Wednesday, October 21, 2015

2015 SEBA Atlanta All-Star Shootout (Recap and Top Performers)

The 2015 SEBA Atlanta All-Star Shootout was held September 19th on the campus of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. This 13th annual event featured a full capacity roster of 180 prospects from all areas of Georgia, as well as from the states of Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Delaware. The Shootout brought excellent exposure to all of the participants, as a large number of College Coaches from throughout the South were in attendance to evaluate and recruit the talent on hand.

The Camp consisted of a complete day of competition, development, inspiration, and exposure. During the morning session, the players participated in fundamental skills stations conducted by some of the state's top high school, travel ball, and skill development coaches. Following the morning stations, Courtney Brooks spoke to the players. Coach Brooks, who led Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (SACA) to national prominence and State Titles in 2004 and 2006, spoke passionately to the camp regarding character, gratitude, faith, and achieving success in the game of life. Fresh off the inspiration, the players moved into 5-on-5 play, where they competed in three (3) full-court games with their respective camp team throughout the afternoon and early evening. The event concluded with a thrilling "Top 30" All-Star Game, which was decided on a final shot in double overtime. The excitement was a fitting finale to a fantastic day of basketball and a highly successful camp.  

Below is a summary on the Event’s Top Performers: 

Most Outstanding Performers
(Players Listed in no particular order)
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Desmond Webb (6’ 4, SG, Carrollton; 2016)
One of the top overall players in camp who capped off the day with a game winning bucket in the Top 30 All-Star Game. He is an excellent scorer; puts up points effortlessly at the rim and with the outside jumper. Uses his length and strength to finish extremely well around the basket. Showed ability to create for others with the assist when double teamed. Played significant role on team that advanced to Class AAAA Final a year ago. Had a very good summer on the travel ball circuit and looks primed for a big-time Senior season for Coach Tim Criswell at Carrollton.          


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Ephraim Tshimanga (6’ 1, PG, Allatoona; 2016)
Impressive floor general who makes major impact on both sides of the floor. Is a very good ball handler who uses change of pace moves extremely well. Gets in the paint and finishes effectively. Is a physical and active on ball defender and plays passing lanes really well. Makes teammates around him better. Skillset should translate well to next level. Is receiving significant recruiting interest from a number of schools at the Division I and II levels. Look for Ephraim to have a stellar Senior season for the perennially successful Allatoona program.

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Damion Rosser (6’ 4, SG, Henry County; 2017)
Talented wing guard who showed all around complete game throughout camp. Has nice combination of strength and athleticism which makes him very effective finisher at the rim. Plays very well in transition; can lead the break with ball or run lanes and finish. Has good leaping ability and had several high flying plays including a fast break dunk over unsuspecting defender. Is comfortable with ball in his hands and likes to penetrate from wing. Good help side defender Was All-Region selection as a sophomore. Should continue to blossom under tutelage of his father and Henry County Varsity Coach Vince Rosser.  

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Jordan Gaines (6’ 6, Forward, Tri-Cities; 2016)
Athletic and long forward who plays above the rim. Had good showing; including several highlight reel dunks which had the gym buzzing.  Is good in transition and runs the floor hard. Attacks the glass for offensive rebounds. Is good on his feet, has solid instincts, and great length; has the tools to be a very versatile defender. Has a developing skill set on the wing. High ceiling prospect.

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Luke Lawson (6’ 2, Guard, Georgia Military Prep; 2016)
Impressive all-around guard with strong skill set and above average athleticism. Shot the lights out from three-point land. Showed ability to drive and finish when defense focused in on taking away outside looks. Makes great decisions with the ball and has good basketball savvy.

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Roderick Melton (6’ 1, PG, Northview, Alabama; 2016)
Very athletic lead guard who demonstrated an impressive all-around game. Uses quick first step and good handle to penetrate defense and create scoring opportunities for himself and teammates. Sees the floor well. Consistently knocked down the outside jumper. Good finisher with ability to finish at and above the rim. Has wiry strength and absorbs contact well. 

