GameChanger was his ability to produce at the PG spot. He adjusted well to what was needed at the moment. There were a lot of guards at the showcase, especially PGs of similar size as Chase, but Chase did not force a lot of action but played with a nice flow and pace, which impacted games in his squad’s favor.
Chase showed his athleticism throughout the showcase, which is the one thing that captured my attention about his game.
Terry J. Drake
Charles Futch (5’9/SF)
School: Hillgrove HS
Instagram: therealcharlesiscbg
Twitter: @charlesfutch4
Charles is a listed SF, but I will list him as a 5’9 wing player. He showed a strong off-the-bounce game that led to a lot of production for his squad. He was clearly one of the playmakers on his squad that was either getting his own or creating for his teammates. When the ball touched his hands, he clearly had his hands in a lot of the production on the offensive end while he was on the floor. His energy, effort, and aggressiveness on the defensive end were second to none, and he was not only disruptive but a big annoyance for ball-handlers. His motor on the floor and his activity on the glass were not expected from a 5’9 frame, but Charles brought, if not his A-game, a game close to it to the showcase. I definitely want to see Charles expand his game to include the ability to man the lead-guard spot and orchestrate the offense, and if he can do that, he will see significant jumps in his game.
What Made Him a GameChanger: His motor and presence on the glass with his size got Charles on the GameChanger list, not to mention his tenacity on the defensive end of the floor. He did not allow his small stature to stop him from having an outstanding showing at the showcase.
His energy, effort, and aggressiveness on the defensive end were second to none, and he was not only disruptive but a big annoyance for ball-handlers.
Terry J. Drake
Charles Gersmehl (6’6/PF)
School: South Forsyth
Instagram: charliegersmehl
Twitter: @charlie_gersh
Charles has good size and was really mobile in the paint. He maneuvered well and, because of his movement, caused problems for defenders. At times and especially with players at this age, they stand and do a lot of ball watching, which was not the case with Charles. He moved to open spots when ball-handlers were attacking off the bounce, which provided easy drop-off lanes. Charles has soft hands and finished well around the rim, which he often did via put-backs and lay-ups off drop-off passes. His movement also helped him establish position to fight on the glass, which he was a presence throughout the day. He is a solid screen setter on the offensive end, and defensively he protected the rim.
What Made Him a GameChanger: Charles’ size was a factor in all aspects of the game. He was a mismatch problem, and because of his developing motor, his activity gave him an advantage over players defending him and the players he was defending. It is because of his activity and energy that he was added to the GameChangers list.
Charles has good size and was really mobile in the paint.
Terry J. Drake
Frank Jackson (6’2/SF)
School: Paideia HS
Instagram: Sco2kta
Twitter: @itsfrankjackson
Frank’s impact throughout the day was primarily seen in his versatility and his ability to be a utility player as well as a do-it-all caliber player. He is a wing that was a steady presence that produced on both ends of the floor. His ability to get to the paint off the bounce was on display, and his ability to finish over the top using his length was a problem for those defending him. It did not take Frank long to get his footing at the showcase and show a game that caused evaluators to take notice. He is a young developing hybrid-type player who will be an excellent asset for Paideia over the next four years.
What Made Him a GameChanger: Simply put, it was Frank’s ability to do so many things on the court that got him on this list. He facilitated, scored the rock, defended, was solid with his defensive rotations, was active on the glass, and got out in transition, just to name a few things. His ability to be able to be used in so many different ways makes him a GameChanger.
He is a wing that was a steady presence that produced on both ends of the floor.
Terry J. Drake
Gage Lawrence (6’4/PF)
School: Cambridge HS
Instagram: gagemlawrence
Twitter: N/A
Gage is a listed 6’4 PF that, pending his growth, will, at times, as he journeys through his high school career, cause him to be a mismatch problem against some schools and a liability against others. However, what he does bring to the floor is energy, effort, and a lot of activity on the glass. If I was doing a glass-cleaner article, Gage would have no doubt been on the list, as he was absolutely dominant in crashing the boards. He still has a lot of work to do offensively to add tools to his toolbox, but make no mistake about it; his ability to rebound will keep him on the floor. His energy on D, activity on the glass, and intensity on the floor should help him be a consistent contributor for Cambridge over the next few years.
What Made Him a GameChanger: Gage played with a lot of passion throughout the day, and his ability to control the boards was an imposing factor that landed him on the GameChanger list.
However, what he does bring to the floor is energy, effort, and a lot of activity on the glass.
Terry J. Drake