Grovetown @ Harlem (Triple OT Thriller!)

***This "flashback post" was originally posted at AugustaEagles.blogspot.com (my "old" blog).  It is still there but I no longer post there.  I moved it to this blog because Reggie is someone we are tracking, and pulling for.***

This evening, ABR Live is posting live updates and highlights from Friday's Games. Follow the action here (AugustaBasketball.com) and on our Twitter page (@AugBball).

Final Score (Triple OT): Grovetown 81, Harlem 85

Leading Scorers
Grovetown: Brendon Scott 19, Solomon Gause - 15
Harlem: Reggie Reid 34, Dylan Farmer - 28

2nd Half and 1st, 2nd, 3rd OT Highlights here!



1st Half Highlights (below):

GAIS' Guard Combo - Miller and Crown

***This "flashback post" was originally posted at AugustaEagles.blogspot.com (my "old" blog).  It is still there but I no longer post there.  I moved it to this blog because Matt is someone I am tracking, and pulling for.***



Austin Crown and Matt Miller, the senior guards who lead the way for the Greater Augusta Independent School (GAIS) have quietly been building a reputation for being as good as, or better than, any combination of guards within "driving distance" of our area.  Before accusing me of being guilty of "media bias" (after all, I am the GAIS head coach!), consider what former University of South Carolina point guard and current Columbia radio show personality Carey Rich said during Saturday's ABRLive.tv broadcast of the duo's game versus prep school opponent Gray Military.

First some background.  Carey is South Carolina's unofficial "expert on the scene," and he is especially familiar with the Columbia basketball scene.  I agree with him when he says that Keenan High School's Marcus Stroman and Eric Hopkins are the best backcourt around, especially because the two, along with a capable group of teammates, have produced so many wins, and multiple state titles.

But just before the tip off of our game Saturday, the thought occurred to me that no duo can score and carry a team like mine.  So I raced over to Carey and informed him that although I respected and enjoyed watching the guard play at Keenan, Aquinas (Hill and Scott), Butler (Coleman and Leverett), Richland Northeast (Scott and Anderson), and Glenn Hills (Turner and Mcrae), I believed he was about to watch a combo that was even better.

Whether or not I was correct is a matter of opinion.  And mine is obviously affected by my familiarity and fondness with Crown and Miller.  And although Rich did not state on air that Crown and Miller were the "best guards" he'd seen, he did say that they were "as good as any."

See the video above to understand what Rich and a gym full of people at Ridge View High saw.  Crown and Miller combined for 61 points (Crown 39, Miller 22) and kept GAIS within range of a very impressive Gray squad.

Evans vs Harlem Boys (Live)

***This "flashback post" was originally posted at AugustaEagles.blogspot.com (my "old" blog).  It is still there but I no longer post there.  I moved it to this blog because Reggie is someone I am tracking, and pulling for.***

This evening, ABR Live is posting live updates and highlights from high school games in Augusta and Columbia.  Follow the action here (AugustaBasketball.com) and on our Twitter page (@AugBball).

Final Score: Evans 78 Harlem 64

Leading Scorers

Evans: Damian Foreman 22pts

Harlem: Reggie Reid 43 pts

Evans Second Half Highlights (Below)

Harlem Second Half Highlights (Below)

Evans First Half Highlights (below)

Harlem First Half Highlights (below)

Westside's Impressive Road Win

Great teams find a way to win when things are not going well.  The Westside Patriots visited Thomson Saturday and trailed by as many as 9 points late in the fourth quarter.  Senior leader Frank Booker's shot was not falling and the Patriots looked likely to lose for the first time this season.  But sophomore Quinton Phillips was steady and productive, attacking the basket and scoring 22 points in the contest.  And Booker did what a great player and a great competitor does when the ball is not bouncing his way: he found a way to affect the game's outcome in a positive way.  Booker, a great shooter and underrated offensive rebounder, came up with two big second chance baskets late, including the game deciding basket that came after leaping over a Thomson defender on the ground.

Unlike last season, Thomson is not a region opponent.  But Saturday's come from behind win in a hostile environment will likely to add to the confidence of an already formidable Westside group.  Watch Phillips and Booker in action Saturday in the highlights above.

Ahmed Hill Backs Up Statement

I really like Aquinas's 6'5" junior guard, Ahmed Hill.  I obviously think he is a phenomenal player.  Many do.  Last I checked he was regarded by ESPN as one of the top 25 juniors in the country.  But I also like Hill as a person.  He is a friendly, polite, and modest young man who treats people well and works very hard on the court and in the classroom (I've been told his GPA has risen almost a full point in the last 12 months).  Hill doesn't try to bring attention to himself or belittle others.

