A running account of the Augusta area’s basketball and football scene. This is the blog. Go to @AugBball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live coverage.
During Tuesday's 75-34 road win over Richmond, coach Otis Smart's defending state champion Laney Lady Wildcats showed why I believe they may be our area's most skilled team. Boys teams included.
Six of the top seven players in the rotation consistently make threes when left open. They all attack with the dribble using both hands and keep their heads up so they can find open teammates. And they seem to love making the passes that lead to each other's easy scores.
Benjamin led all scorers with 20 points in Tuesday's win.
These attributes were on full display during a 10 minute long, 34-6 spurt that put the Lady Wildcats ahead 57-23 and allowed Smart to clear his bench to begin the fourth quarter.
Desha Benjamin led all scorers with 20 points. Aubriana Bonner added 16 and Jasmine Bartlett tallied 11, including 3 three pointers.
Richmond was paced by Makayla Tanksley's 14 points and 13 from Jasmine Robinson.
Laney (4-0) faces Morgan County (3-3), a top ten team in class 3A, Friday at home. The Lady Wildcats are currently ranked #1 in class 3A.
The last time Laney and Morgan County played, the game was highly entertaining. I placed the AugBball sponsored broadcast directly below. Check it out!
Competition often brings out the best in people. The area's most anticipated game of the young high school season brought out the best in the Laney and Richmond players as the Musketeers played three quarters of lights out basketball before succumbing to a relentless comeback led by Laney's Christian Keeling, who scored 32 points in the Wildcats' 75-72 overtime road win.
Keeling and Jasper once again lit up the scoreboard,
ringing up a combined 54 points in Tuesday's win.
Keeling had plenty of help, as backcourt mate Zep Jasper scored 22 points despite sitting much of the fourth quarter with four fouls. His three with just over a minute remaining in regulation tied the score at 66, marking the first time since right after the game's tip-off that Richmond didn't lead. And sophomore guard Donald Henley put the Wildcats ahead for good with a three from the left wing to give Laney a 71-68 lead with 2:25 left in the extra period.
Richmond sprinted out to a 23-7 first quarter lead and held two more leads of sixteen, at 40-24 in the second quarter, and 47-31 in the third. Rashad Calloway, DT Stephens, and Nick Roberts did much of the first half damage. Jason Weaver and Chris Jones made timely third quarter shots to keep the Wildcats at bay. But a 5 point fourth quarter was not enough to protect the Musketeer lead.
Henley scored 9 points on 3 three pointers to add to Keeling and Jasper's 54 combined points. Calloway scored 16, Weaver 12, and Roberts 10 for the Musketeers.
The support both teams got from the capacity crowd was amazing. The players impressed us all in so many ways. Richmond proved they are a complete team that will win big games. Stephens proved to me he is an impact player the likes of which most teams don't have.
The Musketeers also proved to have players with strong character. Like Calloway, who after barreling over Henley and being called for a charge with the game tied and less than a minute remaining in regulation, stopped to help Henley off the ground.
And Keeling literally played himself into such a state that he needed special attention after the game. (Don't worry, Christian is fine.) I've seen he and Jasper play and score in these first four games unlike anything I've ever seen from them. But the way they did so Tuesday under extreme adversity left me speechless.
Looking ahead
Friday Laney (4-0) hosts Morgan County, the last team to beat the Wildcats. The boys game features two of last season's top three class 3A teams in the state. The girls game features the defending state champ and currently #1 ranked Lady Wildcats* versus the team currently ranked #7.
This week's topics include last Saturday's Holiday Hoopsgiving and this Saturday's Adidas Explosion events. Both feature Augusta's Isaiah Kelly, a 6'8" sophomore who recently transferred from Augusta Christian to his current home, Pace Academy. In addition to Kelly, the events include many of Georgia's very best players and teams, including Kobi Simmons (Saint Francis), Wendell Carter (Pace), and Jared Harper (Pebblebrook).
