Sideline notes: Georgia Elite 8 Tip-off Classic
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Marietta, GA – Georgia’s Elite 8 Tip-off Classic made its return in grand fashion this
week at Wheeler High School.
Seven games. One finishing overtime. Two beings won in the final second. Plenty of
notable players who are to be watched throughout the season.
This was the first official weekend teams could play under Georgia High School
Association ruling. Here is what we had to see from the sideline
Lee High School showed its grit, beating Kell in the final seconds 72-70. The Generals went on a 6-0 run to seal the win. Behind the Alabama schools’ victory were Micheal Stanford, Chase Stuart, and Dylan Anderson. This trio caused fits inside and out. Stanford is a 6’6 lefty forward who anchors the interior. The senior finished through contact and showed quickness and toughness recording a double-double (22 points, 10 rebounds), while going 7-of-10 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. He
altered shots inside even if he didn’t get a block. Stuart, a senior, was Stanford’s wing
man, pun intended. The 6’5 wing registered 11 points and six rebounds. His defensive
activity disrupted the Longhorns continuity. Anderson applied the ball pressure. The 6’3
senior guard was 5-for-6 (10 points) getting to the basket.
Kell High School was led by junior Nganga Kinyanjui, who showed plenty of poise in the
season-opener. This shifty guard was tactical in attacking the basket while getting to the
open spot for shots. His patient was on display as the Generals tried to come at him from every angle. This 6-footer neutralized the defense hitting 3-of-6 three pointers finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Kamari Kilgore, a sophomore, played well alongside NaNa. Kilgore added another perimeter weapon to the Longhorns offense, going 3-for-5 from three-point range, chipping in with 17 points of his own. These two guards worked cohesively in Kell’s offense scheme. This is a young backcourt who will
be asked to play a big role for the Longhorns.
The Heritage School is going to be a team to watch in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association. They showed it has a defensive scheme and enough perimeter shooting to escape with a victory. These Hawks edged out Kennesaw Mountain 47-46 behind the hot shooting of Coleman Hellgeth. The junior forward is a 6’3 perimeter assassin nailing a corner triple before finishing with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He is also comfortable cleaning up the boards at critical times. Two players to watch this season for the Hawks are some youngsters in MaKari Townsend and Alex Mufu. Both played pivotal roles in the win. Townsend, a freshman, showed versatility the entire game finishing with 12 points playing inside and out. The 6’6 forward plays hard on both ends of the floor. Mufu, an eighth grader, owned the paint like a seasoned high school player. He is 6’5 with impeccable timing for rebounds or finishing above the rim. His presence and performance will help the Hawks soar this season.
Kennesaw Mountain High School will make some noise this season. The Mustangs are led by a trio of guys like Justin Mallett, Abu Jallow, and Graham Titus. Mallett, a senior, is the elder representative for the team. He is a 6’3 guard who led the defense with three steals and three rebounds while scoring seven points. Titus, a junior, is a guard who understands when to deliver the big blow finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the game. Jallow stole the show, however. The sophomore forward is a long and wiry 6’6 forward. His efficiency from the field (6-for-9) from the field
helped him become the games leading scorer with 17 points. He filled other categories in the state sheet with seven rebounds, two assists, and three blocks. There were moments he was the best player on the floor because of the way he spread the defense out and got to the rim.
