Holiday hoops tournament guide

December means it is tournament time around the country. Georgia teams are traveling all over the country for national events. Some teams are staying close to home for great tournaments within the state. Here is a look at the events that I know about during the holiday season.

If there is a tournament that is missing and you have a link and/or a schedule, please email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com.

City of Palms Classic
Dec. 18-23 at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Meyers, Florida
http://www.cityofpalmsclassic.com/2008teams.html
Georgia teams in the field: Fayette County, Wheeler

King of the Bluegrass
Dec 18-23 Fairdale, Kentucky
http://www.kingofthebluegrass.com/
Georgia team in the field: Cherokee

Savannah Holiday Classic
Dec. 19-22 Savannah, Georgia
http://www.sccpss.com/NR/rdonlyres/902599ED-4D81-47C3-8CE6-28BAD87AB963/22746/Brackets1.pdf
Georgia teams in the field: Groves, Sandy Creek, Beach, East Paulding, Camden, Savannah, Lovejoy

Chick-Fil-A Classic
Dec. 19-23 at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, S.C.
http://www.chick-fil-aclassic.com/
Georgia team in the field: Miller Grove

Villa Rica Highway 78 Classic
Dec 19-22 at Villa Rica High School
http://www.kmhsbasketball.com/9thAnnualHighway78ClassicSchedule.pdf
Georgia teams in the field: Kennesaw Mountain, Villa Rica, Woodward Academy, South Paulding, Paulding County, Shiloh

Dacula Christmas Tournament
Dec. 19-23 at Dacula High School
Georgia teams in the field: Cedar Shoals, Rockdale County, Mill Creek, Dacula

Prep All-Stars Holiday Classic
Dec. 20-23 at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C.
Georgia teams in the field: Centennial, Walton

SEBA Atlanta High School Hoop Festival
Dec. 20 at Cobb County Civic Center
http://www.southeastbasketballacademy.com/atlanta_events.htm
Georgia teams in the field: Osborne, Etowah, Jonesboro, Sprayberry, Lassiter, Blessed Trinity, Harrison, Hillgrove, Southwest Atlanta Christian, Marietta

Upward Classic
Dec. 20-23 at Dorman High School in Roebuck, S.C.
http://www.upwardclassic.org/upwardclassicorg.html
Georgia team in the field: Franklin County

Memphis vs. Atlanta Roundball Classic
Dec. 26-29 at Mays High School
http://www.atlmemphisbball.com/schedule.html
Georgia teams in the field: Mays, Douglass, Lithonia, Redan, Stephenson, Westlake

Kingdom of the Sun
Dec. 26-30 at Vangaurd High School in Ocala, Florida
http://www.kingdomofthesun.net/index.htm
Georgia teams in the field: Columbia, Milton

Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic
Dec. 26-30 at West Ashley High School in Charleston, S.C.
http://roundballclassic.com/
Georgia teams in the field: Southwest Atlanta Christian, Whitefield Academy

Great Florida Shootout
Dec. 26-30 at Poinciana High School in Kissimmee, Florida
http://www.gflso.com/index.htm
Georgia team in the field: Savannah

Beach Ball Classic
Dec. 26-31 at Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
http://www.beachballclassic.com/Home/tabid/58/Default.aspx
Georgia teams in the field: Fayette County, Wheeler

GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational
Dec. 26-30 at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C.
http://www.holidayinvitational.com/
Georgia team in the field: Centennial

Big Orange Classic
Dec. 26-29 at Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama
Georgia team in the field: Dunwoody

Arby's Classic
Dec. 26-30 at Viking Hall in Bristol, Tenn.
Georgia team in the field: Miller Grove

Chargers Christmas Hooptacular
Dec. 26-29 at Eagle's Landing Christian Academy
Georgia teams in the field: ELCA, Eastside, Whitewater, Forest Park, Mundy’s Mill, Riverwood, Union Grove, Greenforest Christian

Deep South Classic
Dec. 27-29 at Brookwood High School
http://www.deepsouthclassic.com/index.html
Georgia teams in the field: Brookwood, Grayson, Greater Atlanta Christian, Loganville
North Cobb, Peachtree Ridge, South Cobb, South Forsyth

North Gwinnett Powerade Tournament
Dec. 27-30 at North Gwinnett High School
http://www.northgwinnettbasketball.com/
Georgia teams in the field: Lakeside Dekalb, Parkview, Richmond Academy, Alpharetta, Newton, Houston County, North Gwinnett

MedAssets Hooch Basketball Classic
Dec 27-30 at Chattahoochee High School
http://www.hoochhoops.com/downloads/Hooch%20Tournament%20Bracket1.doc
Wayne County, Meadowcreek, Seqouyah, Northview, Berkmar, Lassiter, North Paulding, Chattahoochee

The Kruel Classic Boys 8
Dec. 27-30 at Coral Springs High School in Coral Springs, Florida
http://www.kreul.com/index.html
Georgia teams in the field: Collins Hill, Dublin

Schnucks Holiday Classic
Dec. 27-30 at Collinsville High School in Collinsville, Illinois
http://www.kahoks.org/collinsvilleholidayclassic/
Georgia team in the field: Walton

Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic
Dec 27-30 Daytona Beach, Florida
http://www.sport-travel.com/DaytonaBeach/sunshineclassic.cfm
Georgia teams in the field: Harrison

Sweet South Classic
Dec. 29-31 at Morgan County High School
http://www.sweetsouthclassic.org/
Georgia teams in the field: East Paulding, Alcovy, SW Dekalb, Riverdale, Rockdale County, Burke County, Hancock Central, Thomson, Athens Christian, Luella, Decatur, North Oconee, Putnam County, Morgran County