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Brosnan Cooks (6’ 4, Forward, Elba, AL; 2016) Physical and energetic forward who owned the boards. He plays with a good motor and seemed to be all over the floor making plays.  Scored the ball when attacking the basket and created many second chance opportunities for his team on tips and offensive putbacks. Good defender with ability to match up with bigger forwards and smaller guards. Was named All-State as a Junior while leading Elba High to the Class AA Alabama State Championship Game.  

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Mitch Hollis (6’0, PG, Pope; 2016)
Sparkplug guard with the ability to get very hot from beyond the arc. Capable of turning the tide of game with his shooting ability. Has good range and quick release on outside shot. Handles the ball well and plays with super intensity and hustle. Aggressive on ball defender. Brings many intangibles to the court that help team win games.  Good student with 3.5 GPA. Look for him to step into a featured role for Coach Pat Abney at Pope this coming season. 

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KeAndre Morrison (6’ 1, CG, Franklin County; 2016)
Athletic guard with explosiveness; does a great job of getting into the paint and finishing around the basket. Demonstrated good decision making and passing ability. Is good in the open court. Plays with good intensity and desire to compete. Aggressive defender. Named All-Region in 7AAA last season as a Junior.        

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Jason Morrison (6’ 4, CG, Wesleyan; 2016)
Jason was one of the most well rounded and intriguing prospects in attendance. He is athletic and has good size for a lead guard. Was most effective with the ball in his hands as a playmaker. Was very effective at facilitating the offense and getting teammates involved. Showed ability to score at all three levels.  He plays the game with passion and intensity.  Has much upside potential.  All-Region selection as a Junior.

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Javon Greene (6’ 2, SG, Henry County; 2017)
Good looking guard prospect who scored in bunches. Shot the ball very well from beyond the arc; lefty with soft shooting touch. Javon was equally impressive putting the ball on floor and getting in paint. Showed good leaping ability with dunk in traffic. Player with much upside who will continue to get better.


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Wil Chambliss (6’ 0, SG, Vidalia; 2016)
Scoring guard who knocked down three-point shots throughout the day. He was effective as both a spot up shooter and off the dribble. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and make good things happen off dribble penetration.  Wil was a key player in Vidalia’s run to the Class AA Final Four last year as a Junior. Look for him to have a big senior year for the Indians and Coach Tom Dalley.      


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Chase Shook (6’ 9, Forward, Union County; 2016) Developing big man who had a good showing throughout the day. He rebounded well on both sides of the floor. He plays good position defense and effectively used his size to protect the rim and alter shots. Runs the floor pretty well for his size and has solid footwork in low post. Has visibly improved since his performance in the SEBA Camp last year.  4.0 GPA and above average SAT score will make him an attractive target of academically select programs.     

Donald “DJ” Johnson III (6’ 0, PG, Harris County; 2016)

Complete guard with the ability to score and distribute. Has quick first step and blows by defender on penetration. Has good leaping ability and finishes well at the rim. Has a nice one-two pull-up jumper from the mid-range. Was named All-Region and All Bi-City as a Junior; look for to build off that and have a strong Senior campaign for a good looking Harris County squad.       

Trentavious Jackson (6’ 0, Guard, Monroe–Albany; 2016)
Athletic guard who had an excellent showing at camp. Plays with great energy; He excelled taking the ball to the rim and knocking down the jumper. Gets to the basket quickly and is explosive at rim. Has good strength and finishes thru contact. Floor leader with great intangibles. All-Region performer as a Junior in 1-AAAA.

Xavier Johnson (6’ 4, Wing, South Gwinnett; 2016)
High flying and physically strong wing-forward who electrified the gym with several impressive dunks and blocked shots. Is a very good offensive rebounder and excels at scoring off putbacks. Plays bigger than height and is capable of effectively guarding taller players on defense. Showed ability to knock down mid-range jumper and put the ball on the floor.

