Andrew Force:
Future150 National Analyst. Covering High and Middle School basketball.
Powder Springs, GA (Future150) -- Young Atlanta players flocked to McEachern High School Saturday and Sunday to prove they are worthy of national rankings.
The turnout was strong and the talent was stronger. No better dunk contest existed this fall. Kajon Gordon ended the riveting dunk fest with a staggering between-the-legs smash.
Walter Cunningham, 2016 PG, Lithonia (Georgia): In a gym filled with guards, Cunningham made an impact with his athleticism and slashing. Very bouncy. Cunningham attacked the rim bravely. To be a complete point guard he needs to create for others more effectively.
Jamal Hinkle, 2017 SF, Augusta (Georgia): Jamal is a powerful player. His perimeter defense needs a lot of work. Strengths for Jamal include outside shooting, slashing, and rebounding. Hinkle was very active each and every contest. He projects as an active combo forward, but again the defense outside needs to improve.
Trenton Gibson, 2018 PG, Murfreesboro (Tennessee): Gibson is a great slasher. He is very patient and has solid open and half court vision. Gibson shoots the ball well enough from the 3-point line to keep you honest. His strength is excellent for his age. As his basketball IQ continues to grow, so does his game each time we see him. He must get quicker feet and work on his overall speed if he stays at 6-foot-2 inches. Gibson is an elite rebounder from the guard spot. Solid overall performance.
Tyler Thornton, 2017 CF, Atlanta (Georgia): Once again the lefty forward earned his way onto a Future150 All-Star Team. The familiar face trimmed down a little in the last few months. Still he rebounds at an elite level. He showed a mid range jumper from 15 feet that was unstoppable all weekend long. His skill level has increased and his ball handling makes him a threat off the bounce. His game resembles Michael Beasley at the same age. Any 6-foot-7 player with his motor will succeed. It was another great camp for Thornton. No brainer DI prospect.
Marquise Jackson, 2017 PG, Macon (Georgia): Killer instinct. Jackson was one of the most ferociously invested players all weekend. He refuses to lose anything. Drills, games, small competitions are all battles to the death for Jackson. His pride and intensity are elite.
Brandon Williams, 2016 SG, Marietta (Georgia): Williams succeeded with the top 4-on-4 squad In fact, their team was the most successful halcourt team of the Future150 Camp season. They won 32 straight games and ultimately won the Final Four. Williams is a dynamic guard. He is always around the basketball. Committed defender.
Rajah Bush, 2016 SG, Savannah (Georga): Bush is an exlpsoive combo guard capable of scoring anywhere inside the arc. His change of direction is very good. He needs bulk up to compete beyond high school. Outside shooting is a trademark of his game. He needs to be a little more deadly, but the foundation is there. Acrobat mid-flight. He has mastered the up-and-under layup.
Colby Williams, 2016 CG, Atlanta (Georgia): Williams is a sharpshooter recovering from a broken wrist injury. He is regaining confidence in his shot and truthfully his game overall. He was relatively passive Saturday, but woke up Sunday morning with something to prove. Not only did he dominate play in the halfcourt competition he also scored in a variety of ways. He can thrive at either guard position.
Dathan Boyd, 2017 PG, Cathline (Georgia): Boyd is a big-bodied lead guard who can do it all. He routinely got into dangerous positions. His court vision is good. He has a knack for exposing average defenders. His handles are rock solid and showed the ability to score in bunches. His best attribute to date might be his overall ability to make those around him better. You must play him honest on defense or he will exploit your weakness and score at will. Everytime we see him play he shows us another aspect of his game.
Khavon Moore, 2018 SG, Macon (Georgia): Though he was only able to drop by Saturday, Moore (Future150 #19) made his mark. He is an elite outside shooter with remarkable length. At 6-foot-8 inches tall and playing the point/forward position, Moore is one of the more versaitle players in the 2018 class. His slashing needs to catch up to his perimeter play. Regardless the young man is destined for great things. He is definitley on the of the most skilled players we have seen in the class to date.
Kajon Gordon, 2018 CG, Brampton (Canada): Several players like Drinnon, Forrest, Moore, and Harden already have built reputations around Atlanta. But Gordon was the camp's revelation. He is a great two-foot leaper. Gordon was exceptionally active. Confident. He probably shoots a little too much. For now the outside shooting is lagging behind the other refined skills. Explosive.
