Underclassmen Shine At Beach Ball Classic
By Kevin Schneider
Big Shots Alum 6'9 PF Tony Parker leads Miller Grove(GA)
to Title
Myrtle Beach, SC - Another great event and
turnout for the 30th anniversary of the Beach Ball Classic, as
some of the nation's top young talent took center stage and
didn't disappoint.
Big Shots Alum
Tony Parker (6'9 C 2012 Rat. 96 - Miller Grove
HS/Lithonia, GA) stood taller than all in leading Miller Grover
to the Beach Ball Classic title. Parker asserted himself as one
of the more dominant post players in the 2012 class, controlling
the paint and the glass with Kevin Love-isk numbers. He poured
in a 20 pt., 27 reb. (17OR) performance in the semi-finals vs.
Douglass (OK) and followed it up with a 23 pt., 20 reb game in
the title game vs. Boys & Girls (NY). Tony has improved his
offense skill set stretching his game out to 15' and showing his
polished touch on hooks and fades over each shoulder in the
post. Although his bread and butter still is his power game,
using his wide, broad shoulder frame to create space and power
up with two. He had improved his lift and was impressive and
well deserve of MVP honors of Beach Ball Classic. Look forward
to seeing him in Big Shots 2011 with Norm Parker's GA Stars.
Julius
Randle (6'9 SF 2013 Rat. 99 - Prestonwood Christian
Acad./ Plano, TX) was the Most Outstanding Player of the event
and the super soph lives up to all of the hype and more. He
draws comparisons to Lamar Odom with his build, skill set,
ability to score and a man amongst boys. The versatile lefty is
as good as anyone in the country right now scoring on back to
basket post ups whether at the high post, short corner, or
block. He uses pump fakes, up and unders or just out muscles to
score. He leads the break and is fundamental with his footwork
in the post and from 15'. He has the change of gear and special
combination of skill, build, swagger and leadership that the
great ones have. Randle brings it every game and didn't
disappoint the crowd averaging 27.5 ppg 13 rpg throughout the
event (31-20 reb. game vs. Douglass in the 3rd place game).
Stephen
Clark (5'10 G 2013 Rat. 96 - Douglass HS/Oklahoma City,
OK) doesn't shock with his size but his he will pull as soon as
he steps in the door. He shoots the lights out and will dart it
from the logos. He put on one of the better shooting
performances of 2010 going 8-12 from 3 after starting out 8-9.
Clark tried to break the event record of 9 for nearly 8 mins.
but came up short. Clark is a top 20 player in the 2013 class
and is a joy to watch with his shooting exhibition. He averaged
22 ppg., scoring 25+ and hitting 21 3's in 4 games.
Big Shots Alum
and UVA signee Malcolm Brogdan (6'5 SG 2011
Rat. 93 - Greater Atlanta Christian / Atlanta, GA) showed why he
fits Coach Bennett's system as well as any guard in the nation
with his tenacity on defense and relentless attack on offense.
Malcolm has got to where he is now solely through his countless
hours in the gym and weight room. He brings his lunch pal to
work everyday and I'm fully confident to put him in the top
"hard hat" class of Michael Gilchrist as one of the hardest
playing players in the country. UVA asst. coach Ritchie McKay
was in attendance and feels Malcolm will be an impact player as
soon as he steps foot on Charlottesville campus.
Big Shots Alum
Charles Mitchell (6'7 PF 2012 Rat. 93 - Wheeler
HS/Atlanta, GA) is receiving heavy oversight from ACC-SEC
schools. He posted several double-double performances and has
improved his endurance and post moves becoming a scoring threat
each time on the block and the offensive glass.
Rutgers signee
Michael Taylor blew up onto the scene in Beach
Ball Classic 2008 and went out with a bang scoring 20+ in 3
games and led Boy's & Girls (NY) to the title game.
All Tournament
Team
Most
Valuable Player: Tony Parker, Miller Grove
Most Outstanding Player: Julius Randle,
Prestonwood Christian Academy
All-Tournament Team:
Charles Mitchell, Wheeler
Michael
Taylor, Boys and Girls
Grant Jerett, La Verne Lutheran
Malcolm Brogdon, Greater Atlanta Christian
Brandon Morris, Miller Grove
Karriem Simmons, Wheeler
Dorrian Williams, Douglass
AJ Davis, Greater Atlanta Christian
Stephen Clark, Douglass
|