Augusta's Greg Williams, who organizes AAU events at PQ Sports and runs Team Power, the AAU team many of Augusta's best players, joins Marques Burnett and me. Greg is well versed on these high profile events after attending Hoopsgiving and seeing many of the same teams (Pebblebrook, Green Forrest, Pace, etc) there that he and Marques will see again at the Explosion, which is also to be streamed live by Burnett's group at thesuvtv.com.
Of course I made sure we had ample time to discuss this week's jam packed slate of Augusta high school basketball action, including Laney's game at Richmond Tuesday, Butler's game against the Musketeers Friday, and Morgan County's coming visit to Laney that same day.
With all the action up and down the I-20 corridor, I called this week the best of the season, so far, for the peach state. Thanks for listening. I'll see you in the gym.
This is the "high school edition" of my November's Notes series:
Laney's December first visit to Richmond has been the topic of the high school basketball conversation for weeks. People will pack the stands of the two hundred plus year Academy to see the area's three division one signees (Laney's Christian Keeling and Zep Jasper, and Richmond's Madison Williams) play for a partial claim to bragging rights as the city's best team.
Full bragging rights are not yet on the line. Not necessarily because it will be the first game of December, but because the path to the top of the area hill will include a stop at Butler, among other places. The Bulldogs showed why Friday by soundly beating Richmond.
Coach Cervantes Boddy's group has quickly leaped to the top of my mind as I anticipate another Richmond-Butler matchup this Friday (which will hopefully include Williams, who sat out of last Friday's game), and eventually rematches of the city's best games of 2015, region showdowns between Butler and Laney.
Also on the horizon is a matchup I've circled between Butler and Josey on the opening night of region 3A action, December 15th. Josey was shorthanded in recent losses and will soon have its say in the area conversation.
Laney has gotten much attention and rightfully so. We haven't seen the Wildcats lose a game in this area for nearly two years! And Jasper and Keeling are currently impersonating Augusta University's Keshun Sherrill and Paine College's Denzel Dillingham by posting a combined 147 points in their first three games.
Richmond has been the talk of the town with the addition of Williams, the emergence of sophomore Donta Stephens, and a deep roster of capable players. The Musketeers have every chance to prove they belong at the top of the minds of area fans when they host Laney and Butler Tuesday and Friday.
But it is probably Butler that is playing the best basketball at the moment. The inside-outside, extremely athletic combination of Will Lambert and Deandre Barton have not been answered by any team so far. Another junior, Jerry Leverette, has lit up the scoreboard with 8 threes in the two games I've seen. And seniors Jzwa Collier and Kyler Haynes provide scoring and leadership for coach Boddy's red hot group.
Enough with the notes, I'll now look forward to the players deciding things in the gym!
Laney coasted to a 102-71 win over Grovetown, and Richmond topped Branchville 71-36 in the final two games of the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Tournament Saturday. The blowout wins mean both teams are riding high entering the much anticipated showdown between the two at Richmond Tuesday.
Richmond's Donta Stephens finishes
Saturday against Branchville
Zep Jasper and Christian Keeling led the way for the Wildcats, scoring 26 and 23 points, respectively. The duo has averaged a combined 49 points per outing during Laney's first three games, all wins. Sophomore Donald Henley added 13 points.
Richmond, still playing without senior Madison Williams, was paced by sophomore Donta Stephens's 15 points. Seniors Trey Brown and Chris Jones each added 10.
Laney's Christian Keeling led all scorers with 22 in Saturday's win.
Laney's Zep Jasper and Christian Keeling again poured in the points Saturday, combining for 39 in the Wildcats' 89-71 win over Orangeburg Wilkinson at Paine College in the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Tournament.
The senior duo scored many of those points in an early flurry as Laney took a 25-9 lead after less than nine minutes of action. The Wildcats coasted from there as junior Tahj Tanksley scored 14 points, senior Daniel Chisolm added 13, and sophomore Donald Henley chipped in 10.
Jasper scored 17 in Saturday's win.
Jasper and Keeling have taken more of Laney's scoring load this season, logging just under 100 combined points in the first two games, both wins. But the increased scoring has its purpose: winning.
Jasper showed in an early sequence he is a winner first and foremost when he soared to the rim for a dunk only to have it rim out. The senior quickly recovered the ball, scored, and was fouled on the put back.
