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5’11 2021 PG Nasir Brown (Creekside Christian)
Although Shaqir O’Neal had the game-winning basket in Creekside Christian’s upset victory over Grovetown, the Eagles probably wouldn’t have been in position to win without the efforts of Brown. With Jaylen Priester alongside him in the backcourt, CCA has a physical, aggressive duo that can thrive in a fast-paced game. Brown pushes the break after securing rebounds and goes to the basket with determination, taking hits and going through defenders to finish. He could slow down at times, but his penetration also creates open looks for his teammates, and he’ll keep the defense honest with some 3-point attempts. His mindset is the same on defense, staying active and looking for ways to cause disruption both on & off the ball. The level of aggression and effort he plays with should continue to result in a lot of production for their team.
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6’3” F Frank Umeano (Mundy’s Mill)
Mundy’s Mill’s matchup with Mount Vernon provided a good opportunity for Umeano to step up, and he took full advantage. He’s undersized at 6’3” but has a big, wide body that he uses well on the interior and knows how to get to his left hand to convert around the basket. He was able to create space for hooks in the middle of the paint and moved guys around to get himself in position for rebounds, finishing with 11 points & 11 rebounds. He had his hands full with a 6’8” 240 big man on the other side but battled and played with a good motor in both halves. Umeano also has some touch on his lefty shot from about 12-15 feet, which is important when going against bigger forwards. If he’s able to extend his range to the 3-point line, that could garner some college interest.
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5’10” PG Richard Visitacion (Cross Creek)
Another holiday tournament, another Augusta team proving themselves. Visitacion & Cross Creek came to the TOC and went 2-0, with a win over Cumberland Christian being most notable. He started the game hot with 12 points & 2 3’s at halftime as Cross Creek held a nice 11-point lead. Although his scoring continued in the 2nd half as he finished with 18 points, Visitacion played more of a facilitating role. He got teammates involved consistently, both those who were on the perimeter and in the post. Visitacion has a strong body, quickness off the dribble, and a pitbull mentality. You could tell he was locked in from the opening tip and his production was consistent throughout. He has a reliable jumper on which he stays on balance and gets good elevation, but uses it selectively. His decision-making was good and he made sure things ran smoothly on offense. I thought he brought a level of grit & competitiveness on both ends that you really like to see from your PG.
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6’3” 2022 SG Jackson & 6’2” 2022 SG Mason Kemp (Roswell)
Jase McCullough’s play for Roswell has been a given, but with the departure of George Pridgett, the Hornets have needed others to up their level of production and the Kemp twins have answered the bell. They fit extremely well with the Hornets’ offense as both have a good understanding of how to move without the ball and read the defense to find open scoring chances. Jackson is a little bigger than Mason which can help him around the basket, but both are reliable shooters from beyond the arc and score efficiently. They understand who they are as players and don’t try to overdo things with the ball in their hands, instead putting themselves in spots where it easiest to find success. There’s always a need/want for shooting and high IQ players at the next level, which should allow the Kemp twins to start opening the eyes of some college coaches this upcoming spring & summer.
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