Justin Forrest, 2017 PG, Ellenwood (Georgia): Justin is a wonderful player. Forrest plays incredible help defense. The burly, combo guard showed Sunday afternoon that he is a fantastic shooter on top of the other obvious contributions. A coach’s son, Forrest plays great even against great players. Though not elite athletically he is athletic enough to compete. His court savvy sets him apart. Justin is wonderful defending, as a safety valve, in the fullcourt press.
Drue Drinnon, 2018 PG, Atlanta (Georgia): Drinnon competed Sunday and was pretty much unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. He scored on all three levels and has a mid range jumper of the dribble that is in college form. If you give ground as a defender he makes you pay with the 3-point shot where he made 5 in the All-Star Game. His first-step is obnoxiously quick. College defenders will have to shove him just to keep him from the paint. Currently 165 pounds, Drinnon has continually developed all the necessary skills. Vital for Drue is a continued focus on developing his overall body strength. He takes home MVP Honors for a 2nd straight camp.
Anthony Edwards, 2019 PG, Atlanta (Georgia): The only freshman to make the Top 20 Team was Edwards. Though raw, Edwards is extremely athletic. He is an amazing leaper and denier around the basket. His physical strength is good.
Elias Harden, 2017 SG, East Point (Georgia): Elias Harden was undoubtedly a top three player in the gym. His mixture of cutting and shooting is scary good. Elias will need to improve his outside shooting to be a pro, but he is high-major already. And do not doubt his shot. Just know that it will improve to lethal heights. There is not one aspect of the game he doesn’t do better than average. Harden even dominates against tough competition. His agility at his height is scary.
Desmond Webb, 2016 SG, Carrollton (Georgia): Listed as a shooting guard, Webb played more like a combo forward. His upper body strength and activity around the rim suggested he should be playing a little inside-out. Of course, the senior needs to be a wing at 6-foot-4, but his skill set is versatile. To be a 2, Webb has a lot of work to do with his handles. He is an impressive rebounder at both ends.
Kenyon Buffen, 2018 SF, Gainesville (Georgia): Buffen has really good touch on his jumper. He is not a leaper. In fact, his jumper is predominately a set shot. This has to change as he gets older and faces bigger and bigger men. His size is impressive and he handles enough to be a perimeter player.
Darius Turman, 2017 SF, Dearing (Georgia): Turman is a 6-foot-3 inch wing, who loves attacking the basket. He made his living by getting in the paint off transition and getting easy baskets. He has a good body and can absorb contact well when attacking his defender. His overall skill level must increase if he plans on making the jump to the next level.
Daniel Alford, 2016 PG, Stone Mountain (Georgia): Alford is a smooth lefty that is long and wiry. He loves scoring off the bounce where he did most of his damage all weekend. The one word that would best describe his game is efficient. He can do it all and is an excellent rebounder from the wing position. In order for him to take the next step in his game he most shoot the ball with more confidence and consitentcy. Added body weight will be his friend as well.
De'Undra Singleton, 2018 PF, Toccoa (Georgia): Singleton brings height and a wide body frame which punishes defenders on the low block. His has good foot work and can finish well around the basket. The sophomore runs the floor very well already. He has expert touch around the rim. His mid-range suggest there will be an expansion to his shooting range. He was like a sponge all weekend, taking in coaching and wanting to compete which coaches love at the next level.
Jahorie Copeland, 2017 SG, Powder Springs (Georgia): Copeland was largely overlooked during the AAU season, but his agility is elite. His first step off the bounce gives him the ability to get separation and great for others. In 5-on-5 play he was scoring all over the floor and knocking down open 3-balls. The short guard can score in a variety of ways. His overall motor is something that set him apart from the other campers. You have to love how hard he plays and loves to compete. Winner.
Horace Wyatt, 2018 SF, Atlanta (Georgia): Wyatt can finish with either hand. The long and lean wing was incredibly athletic. He needs to desperately work on lateral mobility. Right now the sophomore really struggles defending the perimeter. Based on his size and skills Wyatt probably projects as a 3. But his D has to improve outside the lane.
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