There is an old rule coaches should all have: dunk all you want, but get us two points. Our team needs two. It's the winner's way to play. Zep did it one better Saturday, getting his team three points after his miss. One of the many reasons I like watching him play so much!
Don't miss the action from "bantam all-stars" in the
beginning of the Butler-Richmond game report above.
After a highly entertaining "bantam all-star game (see video)," Butler handed Richmond a 69-63 loss Saturday in the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Tournament at Paine College. Butler was paced by Jerry Leverette, who scored 15 points, including 4 three pointers, and Jzwa Collier, who added 14.
Leverette made 2 of his three first half threes during a 9-0 Butler run to start the second quarter. But Richmond stormed back with its own 9-0 streak to tie the game as Trey Brown scored back-to-back transition baskets, and Moses Williams and Donta Stephens also made key buckets.
Butler's Will Lambert had his way inside Saturday.
The Bulldogs took a 29-26 halftime lead before blowing the game open with a 25 point fourth quarter that gave Butler its biggest lead, 54-41, entering the fourth. Collier, Deandre Barton, and junior Will Lambert were instrumental in a quarter that eight Bulldogs scored in.
Richmond wouldn't go away, cutting the lead to four in the final minute after Brown's three pointer made it 62-58.
Barton scored 11 points as the Bulldogs had three players score in double figures. Brown and Williams each scored 14 to lead Richmond. Stephens added 12 points.
Butler improves to 3-0 for the season, and Richmond falls to 2-1.
But even without Williams, Richmond remains one of the area's most talented teams. Nick Roberts (6'7"); Rashaud Green (6'6"); Kylend Smith (6'5") and Moses Williams (6'5") man the area's biggest frontline.
And the Musketeers get contributions from a pack of experienced perimeter players. Senior Rashad Calloway was the most impressive player in the Musketeers' preseason scrimmage win over North Augusta. Chris Jones, another senior, made the game winning shot against the Yellow Jackets, finishing a four second, full court sprint to the hoop just before the final buzzer. And yet another senior, Trey Brown, scored 7 consecutive points Saturday to help his team open a 24-5 lead over Jefferson County in the tip-off tournament at Evans.
Also on the perimeter are Donta Stephens, a sophomore, and Jason Weaver, a junior. In the few moments I've watched him play, I've been impressed with Stephens. I can imagine him filling in nicely for Williams. And Weaver has been Richmond's best scorer at times early this season.
I certainly hope Madison's foot heals quickly. In the meantime, there is no reason for his teammates to wait to continue the momentum they established with blowout wins last weekend over Glenn Hills and Jefferson County. Friday's game against Butler still has the potential to be the most interesting game to date in this very young season.
Grovetown used a 10-0 spurt, spanning from the end of the third quarter to the beginning of the fourth, to coast to a 64-55 win over Glenn Hills in Saturday's tip-off tournament at Evans. The Warriors improved to 2-0 for the young season. Glenn Hills is winless after two games.
The Spartans led 24-17 in the second quarter due to 3 early three pointers and solid play from sophomore center Timmy Sellers. But Grovetown came out of its zone and used a full court trap to force turnovers and get easy scores. Shamar Barrett finished with his left hand after a steal near the end of the second quarter to give Grovetown a 30-27 lead, and the Warriors would take a 33-30 advantage into halftime.
With Grovetown leading by 1 late in the third quarter, sophomore Eric Graham made a pair of plays: first a score on a baseline inbound pass, and next an assist on a Trent Bowdre three. Rudy Valentine then followed with a runner just before the third quarter buzzer to put the Warriors ahead 47-39.
Graham led all scorers with 17 points, and Barrett added 15.
I'll see Grovetown play Laney Saturday at Paine College in the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Tournament.
I plan to post two or three more game reports from last weekend's tip-off tournaments before the weekend. And of course I'll be at Paine for the high school games Friday and Saturday. Happy Thanksgiving.
Westminster sprinted to a 40-24 lead and withstood a furious Daniel High comeback to earn a 50-49 win in its season opener at the Evans tip-off tournament. Junior Jelani Watson-Gayle scored a game high 24 points in the victory.