Leroy Jones IV (5’ 8, PG, Berkmar; 2016)
Battle tested lead guard who excels on both sides of the ball. Top notch on-ball defender. Pressures ball handlers the length of floor and forces turnovers. On offense, he plays with great poise and is excellent at drawing defense and kicking out to open shooters. Shot the ball very well; consistently knocking down both the spot up and pull up 3 pointers.          

Obina Ofodile (6’ 7, Forward, Duluth; 2016)
Highly athletic forward who is very effective around the rim. Threw down several impressive dunks off lobs and putbacks. Gets off the ground very quick for a player his size.  Has great instincts on defense and blocked or altered numerous shots.    

Joshua Faulkner (6’ 0, PG, Berkmar; 2016)
Quick and explosive guard; gets to the rim very well and knows how to finish. Gets good separation off the dribble and creates space for mid-range jumper. Is a tough on ball defender and has the tools to be a defensive stopper at the college level. Thrives in up tempo style of play. Joshua is a good student with 3.5 GPA in classroom.          

Napoleon Harris (6’ 6, Wing, Monroe-Albany; 2016)
Athletic wing-forward with length; was very active on the boards and scored numerous baskets off offensive rebounds. Showed ability to score and finish strong thru traffic in paint. Plays good interior defense and can guard wings on perimeter. Was named All-Region as a Junior. Good student in classroom with 3.5 GPA. Bright future.   

Robert Hill Jr. (6’ 9, Forward, Berkmar; 2016)
Strong inside presence who is comfortable in the paint and posting up. Has solid scoring moves on low block and finished consistently. Showed good hands and ability to catch passes even when off target. Passes well out of double team and finds open teammate.  Showed ability and willingness to run the floor on break. Good potential.       

Additional Camp Standouts: 

2016 Guards

The Camp roster boosted a deep pool of talented perimeter players. In regards to point guards, one who  impressed was Tracy Sailem (6’1, Jeff Davis; 2016). Sailem is a quick and high energy playmaker who creates offense, as well as being a lock down defender.  Joshua Jones (6’ 1, Creekside; 2016) is a sparkplug floor general with good quickness and excellent passing ability. He plays with passion and leadership. Alex Jordan (6’ 1, Dodge County; 2016) is a high scoring guard with good handle and quick first step.  He can create well off the dribble and has both quick release and range on his three point shot, as well as a 3.7 GPA in the classroom.  Justin Hartfield (6’ 0, Greenbrier; 2016) is a constant scoring threat who brings a nice combination of athleticism and skill to his position. He also demonstrated ability to neutralize opposing guards with his on ball defense.  Emeshaun Offord (6’ 0, Monroe – Albany; 2016) is a physical strong point guard who sees the floor very well demonstrated a good looking outside stroke. He will team up with Monroe teammate Trentavious Jackson to form one of the better backcourts in Middle Georgia. Hank Norton (6’ 0, Gordon Lee; 2016) is a skilled and smart guard with a high basketball IQ. He wore out the nets with his excellent outside shooting.  Speaking of shooters, Cade Archer (6’ 1, SG, Cartersville, 2016) was one of the camp’s top marksmen. He has an excellent three point stroke and can put the ball on floor and hit the pull up jumper. Post Grad Joshuah Taylor (5’9, Northside Methodist Academy, AL) is a speedy playmaker and aggressive on ball defender. Kourtney Shakespeare (6’ 2, Shaw; 2016) showed an impressive and well-rounded offensive skill set and the ability to make his team better on both ends of the floor.  Detrevin Johnson (5’ 9, Kell; 2016) is a quick and explosive lead guard who was impressive in creating for himself and others.   Jovante Lee (6’ 1, Northview, AL; 2016) is an athletic and physical guard who attacks the basket and uses his body well to convert drives. He scored consistently throughout the camp and showed a solid outside shot to compliment his driving ability. Foster Houck (6’0, Homelife Academy, TN; 2016) is a pure point and floor leader. He sees the floor extremely well and was one of the top distributors in camp. Courtney Davis (5’ 9, Central, AL; 2016) is a sparkplug point guard who impacts the game in many ways. He uses his quickness to create scoring opportunities and is an active defender. Phoenix Roberts (5’ 10, Franklin County; 2016) is a good facilitator and does a good job drawing defense and hitting open teammates with the assist. Devontae Hedgespeth (6’ 0, Salem; 2016) is a floor general who does a nice job of running his team from the point guard position. He was one of the top defensive guards in the camp.  Jeremiah Starks (6’ 0, Peachtree Ridge; 2016) is a lead guard with good size and a scorers mentality. He showed ability to create offense off the dribble as well as knock down the outside shot.        

