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2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Additional Standouts - Part 4)

10/9/2020

The SEBA "Hoops & Hope" Showcase was a free, nonprofit-exposure event which provided Class of 2021 high school seniors the opportunity to compete and display their skills in front of college coaches, media, and scouts.

Here is Part 4 in a series of reports profiling prospects from the event.

Additional Standouts (Point Guards)

N'Fari Benjamin (Rabun Gap)

N'Fari Benjamin (6' 0, Rabun Gap; 2021) is an explosive lead guard with tremendous speed. Pound for pound, one of the most athletic players in the gym. Did a great job of breaking down the defense with his penetration and leading the fast break in transition. Aggressive defender; forced several turnovers with his quickness. Impressive "Team First" attitude who encouraged teammates. Griffin Cherry (6' 1, North Paulding; 2021) is a skilled and crafty point guard who had a nice showing. A player who has a great feel for the game. Deceptively quick first step, solid frame, and creates well off the dribble. Sees the floor well as a set-up man and consistently makes the right reads. Good outside shot and floater; Strong student with 3.9 GPA. Isaiah Logan (6' 0, Allatoona; 2021) is a underrated prospect that college programs throughout the Region should lay eyes on. He has good speed and thrives in uptempo situations. Has a nice handle and a sharp pull-up jumper. Can score the ball while also making players around him better with his passing ability. Active defender and plays with good intensity. Will team up with (aforementioned) Kevin Taylor and Cam Baldwin to lead a dangerous Allatoona team this season. Dylan Span (5' 9, Landmark Christian, 2021) is quick natural point guard who can score the ball; but was at his best when creating for others. Put good pressure on opposing ball handlers and was wasn't afraid to dive on a loose ball and make hustle plays. Tucker Lowe (5' 10, Pickens County, 2021) was a spark plug to his team, making a very solid contribution on both ends of the floor. He was one of the top shooters on the day, converting on six 3-point field goals across both games. He set up his teammates with several nice assists in transition; and showed some good fight on the defensive end. DaQuan Hawkins (5' 10, Central Gwinnett; 2021) is a battle tested floor general who did a good job running the point for his team. He did an excellent job using his quickness to draw defense and kick out to open shooters or dump down to cutters. A very capable scorer with a nice mid-range and three point shot, in this Showcase setting, he was focused on facilitating for his teammates.

Additional Standouts (Shooting Guards)

Nick Hein (Kennesaw Mountain)

Nick Hein (6' 3, Kennesaw Mountain; 2021) is an Elite academic prospect (4.3 GPA & 1370 SAT) with good size and strength; Combo guard that has generated some nice buzz over the past few months with his play. Unfortunately, he badly dislocated his finger in the first half of his team's first game on Saturday. Being the tough competitor he is, Nick continued to play after the injury but was noticeably hampered and couldn't display much of his outside shooting prowess. He still exhibited spurts of good play, using his strong frame and physical style to attack the rim for buckets and to set up others. His trademark intensity was not impacted, as he is very physical defender on the ball. Makayl Rakestraw (5' 9, East Jackson; 2021) was one of the top scorers in Georgia last year, averaging 22 ppg as a Junior. He displayed that scoring ability in some stretches on Saturday, where he used his muscular build and quicks to create off the dribble and score in the paint; also showed a very nice mid-range game. He was very active on both ends and contributed a variety of intangibles that were instrumental in his team winning the event Championship. Knock down shooters are always desired at every level of the game. Dylan Pumpian (6' 1, Walton; 2021) certainly fits that description as he can absolutely fill it up from beyond the arc and is one of the state's top three-point marksman. Knocked down numerous treys at camp with a sweet stroke. He finds the seams in the defense and is very good at getting open for clean looks. Sound defender and ball handler. In addition to his shooting skill, he is an extremely high academic prospect with 4.3 GPA and 32 ACT score, which should bring attention from highly select academic colleges. Andrew Peacock (6' 2, Cherokee Christian; 2021) is a fundamentally sound guard with a balanced skill set and quick first step. A capable scorer, he had several nice finishes in traffic and can hurt the defense with his penetration. He is the type of player whose full contribution doesn't show on the stat sheet. Coaches in attendance were impressed with his willingness to set screens, talk on defense, and scrap for loose balls. Winning player that will be a true asset for a program at the next level. Tyler Gorsuch (6' 1, North Cobb; 2021) is a heady guard who understands the game and plays within himself. He uses screens very well to set up his outside shot and was one of the better three-point shooters in attendance. He brings a distinct toughness to the floor, where he is an excellent position defender and is willing to do what is necessary to help his team win. He is another player on this list who is a fantastic student. Tyler carries a 4.5 GPA in the classroom. Representing the host school of North Cobb Christian, Jackson Hewitt (6' 2, North Cobb Christian; 2022) was one of only two non-seniors in attendance. He had a very solid showing. Is a capable scorer who can create his own shot. He has a good first step and displayed the ability to get into the lane and finish. Good looking jumper off the dribble and plays with good court presence. Caught the eye of a couple of college coaches who will be keeping tabs on this 2022 prospect.