Watson-Gayle was as impressive Saturday as he was in last weekend's scrimmage game against Blythewood. He scored and set up teammates in the Wildcats' dominant run through the first two-and-a-half quarters Saturday. His efforts were aided by the addition of sophomore Michael Dukes, who didn't play last weekend but drained 3 first half threes against Daniel.
Jelani Watson-Gayle scored a game high 24 Saturday in Westminster's win.
Daniel's AJ Oliver was as good as advertised. The long wing tallied 19 points and scored on back-to-back isolation plays to punctuate a 13-1 Daniel run that narrowed the Wildcats' lead to 41-37 in the fourth quarter.
But Watson-Gayle had answers for each Oliver surge. He split two defenders and avoided a third to make a left-handed layup, and scored again with his left to to give Westminster breathing room down the stretch. After a Daniel three pointer cut the Wildcats' lead to 2 points, he made a runner to give his team a 48-44 lead.
Senior Nygel Eaddy then calmly made two free throws to give the Wildcats a four point lead that would not be eclipsed.
Butler followed a season opening 102-96 overtime win over Effingham Friday with a 58-40 win over Savannah Saturday at the tip-off tournament at Evans to start the season 2-0.
Coach Boddy's Bulldogs got key contributions from Jzwa Collier, Deandre Barton, and Stephon Washington, all returning players from last season's highly successful, senior laden team. Collier scored 27 points, while Barton added 21 and Washington 16 in Friday's thriller.
Ozwa Collier scored 27 points in Friday's overtime win over Effingham.
Junior Will Lambert missed much of last season with an injury. But in Saturday's game, he looked like he may become the area's most effective inside player. He scored 10 points, adding to Jerry Leverette's team high 16 (including 4 three pointers).
Jerry Leverette buries of his game high 16 points against Savannah.
Despite losing every starter from last season's team that stood above all area competition except region rival Laney, Butler looks as likely as any team to win this season's bragging rights as Augusta's best. They will get a great chance to build on their early success this Friday when they face Richmond, another local favorite, at Paine college in the 100 Black Men Thanksgiving Tournament. And the two teams will do it again the following Friday in another non-region meeting.
Evans may feature two transfers on the perimeter, but coach Kevin Kenny's team wasted no time finding chemistry in its first week of action as the Knights improved to 3-0 with a 60-52 win at home in Saturday's tip-off tournament.
Sophomore Serron Spann made all the right plays Saturday, including this
three that put the Knights ahead 58-52 with less than 2 minutes remaining.
Pure shooters like Chris Stone, the senior transfer who led Evans with 16 points, including 5 three pointers, need the ball in rhythm. Sophomore Serron Spann, who earned valuable playing time as a freshman, found Stone with an on time and on target pass as he spotted up on the left wing for a three that extended Evans's lead to 44-34.
Chris Stone has made 5 threes in two of Evans's first three game.
The seniortransfer led the Knights with 16 points in Saturday's win.
After Hephzibah answered with a 10-0 run that tied the game, Evans would nail 3 more threes on penetrate-and-kick plays. Austin Snead buried the first from the left corner to put the Knights ahead 47-44. Stone made another to give his team a 52-47 advantage. And Spann delivered the final blow on the left wing to make it 58-52.
Laney's Christian Keeling and Zep Jasper combined to score 59 points in a season opening 74-62 win on the road against Greenbrier in the final game of the first day of the Wolfpack Tip-off Challenge.
Christian Keeling scored 34 points in Friday's win.
After withstanding a second quarter scoring barrage by Greenbrier's Justen Hartfield and Jakob Nelson, the seniors from Laney who will play division one basketball next season seemed to get comfortable with the roles they will likely play this season. To continue to have the type of success Laney has had (six consecutive trips to the final four of the state playoffs), the pair will need to score in volume, unlike years past when several different Wildcats seemed to take turns having big nights on offense.
If Friday is any indication, Keeling and Jasper will do just fine as "go-to guys." See for yourself in the video above.