2017 & 2018 Guards

Not to be overlooked, the Camp’s Underclassman group also had some impressive guard talent. Adama Kpaan (6’ 2, Rabun Gap; 2018) has excellent potential and was one of the top sophomores in attendance. He is a very energetic and athletic player who gets to the rim with ease. He was all over the court grabbing rebounds, picking off passes, and making plays. Henley Edge (6’ 4, McCallie, TN; 2017) is a smart player with good length and shooting ability. He is a good athlete and as he continues to mature, has the chance to be a very nice prospect for next level. Stephen Darst (6’ 2, Tampa Jesuit; 2017) is a skilled combo guard who shoots the three ball well, and can finish at the rim. He plays with good awareness and has good court vision. Darius Giles (6’ 2, Arabia Mountain; 2017) showed a potent offensive game from both the outside and driving ball to rim, as well as good court vision.  Tre-Jon Taylor (6’ 1, Mt. Zion; 2017) is a slashing guard with a nose for the ball and much potential. Jamal Buster (5’ 11, North Clayton; 2017) has a nice combination of strength and quickness and was effective in creating jumper off the dribble. He also made some nice plays on defense in creating turnovers.  Karl Washington Jr. (6’ 1, Sandy Creek; 2017) is a long guard who demonstrated a good outside stroke and versatility on defense. Chandler Gibson (5’ 11, Monroe Area; 2017) is a good looking point guard who makes positive things happen with the ball in his hands. Has excellent handle which allows him to drive for layups and create for teammates with equal effectiveness.

2016 & 2017 Wings

At the Wing position, Kenny Ume (6’ 4, Wing, North Cobb) is a versatile player who presents matchup problems for opponents. He has an effective inside-out skill set which can be hard to defend. The All-Cobb County performer will play a leading role for a strong North Cobb team this coming season. Garrett Stewart (6’ 4, Northview, 2016) is a long and active wing who impressed with his defensive ability and play in the open court.  K.J. Houston (6’ 5, Wing, Douglas County) is a player who combines good size and shooting ability. Look for him to only get better as he continues to develop his ball handling and adds weight.  Post Graduate Terry James (6’ 5, Wing, Post Grad) is a player with excellent athleticism and intangibles. He excels in transition and had one of the camp’s most crowd pleasing moments when throwing down a two handed tomahawk dunk in traffic.  He is currently available and has all four years of college eligibility.  William “Kovi” Tate (6’ 4, Henry County; 2017) is a very active wing forward with good leaping ability. Finishes with authority and also has good passing ability for a forward. He made his mark on the defensive side as well with blocked shots and steals.     

2016 & 2017 Forwards

Jeremy Joyner (6’ 7, Charles Drew; 2016) is emerging forward and solid inside presence in the paint. He has a variety of scoring moves on the low block and runs the floor well for a big man, where he converted several fast breaks with layups and dunks. Jeremy was also one of the top rebounders in camp. Robert Kelly  (6’ 7, Cumberland Christian; 2016) is talented but raw wing with much upside. He showed flashes of great potential and is definitely a prospect for coaches to keep a close eye on. Will Springer (6’ 7, Buford; 2016) is a big wing with a nice shooting stroke and ability to stretch the floor. He also looked good on defense, where he was active on the boards and plays good help defense.  Will has a 3.7 GPA and very solid test scores that should be attractive to higher academic programs. Craig Ferguson (6’ 5, Central, AL; 2016) is an active wing-forward who showed ability to score around the rim and with both hands.  He is an excellent student with a 26 ACT and could be a player for academic schools to monitor. Anpherney Doctrine (6’ 6; New Creation Christian Academy) is a developing 2017 talent with good upside. 