So when a mutual friend told me that Ahmed wanted us to know that he planned to have an especially big game Friday evening, I took notice.  People of few words usually mean what they say when they do speak up.  And Ahmed definitely meant what he said!  The area's top talent scored 41 points, including 28 of Aquinas's 34 first half points, and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 70-65 win on the road against Richmond Academy.  I won't attempt to describe all of the ways Hill scored Friday.  I'll leave that job to the video above.

Marcus Stroman: True Point Guard, True Leader

In the last post, I shared my opinion about Keenan High School's back court.  This one is all about the point guard of that pair, Marcus Stroman.  I can't say enough about how impressed I am with Stroman as a leader.  He does whatever it takes to win.  And in Saturday's scrimmage he showed that his ability to produce a win for his team includes the ability to score in bunches.  Augusta's basketball community, out in full force to see its defending state champion Laney Wildcats face Stroman's Raiders, was treated to an impressive display in the second half as Stroman led his team back from a 14 point deficit to win interstate bragging rights.

The run that the future South Carolina Gamecock leader ignited began with a crowd pleasing dunk in the second half.  After that moment, Stroman could seemingly do no wrong.  See for yourself in the highlights above!

PS - to my hometown friends: I am as big of a Laney fan as anyone who didn't attend the school can be.  And the highlights of that impressive team's impressive performance in Saturday's scrimmage are coming soon!

Lakeside Middle Defeats Columbia Middle

Lakeside's versatility prevailed against Grovetown's perimeter attack in the second game in as many days for the Columbia County middle school teams.  After trailing early, Lakeside's consistent attacking of the basket wore the Patriots down.  The Panthers established a lead late in the second quarter and never relinquished it, winning 35-30 and improving to 2-0.  Grovetown falls to 1-1.

Lakeside's Artest Banks consistently attacked the basket throughout the game, and the 7th grader seemed to constantly be shooting free throws.  Banks scored 6 of the Panthers first 10 points and kept Lakeside within striking distance early.  Banks finished with 12 points after scoring 9 in Thursday's win over Harlem.

Jump Ball at Lakeside Middle School

But Kre'sean Hall's versatility broke the game open Friday.  Hall led the Panthers, scoring 13 points for the second consecutive game.  After doing most of his damage from three point land Thursday, Hall attacked the basket off the dribble and handled Grovetown's full court man to man pressure with ease Friday.

While Grovetown seemed content to shoot mostly three pointers against Lakeside's 2-3 zone, Lakeside used Grovetown's full court man to man defense to get Hall and Banks the ball in a position to attack, getting easy baskets and free throw opportunities. 

Jelani Shakir scored 12 points to lead Grovetown. Lakeside visits Columbia Middle School Tuesday, while Grovetown will host Greenbrier.

Stampede Opens Peach Jam with Win

July 18-22, ABR is broadcasting live from the 2012 Nike EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam at peachjam.iHigh.com and iHigh.com/augustabasketball.  We will also be flooding the web with real time highlights and analysis on this site and on our Twitter feed (@AugBball).

2012 Peach Jam Highlights: Southern Stampede 16u vs E1T1 16u


The Southern Stampede (GA) 16u squad took the first step of the last leg of a long journey Wednesday evening, defeating Each One Teach One (FL) in the opening game of the 2012 Nike EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam.  The team plays next at 3 P.M. Thursday against The Family (PA).

ABR broadcasted live from Wednesday's game, and guest commentator Will Avery was one of many who had high praise for the Stampede point guard, the University of South Carolina bound Marcus Stroman, a rising junior at Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina.  Avery and many other observers praised Stroman's ability to "control the game" and "get the ball to the right spots."

And Stroman has multiple weapons at his disposal.  Augusta native and Aquinas High School standout Ahmed Hill displayed his offensive versatility as he made mid range jump shots in transition and off the dribble.  And 6'8" Effingham County phenom Jakeenan Gant did a little bit of everything, from dunking in transition, to scoring on offensive put backs, to burying a three pointer after a screen and roll.

Add the defensive presence of 6'9" Morgan County center CJ Turman, who blocked and changed shots repeatedly, and the firepower of 6'7" Wheeler High School multi sport standout Elijah Staley, and it is not difficult to see why the Stampede controlled Wednesday's opening game.

Avery and Booker Instructors of Summer's First Camp

Frank Booker Highlights

Augusta's most experienced "basketball people" all know two of the instructors at the summer's first youth basketball camp:  Will Avery and Frank Booker.  Avery, the camp's founder and one of the area's most accomplished players, is using Booker, one of the area's best high school players and a rising senior at Westside High School, to help teach the young campers the fundamentals of the game in a fun and competitive setting.

That Booker is associated with Avery is no surprise.  Avery is a former state champion at Westside High School who proceeded to have a fine career at Duke University before being a first round draft pick of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.  And he is one of many great role models in the Booker's life.  Booker's father, also named Frank, was a star basketball player in his own right at Westside and at Bowling Green University in the 1980's before playing professional basketball for many years.  And the shooter's father is quick to point out all of the great people from whom his son Frank is lucky to learn.

