Atkinson joined Long Reach at the start of the new semester after moving to the area and wasted no time in proving his worth as an impact guard in county play. We got eyes on him last week in a one-point loss to Marriotts Ridge, Atkinson exploded for 23 points in the second half alone to erase a double-digit deficit while Best was sidelined with an ankle injury that took place early in the third quarter. He plays the lead guard role for the Lightning and uses his length and burst to beat his man off the dribble and play off two in the paint. His personal run started by converting a couple of three’s well beyond the arc and he never looked back. Whether it was attacking the rim for layups at a tough angle or getting his shot off with very little space, Atkinson showed what he looked like in his flow state, which is an intense volume scorer that can quickly change the momentum of a ball game. Through his three games played thus far at Long Reach, Atkinson is averaging 13 points per outing.

Atkinson recently joined Long Reach and took the first half to settle in as the Long Reach attack depended heavily upon Daniel Best, mentioned below. However, the second half belonged to Atkinson in a commanding way. The 6-foot-3 lead guard scored his game-high 23 points in the last two quarters alone and when the game was trending heavily towards Marriotts Ridge extending their double-digit lead, it was Atkinson’s shotmaking from three and his relentless attack on the rim that nearly single-handily brought Long Reach back within a possession of the lead.

Atkinson has made the move to Wilson Prep and we’ll update his profile when we re-do the rankings at the turn of the new year. Atkinson is the go to option at Wilson Prep and looks to be ready for the challenge. Atkinson finished with 23 points on 9-11 from the floor in a 21 point win over Manteo. His ability to get to the paint and finish over defenders allows him to produce at a high level consistently. He can get hot from the outside and if the jumper is falling it’s basically a guarantee he can get 20+. Atkinson has a chance to help take Wilson Prep on a special run. If his performance at Good Guys is any indicator, he’s in line for a special season.

Lamar is enrolled at New Hope Academy (Maryland) The 6’3 quick shifty guard knocked down shots and rocked defenders to sleep with his change of speed today showing off a variety of finishes in the lane finishing through contact. He displayed an impressive blend of athleticism and skill playing on JV and Varsity level.