Honorable Mention Players

(Listed in no particular order)

Class of  2016: Myles Lake (6’ 2, SG, North Cobb); Darius Harrison (6’ 6, Forward, Berkmar); K’Nautica George (6’ 3, Wing, Monroe-Albany); Tyler Limburg (6’ 3, Forward, Copper Basin, TN);  Matt East (6’ 4, SG, Trinity Christian); Jemal Ahmed (6’ 1, G, McIntosh); Marquiz Tidwell (6’ 3, Wing, Tri-Cities); Alex Moss (6’ 6, Forward, Georgia Military Prep); Jaylyn Richardson (6’ 2, Wing, Harris County); Emory Sheats (6’ 2, CG, Monroe Area; 2016); Antario Miller (6’0, PG, Cleveland, MS); Chris Barnes (6’ 7, Forward; Union Grove); Jared Walker (6’1, SG, Riverwood); Spencer Kirkpatrick (6’ 6, Forward, Carolina Day, NC); Kenneth Hines (6’ 1, PG, Rabun Gap); Ahmad Harrison (5’ 10, PG, Johnson – Gainesville);  Trent Rizotti (6’ 5, Forward; Pickens); Treyvon Williams (5’ 9, PG, South Gwinnett); Kyndall Burts (5’ 10, PG, Douglas County); Khalil Smith (6’ 3, Forward, Eagles Landing); Joshua Copeland (5’ 7, PG, Harris County); Steven Thompson (6’ 0, SG, Centennial); Amani Gill (6’ 3, SG, Wake Christian Academy, NC); Michael Holloway (6’ 4, Forward, South Gwinnett); Jonathan Casimir (5’ 10, PG, Colonial Hills Christian); Markus Taylor (6’ 5, Forward, Georgia Military Prep); Jalan Cooper (6’ 1, PG, Chapel Hill); Kyle Brown (6’ 1, PG, Mt. Pleasant, DE); Robert Wainio (6’2, SG, Newsome, FL); Caleb West (6’ 2, SG, Excel Christian); Tyler Guthrie (6’ 5, Forward, Dominion Christian); Spencer Palladino (6’ 1, SG, Walker); Kobe Wilson (6’ 7, Forward, North Cobb Christian)

Classes of 2017, 2018: Jamal Middleton (6’ 0, PG, Arabia Mountain, 2017); Gimal Evans (5’ 10, PG, South Gwinnett, 2017); Justin Smith (6’ 2, SG, Tri-Cities; 2017); Daniel Cooper (6’ 2, SG, Statesboro; 2018); Terry Goodrum Jr. (6’ 5, Wing, Allatoona, 2017); Jake Hiser (6’1, Kings Ridge Christian); Xander Ouellette (6’ 1, G, North Atlanta Christian Flight, 2018); Tahj Jones (5’ 8, PG, Vidalia; 2018); Demarcus Johnson (6’ 0, PG, Tri-Cities; 2019); Logan Holt (6’ 2, Wing, Fannin County, 2017);  Elijah Goodman (6’ 4, Wing, Monroe Area, 2018); Landry Rustin (6’ 2, CG, Windsor Academy, 2017); Jake Owens (5’ 11, PG, Kings Ridge Christian); Zach Pina (5’ 10, PG, Starr’s Mill, 2018); Miles Jaynes (6’ 3, Wing, Hillgrove, 2017); Christian McLean (6’ 3, SG, Wesleyan, 2018); Abba Wague (6’ 0, SG, Rabun Gap, 2018);   Darius Giles (6’ 2, SG, Arabia Mountain, 2017); Austin Strickland (6’ 4, SG, Eagleville, TN, 2017);