Bojangles HS Basketball Shootout
http://www.athletesforyouth.org/
Dec. 29-31 at Marvin Ridge High School in Waxhaw, N.C.
Georgia team in the field: Norcross

T-Mobile Invitational
Dec. 29-30 at Ball State
http://www.t-mobileinvitational.com/bracket.asp
Georgia team in the field: South Atlanta

Hoops in Overdrive Shoot-Out
Jan. 2, 3 at Kennesaw State
http://www.littlefieldbasketball.com/
Georgia teams in the field: Cross Keys, Hillgrove, Dunwoody, South Cobb, Fayette County, Morgan County, South Gwinnett, South Atlanta, McEachern

Notes from my notepad: Dec. 14

Five things I'm buying this week:

1. Centennial. Wow, what a win at Wheeler on Friday night. Great crowd. Great energy. Great poise. And what a great player Lorenzo Brown is. The question mark surrounding the future N.C. State has always been his ability to take over in the home stretch. Against South Atlanta, a game Centennial lost at Georgia State last month, Brown did all he could do. Against Wheeler, Brown took over in the fourth quarter, scoring an amazing end to end drive with an in and out dribble that he took to his left and scored. The bucket gave Centennial the go ahead score. A play later, he made a beautiful assist that helped seal the deal. He's my clear cut AAAAA Player of the Year right now.

2. Wheeler having some issues. There are only two players on the team in my opinion that are making correct basketball plays – Richard Howell and Karl Cochran. The rest of the team gets too immersed in one-on-one thinking. The Wildcats have the most talent of any AAAAA team in the state. There is no denying that. Two keys to this team: Better decision making from Phil Taylor and more production from Ari Stewart. That alone is 15 more points for the Wildcats and four to six made field goals given up on defense.

3. Georgia State recruiting the state. It has been a long time since I've seen the kind of attention given to the state of Georgia by the Panthers. Assistant coach Scepter Brownlee has been working the local kids. Don't be surprised for a big in-state recruiting haul in 2010 by GSU.

4. Peachtree Ridge sophomore Cory Blackwell. Don't get in his way or else you'll be looking for a trainer. The 6-5 sophomore is the real deal. Blackwell put 25 points and 15 rebounds against Norcross on Thursday night. I can't tell you the last time an in-state sophomore did that against the Blue Devils. He just owned the paint in his team's tough loss the Norcross. He reminds me a lot of Penn State forward Jamelle Cornley.

5. Time away from the computer, phone and Blackberry. I'll be back on Jan. 5. Upon my return, the Top 20 Power Poll will return. (Don't everyone jump out of chairs at once.) Thanks for all of the support during my transition to another post within the hoops media world. The phone calls, emails, texts, etc. have all been great and very supportive. Too bad a bean counter in Sunnyvale, California doesn't agree.

Here are some observations from last week:

- Norcross lowered the banner for last year's state championship team on Thursday night when the Blue Devils played their first home game of the season. Eddie Martin, who surprisingly left the school in the summer for Greater Atlanta Christian, was on hand for the celebration. He helped guide the team to an 86-9 record in that span. Wow. That's big time.

- Congrats to Jesse McMillan on his first win at home as the new Norcross head coach. There are few better people involved in the game of basketball than McMillan.

- Want to know the best team from the Augusta area? Richmond Academy. The team is 6-0 and taking care of business and big man Ricardo Glenn is one of the best players on the east side of the state. Big game on Friday when the 6-0 team travels to defending AAA state champs Glenn Hills (4-2).

- South Atlanta is beating teams by an average margin of victory of 45 points. Centennial, arguably the best team in AAAA, was the closest game and the Knights lost to the Hornets by 15 at the start of the season. Can you say total domination?

- Is there a team that is currently ranked in the coaches' poll that doesn't have a transfer? Geez, this is getting out of hand. If you are good enough, then prove yourself as a winner with the group of kids you grew up with. Exposure is such a misunderstood term these days.

Food for thought: Of the 12 Georgia players ranked in the Rivals150, eight are with the same school that they enrolled in as freshmen. In comparison, there are 11 players that are considered three-star players (good mid-major to high-major prospects) that are at the school that they enrolled as freshmen. There are seven three-stars that transferred.

Notes from my notepad: Dec. 8

I was in Washington D.C. last weekend for a fine event much like the Elite 8 Thanksgiving Classic at Georgia State.

The event was four games a day for two days. What about this idea…how about the state or a third party puts together a Super Saturday series throughout the season that takes on the same idea.

The events are not tournament style. Teams won't have to commit anything other than playing at a neutral venue. Why not have the top games within in region play on the same day at the same location.

The Super Saturday series can rotate through Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Albany, Macon and NW Georgia. That is 56 teams playing on an eight week tour, highlighting the best the state has to offer.

Sure, it sounds simple. Sure, it sounds like a great idea. Sure, it sounds do-able. That just means it won't happen. But we can dream, can't we?

Here are some observations from last week:

- Dunwoody will have some major growing pains this year. The Wildcats don't have a go-to guy at this point. Javon McKay, an athletic junior, needs to be the closer. Scott Bracco's club is young and they will have their challenges this season.

- Don't sleep on Chamblee. I know I say that every year but this year's team should win their sub-region. Marcus Cowan is a nice pick-up for Tennessee State and juniors Langston Hall and David Mason form a nice 1-2 punch on the wings.

- Single A might be the thinnest it has been for talent since the early 2000s. Hancock Central looks like the clear cut favorite at this point and no one really looks like much of a challenge…yet.

