The Nike Elite Classic was probably the last major basketball showcase for the regular season as region play and region tournaments inch closer. There is no doubt that the event lived up to its billing by featuring premier programs synonymous with winning here in Georgia. The showcase featured prominent programs like Norcross, Pace Academy, Wheeler, McEachern, Pebblebrook, and Milton. There was elite talent from all over metro Atlanta that included notable players and prospects. Here is who stood out in the games for the boys.
Pace Academy SF Chandler Bing - Bing scored 31 points with nine rebounds. The duo of Bing and Chatfield was tough for Pebblebrook to stop. Bing was finishing alley-oop dunks, shooting from range, and finishing with easy baskets in transition. An area where he is underrated is on the defensive end and he can face talented guards and also big men under the basket. He is an active rebounder and plays at a high level on defense. Bing is the second-leading scorer this season for Pace Academy averaging 18.8 PPG and also leads the team in rebounds with 6.2 per game. It has continued to be an impressive senior campaign for Bing who shows that he can be a contributor at the next level. Bing is another player who could be a steal in the 2025 class.
McEachern G Chase Lumpkin - Lumpkin scored 21 points in a 55-45 victory against Norcross. Lumpkin was scoring all over the court and stretching the defense with his elite shot-making. He is a shot creator that can navigate through the crevices of a defense and make tough shots against any defense. He also is a player that can heat up quickly and score points in bunches. What makes him elite is his deep ball. He can shoot from anywhere beyond the arc. Yes, that includes deep three-point range too. It’s been a great few months for Lumpkin who has established himself as a top prospect in the 2027 class. It is just a matter of time until he is ranked.
Pebblebrook G Zyree Brown - Brown was a consistent scoring threat on Saturday going against 4A power Pace Academy. In the game against the Knights, he scored on all three levels showcasing his skillset. He drove into the paint finishing with layups and floaters and then stretched the defense with his three ball. Despite the loss, Brown was reliable and gave the Falcons a scoring punch. Brown is another impressive guard that is coming through the Pebblebrook pipeline. The Falcons have been able to produce over the years in terms of NBA talent. Collin Sexton is a notable player from Pebblebrook who made it to the NBA. Brown is not known currently as a big name around the state but you can see the potential there. With more attention and exposure, he can showcase his talent to college coaches and how good of a talent and asset he can be at the next level.
Norcross F Miles Clanton - The Norcross big man has a smooth feel for the game and does a lot of his damage in the interior and post area. He was active Saturday in the Nike Elite Showcase against McEachern finishing dunks and doing his damage in the midrange. The Blue Devils have great guard play in Jaron Saulsberry and Nasir Anderson, but at times struggle with their half-court offense. Clanton should be a more featured component of the offense, especially when teams play zone similar to what McEachern showed. He is great in the low post and at making difficult shots in traffic. If the ball isn’t in his hands, he is great at crashing the glass and creating second-chance opportunities for the offense. Clanton is a fundamentally sound player who can do a little bit of everything and will be a pivotal piece if the Blue Devils can make a run in the postseason.
Wheeler G Kota Suttle Jr - One of the best two-way players in the state had another productive performance. Suttle Jr was tasked with guarding Josh Dixon. Dixon finished with 18 points, but when Suttle Jr guarded him he made it tough for him to get clean looks. Suttle’s on-ball defense and physicality were on full display and he is also an underrated rebounder on both ends of the floor. Suttle Jr can keep plays alive on offense by crashing the glass and skies for rebounds on defense over other opposing big men. He did a little bit of everything for Wheeler on Saturday. Every time I have seen Suttle Jr, he has added a layer to his game and has gotten better. He is now up to eight offers and is rated as a four-star prospect according to ESPN.
Wheeler SF Colben Landrew - He scored a team-high 21 points in a victory against Milton in the Nike Elite Showcase. One of his most impressive plays was finishing in the paint over two defenders, one who was bigger and the other smaller. Landrew skillfully got both defenders in the air with a pump fake and finished through contact for the three-point play. Landrew is a prolific scorer who plays the game at his own pace. When he gets going, he can be tough to slow down. He is also an underrated defender who has great on-ball defense and can guard multiple positions on the perimeter. According to 247Sports, Landrew is rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 6 player in Georgia, No. 25 SF, and the No. 70 player nationally. Landrew lives up to the billing and is a name you could see rise in the rankings in the spring and summer.
Wheeler F Mansur McClain - McClain was instrumental in helping the Wildcats break the game open towards the end of the first half. He got hot from three-point range and knocked down three consecutive jumpers from deep to help the Wildcats take a double-digit lead going into the break. McClain also converted his opportunities inside the arc, knocking down his shots when his opportunities came. He finished with 19 points and was the second-leading scorer for the Wildcats on Saturday. McClain is often overlooked but he could be a key factor in a potential title run for the Wildcats in 2025. With defenses sending a lot of attention to Tylis Jordan, Kota Suttle Jr, and Colben Landrew, having another scorer and sniper like McClain could prove valuable in the postseason. He showed earlier this year in the Grayson New Years Classic that he is capable of going off whenever the team needs it.
Milton G Jaydon Cole - Cole was the second-leading scorer for the Eagles finishing with 17 points and adding two assists. With Josh Dixon getting a lot of defensive attention in the first half, Milton changed up the offense in the second half. Cole was a primary ball handler for the Eagles and was seeing more touches on offense. He heated up and was knocking down three-point shots with regularity. It was a tough night scoring the basketball for the Eagles outside of Dixon, but Cole showed with more touches he can be potent and a reliable scorer for Milton. Cole will definitely be one to watch for Milton moving forward, especially in their pursuit of a state championship.