Tip-off Classic Notebook: Day 1
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
SUWANEE, Ga – June has moved on but the start of the annual Tip-off Classic started on the last day of the month.
This event has become the premier tournament for teams before the July Live Period. The matchups on the schedule will give everyone the challenges it needs before playing in front of college coaches sitting along the baseline or sideline.
While college coaches cannot crowd the courts to see some of the best matchups possible.
Howard continues to deliver highlights
Jahki Howard hopped off the plane from a national showcase but immediately took flight again on Friday night.
Howard, from Boston, Mass, was one of 110 attendees at the NBPA Top 100 camp on the campus of Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando. The 6-foot-7 small forward arrived at the Tip-off Classic and put on his traditional show with jaw-dropping dunks during warm-ups.
It didn’t take long for the Overtime Elite product to deliver a mind-blowing dunk in a game for Free Bandz. A pass was thrown up the floor, which looked like it would sail out-of-bound or a missed lay-up. However, the ball was intentionally thrown off the backboard, and let the highlight caught by Overtime to show off his athleticism.
Every time Howard steps on the floor there is a chance his highlights can go viral. The freakish athlete did the same thing at the Top 100 camp.
Playing amongst the best players in the country was a great experience for Howard.
“It got me better,” he said. “When you play against the toughest players, you’re going to have a tough game and you can’t get down.”
During the three-day showcase, Howard averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game for the Lakers. The team advanced to the final four after a 4-1 record. His performance took place in front of a slew of college coaches and NBA scouts in attendance.
Howard, who intends to make a decision on July 29th, picked up an offer from Connecticut. He holds other offers from Arkansas, Auburn, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kansas, LSU, NC State, Ole Miss, Providence, Rutgers, Tennessee, Tennessee State, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest.
The 50th-ranked player has not narrowed his list down but is looking for two things in a program.
“I want to be around a family,” he said. “Someone who is going to take care of me by pushing me harder to help me get better at the next level.”
Bailey is must-see basketball
Every time Airious “Ace” Bailey steps on the floor basketball fans are witnessing something special.
The 6-foot-10 makes plays from every position on the floor. He can get to the rim for a thunderous dunk, or a fadeaway jumper, which is difficult to contest. Bailey can shoot the three-pointer consistently and sees the floor as well as any point guard in the country. The Rutgers commit is also a defensive savant.
He led AOT to a win over Team Forrest recording nearly a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Notable prospects
2024 Jayden Williams had an impressive evening. The 6-foot-9 forward played with a purpose attacking the inside and outside. He played well in the open floor. Williams has always been a prospect to watch because of his size on both ends of the floor. His communication and motor were at an elite level. He is playing with a level of confidence not seen before. The Overtime Elite product has offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Missouri, UAB, and Xavier.
2024 Moses Hipps had a strong showing for Game Elite. The McEachern High shooting guard nailed timely shots to help beat Free Bandz. He hit four straight shots in a stretch of two minutes. His performance is a carryover from the two consecutive live periods in Georgia. He tends into July with plenty of interest. If Hipps shoots the ball the way he did Friday, those will turn into offers.
2024 Jaylen Colon is known as one of the more elite shooters in Georgia. The 6-foot-1 point guard hit shots like the president of the sniper club. When Game Elite needed him the most Colon didn’t need to hit a shot. He helped force several turnovers with his nose on the ball. The final one helped secure the game to secure the victory.
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.