- While playing out of state teams like Coolidge (D.C.) and Dominguez (Calif.) are great challenges for a team like Wheeler, playing teams like Miller Grove or Westlake would be a greater challenge. Not sure why Wheeler would have out of state teams come to Marietta for a single game.

- High school basketball is not the same without my man Derrick Mahone of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution not on the sidelines this year. He is one of the best in the business and hopefully the AJC can see fit to have him back where he is at his best.

- One more quick note, I don't work for Rivals.com/Yahoo! anymore. Yahoo! made 1,500 layoffs yesterday. I was one of those numbers.

Five things I'm buying this week

1. McEachern as a Final Four team. They aren't there yet but the pieces of the puzzle are there for success. With all of the chatter going to other teams in the state, the Indians are quietly doing big work in AAAAA.

2. Hard working paying off. Former Whitefield Academy guard Kelvin McConnell is the second leading scorer for Kennesaw State (5-2) at 12.7 points per game. He is one of the top shooters in the Atlantic Sun (no surprise there). McConnell worked hard to get his body into shape and plays the most minutes of any Owl. That is a big compliment if you know how Tony Ingle runs his team.

3. Groves as a surprise team in the tournament to anyone outside of Savannah. I had a chance to see them on Tuesday night and they have a number of players that can step up and make plays. The team has size, depth, some shooters and good momentum right now. Circle Jan. 9 as the game to watch when Rebels play host to Savannah High. Should be the battle of the top team in my favorite Georgia city.

4. Dublin. The new No. 1 team in AA is quietly enjoying great success. The Irish have been clubbing teams to submission and senior guard Sherrard Brantley is the best shooter in the state no one is talking about. Remember, this team made it to the Final Four last year and won state three years ago. AA is wide open this season, too. The Irish are one of the top seven teams in the state right now.

5. A vacation. I'll be taking one next week until Jan. 3. Lord knows I need some time away right now. Anyone looking for an accomplished sports writer?

Notes from my notepad: Dec. 3

Notes from my notepad: Dec. 3

Have you ever been so swamped with work that you look at your calendar and wonder where the heck the last month went?

Yeah, that's me. That is my life at the moment.

The season has officially started and we are two weeks into games. I've been out and about for over a dozen games so far and have seen some good players but not too many great games. I'm still very much waiting for a wow moment this season.

Here are a couple of observations on what I've seen so far:

- Miller Grove is the best team I've seen so far. They are too big, too deep and too good in the press. Mfon Udofia is the best leader in the state and this team will be scary in tournament play.

Speaking of Miller Grove, the GHSA's suspension of Sharman White is idiotic. He is shelved because of something that happened five years ago. There are plenty of other items of business that others have been able to "get by" with. This state has plenty of ridiculous transfers that go unnoticed. Shame on whoever is to blame for this one.

- Liberty County is the best team in the state that no one, and I mean no one, is talking about. They are a legitimate contender in AAA.

- Well…until they run into South Atlanta, of course. The Hornets look great with Andre Malone, a North Clayton transfer, now in the lineup. I saw Malone have one of his worst games against South Atlanta last year. This year, I saw him have one of his very best games of his career against Centennial.

Derrick Favors is pretty good, in case you didn't know that already. Do yourself a favor and go and watch him in high school this season.

Favors and Malone aren't doing it alone. Nick Jacobs could very well be the best big man in 2011 in Georgia. He has gotten so much better in a year's time and working against Favors everyday in practice doesn't hurt.

- I excepted to see more out of Westlake. They have tons of talent, just not a group that seems to be on the same page. Less turnovers, more production in the post and better perimeter scoring are the three areas for improvement.

- Keep an eye out for Hillgrove, a good-looking team in region 7-AAAA. They could be a No. 1 seed in the state tournament. The guards are good and Heath Houston is a fine sleeper in Cobb County.

- One of the big wins for Hillgrove was an overtime thriller against North Cobb, another state tournament favorite. With Sprayberry transfer Colin Slotter now playing for coach Terry Gorsuch, this team will be a contender. Slotter was outstanding against Central Gwinnett at the South Forsyth tournament.

- Tickets are going fast for the Trent Wiedeman bandwagon. The GAC junior will have a huge season for his new coach, Eddie Martin. Martin is the resident big man guru in Georgia. Wiedeman has been good so far in the young season.

- Rockdale County sophomore Kevin Ware is the second coming of Senario Hillman.

Five things I'm buying this week

1. Westlake's Javaris Bryant to Bethune-Cookman. Can you say steal?

2. The Elite 8 Thanksgiving Hardwood Classic. Great one-day event downtown at Georgia State. If a big time player wasn't playing, he was in the building watching it. That's great news for Rod Barnes and his great staff at GSU.

3. Parkview and South Forsyth both have great pre-Thanksgiving events. They are staples on my calendar and I'll go back every year as long as they host the events.

4. $1.52 per gallon gas I bought at the new Kroger on Hwy. 140 in Cherokee County. That comes in big this time of year.

5. Wes Durham as a play-by-play announcer. I listened to him call the Jacksonville-Georgia Tech game last Thursday on my way home from the Rockdale County win over Stephenson. Durham is one of the best in the business at what he does.

Teams I've seen so far this season: (27) Centennial, Central Gwinnett, Chamblee, Creekside, Cross Creek, Dunwoody, East Coweta, Elbert County, GAC, Hillgrove, Lithia Springs, Loganville, Marist, Meadowcreek, Miller Grove (twice), North Cobb, Northview, Riverwood, Rockdale County, Sandy Creek, South Atlanta, Southwest Atlanta Christian, Stephenson, Tucker, Wesleyan, Westlake, Westminster

Week 1 Superlatives

Top player of the week: Colin Slotter, SF, North Cobb (MURRAY STATE)
Top senior of the week: Colin Slotter, SF, North Cobb (MURRAY STATE)
Top unsigned senior of the week: Jarvis Brown, SF/SG, Meadowcreek
Top junior of the week: Rod Rucker, SF, Elbert County
Top junior sleeper of the week: Santoine Butler, PF, Cross Creek
Top sophomore of the week: None
Top freshman of the week: Kyle Meyer, C, Northview

(Players are chosen from the games that I personally watched that week.)