Westside Guard Frank Booker Instructs at the
Will Avery Basketball Camp

Tony Mitchell, the former Josey and College of Charleston stand out guard, regularly trains Booker and has been credited with much of the progress Frank has recently shown.  And longtime Augusta basketball authority (and Auburn University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee) Gerald White has had as much to do with Booker's long term development as anyone.  Add a great high school coaching staff, consisting of veteran head coach Marvin Fields and Booker's father Frank, and it is tempting to believe that young Frank has been given unfair advantages.


But assuming that Booker's ability on the court, and his performance in the classroom, is the product of an unfair advantage would not be wise.  One only needs to watch Booker compete to realize he earns every bit of success he attains.  Whether he is setting the pace for others to follow at his daily workouts with Mitchell and diving on the floor for loose balls soon after at the ABR Spring League, or defending, rebounding, and creating opportunities for teammates during Westside's recent run to the state playoffs sweet sixteen round, Booker has proven he is no ordinary "great shooter."  His will to improve, compete, and succeed has impressed many.  The young campers at the Will Avery Basketball Camp are lucky to be learning from some of the best guards Westside High School, and Augusta in general, have produced.

Crown and Miller Named NCHBC All-Americans

***This "flashback post" was originally posted at AugustaEagles.blogspot.com (my "old" blog).  It is still there but I no longer post there.  I moved it to this blog because Matt is someone I am tracking, and pulling for.***

Matt Miller and Austin Crown: Augusta Eagles Guards

As mentioned in this article, Augusta Eagles Junior guards Austin Crown and Matt Miller were chosen as two of the 21 NCHBC All Americans.  Miller and Crown will play for the Gray team in the NCHBC Blue-Gray All American game Wednesday evening at the Missouri State University Gymnasium.  

The game, from which the Augusta Basketball Report will blog live, should be a great one.  The class of 2014's 10th best player, according to espn.com's recruiting service, Justin Jackson, a 6'6" guard who plays for the HCYA Warriors, will play.  And his HCYA teammate, Danrad Knowles, a 6'11" center who is slated to play for the University of Houston Cougars squad as a freshman next season, will be playing on the "Blue" team.  Jackson, Knowles, and Alonzo Trier, a highly regarded freshman guard who plays for the Oklahoma City Storm, are three of the many players in the game who will provide an exciting experience for fans watching in person and on line.

ABR was present for the all american awards ceremony Monday evening.  And we found Crown, Miller, and their Eagles teammates in the lobby of their hotel room after the team ate breakfast Tuesday morning.  Watch the segment above to see the duo receive word, in front of a gym full of players and fans at the tournament, that they are included in this noteworthy group, and to listen to their thoughts, and those of their teammates.

Laney Makes History

Enjoy the highlights of the Laney Wildcats making history, winning their first state title 67-53 in Macon, Georgia, last Saturday.  The Wildcats had a fast start, taking a 47-27 lead.  And the lead never got below 10 before the Wildcats hoisted the Class AA state championship trophy.

Barber Shop Talk: Augusta Basketball is Back

Today we introduce a new section to the Augusta Basketball Report:  Barber Shop Talk.  In segments like this, we will combine one quality of the Augusta Basketball Report's network of contributors - knowledge of the game, particularly as it relates to the greater Augusta, Georgia, area over the past several decades - with another... the ability, as guest Ricky Moore so accurately puts it, to "talk a little smack."

Ricky Moore

The guests on our first episode have deep roots in the Augusta area basketball scene.  Will Avery and Ricky Moore, two of the area's most accomplished players, won a state championship together before eventually competing against each other in the 1999 NCAA championship game.  Moore got the better of that match up as his UCONN Huskies defeated Avery's Duke Blue Devils, but the game's starting point guards both gave Augusta's basketball fans a great show during that game and throughout the mid to late 1990s.

The debut episode's other guests, Keenan Mann and Buck Harris, each played basketball locally in high school, Mann for Richmond Academy and Harris for Westside High School.  The two became teammates at Augusta College and led the Jaguars to many impressive seasons during that team's tenure in NCAA Division I's Big South Conference.  The Augusta raised duo also teamed up in coaching Moore, Avery, Thomson High's Vonteego Cummings (Pittsburgh University), Richmond Academy's Tyrone Shine (Seton Hall), North Augusta's Antonio Grant (South Carolina), and countless other local players who eventually played major college basketball after participating on Mann and Harris's Augusta Metros AAU spring and summer team.

Enjoy the first episode (above) as Avery makes a statement, Mann provokes a good natured argument, Harris and Moore give their opinions, and Avery wraps things up.  Does it remind you of your barber shop?