Video includes a short preview of Laney's Saturday opponent Veterans.
Coach Otis Smart's defending state champion Laney Lady Wildcats showed in Friday's season opener why they are almost always the favorite, leaping to a 24-8 first quarter lead and clearing the bench in the third quarter on the way to a 77-45 win over Effingham in Friday's Wolfpack Tip-Off Challenge.
The expectations are high for this group as Laney returns everyone from last year's championship team except Aliyah Collier, now a Clemson Lady Tiger. Sure, Aliyah was a key piece. The key piece. But sophomore De'sha Benjamin, whom we've seen shine in the biggest moments (see last year's state quarterfinal game report), looks prepared to fill Collier's void.
Sophomore De'sha Benjamin scored 22 points in Friday's win.
Benjamin played nearly flawless basketball Friday, leading the break, hitting teammates in stride for easy baskets, and knocking down all three of her three pointers on the way to an impressive stat line: 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Junior Aubriana Bonner scored 18 points (8-11 from the field). Senior Gemyia Bowman added 16, and sophomore Jhessyka Williams chipped in 10. The Lady Wildcats play Veterans Saturday at 4:30 in day two of the Wolfpack Tip-off Challenge.
The private school basketball scene is thriving. I've been a little slow to catch on to the depth of teams in the area. Not only can Westminster and Alleluia compete with any area team. Augusta Prep and Augusta Christian help to make a group of at least four exciting and impressive teams playing in the independent leagues. Wednesday's game between Augusta Prep and Alleluia was a great chance to see a fun brand of basketball, as Ryan Jolly continued his lights out play from the preseason with 28 points in a 65-62 home win to start the Cavaliers' season.
Jolly figured prominently in a fast paced first half in which the teams combined to make 10 three pointers. During a 9-2 Prep run to begin the game, Jolly assisted on a three and made another himself. And after the game was tied at 16 in the second quarter, Jolly scored 16 consecutive points before assisting on a Will Dorn three that sent Augusta Prep to the locker room with a 35-30 advantage.
Augusta Prep's Ryan Jolly has scored 54 points in last two contests.
The third quarter featured an 18-6 Alleluia run that gave the Angels a brief 43-41 lead, but Prep ended the quarter with two baskets and a 45-43 advantage.
Much of the fourth quarter belonged to Augusta Prep as Jolly again found his offensive rhythm and the Cavs built a 57-48 lead with 3:27 remaining.
Mac McBride led Alleluia with 24, and Ben Dresser added 15 in the loss.
After seeing Augusta Prep and its nifty sophomore guard Ryan Jolly, I got even more excited about the local private school scene. I followed Alleluia and Augusta Christian last season. Now I'm adding Westminster and Augusta Prep, arch rivals and region foes.
I had seen Westminster's players this fall, and I ranked them #6, right behind Alleluia in my preseason top 11. If I'd known better, I would have had made Augusta Prep the third private school team on my list.
But better late than never say I. Actually, I'm not late because Saturday was the last day of the pre-season. So there's time to show you what to expect from the Cavaliers, who compete in class 3A of the GISA.
Ryan Jolly (Augusta Prep) scored 26 points Saturday
in a scrimmage against Northwood Academy.
Sophomore point guard Ryan Jolly leads the way with a silky smooth handle, a soft shooting touch, and good agility and explosiveness. I'm surprised I only recently heard his name. He looked great Saturday against a very talented Northwood Academy.
Jolly does a great job of creating in coach Mike Guthrie's offensive system. The Cavaliers ran that scheme impressively, especially for a preseason scrimmage. The ball moves, and the players cut and attack the basket.
After seeing Augusta Prep live, I've circled these dates on my calendar:
See Jolly, Westminster's Watson-Gayle, and North Augusta's
Jaquez Smith in the video above.
January 26 - Augusta Prep at Westminster February 9 - Westminster at Augusta Prep
These schools have long been rivals. Nothing extra is needed for games between them to be exciting. But this year's version certainly adds something special: the play of Jolly and Westminster's leader, transfer Jelani Watson-Gayle, who has instantly become one of our city's best.