Additional Standouts (Wings & Forwards)

Kai Simmons (St. Francis)

Kai Simmons (6' 8, Forward, St. Francis; 2021) is an intriguing prospect with athleticism and good size. He snatched up rebounds at a high rate and provided good rim protection as a shot blocker. Offensively, he is a bit raw; converted on high-percentage attempts in the paint and crashed the offensive boards hard. Runs floor well for his size. With continued development of his offensive skills, he has the potential to be a high impact player at the next level. Justice Devone (6' 4, Wing, Douglas County; 2021) is a player who earned positive feedback from our staff and several College Coaches in attendance. He has good size and strength for a guard and is comfortable leading the offense with the ball in his hand or playing off the ball as as a wing. Showed a diverse skill set as an inside-out threat; finished well at rim and knocked down jumpers. Plays with good energy on the defensive end and plays passing lanes well; carries a 3.7 GPA in classroom. Tremain Davis (6' 4, Wing, North Cobb Christian; 2021) was the other non-senior in attendance for the host school and showed a solid floor game. He is a good athlete with a solid frame; showed the agility to defend smaller quicker guards on the perimeter while also dropping down in the paint to defend bigger forwards. Was one of the camp's top assists leaders, where he averaged 4 per game. Has alot of untapped potential; would like to see him become more aggressive offensively.

Navaughn Maise (Discovery)

Navaughn Maise (6' 5, Wing, Discovery; 2021) is an impressive prospect with a good blend of strength and athleticism. He is strong in the paint and scored on a couple of powerful finishes in traffic. His mid-range jumper is to be respected. Has a knack for being around the ball and was one of the better rebounders in the camp. Displayed good on-court energy and leadership. His best basketball is certainly ahead of him. Eli'sha King (6' 6, Forward, Tri-Cities; 2021) was a very steady performer for his team. He is effective in the paint and can stretch the defense with his three-point shooting. Coming from a State Championship level program at Tri-Cities, he has learned to make an impact on the game doing the little things that lead to victory. We liked his defensive intensity and desire to mix it up on the boards for rebounds.

Related Content:

SEBA Hoops & Hope Recap (3 Takeaways From the Event)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 1)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 2)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 3)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Additional Standouts (Part 4)

2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Top Performers - Part 3)

10/8/2020

The SEBA "Hoops & Hope" Showcase was a free, nonprofit-exposure event which provided Class of 2021 high school seniors the opportunity to compete and display their skills in front of college coaches, media, and scouts.