Week 2 Superlatives

Top player of the week: Derrick Favors, PF, South Atlanta
Top senior of the week: Derrick Favors, PF, South Atlanta
Top unsigned senior of the week: Justin Taylor, PF, East Coweta
Top junior of the week: Trent Wiedeman, PF, GAC
Top junior sleeper of the week: Michael Murray, SG, Southwest Atlanta Christian
Top sophomore of the week: Nick Jacobs, PF, South Atlanta
Top freshman of the week: Tony Parker, C, Miller Grove

(Players are chosen from the games that I personally watched that week.)

30 seniors set to sign

Wednesday is the first day of the early signing period for basketball prospects. There are 30 players that are committed in the class of 2009 in Georgia's loaded talent pool.

Here is a look at who will likely be signing between Nov. 12 to Nov. 19.

Manny Atkins, Tucker – Virginia Tech
Shaquil Barber, Griffin – South Carolina State
Brandon Barnes, Chapel Hill – Lipscomb
Levi Barnes, Heirway Christian – Samford
Terrell Barnes, Riverdale – Tennessee Tech
Kadeem Batts, McEachern – Providence
Lorenzo Brown, Centennial – N.C. State
Brian Cole, Dacula – UNC-Greensboro
Marcus Cowan, Chamblee – Tennessee State
Kenny Hall, Redan – Tennessee
Jerome Hamilton, Worth County – Wichita State
Kammeon Holsey, Hancock Central – Georgia Tech
Richard Howell, Wheeler – N.C. State
Noel Johnson, Fayette County – Southern Cal
Shawn Kemp, Cherokee – Alabama
Milos Kluet, North Cobb Christian – Lipscomb
Andre Malone, South Atlanta – Auburn
DeMario Mayfield, Franklin County – Georgia
Daniel Miller, Loganville Christian – Georgia
Jeremy Olsen, Collins Hill – Utah
Brandon Reed, Whitefield Academy – Arkansas State
Charlie Reddick, McEachern – Furman
Glen Rice, Walton – Georgia Tech
Colin Slotter, North Cobb – Murray State
Terrance Shannon, Mary Persons – Florida State
Josh Sparks, Savannah Christian – Jacksonville
Ari Stewart, Wheeler – Wake Forest
Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove – Georgia Tech
Torin Walker, Northside – Oklahoma State
James Vincent, Northside – Georgia State

If you know of a senior that is committed to a school, regardless of level, please let me know. Email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com.

Getting closer....

The season is right around the corner and there isn't anyone in the state more excited for another season of basketball. The Georgia Hoops blog will be picking up steam in the near future. My duties at Rivals.com have been keeping me quite busy with the national news but I'm ready to dive into another year of high school hoops in the Peach State.

For starters, I'd like to know who the top freshman, in your opinion, are in the state. Some of you may know that I don't really keep up on the young guys. I don't see the need to get these young pups all excited about themselves this early in the game but it is important to know who the guys are to watch down the road. I've seen some talent in the 2012 class already at various fall camps. But I'd like to get your thoughts. If you know of a good freshman, please email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com.

Here is what I'm looking for:

- Player's name
- Height
- Weight
- School
- Position
- Why I need to know about them.

There is much more to coming on the Georgia Hoops blog, the only completely FREE site on the Internet that covers the state like this one.

See you soon.

Justin

2010 sleepers from GA Hoops Fall Showcase

Click HERE for the look back at the 2010 sleepers from the event.

Chamblee's David Mason is pictured.

More on the 2009 GA Hoops Fall Showcase participants

Click HERE for the look back at the 2009 sleepers from the event.

Top underclassmen from GA Hoops Fall Showcase

Youth was served at the Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase this year as a handful of 2011 prospects and one 2012 prospect stood out last weekend. Here is a look back at the young players that caught my eye at the event. Click HERE for the report on Rivals.com.

The sleeper reports and further notes from the camp are forthcoming.

(Pictured: Miller Grove freshman Tony Parker.)

Juniors rule the camp

The strength of the 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase was certainly in the Class of 2010. There were a number of standouts in the junior class. Here is my report on the ten top performers I, along with my experienced staff of evaluators saw, over the weekend. Click HERE for the report on Rivals.com.

(Pictured is Jamail Jones of Greenforest Christian.)

Top five senior performers from camp

The 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase held last weekend at the Samson's Health and Fitness Center in Lithonia, Ga., was a major success. For my breakdown of the top five senior performers, click HERE for the recap on Rivals.com. Or HERE for the report on Yahoo! Sports.

There will be plenty more on the 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase throughout the week on Rivals.com. Next up: Top five performers from the class of 2010. I will also recap the camp in it's entirety, the top sleepers in the 2009 and 2010 classes as well as top performers from 2011.

So what's next?

For those of you that made it out to the 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase, thank you so much for coming. It was a great event this year with great players, great competition, great instruction by great instructors and a great desire to get better in all things.

A couple of post camp notes:

- To register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, please click HERE.

- To register for the SAT test click HERE.

- To register for the ACT test click HERE.

- To research colleges using the US News & World Report, click HERE.

- I will begin on Monday posting reports from the camp on Rivals.com. They are free stories on the worldwide leader in college basketball recruiting coverage.

