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?