Atlanta Hoops ready for OTR: Sweet 16

Atlanta Hoops ready for OTR: Sweet 16

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

MARIETTA, GA – The NCAA Live Period once ran during a three-week cycle through April and two stops in July. Things have changed making it harder for players, especially under the radar players.

This weekend the only Live period of the month will kickoff with On The Radar’s Sweet 16 at McEachern High. College coaches are looking for the next player to don their programs colors.

Now with the recruiting calendar being so limited for college coaches to evaluate players. This also essential for those same players to play with a travel program who will have them play in front of college coaches.

Enter Emory Walton.

The Georgia native has been around quality basketball since his high school days. He has also helped mold and coach players who were part of quality sponsored sneaker programs. Now, Walton has an independent program called Atlanta Hoops and Trey Thompkins Hoops.

“I try to out evaluate people,” Walton said, who has a team loaded with talent. “I can still find players and I look to push, train and develop. If I can get my guys to play hard all the time good things will happen.”

Walton is not delusional to believe he will have known players with big time names on the roster like the sneaker sponsored teams in Georgia. His roster is loaded with players looking for a chance.

Many of them play with a chip on their shoulders. It is the same way Walton is as a coach on the sidelines.

“I’m looking for the kid that feels he is the underdog,” he said. “Everyone on my team feels like they weren’t appreciated. They were overlooked. I carry that chip on my shoulder as well. I go get guys who play with a chip on their shoulders too.”

Walton’s focus is to push his players because of the lack of exposure or offers. His mission was to prepare them for this first Live period.

He would like to let college coaches know a few things about the players on the roster.

“I want coaches to really notice I have some guys who have great size for the position. Great athleticism for the position,” Walton said. “But the most important thing, if you track my teams GPA it is 3.5 or higher.”

One of those guys are Jehloni James. The Lanier High unsigned senior is a 6-foot-6 two-guard with a 43-inch vertical, James holds a 4.0 GPA and is taking Advanced Placement classes.

Reco Holman has grades. Jared Ivery has 25 offers because he 3.5 with a great SAT score.

But this isn’t the first time Emory has been surrounded by high level athletes. He has learned from his time with the Atlanta Celtics (Adidas) and the Atlanta Xpress (Under Armour).

“My time with the Celtics molded me,” said Walton of Hulio Smith and coach Karl McCray. “I can never repay them for what they did for me. They put me in the game.”

He learned how to put a roster together, recruit and how to manage a team while part of the Celtics organization. Xpress director Winfred Jordan taught Walton how to share information, working with people and to also managing a talented group of players to mesh together.”

Walton wants his players to mesh together for their first an only Live Period of the month.