North GA High School Showcase: Boys Sleepers Notebook
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
BUFORD, GA – At the start of every season players can be overlooked or under recruited going into their final season of high school. This is when many would like to have options on a college choice sooner than later. This is any normal year. However, 2020 has been everything but normal.
Covid-19 had other plans. It put a halt on players making a push to be recruited or evaluated during the NCAA Live period due to the national lockdown. Now, players are seeking opportunities to make an impression on anyone still looking for players.
Here are some players who are unsigned but made a strong push to be seen.
2021 Derrick Brown, Monroe Area (pictured above) – is a lanky bucket getter. The 6-foot-7 wing is smooth on the perimeter. He gets to the basket whenever he wants. His ability to shoot over the defense makes him tough to stop. He absorbs contact relatively well. Brown is a tough matchup despite his body frame. Look for his numbers to come in waves for the Hurricanes.
2021 Makai Vassell, Lanier – is a player every coach would like part of their program. This 6-foot-5 guard is a go-getter on both ends of the floor. The more you watch his game you can tell the Longhorns rely heavily on his energy and versatility. He knocks down shots and gets to the rim as well as any player around. Vassell is a relentless defender. This hidden gem brings plenty of value to the court.
2021 Mikey Moncrease, Discovery – is hard to stay in front of unless he is sitting on the bench. This seemed to be the only time anyone is able to get a break playing against this 5-foot-9 point guard. Sure, people will question his height but those are measured by a ruler. One cannot measure his heart on the court, which can be measured through the eye test. Moncrease hits all the gears on the court. He can push the tempo to breakneck speed or slow it to get others involved. His court vision is clear with the ability to put teammates in a comfortable scoring position. He is deceptively athletic for his size. This floor general does things you cannot teach or measure unless you see it for yourself.
2021 Corey Thomas, Cherokee Bluff – is a hidden gem and a diamond in the rough all at the same time. The 6-foot-9 forward is a hybrid player. He is comfortable posting inside like a traditional post player and can extend the floor from beyond the three-point range. He contests shots at the rim on defense. Thomas understands the game as his older sister is the former University of Georgia and WNBA star Christi Thomas.
2021 Wyatt Fricks, Winder-Barrow – is a sleeper who will wake coaches up when they watch him play. The 6-foot-9 forward is every inch of that on the court. He knocks down shots from anywhere on the floor. Fricks finishes above and around the rim too. His ceiling is high considering all of his skills and limited floor experience. The thread below will give you everything anyone needs to see about Fricks.
2021 Alpha Diallo, Collins Hill – is an athletic phenom. The unsigned senior is an energy giver on the Eagles defense. He gets himself going with the action shown on the defensive end of the floor. Diallo lets the offense come to him. He does not look to force shots.
2021 Evan Howell, Brookwood – is a prospect recruiters need to see. He makes waves on both ends of the floor with his length. His presence inside forces opponents to make shot adjustments. Howell’s strength is on the defensive end of the floor.
2021 Dylan Bobga, Gainesville – is easily the energy every coach wants apart of their program. This guard is constantly going on both ends of the floor. He rarely takes a break on the floor. Bobga is the junkyard dog that fires up the Red Elephants on both ends of the floor.
2021 Ian Davis, Discovery – is an underrated scorer. He understands how to score from all three levels on the floor. Davis uses his 6-foot-3 frame to attack defenders at every angle. This unsigned senior is dialed in defensively.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.