Gainesville High School is a team poised to make a deep run in this year’s AAAAA playoffs. After this weekend’s performance it is easy to see why they are a team to watch. The Red Elephants were matched up against the Wilson Academy squad, which has a roster with the length to match the Northeast Georgia school, but that didn’t matter. This was a solid matchup on paper with the roster size both teams had until one player decided to establish himself as the most dominating player on the floor. Charlie
Gersmel went to work. The Belmont University signee started out punishing the interior defense. He then stepped out and nailed a few jumpers before finishing the day with 21 points (9-of-13 from the field), five rebounds, and four assists. His pace and confidence grew with every possession. He had help inside from Quintin Mansfield and Kevin Curtis. Mansfield, a Troy University signee, was 5-for-6 from the field for 10 points and was relentless on the defensive end of the floor deflecting or altering shots with his 6’6
frame. Curtis, a senior, eliminated Wilson Academy’s size by establishing himself inside. The 7-footer started with three consecutive baskets inside and then altered shots. His presence alone disrupted any plan Wilson Academy may have had before the game. He finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. His improvement since joining the Gainesville program will only get better as the season continues. The Red Elephants got solid guard play from Kevin “KJ” White, a senior, played like a poised floor general getting
teammates involved (three assists) and was a locked down defender (three steals). Bryce Jackson, a senior, gives Gainesville an athletic guard who shoots the ball who rebounds well outside of his area. He finished with nine points, four rebounds, and two assists. Senior Brandon Nelson came off the bench with the jumper ready and loaded. He gives them the exterior presence the team needs, going 3-for-6 from the field for eight points.
The Wilson Academy has an attractive roster for college programs. One of those players is Tristen Edwards. The sophomore forward is 6’8 with good athleticism and length. He is an immediate bucket getter scoring 20 points on 6-of-7 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. His knack for scoring and being around the rim was one of the bright spots for Wilson Academy. Jordi Musifari, a junior, is one to track this season. The 6’7 forward is athletic and wiry, who was getting into the passing lanes for
deflections.
Grayson High School may have lost a lot in comparison from their previous years, but this roster was rather impressive with a marquee talent in a dominating, 77-60, win over Pace Academy. The marquee talent on the Rams roster is junior MJ Curry, who is an athletic 6’5 guard. He did not disappoint finishing above the rim, which included a poster. While he being an elite athlete isn’t a surprise Curry showed there is more to his game. He was 11-of-12 from the field for 27 points. The elevation on his jumper and quick release was effective in the mid-range and from beyond the arc. His running mate on the day was Byron Lee, who is a 6’7 forward, anchoring the middle. He finished with 10 points, helping stifle Pace’s offensive groove. Senior Malik Rideout, who is the recent addition to the Rams roster, helped run the high-octane offense while playing within itself.
Pace Academy was a little overmatched against a Grayson team that has not lost a regular-season game against a Georgia team in more than three years. The Knights, however, still play to a standard set for the program and always have the opportunity to showcase a player or two. Hayden Clay took the lead in leading Pace early. The 6’9 forward, a Georgia Southern signee, showed elite footwork and hands inside the lane and played through contact. He looked like the best player on the floor finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Brielen Craft, a sophomore, is the Knights floor general who ran the team well through the Rams pressure. He shifted through the press to dish out four assists. Clay and Craft will garner plenty of attention this season. Pace is a team to watch as many of these players get into the flow of the system.
Dutchtown High School is a program some may want to start paying attention to after its 72-71 victory over Hillgrove. These Bulldogs are tenacious on the defensive end of the floor refusing to let the Hawks loose. Senior Maddox Melancon was a major piece to Dutchtown’s comeback by flexing his muscle inside while extending the floor. He finished with 13 points. The final buckets in the end were provided with the help of senior Bobby Buggs. This point guard had 10 points in the win, which included the
game-winning layup. Isaiah Dorsainvil, a junior, shot the ball well from beyond the arc nailing three three-pointers. These Bulldogs are hungry to prove they deserve the respect others have received.
Hillgrove High School is a roster led by some young rising stars, who have gained national attention. It is also a young roster still growing in experience. These Hawks will be in close games on the season with a loaded schedule ahead. Many of their opponents will focus on Bryson Jatta. The sophomore guard is a scoring machine hitting from several spots finishing with a game-high 20 points. He is an explosive player with a smooth feel for the game. Junior Asa Montgomery is a 6’7 protégé, who has gotten
stronger and is skilled enough where Auburn’s coaching staff was courtside paying attention to his performance. They had a chance to see Montgomery insert his will in the game when the Hawks needed a basket. He is a solid rebounder outside of his area finishing with eight rebounds and 13 points. Landon Grundon is a 6’3 junior guard with quality ball handling and defensive skills that fit in just fine with the Hawks gritty mentality. He scored 13 points by nailing several open jumpers.
