Who Want The Smoke: Friday Night Recap
May 13, 2023 by Travis Graf
Game Elite Wins Play Style Battle Against AAO Flight
The weekend kicked off with a good matchup between Game Elite and AAO Flight, which stylistically couldn’t be more different. CJ Brown was great in pushing the pace for Game Elite and showed ability as a downhill athlete with speed and rim finishing, setting the tone for the game early in the first half. Alijah Curry was terrific and efficient from the field and also attacked the glass well while showing versatility on defense. For AAO Flight, Ty Robinson provided outside shooting with a smooth, effortless release, and also got to the rim. Layne Taylor was absolutely crafty with the ball in his hands and knocked down big shots after nasty setup dribbles.
Isiah Harwell And Shon Abaev Matchup Didn’t Disappoint
One of the most anticipated matchups heading into the weekend was SOH Elite and Utah Prospects in the second game set. The game lived up to it’s billing, as it was a highly competitive contest that went into overtime, won by Isiah Harwell on a game winner in sudden death. Shon Abaev was excellent in creating space for his shot and knocked down a plethora of them off of crafty step backs, letting defenders know about it after, too. He got the best of Harwell early on, scoring eight in a row, but Harwell came back at Abaev with three big plays in a short amount of time, punching a left handed dunk in transition and following it up with two threes on back to back possessions. Harwell got the best of Abaev in the matchup overall on Friday night. Brady Kozlowski showed off effortless shooting form and let a couple of Klay Thompson “no dip” threes go from the perimeter as well.
KC Run GMC outplays Garner Road in 17U matchup.
Andrew Crawford is the big name for KC Run GMC, and he had a very solid game as as scorer and as a creator, posting an impressive six assists and zero turnovers in the win while being up and down shooting the ball throughout the game. He has a very pretty lefty shot from the outside and looked very promising as a connecting wing prospect. Zaxton King and TJ Williams were also key pieces for KC Run GMC, as they combined for 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. For Garner Road, Paul McNeil Jr. knocked down some shots and operated well from the outside, hitting 6-of-14 from three on the way to 23 points. Rakease Passmore made a lot of tough plays in transition and rewarded himself with trips to the foul line due to aggression and strength.
VJ Edgecombe Sets The Tone In A Win
VJ Edgecombe was dialed in off of the bounce against 3D Empire, using his athleticism and burst to get to the rim with ease. He also knocked down some shots after creating space on the perimeter and finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Moustapha Thiam was also effective in the paint for Southeast Elite, finishing over his left shoulder and attacking the glass while protecting the paint. For 3D Empire, Kuol Atak continued to show off his smooth shooting stroke from the outside and displayed playmaking ability from the top of the key. The talented forward led the game in scoring with 23 points on 4-9 from three.
First Live Viewing Of Kingston Flemings
It was my first live viewing of Kingston Flemings and he didn’t disappoint, and didn’t do anything to discount his No. 26 ranking in the MADE Hoops rankings for the 2025 class. He showcased high level playmaking and IQ as a floor general that could also go get his own bucket, playing with pace but also hitting a burst to turn the corner on defenders. Flemings made some impressive defensive plays as well, getting into passing lanes and having some violent blocks at the rim. 2026 wing Isaiah Ward showed a lot of promise as well, playing up on the 16U level Friday night. He plays with a motor that’s always in high gear, can defend multiple positions, and served as a secondary creator at times.