Macon Dreams Come True loaded with prospects

Macon Dreams Come True loaded with prospects

By Robert Alfonso Jr. 

MACON, Ga. – The annual voyage to Macon is more than just to take a few days to see the coronation of high school basketball programs during the Georgia High School Athletic Association.

It is a chance to see some talented players attend the Macon Dreams Come True Showcase put on by Coach Cory Black.

This season there were 70 players on the Tatnall Square court looking to soak in the information provided during the station work and the knowledge from coaches in attendance. Being at the camp allowed players to have an audition in front of college coaches still in search of players.

Here are the names of some standout players from the showcase.

Nicholas Woodard | 2022 | 6’6 | Taylor County: would be a player off the recruiting board if his high school carer would have been played in Metro Atlanta or if a global pandemic didn’t exist. This is not to discredit the success and development put on the last four years. Woodard is a player with the ability to give defenders issues and opposing coaches fits about how to defend him. He can play inside and out. His shot is pure for a player his size. The ability to rebound helps create other scoring opportunities for him. There are some nuances to his game left to polish and it will happen at the next level.

Jay King | 2022 | 6’2 | First Presbyterian Day: slow-played things like most DJs do at the start of a party. He showed the ability to run a team and handle the ball as a true point guard. He offered up passes to teammates while putting them in excellent positions to score. King showed leadership skills and pulled complete strangers together when many could have gone rogue. However, when the second game came around, King showed off exactly what people have heard about him all season. This lightning-quick floor general scored at high level. He is not just forcing shots or being greedy like many campers can be. He played loose, efficient and free knocking down jumpers from every angle on the floor while also finishing through contact at the rim. His most underrated trait is the ability to compete on the defensive end. College coaches left impressed in seeing his skills up close.

Evan Tharpe | |2022 | 6’4 | Southwest Macon: jumps out in a way one cannot help but notice, literally. This wing has athleticism forced many to sit up in their seats and eventually stand up because of the things he did on the open floor. There were a number of times Tharpe was looking inside the rim with explosive finishes. His energy is contagious. He caught the attention of college coaches, who looked to pay closer attention. Tharpe is strong rebounder as well for a player his size. 

Nicholas Davis | 2022 | 6’4 | Charles Drew: is a player who needs to get some serious college consideration. He played both ends of the floor like a player hungry enough to be noticed. Many took notice of how he rebounded and ran the floor like a player looking to be the first one down to the other end of the court. He finished big above the rim, around the basket, and with some mid-range jumpers. All the things transferrable for an incoming player entering the program. 

Aaron Jones | 2023 | 6’11 | Veterans: continues to mark vast improvements. His game is still near the basket as a rim-protecting defender, which is a rarity to find in today’s game. He is either blocking a shot or altering anyone’s chances as they enter the lane. On the offensive end of the floor, Jones has put together a nice package with baby hooks and good jumper. He is not a finished product but by the end of the summer travel season, college programs will head down to South Georgia for a visit.

Solomon Mustafa-Reid | 2023 | 6’7 Paidea: has a high ceiling. The long and rangy forward did a lot of things of note. He was a rim runner the entire showcase. There was none of this floating out to the perimeter looking to extend the floor. He is sneaky athletic and an exceptional rebounder. His performance should carry him into a strong spring. 

Keandre Harris | 2023 | 6’3 | St. Anne Pacelli: is a lanky guard with a good feel for the game. He can shoot the ball well from several spots around the floor. There are few wasted possessions when the ball is in his hand. 

Caleb Odom | 2024 | 6’6 | Villa Rica: was one of the more impressive players at the showcase. This youngster has a college freshman body. He battles inside snatching rebounds off every angle on the glass, while finishing with two hands on the rim. Odom used the rim as a personal chin-up bar. He also showed glimpses of being able to handle the ball away from the rim. This summer will be good for him as college programs should check in on this undiscovered prospect.