Here is Part 3 in a series of reports profiling the Event's Top Performers:

Rashad King (6' 5, Wing, Evans; 2021)
Talented prospect who plays with a nice combination of athleticism and physicality. He had several strong scoring drives which exhibited his leaping ability along with the ability to finish thru contact. Equally favorable was his ability to keep the defense honest with an accurate outside stroke. We liked the on-court poise he displayed. He plays within himself and doesn't force the action; but at same time is active and assertive at the right times. Rebounds the ball very well from the wing position and has all the makings of a versatile defender at next level. Many things to like about this Augusta standout and we expect him to be a hotly pursued prospect among College Coaches in the Southeast Region.

Jordan James (6' 3, SG/SF, Kennesaw Mountain; 2021)
Intriguing prospect who brings great versatility on both ends of the floor. Has a very strong physical frame which allows him to overpower opposing guards when scoring around rim. Excellent finisher in paint. Vast majority of taller forwards don't have the quickness to match up with him on the perimeter. He has a very accurate, yet slightly unorthodox, three point shot with the ability to score in bunches. Very good rebounder for a guard. At the College level, he will have the physical tools to guard multiple positions. Excellent student with 4.0 GPA and extremely coachable. Look for him to be one of the top players in talent rich Cobb County this season.

Cameron Baldwin (6' 6, Forward, Allatoona; 2021)
Long and athletic forward who was very active and impactful on both ends of the foor. He exhibited a solid inside-out offensive skill set; showed ability to knock down mid-range shot consistently while using his quickness to attack and finish at the rim. What was most impressive was his defensive contribution. He snatched up many rebounds while also providing good rim protection. Very good help defender with knack for being around the ball. Carries a 3.7 GPA in classroom. He, along with fellow Hoops & Hope standouts Kevin Taylor and Isaiah Logan, should form an excellent Senior trio for a dangerous Allatoona team this coming season.

Jamison Winters (6' 3, CG, Chapel Hill; 2021)
Impressive multi-faceted guard who checks the boxes in numerous categories. Has good size for a guard and seemed very comfortable as both a facilitator and as a scorer. Had several nice drives in traffic mixed in with a number of converted three-pointers and pull-up jumpers. Sees the floor well and did a good job setting up his teammates from the lead guard position. We liked his desire to compete. Academically, he is an excellent student with a 3.9 GPA and 1190 SAT. Expect a breakout Senior year for him.

Kenny Colwell (6' 3, SG, Stephens County; 2021)
A first team All-Region player as a Junior last season, this was the first chance we got to see him play in person. He took full advantage of the event platform with an impressive showing. Heady guard with good frame; plays with great hustle and court awareness. Took several charges which was impressive to see in a Showcase setting. Efficient scorer. Shot the ball well from the three point land and had a few nice takes to the rim where he finished strong. Crashed boards hard on both ends. Plays with a good energy and attitude that rubs off on teammates.

Bryce Wilson (6' 4, Wing, Dacula; 2021)
Highly athletic wing guard with strong build. Had several impressive slashing drives for scores in the half court set. He runs the floor really well in transition and can finish well above the rim. His physical gifts allow him to be a disruptive force on the defensive end of the floor as an on-ball defender, in passing lanes, and as a rebounder. He is steadily growing in his understanding and feel of the game. With continued development of his perimeter skill set, the potential is there for him to be a high impact player at the next level. We are confident he will reach that point.

Related Content:

SEBA Hoops & Hope Recap (3 Takeaways From the Event)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 1)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 2)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 3)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Additional Standouts (Part 4)

2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Top Performers - Part 2)

10/7/2020

The SEBA "Hoops & Hope" Showcase was a free, nonprofit-exposure event which provided Class of 2021 high school seniors the opportunity to compete and display their skills in front of college coaches, media, and scouts.

Here is Part 2 in a series of reports profiling the Event's Top Performers:

Travis "Deuce" Harper (6' 6, Wing, St. Anne Pacelli; 2021)
Long and talented prospect with exceptional athleticism. Had several highlight reel plays that caused a surge of excitement in the gym. He uses his leaping ability well on both ends of the floor, from high rising chase down blocks on defense to soaring above-the-rim finishes on the offensive end. However, it is a mistake to categorize Deuce as solely an "athletic" wing. He demonstrated a smooth and polished skill set on the perimeter, particularly when creating pull up jumpers off the dribble. While it took awhile for his shot to get going in the first game, you could see the form and mechanics are there. He has good range on his three point stroke. He is very effective slashing to the rim and has great body control. Defensively, he exhibited very good instincts and plays passing lanes well. All in all, he is a terrific prospect with a huge ceiling.

