Southern Hoops Report: Showcase Notebook

Southern Hoops Report: Showcase Notebook

By Robert Alfonso Jr. 

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA – Just before the start of the travel basketball season players want to get a chance to showcase their skills.

The annual Southern Hoops Report Showcase provides players not just a chance to compete but to get some great footage to share with a college program.

Here are some players who excelled during the stations portion and made an impression in team play.

2021 Isaac Brito | Trinity Christian School | continues to impress on the hardwood. This Dominican Republic native brings a lot of versatility to the game. He gets downhill quick on any drive, while also able to attack the glass to clean up any mess on either end of the floor. The relentless energy this 6-foot-5 guard displays on the floor is hard to not notice.

2021 Christian Lanns | Collins Hill | is one heck of a scorer. It does not matter where on the floor this 6-foot-3 guard finds himself he will find a way to get the bucket. Nothing he does on the offensive end is forced. Lanns plays going downhill and is always on attack mode. But he is not just about getting to the rim, Lanns is a shooter. His trigger is always locked and loaded. Most players think they can score, he just knows how to do it so effortlessly.

2021 Jens Rueckert Jr | South Cobb | makes the most dynamic athletic plays you will see in the open court. He runs the floor like a gazelle in the open field. This fluidity helps create for easy baskets and defensive stops. This 6-foot-4 guard is a guy who just knows where insert himself in the action.

2021 Mason Barnes | Lambert | impressed with his ability to run the team. The 6-foot floor general runs a team proficiently. He puts teammates in exceptional scoring positions. His demeanor on the court is a calming one.

2021 Alpha Diallo | Collins Hill | is a phenomenal athlete, which is the first thing one notices. However, he is more than that once the games get going. Diallo can create frustration with that athleticism in his relentless motor on defense. Offensively, he elevates high on his jumper and can finish on all three levels. When he is in the open floor, you can expect an uber athletic finish.

2021 Rasheen Johnson | Groves | impressed with energy on the defensive end of the floor. This 6-foot-6 forward erased just about every shot he could throughout the showcase. His size helped him to lock things down inside. Size is hard to come by so check on this one if it helps fill your void. 

2021 Trevino Glover | Collins Hill | is a pure lockdown defender. He does not stop unless the whistle is blown to get him some rest. This 6-foot-2 point guard is hard to beat in either direction. He is normally an opponents worse nightmare. In showcases where offense is always highlighted, here is Glover putting the clamps on guys. Offensively, he manages to run the team with poise and always looking to set the table.

2022 Anthony Carpio | Providence Christian | is a solid prospect who certainly will turn some heads. The 6-foot-8 forward has a college ready body. He has is well defined and just flat out strong. He shows his versatility with great footwork inside and the ability to finish off of either shoulder. His range can extend to the three-point line but the mid-range is lethal for a guy his size. He also is capable of finishing above the rim on any given pass inside. Make sure to spell the last name correctly because it is one you will need to remember on the recruiting trail.

2022 Jameel Rideout | Berkmar | is easily the most mentally strong player in the class. The way this point guard manages situations is one can see why the Patriots made it as far as they did the season. He is not just an extension of the coach on the floor, Rideout is the glue. His role for many of the games during the camp was to give teammates the ball. He was not forcing any situations or putting guys in bad spots. Rideout was serving up passes like a Las Vegas card dealer. Now, whenever he was not hitting them, he called his own number and showed the toughness of finishing those opportunities. Big travel season ahead for this floor general and you can anticipate him coming for those ahead of him.

2022 Johnny “JC” Curry | Hart County | showed off many parts of his game. He demonstrated the ability to handle the ball and also play without it. The 6-foot-4 guard does not over dribble to get where he needs to go. He surveys the situation and then will head downhill looking to get to the rim. Curry absorbs contact well for a player known for his shooting prowess. When he is not driving to the lane, you can find him on the perimeter just waiting to knockdown a jumper. Many times, contested or not, he was hitting it from everywhere. Big season ahead for this Bulldog.

2022 Connor McKay | Rabun County | put up big numbers during the regular season, which led the Wildcats deep into the state playoffs. He entered the gym determined to show his performance was no fluke. The 6-foot-4 lefty forward is strong and athletic. He can mix it up inside and outside of the paint. His range helps expand his game beyond the three-point line. Inside, he gets great positioning to grab rebounds or clears things because of his athleticism. His skills and efforts and skills can translate at the next level.

