The beautiful campus of Emory University was home to this year’s Power 24, one of the last events for AAU teams to impress college coaches during the July recruiting period. The Power 24 is organized by Shun Williams and On the Radar Hoops, one of the best sources for Georgia recruiting evaluations available.
| I was intent on seeing several players specifically, especially Ahmed Hill (SG, 6’4″, 2014) of the Southern Stampede 16u, who I’d just seen explode at the 2012 Peach Jam less than a week before. Hill is an offensive powerhouse; when he’s on, he can be almost impossible to guard. Friday he showed that prowess again, and despite slumping in the match up against the GA Stars on Saturday, remains a high major prospect who can score on the move or under pressure. Meanwhile his teammate Jakeenan Gant (PF, 6’7″, 2104) continues to impress with his agility and active play. Gant is especially good around the basket on putbacks and in traffic around the rim, using his bounce and timing to catch the ball coming off of the rim and slam it home. |
 Jakeenan Gant with the slam over the Georgia Stars |
Gant has great hands and despite being primarily a PF, was playing some wing effectively. He still needs to add strength but is definitely a player to watch. C.J. Thurman (C, 6’9″, 2014) is a solidly built post player who can bang some in the paint and is a good rebounder. The Stampede have a lot of size with Thurman, Gant and Elijah Staley (SF, 6’7″, 2014) another fluid player with good length and has versatility.
Gabe Devoe (SG, 6’3″, 2014), playing with the Forest City Heat, continues to show his strength and ability to overpower smaller guards. Devoe is best when getting to the rim and finishing with contact, but he also was running some point and shows good patience when running the offense.
The Upward Stars have been victims of buzzer beaters twice in the July period, but they are still a team loaded with prospects, including P.J. Dozier (PG, 6’4″, 2015) a long guard with great poise and slashing ability. Dozier’s strength is slashing to the hoop and finishing with contact or over smaller guards. He is already a high major prospect and as he adds strength will be impressive. Dozier’s partner in the backcourt is the dynamic scorer L.J. Peak (SG, 6’4″, 2014), who squares up well on his shot, even on the move, but is also strongest putting the ball on the floor and finishing. Kingsley Okoroh (C, 6’10”, 2014) continues to look like a solid center and prospect, although he still needs to become much more aggressive in the post. Okoroh swatted several shots (I counted 4 in one game) and has good hands. Tyrece Brice (PG, 5’10”, 2014) also continues to have a solid summer, a true point guard who works his tail off on defense but can also score at full speed. Brice has picked up interest from High Point and Presbyterian College. A player who really showed he should be getting more interest is Javis Howard (PF, 6’8″, 2014) Irmo (SC), who was active and showed he could really be effective at the PF spot. Has a great drop step already and good build.
The Birmingham Ice have a rock solid bevy of swarming guards, with speed everywhere, and it cannot be understated; they match up even against teams with much more size effectively. Justin Coleman (PG, 5’10”, 2014) has been a killer all summer, a player who will burn you if you play off of him (or sometimes even when well defended). Coleman’s deadliest weapon is actually his first step, which is a blur, but he has a great release on his shot and is a dangerous shooter. But it’s not like you can double team Coleman with Jarvis Calhoun (PG, 6′, 2014) on court, who is a deadeye shooter with textbook form and has scorched several teams already. Cedric McGinnis (PG, 5’8″, 2014) adds his own quickness and speed and you have a set of guards that can move at the speed of light.
The Georgia Stars have a nice prospect in Devin Mitchell (PG, 6’4″, 2014) who is a solid athlete and all around guard. Mitchell has a good looking shot and can hit from deep.
TeMarcus Blanton (SF, 6’5″, 2014) of the Atlanta XPress is a player with a couple of offers but will no doubt start seeing more interest if he continues to show his active game. Blanton is an ‘everywhere on the floor’ player at times, scoring, rebounding and moving without the ball. A solid wing with good size. His teammate Trentin Drayton (SF/PF, 6’6″, 2014) has great hands and can catch bullet passes from the guards, finishing easily around the basket. Drayton would be tracking at the LM/MM level right now because of his size, but his athleticism and agility around the basket make him definitely a player colleges should be taking a look at- he plays big and has great quickness at the PF spot that would give bigger post players matchup problems. He also would likely be able to defend against big wing players at the 3 spot.
The Columbus Knicks have some solid players, starting with LaMarcus White (PF/C, 6’8″, 2013). White is a great prospect who lets the game come to him and has a great feel around the rim. He’s not overly aggressive but he moves extremely well. Definitely a PF prospect who can also play C, not the other way around. Had a really nice move putting the ball on the floor and getting around he defender from just inside the three point line and is a very smooth player. Good rebounder, needs to add strength, but definitely a MM/HM prospect. Playing with White in the post is Christian Kennedy (PF/C, 6’9″, 2013) a very long athletic shot blocker who is a little raw but has a lot of potential. Both White and Kennedy are very mobile big men who would be effective in a the transition game, and Kennedy has quick bounce on the move.
Running the show for the Knicks is Dionte Corprew (PG, 5’11”, 2013), a true point guard with good awareness. Corprew has a good high release on his shot and a solid handle. Definitely a point guard who looks to attack with the dribble or pass.