Xavier Adams (6' 5, Wing, Central - Carrollton; 2021)
Versatile wing who impressed with his ability to many things well and impact the game in a multitude of ways. He has good athleticism, can put the ball on the floor and slash to the rim for buckets. Looked good on perimeter and displayed a consistent outside shot. Rebounds really well from the wing position and is an active defender on and off the ball. The intangibles he exhibited throughout the day were equally impressive. He plays with hustle and good energy. Vocal on court presence who was willing to take leadership for his team. Nice prospect in West Georgia who certainly needs to be on the radar of Coaches.

Joshton Mincey (5' 11, PG, Evans; 2021)
Pure Point Guard out of Augusta who did a great job leading his team as a playmaker. Has excellent quickness which allowed him to break down defense and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Good decision maker when leading the break and delivers ball at right time. Makes teammates better. While he shined as a floor general, he is adept at scoring the ball himself when needed. Uses his body well in the paint and connected on a couple of deep three pointers. Aggressive on ball defender. High quality and savvy lead guards like Joshton are at a premium.

Kervens Yacinthe (6' 5, SG, Paulding County; 2021)
High potential guard with good size who can flat out score the basketball. When he gets going, he is easily one of the best scorers in the Peach State. Quick first step; very good when driving to his left and using his body to finish at the rim or with soft touch in the paint. Is a matchup nightmare for opponents as he is often too quick for bigs to stay in front of; but has too much size for smaller guards to handle in the post. Above average three-point shooter with good range; can heat up quickly and knock down treys in bunches. Has all the physical tools to be a strong and versatile defender, but will need to place more focus in that area to truly reach the high potential he has as a player. Look for Kervens to be All-State candidate in Class AAAAAA this coming season.

LePra George (6' 2, CG, Sprayberry; 2021)
Late blooming combo guard who has really started to make a name for himself as a prospect over the past several months. Continued his ascent with a good showing on Saturday. He has lightning quick first step; Attacks defensive gaps really well on slashing drives and scores. Very good at executing tight 2 or 3 dribble move combos for efficient pull up jumpers. Has excellent body control; showed several acrobatic finishes at the rim. Has good instincts on defensive end and plays aggressively on the ball. Strong work ethic as evidenced by improvement rise this off-season. Caught strong attention from several of the College programs in attendance; we expect his recruitment to continue to trend upward in coming months.

Evan Howell (6' 8, Forward, Brookwood; 2021)
Emerging big man who had a impressive showing on the defensive end of the court. Without question, he was one of the top rim protectors in the event. Very active; blocked numerous shots in both games he played. He used his long wingspan to aggressively contest shots in the paint. He also did a good job on the boards to help jumpstart fast break opportunities for his team. Offensive repertoire is currently limited to putbacks and high percentage finishes at rim. However, the potential is there for him to blossom. He is a strong academic student (3.7 GPA; 1160 SAT). Combination of size, upside potential, and academics make him an intriguing prospect for College Programs.

Related Content:

SEBA Hoops & Hope Recap (3 Takeaways From the Event)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 1)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 2)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 3)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Additional Standouts (Part 4)

2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Top Performers - Part 1)

10/6/2020

The SEBA "Hoops & Hope" Showcase was a free, nonprofit-exposure event which provided Class of 2021 high school seniors the opportunity to compete and display their skills in front of college coaches, media, and scouts.