Rosters for Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase

Jersey Color/No. Player School Grade Ht/Wt
Team 1
Grey 18 Karl Cochran Wheeler 2011 6-1/165
Grey 19 C.J. Denson Shaw 2010 6-2/170
Grey 42 Nigel Snipes Paideia 2011 6-5/185
Grey 28 Vincent Bailey Kennesaw Mountain 2010 6-7/210
Grey 29 Jerome Hamilton Worth County 2009 6-7/210
Grey 1 Michael Brown 1st Presbyterian 2010 6-1/140
Grey 11 Zach Lamb Norcross 2009 6-1/175
Grey 39 Terrell Johnson Liberty County 2009 6-4/210
Grey 20 Alex Walton Milton 2011 6-7/170
Grey 60 Brandon Johnson Albany 2010 6-8/200

Team 2
Grey 2 Phil Taylor Wheeler 2010 5-9/160
Grey 21 Ryan LeGates Blessed Trinity 2009 6-3/165
Grey 30 Adrian Rogers Centennial 2010 6-5/195
Grey 40 Donte Williams SACA 2010 6-9/200
Grey 54 Adrian Spellman Appling County 2009 6-9/250
Grey 12 Kymmon Woods East Hall 2011 6-3/175
Grey 24 Joab Jerome Wheeler 2010 6-3/185
Grey 47 Arthur Ansley 1st Presbyterian 2010 6-6/188
Grey 43 Tyler Arnold Calhoun 2009 6-5/185
Grey 48 Charles Mitchell Wheeler 2012 6-7/220

Team 3
Grey 3 Roger Hubbard SACA 2011 5-11/146
Grey 50 Josiah Moore Collins Hill 2011 6-4/180
Grey 49 Chad Johnson Westlake 2010 6-4/200
Grey 57 Tony Jacob Westlake 2010 6-8/270
Grey 22 Derek Zittrauer South Forsyth 2009 6-8/205
Grey 46 Adrien Coleman Stephenson 2009 6-3/185
Grey 6 Darrien Dean South Cobb 2011 5-11/165
Grey 45 Javon McKay Dunwoody 2010 6-4/185
Grey 51 Julian Goode Dunwoody 2010 6-6/195

Team 4
Grey 7 Romeo Lewis North Cobb Christian 2011 6-0/155
Grey 52 Joey Bell 1st Presbyterian 2009 6-3/190
Grey 53 Jamail Jones Greenforest 2010 6-6/200
Grey 31 Pierre Tyson Columbia 2010 6-5/205
Grey 58 Jamarious Sykes Bradwell Institute 2009 7-2/250
Grey 4 Tyler Diehl Sequoyah 2010 5-10/150
Grey 23 Justin Stubbs Wilkinson County 2010 6-0/160
Grey 32 E. Victor Nickerson Paideia 2011 6-6/175
Grey 33 Hunter Briggs Dunwoody 2010 6-8/185

Team 5
Grey 25 Tekele Cotton SACA 2011 6-1/165
Grey 26 Jordan Brown Westlake 2010 6-4/180
Grey 44 Noel Johnson Fayette County 2009 6-6/195
Grey 34 Garrett Kapydlowski Dunwoody 2010 6-7/195
Grey 59 Tony Parker Miller Grove 2012 6-8/255
Grey 8 Kevin Dukes Stephenson 2009 5-9/145
Grey 13 Brit Duncan Wilkinson County 2009 6-2/170
Grey 35 Colin Slotter North Cobb 2009 6-5/185
Grey 56 Santoine Butler Cross Creek 2010 6-6/195

Team 6
Grey 27 Brandon Barnes Chapel Hill 2009 6-2/185
Grey 36 JerShon Cobb Columbia 2010 6-4/180
Grey 37 Michael Calhoun Kennesaw Moutain 2009 6-7/185
Grey 55 Adrian Hubbard Norcross 2010 6-8/220
Grey 9 Levi Barnes Heirway Christian 2009 6-10/205
Grey 5 Chris Hollman South Cobb 2011 5-11/170
Grey 38 Vincent Wallace SACA 2010 6-2/190
Grey 10 Maalik Reynolds Westminster 2010 6-6/175
Grey 41 Trey Geter Wilkinson County 2010 6-6/175

Team 7
White 20 Sheldon Strickland Lakeside 2010 6-0/160
White 28 Rion Brown Liberty County 2010 6-5/187
White 29 Chris Grier Columbia 2010 6-4/185
White 46 Marcus Thornton Westlake 2010 6-7/215
White 55 Shawn Kemp, Jr. Cherokee 2009 6-10/220
White 21 Kharon Butcher Paideia 2011 6-0/155
White 22 Brandon Hayman Mill Creek 2011 6-2/175
White 47 Maliek Daniels Shaw 2009 6-3/185
White 44 Dominique Elliott Groves 2010 6-8/210
White 50 David Wright, Jr. Wilkinson County 2010 6-6/175

Team 8
White 1 Jonathan Dabel Kennesaw Mountain 2010 5-11/155
White 48 Brandon Reed Whitefield Academy 2009 6-3/180
White 23 Malcolm Brogdan Fayette County 2011 6-4/180
White 54 Charles DeCosta SACA 2009 6-8/203
White 57 Martaveous Smith Burke County 2010 6-9/220
White 2 Lanerryl Johnson South Cobb 2011 5-11/140
White 3 Ron Meyers Glenn Hills 2011 5-8/160
White 15 Jeremy Lamb Norcross 2010 6-1/175
White 56 Chad Lang Marietta 2010 6-10/250
White 49 James McRae Brunswick 2009 6-6/230

