The Georgia Elite Classic Showcase held at Lassiter High School on July 15 awarded 29 of its attendees with invitations to compete in the Georgia Elite Classic’s lineup of all-star games this upcoming December. The players participating spanned from the Class of 2019 through the Class of 2024 and showcase coordinator, Georgia Elite Classic Director of Player Personnel and 247Sports analyst Rusty Mansell managed the evaluation process.
“That was a lot more than I imagined,” said Mansell of the turnout. “It was one of the times where I not only had to scout a wide variety of prospects, but from rising seventh graders up to rising seniors. Usually I am focusing on two or three classes of kids, but this was a lot more.”
This offseason’s earlier showcase, which took place at Grady High School on April 21, handed out 17 invitations, but it started at the Class of 2019 and stopped at the Class of 2021. The announcement that this year’s Georgia Elite Classic would be adding a 7th and 8th grade game came three weeks after the Grady showcase and opened the door for the six middle schoolers that earned invites this weekend: Running back Harlem Diamond, Defensive end Justin Benton and defensive tackle Gatlin Hancock earned spots in the 8th grade game and running back Caden Williams and quarterbacks Reece Fountain and DeMarius Hines earned spots in the 7th grade game.
Pace Academy running back Donavan Johnson clocked a 4.8 in the 40 and was one of the 10 Class of 2022 prospects invited to play in this year’s freshman game. Xian Cowher, who played for the Freshman American Team at last year’s Georgia Elite Classic, ran an impressive 4.65 and got invited back to be featured in this year’s sophomore game. Hillgrove cornerback Noah Abrams was also invited to play in the sophomore game and posted a 4.61. North Paulding running back Noah Alleyne ran a 4.64 and was one of the seven that earned a spot in the junior game.
“Let’s be honest,” Mansell said. “These kids are paining for an opportunity to be showcased and we are providing that platform in a bigtime event and a bigtime arena. We are not just taking anybody for this event. The state of Georgia is producing, over multiple all-star games, we feel like we will put our rosters up against anyone. It’s so deep in the state of Georgia. I don’t think we have to hype it. We are going to work hard to get the invites to the right people and we look forward to it.”
Lassiter Showcase Invitees
Class of 2020
OG TJ Parks (Cherokee)
QB/OLB Niko Vangarelli (Mt. Paran)
QB Blaine McAllister (Lovett)
DE Christopher Stinson (Cedar Grove)
RB Noah Alleyne (North Paulding)
WR Jacob Jarrett (Roswell)
WR Rasheed Singleton (Jonesboro)
Class of 2021
DE Jamaal Jones (McEachern)
WR Xian Cowher (Augusta Prep)
DE Nicholas Claypole (Lanier)
CB Noah Abrams (Hillgrove)
LB Carter Kubow (North Paulding)
WR Briley Stilwell (North Paulding)
Class of 2022
LB Carlos Cervantes (Marietta)
OT Ryan Purves (Walton)
QB Ray Morrison (Northwest Whitfield)
WR D’Angelo Ezell (Grayson)
LB Gage Leonard (Christian Heritage)
RB Donavan Johnson (Pace Academy)
RB Sean Downer (Grayson)
LB Easton Burgess (Grayson)
WR Kamrin Brunson (Grayson)
QB Sebastian Irons (Dacula)
Class of 2023
RB Harlem Diamond (Cedartown)
DE Justin Benton (Veterans)
DT Gatlin Hancock (Darlington)
Class of 2024
RB Caden Williams (Calhoun)
QB Reece Fountain (Rome)
QB DeMarius Hines (Westlake)
2018 Georgia Elite Classic Game Schedule
At McEachern
Thursday, Dec. 27
7th Grade Elite 4 p.m.
8th Grade Elite 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
Senior Elite 10 a.m.
Brain Bowl 12:30 p.m.
Junior Elite 3 p.m.
Freshman Elite 5:30 p.m.
Sophomore Elite 8 p.m.
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