Tournament of Champions Classic: Senior Notebook

Tournament of Champions Classic: Senior Notebook

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

MARIETTA, GA – The Tournament of Champions Classic had a strong slate of games on the schedule. This annual event was once busting at the seams with players, teams, college coaches, and fans. However, because of the Covid-19 global pandemic, some things operated differently but the games provided many the opportunity to see some talented players in some intense moments.

Here are some players who made a solid impression during the one-day showcase.

Pissis is a marksman

Sami Pissis is a name college coaches need to become familiar with this name. This unsigned senior is a proficient shooter. He does not need much space to get a shot off against a decent defender. This 6-foot-3 guard is a prototypical European born player. He moves well without the ball looking for the correct opportunity to get open. This constant moment wears on a defender. If the defender lets up for a moment be certain the shot will go up quicker than they can recover. This was the case against Etowah. The native of France nailed five three-pointers for a game-high 25 points, including the game-winner in overtime for Trinity Christian School. He is unknown now but a jumper like the one strapped to his right arm will make a household name in the future.

Barnes leading the Generals pace

Devon Barnes could be one of the more under-appreciated players in the state of Georgia. This point guard is leading the Shiloh Generals is a relentless player. The 6-foot floor general sets the tempo from the opening play for the Gwinnett County school. He shifts through traffic with purpose. His athleticism is off the charts in the open court. Barnes can finish above the rim when you least expected.

Durr making a point

Madison Durr is an unsigned senior and it is hard to figure out why. Pace Academy’s point guard leads the state in assists with 7.8 per game. These are while playing a strong schedule and with some quality teammates around him. It can be hard to solely appreciate his game through highlight reels or stat sheets. You would have to watch him play in person or multiple times to see his cerebral approach to the position. He is always looking ahead and applying pressure. While he is always pushing the tempo, Durr is like water in a lake. Leaders lead and Durr is currently at the top of the statistical charts.

Hudson slams down the winner

In the battle of high level teams, the finale gave all those in attendance exactly what it was looking for between Sandy Creek and Wheeler. The action did not disappoint.

Auburn signee Jabari Smith for Sandy Creek and Dayton signee Kaleb Washington for Wheeler were the marquee names. But it was Wheeler’s Ja’heim Hudson who made the biggest splash of the night.

The 6-foot-7 forward was locked into a battle on both ends of the floor against Smith. Hudson just battled the highly-touted recruit. However, in the late stages of the fourth quarter, Smith fouled out opening up the middle. So, with :04 left to play in the game, the Florida Gulf Coast signee caught a pass and slammed home the winning basket to the delight of the Wildcats bench. 

Other notables

2021 Aaron Reddish, Pebblebrook – is on the move all the time. The younger brother of Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Cam Reddish, is long and rangy, which is a good thing on both ends of the court. His 6-foot-7 frame makes him a problem for opponents looking to get the ball up the floor as the player in the first tier of the Falcons’ press. The activity makes for fun to highlight the kind of results on the offensive end. 

2021 Cam Crisp, Kipp Academy – had a solid performance in the Warriors’ win Saturday. He finished with a game-high 22 points.

2021 Brock Rechsteiner, Etowah – recorded a team-high 12 points in the overtime loss to Trinity Christian School. 

2021 Isaac Brito, Trinity Christian – has the strength of a Crossfit athlete and the energy of an individual on a sugar high. Either way, it is a great combination for the Dominican native. He is exceptional on both ends of the court. He is the energy giver many college programs seek.

2021 Tyler Shirley, Pebblebrook – is a physical specimen. Opponents may not want to get in the way of this bouncy 6-foot-6 forward. He will make you get out of the way or make sure you think twice about challenging him.

2021 Deshon Proctor, Sandy Creek – may not get much attention playing at Sandy Creek considering the talent already on the roster. However, this guy is exactly what every team needs. He manages to do plenty of the dirty work around the basket, especially on the offensive glass. His motor is something to admire and appreciate. He may not make all the headlines but Proctor will do what it needs to compete regardless of who gets the spotlight.