Team 9
White 24 DaVonta White Centennial 2010 6-0/155
White 50 Khiry White Shaw 2009 6-2/175
White 19 Jeremy Lampkin McIntosh 2009 6-3/180
White 25 Trent Wiedeman GAC 2010 6-7/20
White 26 Daniel Coursey Benedictine Military 2010 6-9/205
White 4 Derrick Evans Wheeler 2012 5-7/130
White 27 Michael Kvam Cherokee 2010 6-3/165
White 16 Joseph Horne Crisp Academy 2009 6-5/185
White 39 Jamal Reid Columbia 2012 6-4/18
White 58 Tim Dixon Kendrick 2011 6-9/200

Team 10
White 8 Keierre Richards McEachern 2010 6-1/180
White 5 Brian Berl Colquitt County 2009 6-3/175
White 17 Algie Key Lakeside 2010 6-4/180
White 52 Cameron Baskerville Whitefield Academy 2009 6-6/200
White 53 Sidki Muwallif, III Paideia 2011 6-8/180
White 6 Alex Reid Windsor Forest 2011 6-0/143
White 30 Jeremy Burgess Athens Academy 2010 6-5/180
White 19 Austin Younker Creekview 2010 6-6/21
White 32 Carl Washington Harrison 2010 6-5
White 45 Javon Dawson Crisp County 2009 6-6/240

Team 11
White 9 Chris Lovelace Whitefield Academy 2010 5-10/175
White 33 James Jordan South Cobb 2009 6-2/205
White 39 Marcel Hawkins Carver-Columbus 2009 6-3/195
White 35 Jodd Maxey Winder-Barrow 2009 6-7/180
White 36 Valiant Hed Chattahoochee 2011 6-8/210
White 10 Corbin Moye Loganville 2010 6-1/180
White 7 Nathan Harries Centennial 2011 6-1/155
White 37 Stefan Frank North Cobb Christian 2009 6-5/20
White 38 Ariel Jones Norcross 2009 6-7/190

Team 12
White 12 Hamilton Bailey Holy Innocents 2010 6-3/170
White 13 Jazmon Major Columbia 2010 6-4/175
White 11 Jaquez Motley Urban Christian 2011 5-11/160
White 51 Henry Brooks Miller Grove 2011 6-8/215
White 59 Jaleel Roberts Evans 2010 6-10/205
White 40 Josh Shelton Urban Christian 2010 6-5/175
White 41 Rico Spear South Cobb 2009 6-3/175
White 42 Tahj Tate Wheeler 2009 6-3/185
White 60 Nick Vinson Sound Doctrine 2010 6-8/220

How to get to New Birth?

View Larger Map

Hopefully this map will help you make your way to the New Birth Church in Lithonia. The facility is top of the line and is the perfect setting for the elite camp that the 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase is.

Click on "To Here" on the map, plug in your address and print out the directions. It is as simple as that.

See you on Saturday!

Information for the loaded Georgia Hoops 2008 Fall Showcase

The 2008 Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase is coming together nicely. It will be held at the New Birth Church in Lithonia, Georgia on Sept. 6.

The Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase promises to be the best collection of players from the Peach State. Rivals.com’s Justin Young and Utah Flash (NBDL) assistant coach Kevin Young are excited about the players that were personally invited and have already signed up.

Here is a look at the schedule for the day's activities:

9:00 a.m. – Put into teams/pictures/stretching/warm-up

9:30 a.m. – Skill Development work

10:30 a.m. – Water break/team meeting and instruction

11:00 a.m. – Games/Recruiting process workshop

12:15 p.m. – Games/Recruiting process workshop

1:30 p.m. – Games/Ballers for Books seminar

2:45 p.m. – Games/Ballers for Books seminar

4:00 p.m. – Games/Skill Development work

5:15 p.m. Games/Skill Development work

6:30 p.m. – Top 40 all-star game

7:45 p.m. – Top 20 all-star game

The teams are still being put together and the match-ups are still being worked out. Each player will know prior to the camp what team he is on in a pre-camp email that will be sent out.

Coaches and instructors working the camp include:

Andrew Lang, a 12-year veteran of the NBA (Atlanta, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Milwaukee, New York and Chicago)

Mike LaPlante, former head coach at Jacksonville State and assistant at Auburn

Ken Potosnak, former coach at The Citadel, Wake Forest, Furman and South Carolina

Jon Babul, former coach at James Madison, Jacksonville and Mt. Paran (Ga.)

Drew Catlett, former coach at Georgia State and West Virginia

Billy Faulkner, former coach at Jacksonville

Corey Baldwin, head coach at Truett-McConnell College

Roger Kvam, head coach at Cherokee High School

Sharman Whte, head coach at Miller Grove High School

Jesse McMillan, head coach at Norcross High School

Others

Further details will be released at a later date and time here on the website as well as in an email.

Thanks for your registration and we look forward to having the best Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase we've ever had!

Want exsposure?

The Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase is a a great advertising opportunity to advertise your brand amongst the top athletes in Georgia. The camp will have coverage (story, pictures, etc.) on Yahoo! Sports and Rivals.com.

Yahoo! Sports is the number one sports website on the Internet. Rivals.com is the online leader in college athletics.

Other media invited to the camp include: Fox Sports, Scout.com, Prep Stars Magazine, Atlanta Journal Constitution and others.

For more information, please email Kevin Young, co-director of this year's camp, at georgiahoops@gmail.com.

It's coming!

GEORGIAHOOPS

fall showcase - 2008

WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 2008

WHERE: New Birth Church 6400 Woodrow Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038

WHO: The camp is an invitation only camp for the top elite basketball players from Georgia and Georgia only. The camp will comprise players from all high school classes (2009 to 2012). If you have received a Save the Date flyer, now is the time to email me for your registration packet. More information coming for those already invited.