McEachern High School is a team that knows its identity. The Indians are going to play defense, and it will confuse its opponents all the time. This was the case as it picked the 79-53 win over Newton. McEachern is going to disrupt and make teams uncomfortable making adjustments offensively. When those stops pile up so does the Indians point production. They lead out to fastbreaks, and it starts with Chase Lumpkin. The junior guard, who has emerged as one of the most talked about players in the state recently with a number of college offers, scored a game-high 28 points, 26 of them in the second
half. Scoring the ball looked effortless for this McEachern product, who holds offers from Auburn, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Louisville and others. Senior Emmanuel Alofe was pivotal in the Indians scheme as a rim protector and a rebounding magnet. The 6’8 center is always in the paint and has enough skills to step out and shoot the ball finishing the night with 12 points. Now, while McEachern expects those two to lead, head coach Tremayne Anchrum is high on Alvin Pettaway Jr. The 6’8 freshman had a good enough summer to have Anchrum inset him into the starting lineup. Pettaway held
his own banging and rebounding with some older and more physical players. He finished with nine points in his high school debut. His development will be critical to the team’s success moving forward.
Newton High School has lost a lot of talent to graduation and transfers just before the start of the season. During the early morning of the game one would not know this because the Rams, who were runners-up in the Class 6A state championship, still showed it still had a lot of toughness on the roster. Jared White, a senior, got is going early by getting to the basket or just being the aggressor. This 6’4 guard drew plenty of defensive attention but was not fazed by scoring a team-high 22 points. His first half performance kept Newton close, but it was not enough to continue throughout the game. Another bright spot for Newton was Cayden Young. The 6’8 senior center is truly a rim protector. He will block shots with two hands or either hand, at its highest point. Anyone looking for a shot blocker with a high ceiling will want to check in with this prospect.
Pebblebrook High School narrowly escaped with a 73-71 overtime win over Decatur. This was an instant classic between two programs who will certainly make deep runs in the state playoffs. The Falcons frantic pace and defense was in midseason form. Zyree Brown, a senior, showed why he is a Kennesaw State commit. The shifty guard, who was battling a respiratory issue, pushed the ball up the floor and weaved through defenses with ease. He hit some clutch shots during the game before helping deliver
the game winning assist to senior Donald McMillian. Brown finished with a game-high 23 points going 5-of-7 from three-point range. Senior Alexander Jones chipped in with 18 points, 10 of which came in the second half and the overtime period on 8-of-9 shooting. He was a defensive menace for the Falcons. Anthony Moon, a junior, stepped up big in many critical moments for Pebblebrook. At 6’7, he scored inside and outside while defending the rim at every opportunity. He is a rising star within the program and is welcoming to the expectations. Moon registered eight rebounds and seven points. His presence in altering shots helped the Falcons secure the win.
Decatur High School is a team many will need to worry about after all. These Bulldogs have the bit to make things interesting in Class 5A. The roster is mixed with size, skill, and speed. The three S’s capable of matching any opponent. Decatur battled from the opening tip to the final buzzer and fell short with back-to-back turnovers, which allowed Pebblebrook to get the last possession of the game. Either way here are some players who will keep the Bulldogs in contention for a region title and a long run in the state playoffs. Tobia Brinkley, a Tulane signee, is coming back from injury and showed no signs of rust. The 6’6 wing had 12 points and seven rebounds. Jason Welborn II, a senior, has kept his hot production going since the start of the summer scoring 16 points and getting out in the open floor regularly for easy baskets. He also had four assists and four rebounds. His athleticism and defensive intensity helped give Decatur a lead throughout the game. Some other bright spots were 6’7 senior Eli Beard, who gives the
Bulldogs some depth on the frontcourt, and Bryce Howson, a senior, was solid running the team’s offense.
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. Alfonso can be reached at 678-209-9187; email: baselinetosideline@gmail.com; X: bts_report