His bundle of shooting, ball handling, competitiveness and basketball intelligence is impressive. Deep into the second half of Saturday's scrimmage against Blythewood, the transfer from London had scored 19 of Westmister's 29 points. He made threes and finished a variety of shots off the dribble before the Wildcats fell 48-43.
Jolly constantly challenged Northwood's defense
Saturday and lived at the free throw line.
Westminster impressed me Saturday while playing shorthanded. Senior Nygel Eaddy impacted the game with his defensive pressure and explosiveness attacking the basket. When sophomore Michael Dukes returns to the lineup and senior Steven Lambert finds an offensive rhythm, coach Mark Tebbs's team can be a force in the GISA.
The rivalry with Prep and games against region favorite and 2015 state runner up Gatewood should be more exciting than ever. Months ago I would not have said many of our area's best players play in the private school leagues. But after seeing these teams play back-to-back at Evans Saturday, and Alleluia last week, I now believe that is the truth.
Saturday's scrimmages at Evans reintroduced old friends to my AugBball coverage. The North Augusta Yellow Jackets are always a tough bunch. I followed them through their 2013 state playoff quarterfinal run and reported on heated match-ups between the Yellow Jackets and rival Aiken.
Current North Augusta coach Tony Harrell, whom I last followed as the coach of that 2013 Aiken team, always gets the most out of his players. So it doesn't surprise me that his scrappy bunch came 4 seconds away from overcoming a 14 point halftime deficit and forcing overtime Saturday against Richmond, one of our area's most talented teams.
The furious Yellow Jacket comeback was led by Jaquez Smith, who scored 31 points and made two free throws to tie the game at 61 with 4.3 seconds remaining before Chris Jones scored a layup at the buzzer after a full court dash through traffic.
I've chosen Richmond as our area's third best team in my preseason top 11 teams series. But noticeably absent was any school from South Carolina. I planned to restrict my coverage to the Georgia side of the area. I have to draw a line somewhere.
But days like Saturday make me take an eraser to such lines. I can't watch players like Smith, Jolly, and Watson-Gayle without going back to my calendar and making the right AugBball coverage schedule work. And the right schedule includes North Augusta, defending state champ Midland Valley, and the rest of the nearby "SC Bball" that is too good to miss.
Some high school coaches don't play freshmen. I believe in playing the best players. Greenbrier's girls and boys coaches apparently agree.
Freshman Abbey Steele scored 14 points, draining 4 three pointers, to help lead the Lady Wolfpack to an opening game 58-36 win at Harlem. Steel and sophomore Natalie Wilson, who led the Wolfpack with 15 points, helped coach Stefanie Basinger's team begin its rebuilding process after losing three key seniors.
Greenbrier freshman Richard Crawford
In the second game, another Greenbrier freshman, Richard Crawford, scored 5 points on back-to-back fourth quarter possessions to help give coach Casey Heckathorn's Wolfpack its first win of the new season. Crawford's spurt silenced a furious Harlem run that cut a 17 point Greenbrier lead all the way to 2 late in the fourth quarter.
Seniors Jerrod Farrell and AJ Hawes led Greenbrier with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Harlem's Kanez Dunn led all scorers with 24 points.
I'll see both Wolfpack teams next Friday at the Wolfpack Tip-Off Challenge.
Another league has tipped off. Welcome, basketball season!
Zep Jasper is the fourth of seven "first ballot" members of the All AugBball Team.
Statistics like points per game don't always tell the story. I watched and reported on countless games last season, and I would bet more times than not I left out the leading scorer details. But I always include video footage supporting my analysis about the factors deciding the ultimate statistic: wins.
Laney's Zep Jasper signs his national letter of intent Thursday,
November 11, at Tubman at 1:30 P.M.
When I first learned Zep Jasper's per game scoring average, last season was almost over. It was February. All season, I had been writing and posting videos about Zep's "double duty," my way of describing the defensive job he did against our state's best scorers combined with his running of Laney's team and doing whatever was needed to win against the state's very best teams.