2022 Emeka Iloh | McIntosh | is truly an imposing specimen. He is all of 6-foot-9 and wastes little time displaying the size. His length takes up space in the zone or re-directing any shot attempt in the lane. When he gets the ball inside it is being finished above the rim. College programs looking for an athletic and strong big man with quick twitch reflexes make sure to lock in on this rim protector.

2022 Shawn Walker | Walnut Grove | was putting in work in game play. He has a keen ability to allude defenders. This combined with quickness helped him become hard to guard at times. Walker is also a solid rebounder, who can do so in traffic as defenders attempted to knock him off balance.

2022 Kenny Orr Jr | Northgate | has a great feel for the game. He makes plays on both ends of the floor. His ball handling is tight and smooth. Orr is an excellent defender. Orr will have things in control on the floor.

2022 Autry Barnes | Grady | is a long wiry athlete with plenty of energy. Many of his plays come from his activity on both ends of the floor. He does not know when to stop because he is involved in every play in some way.

2022 Destin Logan | Berkmar | is truly a matchup problem. This 6-foot-4 lefty has a silky smooth jumper. His quick release never looks rushed. He is an exceptional on ball and help side defender. Logan’s length creates problems for opponents. He makes it hard to gain an advantage. Logan’s IQ is also off the charts good. He would be solid for any collegiate program, especially for any high academic program.

2022 Christian Drummer | Archer | plays downhill with the best of them. He has great size for a guard at 6-foot-4. He gets numerous paint touches forcing the defense to shift. Once inside there is when Drummer really excels in either fishing an open teammate or scoring himself. A combination of size, length and skill makes him an intriguing prospect.

2022 Tremaine Johnson | Groves | is an elite finisher for a six-foot point. He is not afraid to get inside and challenge anyone willing to defend him. 

2022 Lewis Robertson | Northgate | is an intriguing prospect. He is sound fundamentally based on his performances during the station. The focus translated to team play as Robertson showed off his exceptional basketball IQ. He makes solid basketball plays. However, unlike many across the state, this youngster opted to sat out because of the pandemic. Looking forward to seeing his growth this summer on the travel circuit.

2022 Jordan Edun | Northgate | is full of energy on both ends. His excitement on the floor leads to plenty activity on the glass and second shot opportunities. 

2023 Brandon Rechsteiner | Etowah | is the least recognized player his his class. The 6-foot is a cerebral point guard who is not phased by much. He does not put himself into peculiar position on the floor. His eyes are constantly looking up the floor to make the best pass possible. Rechsteiner had a solid season and expect for him to have an even strong travel basketball season. 

2023 Jackson Head | River Ridge | is a good looking hooper who attacks the rim with purpose. He uses the body well in traffic with plenty of control. Head knocks down the mid-range jumper with consistency. 

2023 Daimichael McPherson | McEachern | will make a coach extremely happy as they will work with him for the next few years. He has an active motor and is not afraid of mixing it up with whomever he is competing against.

2023 Justine De La Cruz | Trinity Christian School | is the next up and coming one to come through the Fairburn program. This 6-foot-4 lefty forward is a tactical player. He never looks really rushed in trying to get things going on offense. Everything is done with purpose. His ability to spot and knock down shots shows consistency. The future is bright for this young Dominican Republic native.

2023 John Avitabile | Walnut Grove | has an excellent stroke. He shoots with the confidence of a veteran. Never truly rattled with on coming defenders. There are things a young player like this needs to work on but being a pinpoint shooter is something he has done constantly. 

2023 Mason Waterbor | Cherokee | showed off his ball handling control throughout the individual stations. He ran solid pick-and-roll actions were fluid. Waterbor’s jumper was smooth looking and it was a picturesque stroke.

2024 Cam Perkins | Warner Robins | is a grown man with the basketball in his hands. Yes, he is young in terms of age and year. When you watch him play none of that matters. He has a veteran feel for the game with some youthful moxie. The court vision is always about pushing the ball and directing teammates with his eyes. Perkins’ feel for the game is beyond his time. You can tell he watches and studies the game beyond highlights. He finishes with either hand and hits shots from every angle on the floor. His development will be fun to watch because if he has this poise now sky’s the limit.