LeBron James Skills Academy camp participants

The roster for the 2008 LeBron James Skills Academy was released on Saturday night and there are five Georgians participating in the Nike event in Akron, Ohio this week.

They are:

Kenny Hall, Redan HS
Kammeon Holsey, Hancock Central HS
Noel Johnson, Fayette County HS
Glen Rice, Jr., Walton HS
Ari Stewart, Wheeler HS

Reebok All-American camp participants

I received the player list for the Reebok All-American camp today and there are a dozen players from Georgia that will be in Philadelphia for the event July 6-10.

Here they are:

Shaquil Barber, Griffin HS
Kadeem Batts, McEachern HS
Lorenzo Brown, Centennial HS
Richard Howell, Wheeler HS
Chad Johnson, Westlake HS
Shawn Kemp, Cherokee HS
Demario Mayfield, Franklin County HS
Taariq Muhammad, Norcross HS
Jeremy Olsen, Collins Hill HS
Colin Reddick, TBD
Colin Slotter, North Cobb HS
Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove HS

J.J. Hickson is headed to Cleveland

Just got back from J.J. Hickson's draft party tonight. The former Carver/Southwest Atlanta Christian and Wheeler player was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 19 in the 2008 NBA Draft. Congrats to him and his family.

Players starting to pop in 2009 class

Players are starting to make their verbal commitments in the class of 2009. Here are the ones that are already off the board to date:


Andre Malone, North Clayton - Auburn











DeMario Mayfield, Franklin County - Georgia











Jeremy Olsen, Collins Hill - Utah











Kenny Hall, Redan - Tennessee











Khiry White, Shaw - Middle Tennessee State











Manny Atkins, Tucker - Virginia Tech











Robert Chubb, McIntosh - Auburn

NBPA Top 100 Georgians

The National Basketball Players Association top 100 is currently underway in Charlottesville, Virginia. There are a number of Georgians at the prestigious camp.

They are:

Lorenzo Brown, Centennial
Trae Golden, McEachern
Richard Howell, Wheeler
Noel Johnson, Fayette County
Shawn Kemp, Cherokee
Jeremy Olsen, Collins Hill
Julian Royal, Milton
Shannon Scott, Milton
Ari Stewart, Wheeler
Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove

College bound - nearly 125 players off to school

The class of 2008 is one of the deepest talent pools in recent memory. Georgia Hoops has compiled an exclusive and comprehensive list of college bound prospects from the class. If you know of any missing players, please let me know georgiahoops@gmail.com. (Updated list May 28, 2008)

Division I
1. Al-Farouq Aminu, PF/SF, Norcross (Wake Forest)
2. Chris Singleton, SF/PF, Dunwoody (Florida State)
3. Howard Thompkins, PF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
4. Dequan Jones, SF, Wheeler (Miami)
5. Wesley Witherspoon, SF, Berkmar (Memphis)
6. Tony Woods, C, Rome (Wake Forest)
7. Tony Mitchell, SF, Swainsboro (Alabama)
8. Ray Willis, SG, Westlake (Oklahoma)
9. Ralph Sampson, III, C, Northview (Minnesota)
10. Delwan Graham, PF, Dunwoody (LSU)
11. Dustin Ware, PG, North Cobb Christian (Georgia)
12. Andre Young, PG, Deerfield-Windsor (Clemson)
13. Tanner Smith, SG, Wesleyan (Clemson)
14. Teondre Williams, SG, Meadowcreek (Oregon)
15. Cashmere Wright, PG, Urban Christian (Cincinnati)
16. Travis Leslie, SF, Columbia (Georgia)
17. Darius Morrow, C, Columbia (East Carolina)
18. Toby Veal, PF, Savannah Johnson (Colorado)
19. Darius Garrett, PF, McEachern (Richmond)
20. Ebuka Anyaorah, SG, North Gwinnett (Georgia)
21. James Fields, PG, Urban Chrsitian (Georgia State)
22. Steve Peterson, SF, Jordan (Morehead State)
23. Dennis Harris, PF/SF, Mundy’s Mill (LSU)
24. Kevin Murphy, SG, Creekside (Tennessee Tech)
25. Jerel Stephenson, SG, Glenn Hills (UNC Wilmington)
26. Pierre Jordan, PG, Dunwoody (Florida State)
27. Chris Reynolds, SG, Glenn Hills (Campbell)
28. Jimmy Williams, Jr., PG, East Laurens (South Carolina State)
29. Kenny Mitchell, PF/C, Columbia (Charleston Southern)
30. Matt Shaw, PF, North Cobb Christian (Lipscomb)
31. Parker Smith, SG, Chestatee (Tennessee State)
32. Joel Lamb, PF, Southwest Atlanta Christian (Charleston Southern)
33. Yaw Gyawu, SF, Parkview (Colgate)
34. Matt Sundberg, SG, Harrison (College of Charleston)
35. DeAndre Cannon, SG, Marietta (Gordon College)
36. Terrence Hill, SG, Columbus Jordan (Morehead State)
37. Tyler McDaniel, PF/SF, Meadowcreek (Tennessee Tech)
38. Gideon Gamble, SF, Westlake (Winthrop)
39. Reggie Middleton, PG, Glenn Hills (Winthrop)
40. Kelvin Martin, SF, Cook County (Charleston Southern)
41. Ben Drayton, SG/PG, Camden County (Georgia Southern)
42. J.C. Ward, PF, Marietta (East Tennessee State)
43. Spencer Dixon, PG, Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw State)
44. A.J. Hawkins, PF, Norcross (Canisius)
45. Chase Anderson, SG, Mill Creek (Air Force)
46. Robbie Johnson, SF, Centennial (Air Force)
47. Rashad Hassan, PF, Riverdale (Savannah State)
48. Yannick Crowder, PF, Redan (Florida A&M)
49. Donnell Webb, SG, Thomasville (Florida A&M)
50. Terrence Turner, PF, Fayette County (UNC Ashville)
51. Cecil Bent, C/PF, Swainsboro (Florida A&M)
52. Jamal Day, SF, Wilkinson County (South Carolina State)
53. Josh Smith, SF, Savannah Johnson (Savannah State)
54. P.J. Meyers, PG, T.W. Josey (Campbell)
55. Devon Carter, PF, Rome (Morehead State)
56. Shane Burrell, PF, Sound Doctrine (Alabama A&M)
57. Chris Edwards, SG, Westover (Jacksonville)
58. Mike White, First Presbyterian Day (Bethune-Cookman)
59. David Buchanan, Portal (Florida A&M)
60. Michael Griffin, Luella (Prairie View A&M)
61. Josh Brown, McEachern (Savannah State)
62. Kurtis Woods, Sound Doctrine (Kennesaw State)