Here is Part 1 in a series of reports profiling the Event's Top Performers:

Kristian Ford (6' 4, SG, East Paulding; 2021)
Could make a strong case for the event's top performer on the day. After a very strong summer on the travel ball circuit, Kristian brought that same momentum into Hoops & Hope and shined brightly. He is a long scoring guard with good athleticism and a wiry strength that allows him to finish well at the cup. His perimeter skill set is extremely versatile. Whether scoring on pull-ups, long treys, or breaking his defender off the dribble, he was an absolute handful for opposing defenses. Thrives in the open court; plays with good speed but under control. Defensively, made several impressive plays with his length and athleticism. Would expect both Low Major D1's and D2 programs from across the South to be taking close look. Has the tools to be very good player at the next level.

Jason Edwards (6' 0, PG, Parkview; 2021)
Explosive Point Guard who is wired to score the basketball at a high clip. Plays with great energy, skill, and confidence. Uses his exceptional speed and quickness to get in the paint at will. Elite finisher around the basket; great body control. Has the rare ability to finish very consistently amongst the trees and thru contact. Has nice pull-up game from mid-range and shot the three ball at a high percentage. Led entire Gwinnett County, a National hotbed for hoops talent, in scoring last year as a Junior at 21 PPG. Should be one of the State's top players this coming season in Class 7A. Has 4.0 GPA in classroom. Has all the ingredients to be a standout guard at the College level.

Franklin Almonte (6' 5, Wing/Forward, Dalton; 2021)
Very talented prospect with exceptional potential. A native of the Dominican Republic, he is tremendous "Rodman like" rebounder with long frame and excellent leaping ability. Was an absolute beast on the offensive boards. Scored at a high clip around the rim and in the paint. Can hit the mid-range shot with consistency and had several nice assists to cutting teammates. As impressive as his offensive play was, he did a great job blocking shots and providing help defense to teammates. Averaged 23 ppg and an eye popping 17 rebounds per game last season as a Junior (which ranked him Top 10 nationally according to maxpreps). He is a true gem up in far North Georgia near the Tennessee border. He is a player worthy of strong looks from College programs.

Deandre Smart (6' 6, Forward, New Hampstead; 2021)
Strong forward with good bounce and high octane motor; was highly effective as a scorer and rebounder throughout the day. Seemed to always be around the ball and making plays. Gets off the floor quickly and uses his strong frame to power thru contact at the rim. One of the top rebounders in camp. Runs the floor really well as evidenced by impressive alley-oop dunk he converted while running length of floor on the break. Knocked down several mid-range jumpers in flow of the offense. Is the type of interior high energy workhorse that helps good teams win games at College level. Impressive prospect out of Savannah area.

Kevin Taylor (6' 5, Wing, Allatoona; 2021)
Active and lengthy wing was one of the event's top scorers. Has a good versatility to his game, can hurt opposing defenses in variety of ways. Very good with the ball in his hands. Creates space and his jumper well off the dribble. Has smooth shooting stroke and knocked down the three ball with good accuracy and range. Keeps defense off balance with ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. Skill set should translate very well to the College game. Expecting a huge Senior season out of him along with fellow Allatoona standouts Cam Baldwin and Isaiah Logan.

DeCameron Porter (6' 6, Forward, LaFayette; 2021)
Breakout performer whose combination of length, athleticism, and activity around the rim impressed. Came into the event as one of the more unheralded players in attendance, however, his production and potential caught the attention of both College coaches and scouts alike. He was one of the event's top rebounders; was high energy on the offensive and defensive boards; provided strong rim protection. Got out on the break and ran floor well in transition. Stretched the floor with an adequate three point shot. Has a great frame to put on upper body strength. Player who is just scratching the surface in terms of his overall potential; Consistency will be key aspect in his development. Should be one of North Georgia's top players this season.

Related Content:

SEBA Hoops & Hope Recap (3 Takeaways From the Event)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 1)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 2)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Top Performers (Part 3)

SEBA Hoops & Hope - Additional Standouts (Part 4)

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2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Additional Standouts - Part 4)

2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Top Performers - Part 3)

2020 SEBA Hoops & Hope (Top Performers - Part 2)

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