2014 GACS Showcase presented by Blue Collar Basketball

GACS Showcase presented  by Blue Collar Basketball

Saturday, December 13, 2014

The 6th annual GACS Showcase presented by Blue Collar Basketball features Georgia’s top boys basketball programs from across the state. Over the last two years, over 70 college programs have attended this one-day event looking for the state’s top talent. This year’s line-up promises to attract that same attention. According to Hoopseen.com’s latest Power Poll that ranks teams from all of Georgia’s classifications, eight of the top seventeen are participating in the 2014 showcase.

Fans have come to expect spectacular individual and team play at this annual event. Last year’s highlight came when two eventual state champions matched up in Miller Grove and St. Francis. Miller Grove’s standout 2016 PG Alterique Gilbert (pictured below) hit a floater in the lane with less than a second remaining to steal the victory over highly touted St.Francis. This year shapes up to have intense match-ups and dramatic finishes as well.

1:30pm    Pope vs North Gwinnett

Pope returns their entire starting five from a team that was knocked out in the second round of last year’s state tournament by Tucker HS. The group features a trio of already signed seniors. GCSU signee Chase Hutchins leads the charge. He is joined by Embry Riddle pledge Garrick DeBowles and Air Force big man commit Drew Romich. They will take on North Gwinnett. NG head coach Zach Smith faces the challenge of competing with a group that looks different than how he started the season. Not having Malik Carter to man the middle leaves a big hole in the line-up. 2015 wing forward Kamaran Calhoun is a good place to start. The senior is a four-year starter and one of the state’s top defensive players who is capable of locking up the opponent’s top offensive player. The versatile defender is the school’s all time leader in charges and blocks.

3:00pm    Peachtree Ridge vs Berkmar

This game features a pair of Gwinnett County teams that both graduated college talent and come into this season with some question marks. One thing that isn’t of question is the person leading each of these two programs. Veteran coaches Greg Phillips of Berkmar and Keith Arrington of Peachtree Ridge have won a lot of games over the last several years.  Point guard Aaron Augustin has shown growth as a leader in the early part of the season and is playing at a high level for the Ridge. Berkmar leans on a pair of young sophomore backcourt mates in Lane Foster and Al Durham. Berkmar has been to three straight Elite 8s and five straight state tournament appearances. Peachtree Ridge hasn’t missed a state tournament in Arrington’s seven years at the school. This will be a great early season test for both teams and measurement the defensive-minded programs.

4:30pm    Laney vs. Norcross

To many, Laney’s upset of Pebblebrook in the Nike Explosion event last weekend was a big surprise. For those that have followed the Augusta school closely the last couple years know this is a team with a legitimate shot at a state championship. Laney has been to five straight Final Fours, with the last two getting bounced by eventual champion GAC. Norcross, on the other hand has collected five title rings since 2006. Head coach Jesse McMillan has been a part of all those runs as an assistant for the first three and head coach the last two. Norcross doesn’t have as many “name” players such as Jodie Meeks, Gani Lawal, or Jeremy Lamb, but they do play a deep roster in hopes of winning the battle of attrition. This should be an up-tempo game with both teams pressing and playing deep into their bench.  

6:00pm    Pebblebrook vs Greenforest Christian

Pebblebrook returns the core of their 27-4 team from a year ago and added Mt.Vernon transfer Jared Harper to a team that looks to get back to the Final four. They feature Clemson signee Ty Hudson at the point guard and UGA signee Derek Ogbeide. Greenforest one of the state’s longer teams.  Greenforest welcomes a new head coach to the sidelines in Nick Lagroone. He has a strong backcourt with freshman Justin Forrest running the show flanked by wings Justin Ravenel and John Ogwuche. All three are receiving division one interest.

7:30pm    McIntosh vs GAC

McIntosh travels up I-85 to take on host GAC. This will be a good “measuring stick” game. McIntosh features three division one caliber players with Will Washington, Jordan Lyons, and Dishon Lowery. GAC no longer has current UVA freshman Isaiah Wilkins patrolling the middle so head coach Eddie Martin will lean on Garner Webb signee Eric Jamison and 3pt specialist Cam Boyd (Lee University). Last year’s GAC/BCB Most Outstanding Player Garrett Covington looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign from a year ago.  Head Coach Jason Eisele has a team that is poised to make a run into March and build off last year’s second round state tournament run. GAC has won two consecutive state championships and looking for it’s fifth in six years.

                                 Norcross senior and High Point Univ. signee Ricky Madison