SEBA Atlanta College Showcase Top Performers (Recap - Part 3)

The 2017 Southeast Basketball Academy (SEBA) Atlanta College Showcase took place on March 18 on the campus of Oglethorpe University. For the past twelve years, this event has successfully brought together available prospects from throughout the South and provided them with an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to College Coaches. The event has served as bridge between players and coaches and has resulted in scholarships and playing opportunities for hundreds of players since its inception.  
 
This year’s edition of the SEBA College Showcase carried on that tradition, as 180 prospects representing all parts of Georgia as well as seven other states were eager to compete and display their talent to the large collection of college coaches in attendance.

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

RELATED: Top Performers (Part 1)
                   Top Performers (Part 2)

Eddie Figueroa (Sprayberry; 2017)

​Additional Camp Standouts:

2017 Guards

The camp roster included a very deep pool of talented perimeter players worthy of close looks from college coaches. Cobb County standout Eddie Figueroa (6’0, PG, Sprayberry) is a jet quick high scoring lead guard who takes the ball to the rim extremely well. He is a threat from deep and very good in transition; has quick hands and picked up his share of steals on the day. Eddie averaged 21 ppg this past season and was named All-Region. DJ Jackson (5’ 7, PG, South Paulding) was one of the smallest players in camp but he has “big” game. The ultra-quick point guard is a first rate distributor and set-up man. He has a solid three point shot that prevents defense from sagging. DJ is also a very good on ball defender who can harass opponent’s length of floor. A proven winner, he was major contributor for Coach Gil Davis’ South Paulding squad which spent bulk of season ranked # 1 in State. Kennon Watkins (6’ 1, PG, Booker T Washington Magnet) is a talented lead guard out of Montgomery, Alabama. He has a very quick first step and good handle which allows him to penetrate the lane and create. Excellent pull-up jumper and can finish strong around basket. Kennon is also an excellent student in classroom. Quintus Evans (5’ 9, PG, Stockbridge) was one of purest point guards in camp and one of the event’s top assist leaders. He does a great job running the show for his team and making players around him better. Excellent passer who can also score the ball when situation calls for it. He is also an active and vocal defender. 

Elijah Butts (2017; Kennesaw Mountain)

​Elijah Butts (6’ 1, CG, Kennesaw Mountain) is a strongly built combo guard who can put up points and score from all three zones. The 1st Team All-Region player has good defensive versatility and rebounds well from the guard spot. Holt Shannon (6’ 2, SG, Mt. Paran) is a multi-dimensional and skilled guard that needs to be evaluated by higher academic programs. He has a nice pull up jumper where he creates good separation from defense. Has strong build and can body smaller guards on way to basket. Moves well in half court set and utilizes screens well to set up shot. Uriah Pickens (6’ 2, SG, Decatur) is a physical guard with nice game. He showed good shooting ability, knocking down threes off the dribble and the catch. He uses change of speed moves very well to penetrate and has the strength to finish strong at the basket. Jesse Holt (6’ 0. PG, Dade County) is a skilled guard who showed a well-rounded perimeter game. The North Georgia standout knocked down numerous shots and distributed the ball to his teammates in scoring position, while playing with poise and court presence. Jaylen Love (5’ 11, SG, Hampton) is an athletic combo guard who scored the ball well. He penetrates aggressively and thrives in transition. An All-Region selection at Hampton this year, he plays with intensity and strong desire to compete. Chandler Gibson (5’ 11, PG, Monroe Area) is a skilled player who knows how to play the game. He is a deadly long range shooting threat, and balances his outside prowess with ability to beat man off the dribble and finish at the hoop. The All-Region selection sees floor well and had his share of well-timed assists. Derrick Newberry (6’0, CG, South Effingham) is nice looking guard who can create with the ball in his hands. He has above average quickness coupled with good floor vision. The All-Region player out of Savannah area scored the ball with efficiency. Clayton County’s TreJon Taylor (6’ 0, CG, Mt. Zion) is an athletic guard with good quickness and playmaking ability. He showed a deadly pull-up jump shot as well as ability to get to the rim and finish around bigger players. Whid Childs (5’ 10, PG, Marist) is a skilled guard with a high basketball IQ. The All-Region 1st Team selection has a nice handle and outside stroke. His court stability and extremely high test scores make him a prospect worthy of close looks from elite academic institutions.  ​​

Holt Shannon (2017, Mt. Paran Christian)

Underclassmen Guards

The Underclassmen also boosted a good number of standout perimeter players. Christian Kelly (6’ 3, SG, Duluth, 2018) is a high potential player that College Coaches should track this Spring/Summer. The long and skilled guard can create his shot very well off the dribble and is a knockdown three-point shooter who can light it up when in a rhythm. Tahkwon King (6’ 1, CG, Jefferson County, 2018) is a talented player who drew attention with his productivity and athleticism on both ends of the floor. The 1st Team All-Region player was very good in transition and had several eye opening dribble moves and finishes. William “Tripp” Black (6’ 3, CG, Charles Drew, 2018) is a big-time shooter who can fill it up from beyond the arc. He has deep range, moves well without ball, and has the ability to get real hot and reel off string of treys. Jahwan Smith (5’ 10, PG, Kell, 2018) is a speedy floor general who is an excellent distributor and on-ball defender. He averaged six assists a game this year for a strong Kell squad. Another impressive prospect to keep eye on is Wil Walraven (6’ 2, CG, Sonoraville, 2018). The talented combo guard has the ability to score in bunches all over the floor. The All-Region selection averaged 19 ppg as a Junior this past season and has already reached the 1000 point plateau with a season left to go in his career. Joshua Strong (6’ 0, CG, 2018) is a dangerous scorer with very quick first step. The left handed guard attacks rim and uses body well. Averaged 18 ppg as a Junior in strong All-Region campaign at Kennesaw Mountain. Andy Blair (6’ 2, SG, Palm Harbor, FL, 2018) is a heady and fundamentally sound player who had a nice showing. Versatile and well rounded, he shot the ball well from beyond the arc, distributed, and made smart plays. Jalyn Hickman (5’ 10, PG, Gatlinburg-Pittman, TN, 2019) is a talented lead guard with a bright future. One of the top sophomores in attendance, He showed a high level of skill as well as a quarterback’s mentality on the floor.  Talique Williams (5’ 8, PG, Harris County, 2020) was the youngest player in attendance, but that did not stop him from having a strong showing. The cat quick point guard, who was named 1st Team All-Region as a freshman this season, plays with a maturity beyond his age and is a very good distributor. With continued development, he has a chance to be a really special player.
  

​Photos provided by Tom Baylark -- tbaylark@eyewasthere.com