He made threes, made sure his teammates got the ball in the right places, and scored when needed all season long. And if there were a statistic for managing your team's possessions late in the fourth quarter, handling the ball while your team is leading, using the clock, and scoring when the defense lapses, his rating would be off the chart.
Here is a tweet and video clip from an early overtime home win over then defending state champion Morgan County. Like he did all season, Jasper scored when needed, this time with Laney nursing a lead and holding off a Morgan County run.
After MorganCo cut Laney's lead to 2, Zep Jasper answered w this dagger of a FT line pull-up off 1on1 action! http://t.co/Nuf7TrMdmq
Until someone comes up with a better measurement for offensive responsibility, I'll trust my eyes when it comes to Zep. They tell me he is the best point guard I know for getting his team the highest number in the only category that matters: the number of wins.
Christian Keeling joins Augusta University's Keshun Sherrill and Clemson's Aliyah Collier as the first three of seven "first ballot" members of the All AugBball Team.
As soon as I first saw Christian Keeling playing summer league ball with Laney right before his freshman year, I believed he was a player. At the time he was not a long range shooter, and he certainly was not the explosive attacker of the rim he has become. But his spirit, competitiveness, and willingness to put himself in a position where he may fail are what made me an early believer. After seeing him sparingly the following couple years in an MLK Day game here, and a summer league game there, I continued to believe in him. But like I described in a post last winter regarding then senior Butler dynamo Don Coleman, I have come to realize I underestimated Christian.
Christian Keeling signs his national letter
of intent Thursday at 1:30 P.M. at the
Tubman Auditorium
Last January, I began to realize just how good he is. After a solid November and December, Keeling, then a junior, reached another gear. He was a key factor in wins against the eventual state champion, Jenkins, and against region 3A foes Washington County and Butler.
In a post following Laney's January 9 win over Butler, I nicknamed Keeling "Mr. January." But it was in the Wildcats' January 17 home win over arch rival Josey where Christian earned the name. In fact, after he uncorked two dunks, the first through a defender and the second over one, I'll say he owned the name.
Since that day, I've seen a new Christian Keeling. Or maybe I've just come to know him better. During the remainder of the high school season and through the Spring and Summer AAU circuit, I watched him grow more confident and focused. And like he told me when he decided to stay at Laney for his senior year, he is determined to bring a state title home during this final season.
I've heard people call overtime on football Sundays "free football." When the North Atlanta Flight homeschool basketball team had the second leg of its double-header cancelled, they found a willing opponent and host in Alleluia, the #5 ranked team in my AugBball Preseason Top 11 series. So thanks to chance and to the good people involved, we got some "free basketball" Saturday, both in the sense that it came unexpectedly and one week before any other high school tip-off, and because the hosts at Alleluia waved Saturday's admission charge.
I realize it's November 7. But you wouldn't know it watching these teams play offense. Alleluia's
Elliot Balducci has made huge strides and has become another dangerous weapon available to coach Dennis McBride. His second quarter tip-dunk charged up the home crowd. Elliot was impressive stroking jump shots and finishing around the basket.
Teammate Hayden Hebert, a 6'5" match up nightmare who shoots and drives like a guard and scores in the paint using good athleticism and footwork, was the most consistent scorer and ultimately the deciding factor in the Angels' 77-64 win. Hebert tallied 23 points to lead all scorers.
Alleluia's Ben Dresser eyes a teammate in Alleluia's season opener.
After the Angels leaped to a 14-7 lead behind a fast start by Hebert and a deep bomb by Ben Dresser, North Atlanta shot its way to a first half lead before the teams traded baskets throughout the first three quarters.
The Flight are a fundamentally sound bunch that shoots, handles, and shares the ball very well, much like their opponents. But after building a 58-51 lead with less than 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Angels spread the floor and patiently used the clock, seeking layups and passing up chances to launch from deep, something I haven't seen from this bunch of bombers.
In addition to Hebert's 23 points, Dresser added 18, Mac McBride scored 14, and Balducci chipped in 12.
North Atlanta was led by Oliver Oden's 21 points. Chandler Minton and Killien Glover each added 12.
Saturday's free high school basketball was a treat. I'm ready for more, free or not!
