Greensboro Day Bounces Back
After an opening round loss to Top 10 ranked Calvary Christian (FL), Greensboro Day responded with an overtime win versus St. John’s College (DC). Greensboro Day’s veteran leadership really set the tone and controlled the game. Mercer commit, Michael Zanoni, led the way with 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, while shooting 4-9 from behind the arc. Princeton commit, CJ Collins, added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Charlotte commit, Nik Graves, controlled the tempo and finished with 10 points to go along with a 6 assists. Jaydon Young was the fourth Bengal in double figures with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. The Bengals will face the winner of Sunday’s matchup between Isidore Newman (LA) and Gill St. Bernard (NJ).
Hoop State Stars in Action
After Jaden Bradley (IMG) and Jalen Hood-Schifino (Montverde) transferred out of North Carolina following their sophomore season, it is always great to see these two young men play. As always, Alabama commit, Jaden Bradley, controlled the tempo of the game and makes a huge impact without scoring a lot of points. His vision and ability to see the next play is what sets him apart. He finished with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in their opening round win versus Ballard (KY).
Indiana commit, Jalen Hood-Schifino played an outstanding game on both ends of the floor. He finished with a game-high 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. As anyone who has watched Jalen knows, he really gets after it on the defensive end. I’m not sure their is a point guard in the country who defends better than him. He shot the ball efficiently going 7-12 from the field and 2-5 from behind the arc. But more importantly, he did so within the framework of the game. He plays at his own pace, was great out of ball screens, and in drive and kick situations.
Keyonte George is the Real Deal
Keyonte George is the best player that I’ve seen so far at City of Palms. The Baylor commit can flat out do it all on the offensive end. At 6’4, he has really good size, strength, and athleticism to go along with a polished skillset. He scores efficiently from all three levels. He has a smooth, effortless release, and every shot looks like it’s going in. He can create at a high level off the bounce, get to his spots and shoot over defenders. And when he attacks the basket, he utilizes his strength to initiate and finish through contact. Not to mention, for a guy who scores at a high level, he made all the right reads as a facilitator out of pick and roll situations (pocket passes, skips, throwbacks, etc.). Even more importantly, on the defensive end, he really sits down and guards, making it very difficult on opposing guards. George finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists and 3 steals. It’s easy to see why all national outlets have him as a top three player nationally. He is a perfect fit for Scott Drew at Baylor, and will have a bright future.
Jeremy Gregory Continues to Produce
ETSU commit and Charlotte native, Jeremy Gregory (Oak Hill) has made a name for himself for years as being extremely productive, consistently pouring in double-doubles. Gregory did just that in Oak Hill’s opening round win versus Isidore Newman (LA) as he finished with a game-high 20 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists while going 9-12 from the field.
New Names to Remember: Jermahri Hill (Berkmar, GA) and Gabe Sisk (Ballard, KY)
6’4 2022 Jermahri Hill led the way for Berkmar in their efforts against Montverde finishing with a game-high 16 points and 3 rebounds. Hill has really good size and athleticism to go along with a quick first step. He showcased his ability to create off the bounce, get downhill and finish at the rim over length. He also knocked down the catch and shoot three, as well as showcasing the ability to get to the midrange where he drilled multiple pull-up jumpers. Hill currently holds offers from Tennessee Tech, Alabama, Virginia Tech, and Charleston Southern.
6’5 2023 Gabe Sisk had a big game for Ballard finishing with 16 points and 7 rebounds against IMG. What really stood out was his high motor. He helped Ballard to a five point halftime lead over IMG. He seemed to be all over the court, using his length to disrupt things on the defensive end and was very active in the passing lanes. Sisk showcased his ability to come off screens and make shots, as well as getting downhill and finishing in transition. Currently, he holds an offer from Iona, but one would have to expect that he’ll receive more interest and offers after his play at City of Palms.