Westside vs Josey: 2012 Region Championship Game

***This "flashback" post takes us back to the first month of blogging about Augusta area hoops (besides my GAIS Eagles homeschool team).***

The wait is over.  We are now releasing the championship game highlights from the regions 7-A, 3-AA, and 3-AAA tournaments.  And our first release is definitely worth the wait.  Some of the best basketball players in the greater Augusta, Georgia, area play some of their best basketball in this intense contest.  Enjoy!  And see the schedule below for the next two releases.

Tuesday Morning:  Laney vs Bleckley County (Region 3-AA championship game)

Tuesday Evening:  Aquinas vs Wilkinson County (Region 7-A championship game)

Also, we intend to publish a preview of the upcoming state tournament, with a special emphasis on the schools from the greater Augusta, Georgia, area.  The first round is Saturday.  We will live blog each round.  So if you are going to a game, bring your smart phone to stay up to speed with other area teams.  And if you are staying at home, tune in on your computer.

*Useful Tip - When watching the video, click on the "YouTube" icon on the bottom right of the video window to be taken to our YouTube page, where you will see a bigger screen.  Once on YouTube, double click the video, and the video will be displayed on the entire screen!

Josey vs Westside: Championship Weekend Highlights

The wait is over.  We are now releasing the championship game highlights from the regions 7-A, 3-AA, and 3-AAA tournaments.  And our first release is definitely worth the wait.  Some of the best basketball players in the greater Augusta, Georgia, area play some of their best basketball in this intense contest.  Enjoy!  And see the schedule below for the next two releases.

Tuesday Morning:  Laney vs Bleckley County (Region 3-AA championship game)

Tuesday Evening:  Aquinas vs Wilkinson County (Region 7-A championship game)

Also, we intend to publish a preview of the upcoming state tournament, with a special emphasis on the schools from the greater Augusta, Georgia, area.  The first round is Saturday.  We will live blog each round.  So if you are going to a game, bring your smart phone to stay up to speed with other area teams.  And if you are staying at home, tune in on your computer.

*Useful Tip - When watching the video, click on the "YouTube" icon on the bottom right of the video window to be taken to our YouTube page, where you will see a bigger screen.  Once on YouTube, double click the video, and the video will be displayed on the entire screen!

Flashback Post: Aquinas vs Westside (2012)

***This "flashback post" was added because with Frank Booker, Ahmed Hill, and others in action, there probably wasn't a more exciting set of high school highlights captured by AugBball in one game.***

One good thing about the class 7A-A Aquinas Fighting Irish visiting the class 3B-AAA Westside Patriots is that the two teams, both currently leading in their respective sub regions, can forget about what the game "means," and just play basketball.  And there are players on these two teams who can really play basketball!  Westside's guard tandem of junior Frank Booker and senior Ronald Campbell, and Aquinas's back court sophomore duo of Michael Scott and Ahmed Hill are certainly exciting to watch.

The Patriot duo does a lot of work from behind the three point line, but they also hurt opponents off the dribble and in the mid range.  The two from Aquinas drive to the basket relentlessly and provide many memorable moments.  Watch the highlights to see the things young men who are very skilled, very competitive, and very intense can do on the basketball court on a special night.

Harlem's Reid is a Dynamic Player

***This "flashback post" was originally posted at AugustaEagles.blogspot.com (my "old" blog).  It is still there but I no longer post there.  I moved it to this blog because Reggie is someone we are tracking, and pulling for.***

Tuesday night, Reggie Reid scored a game high 30 points and led the Harlem Bulldogs to a 57-48 victory against Grovetown High School.  In recent articles (like this one), Columbia News Times columnist Ashley Brown compares the freshman point guard to some of the Augusta area's best guards from the past 20 years.  Whether Reid achieves success at the levels of former Westside Patriots and UCONN Huskies guard Ricky Moore; former Thomson Bulldog, Pittsburg Panther, and 1st round NBA draft pick Vonteego Cummings; or former Duke standout and NBA lottery pick William Avery remains to be seen and is largely dependent on Reid's work ethic and good fortune.

But after a handful of games this season, one thing appears to be obvious:  Reggie Reid thoroughly enjoys playing basketball.  And who could blame him?  He is a superb ball handler with the ability to make teammates better.  He combines his athleticism and intelligence with his dribbling and shooting skills to score from everywhere - behind the 3 point line, in the medium range, and at the rim.  And he uses his quick feet, quick hands, and jumping ability to disrupt offenses, stealing the ball from dribblers, playing the passing lanes, and swatting away fast break layups.

I like the comparison to Ricky Moore the best.  But those are huge shoes to fill.  Just ask anyone who was fortunate enough to play with Ricky how easy he made the game for teammates.  But with the apparent love for the game that seems to radiate from Reggie Reid, I would not rush to doubt the young Bulldog.  Enjoy some of Reid's highlights and watch out for this young guard in the years to come.