Junior College
63. Bryan Bryant, SG, Dougherty (Okaloosa-Walton)
64. Hugh Robertston, SG, Northeast Macon (Tallahassee CC)
65. Dorian Smith, SG, Southwest Atlanta Christian (Alabama Southern CC)
66. Terrence Bowman, SG, Cairo (Okaloosa-Walton)
67. Aaron Gilstrap, SG, Covenant Christian (Iowa Western)
68. Dontavious Heard, SF, Troup (Truett-McConnell)
69. Marquavius Barnes, SF/PF, Winder-Barrow (Highland Junior College)
70. Michael Allen, PF/C, Mundy's Mill (Marion Military College)
71. Andre Battle, PG, East Paulding (Marion Military College)
72. Norris Rumph, PG, Savannah (Georgia Perimeter)
73. Reggie Shepherd, SG, Kendrick (Northwest Shoals CC)
74. Jimmy Gaskins, SG, Ware County (Florida Community College)
75. Brandon Hosley, PG/SG, Jonesboro (Truett-McConnell)
76. Winfred Ivey, PG, Jordan (Brevard CC)
77. Travis Ellison, SF, Lithia Springs (Truett-McConnell)
78. Mark Yackon, SF, Chamblee (Middle Georgia College)
79. Marcus Benitiz, SF, Chamblee (Truett-McConnell)
80. Tyler Norman, White County (Truett-McConnell)
81. Austin Collins, Union County (Truett-McConnell)
82. Cody Coleman, Rabun County (Truett-McConnell)
83. Corey Forbes, Alexander (Middle Georgia College)
84. Matt Fields, Westlake (Middle Georgia College)
85. Antonio Bell, Jonesboro (South Georgia Tech)
86. Rearkus McCrory, Shaw (South Georgia Tech)
87. Isaac Fisher, Parkview (Gordon College)
88. Justin Wilcox, PG, Wilcox County (Albany Tech)
89. Kenneth Johnson, PF, Tri-Cities (Chattahoochee Valley CC)
90. Ken Taylor, SG, East Laurens (Georgia Perimeter)
91. Kevin Jones, North Springs (Cleveland State)

Division II
92. Brandon O'Brien, PF/SF, Chamblee (Lincoln Memorial)
93. Stewart Clark, PG, Hiram (Limestone College)
94. Brandon Armstrong, PG, Chamblee (Lincoln Memorial)
95. Jaron Dobbs, SF, Heritage (Clayton State)
96. Zach Rodenberry, PF, Salem (Harding University)
97. Ryan Aquino, PF, Blessed Trinity (Georgia College & State University)
98. Dalonte Doles, PG, Centennial (Coker College)
99. Trent Kammerer, PF, Dacula (Georgia College & State University)
100. DeAndre Johnson, PG/SG, Randolph-Clay (Valdosta State)
101. Mike Ross, Union County (Georgia College & State University)
102. Ishmael John, Riverdale (West Georgia)
103. Nate Hamilton, Brookwood (Georgia College & State University)
104. Andrew Whittaker, C, Westminster School (Georgia College & State University)
105. Patrick Michel, F, McIntosh (Georgia College & State University)
106. Stephen Francis, PG, Cairo (Albany State)
107. James Watkins, PF/SF, Hancock Central (Albany State)
108. Demetrius Jones, PF), Troup (Albany State)

Division III
109. Dee Smith, Grayson (Piedmont College)
110. Tyler Cerone, Blessed Trinity (Birmingham Southern)
111. Lazbri Akpuchukwa, McEachern (Birmingham Southern)
112. Tariq Caldwell, Stockbridge (Maryville College)

Prep school
113. Aric Miller, SG, Tucker (Prep school)
114. Jordan Callahan, PG, Blessed Trinity (New Hampton Prep)
115. Todd Salter, PG, Mundy’s Mill (Navy Prep)

NAIA
116. Adam Okechuckwu, North Springs (Faulkner University)
117. Sean Cunningham, Blessed Trinity (Morningside College)
118. Vinny Cuviello, Blessed Trinity (Morningside College)
119. Jordan Morgan, Kennesaw Mountain (Emmanuel College)
120. Zach Okerblad, Etowah (Reinhardt College)
121. Tyler Blackwell, Etowah (Reinhardt College)
122. Donterius Sutton, South Cobb (Reinhardt College)
123. Patrick Hoggard, East Hall (Reinhardt College)