Garrett Tucker:
Future150 Southeast Analyst. Covering high school basketball across the Southeast.
Atlanta, GA (Future150) -- The Wallace Prather Memorial tipped off on Friday night, with some of the best teams from Atlanta and the surrounding area coming in to showcase their talents.
The in-state teams started off the tournament, and several underclassmen shined.
Here are the standouts from Friday night…
Kamar Baldwin, 2016 CG, Atlanta Celtics: Baldwin had the game of the night (and possibly the weekend) on Friday, as he exploded for 30 points to begin the tournament. The high-scoring guard had all of his scoring going, as he was getting to the rim, hitting pull-up jumpers, and connecting from behind the arch. His position is still a question mark at 6-foot, but, nevertheless, he proved he can light up the stat sheet with some of the best scorers in Georgia.
Ronald Bell, 2016 SF, Heat Check: Heat Check performed a roster overhaul from last season, and Bell was a new addition to the squad for Prather. It’s safe to say he was very valuable for his new team. The 6-foot-5 forward made an impact on the offensive glass, as he dominated the boards and got easy buckets for himself. His high motor is hard for other players to match, and with his offensive game coming along, Bell looks like another promising player for Heat Check.
Kobi Simmons, 2016 PG, Atlanta Celtics: Simmons displayed his full arsenal over the weekend, but on Friday night, he showed he could be a point guard. The 6-foot-4 guard continues to be a problem for defenses with his quickness and speed. He did a fantastic job of getting into the lane and creating plays for himself and others.
Jordan Renfro, 2015 PG, Atlanta Select: Renfro continues to progress each time I see him. The 5-foot-9 point guard has always had his speed and quickness on his side, but, at times, turnovers have been a problem. It looks like he is beginning to work on being a better point guard. He is starting to slow down on offense and make better decisions for himself. If he continues to do this, the game will only get easier for him. He also has proved he is a dangerous shooter from mid-range off the dribble. Low-majors need to monitor him heading into July.
Zi Jie Shen, 2016 C, Game Elite: Shen is one of the most intriguing prospects in the Southeast right now. At 6-foot-10, he is still learning the game, but he has shown he has good touch around the goal and out to 15 feet. However, he is best at protecting the rim and rebounding right now. Shen is a work on progress, but with his size and skill-set coming along, he is a no-brainer high-major.
Monaire McCartney, 2017 CG, Atlanta Celtics: As if the 2017 class isn’t already loaded in the state of Alabama, Huntsville native Monaire McCartney will only strengthen the class. At 6-foot-6 McCartney is versatile on the perimeter, but he finds most of his work as a combo guard. He can stand around too much at times, but when he decides to get to the rim, he is extremely dangerous. Friday night, he scored 23 points, including a shot at the buzzer to give his team a close win.
Lawrence Castor, 2014 PF, Vanguard Elite: Castor was one of the truly intimidating athletes to take the court on Friday. The 6-foot-6 power forward is strong and uses his strength to be a great finisher around the rim. He also plays above the rim, as he can block shots and thrown down some impressive dunks. Junior College coaches will need to take notice of him; it looks like he will be headed that route.
RECRUITING NOTES:
Kobi Simmons plans to visit Kansas is mid-June. He also plans to visit Kentucky again soon. Ohio State, Maryland, and Syracuse are among the other schools the sophomore mentioned.
Kamar Baldwin was yet to receive any offers, but that will change in July. He listed interest from Georgia, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, UAB, Middle Tennessee State, Virginia, and George Mason.
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