The John Wall Holiday Invitational at Raleigh Broughton High concluded tonight with Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage winning one bracket and Phoenix (Ariz.) Hillcrest Prep winning the other 77-60 over Tampa (Fla.) Catholic.
Rivals.com's No. 1-ranked senior DeAndre Ayton led Hillcrest with 30 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. When he sticks to playing inside, not much you can do with him. Sophomore combo guard Josh Green of Australia added 19 points and five boards in the win.
Tampa Catholic star senior Kevin Knox picked up three fouls in the first half and had one point. Not a recipe to pull off the upset. Knox finished with 22 points and five rebounds, but he still is waging that battle of being a small forward when he's more effective as a face-up power forward. Teammate Tai Strickland, son of former NBA point guard Rod Strickland, had 17 points.
Heritage held on to defeat Garner 68-62. NCSU signee Thomas Allen was watching his former school, Garner, and they could have used him. Virginia Tech junior commit Jarren McAllister had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead Heritage. He's an explosive 6-4 wing, who is a little raw, but plays hard. Junior post player Jayden Gardner added 16 points and nine rebounds and he's going to be a mid-major target with some bigger schools likely to sniff around.
In earlier action, Concord (N.C.) Robinson topped Concord Cannon School 86-75 in the battle of Concord. The two schools had never met before. Kentucky coach John Calipari came to see junior forward Jairus Hamilton of Cannon School, and then later Knox.
Hamilton struggled offensively and went 5 of 21 from the field and 1 of 7 on three-point field goals. Like Knox, he's better when he establishes himself in the paint. Hamilton finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior wing Qon Murphy, a huge Wolfpack fan, led Cannon School with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and he went 4 of 10 from three-point land.
Robinson senior point guard Lavar Batts Jr., who signed with VCU, stole the show. He had 35 points and seven assists, and had a pair of electric dunks and one impressive assist. He still struggles with his three-point shot, but he is a vicious competitor.
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School topped Cary (N.C.) High 71-69 in overtime. Sophomore star power forward Vernon Carey Jr. won the game with a drive to the basket at the overtime buzzer. He had 32 points and eight rebounds and could be a top five player when it's all said and done. Sophomore center Balsa Koprivica, who Rivals.com currently has ranked No. 3, had 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for University School.
Cary wing Donte Tatum had 30 points, 10 rebounds and four rebounds, and proved difficult to contain off the bounce.
Rivals.com's No. 1-ranked senior DeAndre Ayton led Hillcrest with 30 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. When he sticks to playing inside, not much you can do with him. Sophomore combo guard Josh Green of Australia added 19 points and five boards in the win.
Tampa Catholic star senior Kevin Knox picked up three fouls in the first half and had one point. Not a recipe to pull off the upset. Knox finished with 22 points and five rebounds, but he still is waging that battle of being a small forward when he's more effective as a face-up power forward. Teammate Tai Strickland, son of former NBA point guard Rod Strickland, had 17 points.
Heritage held on to defeat Garner 68-62. NCSU signee Thomas Allen was watching his former school, Garner, and they could have used him. Virginia Tech junior commit Jarren McAllister had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead Heritage. He's an explosive 6-4 wing, who is a little raw, but plays hard. Junior post player Jayden Gardner added 16 points and nine rebounds and he's going to be a mid-major target with some bigger schools likely to sniff around.
In earlier action, Concord (N.C.) Robinson topped Concord Cannon School 86-75 in the battle of Concord. The two schools had never met before. Kentucky coach John Calipari came to see junior forward Jairus Hamilton of Cannon School, and then later Knox.
Hamilton struggled offensively and went 5 of 21 from the field and 1 of 7 on three-point field goals. Like Knox, he's better when he establishes himself in the paint. Hamilton finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Junior wing Qon Murphy, a huge Wolfpack fan, led Cannon School with 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and he went 4 of 10 from three-point land.
Robinson senior point guard Lavar Batts Jr., who signed with VCU, stole the show. He had 35 points and seven assists, and had a pair of electric dunks and one impressive assist. He still struggles with his three-point shot, but he is a vicious competitor.
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School topped Cary (N.C.) High 71-69 in overtime. Sophomore star power forward Vernon Carey Jr. won the game with a drive to the basket at the overtime buzzer. He had 32 points and eight rebounds and could be a top five player when it's all said and done. Sophomore center Balsa Koprivica, who Rivals.com currently has ranked No. 3, had 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks for University School.
Cary wing Donte Tatum had 30 points, 10 rebounds and four rebounds, and proved difficult to contain off the bounce.
