Eric Hampford:
Future150 GM / Senior National Analyst. Covering high and middle school basketball.
Atlanta, GA (Future150) -- In the 16U Gold Championship Game, Team Forrest defeated the Alabama Magic 65-42 behind a big performance by 2016 John Ogwuche, who was solid all weekend for his team. Already holding offers from Georgia and UAB, the mid-range sniper had an excellent weekend. In one game against the talented Team Thad program, he exploded for 30 points, showing his national worth.
Devin Whitfield helped to lead the Alabama Magic to the championship with his ability to score from all three levels. He also helped to create opportunities for his teammates and was a major reason that the Magic made it to the title game.
Here are some other standouts from the weekend...
Micah Thomas, 2016 SF, Team Thad: Very few prospects ooze the amount of upside that the 6-foot-6 Briarcrest (TN) small forward does. He is an elite athlete with extremely long arms and legs. He is an excellent shot-blocker who scores most of his baskets on put-backs and slashing opportunities. Once his perimeter game comes around, he will become a national prospect.
Ebuka Izundu, 2016 C, EOTO: Izundu is a high-major big man that is going to be highly sought after based on his potential and upside. The 6-foot-10 big man has great length and athleticism and he runs the floor well for his size. He is a great rim protector, as he blocks shots without fouling. He still needs to work on his post moves and get stronger with the ball, but he is a no-doubt high-major talent.
Tyrie Jackson, 2016 PG, Tifton Eagles: This name may ring a bell for Georgia people, as Tyrie is the younger brother of future Georgia Tech point guard Tadric Jackson. The 6-foot point guard resembles his brother in some ways, but Tyrie is going to make his own name in the future. Jackson did a great job of running his team. He displays great vision and can put the ball on the money for his teammates. The physical guard embraces contact at the rim, and he can avoid shot-blockers with a nice floater in the lane.
Justin Edwards, 2016 SF, Port City Stars: The 6-foot-4 forward is at his best when he is slashing to the basket. He is a very good defender and is excellent when scoring in transition. Excellent frame and potential.
Reginald Taylor, 2016 PF, Team Thad: Another long term prospect is the 6-foot-8 power forward. While his skills have a long way to go, his hard-working demeanor on the floor is impressive. He works hard for offensive position on the inside and gets to the free throw line often, where he has excellent touch. He is also a good rebounder on the defensive end.
James Blair, 2016 SG, CH All-Stars: Blair was one of the better shooters in the 16U group and helped to lead his team to the Silver bracket championship game. He has a good looking shot and has very little problem getting it off around defenders.
Trey Thompson, 2016 PG, Mississippi Bobcats: Thompson was one of the top players in the 16U bracket, he used his speed to get to the rim and either finish or create open opportunities for his teammates.
Isaiah Howard, 2016 PG, Atlanta Swish: Howard is a powerfully built guard who got to the rim with ease and was able to finish through contact. He has good vision as well and should have a decent AAU season before stepping up at Wheeler next season.
DeAndre Caster, 2016 SG, Port City Stars: Caster is an athletic wing who can score on different levels as well as guard the opposing team's best perimeter scorer.
Dakeen Diaz, 2016 CG, Bi-City Hurricanes: One of the craftier scorers in the Atlanta Main Event was none other than Diaz, who found a way to score from both the perimeter and by getting into the lane and either using a mid-range jumper or finishing at the cup.
Mahrion Butler, 2016 SG, Memphis Deciples: He is a long and lanky athlete that was at his best when slashing to the basket and pulling up for mid-range jumpers. He has a solid shot but must work to expand it out to the three point line.
Preston Horne, 2017 PF, Tifton Eagles: Another big man that showed great potential was Horne. The 6-foot-5 freshman was a force around the goal. He used his athleticism to play above the rim and jam in a couple of highlight dunks throughout the weekend. He finishes well around the rim with his strength and length. He also made it tough for other bigs to score with his shot-blocking ability.
Demarcus Johnson, 2016 SG, Memphis Bulls: Johnson proved he was one of the most skilled guards in his age group on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 combo guard played on and off the ball, where he did a nice job of scoring from both positions. While he was a streaky shooter, he nailed a couple of shots from the perimeter each game. He showed glimpses of scoring on all three levels. He will be a low to mid-major player to watch out for from the talented city of Memphis.
Kenneth Frost, 2016 SF, Charleston Playmakers: Frost was one of the most active players to take the floor over the weekend. The 6-foot-4 forward was a force on the glass, as he rebounded at a high efficiency and made plays. Few players had a better motor than this sparkplug. He also caused problems on defense with his length and quickness.
Terry Alston, 2016 CG, EOTO: Another unknown player to make a name for himself was Alston. The Charlotte, North Carolina product made a living at slashing to the goal and finishing at the rim. He used his strength and power to make things look easy on the court.
Comments:
Mahrion Butler had a very impressive game, creating offence from his deffensive pressure.