2016 Memphis vs Atlanta Classic loaded again with talent

Take two (2) basketball meccas, rich every year in talent, separated by a mere six (6) hour drive. Throw them together on the basketball court, with some of the best teams and talent from each city competing for nothing more than bragging rights.

Rotate the location periodically between the cities, just to be fair and to add to the intrigue surrounding the event. What do you have? The Ninth Annual Memphis vs. Atlanta Roundball Classic.

But how do you improve on the formula? CAN you make it better? We'll find out this year, as Day Two of the event will be Memphis vs. Atlanta vs. Birmingham. Mission accomplished.

“In 2011, I communicated to you that my vision was to expand to other cities,” event organizer Revelle Williams explained. “It didn't work out with some other metropolitan areas, but Birmingham was financially and competitively feasible. It worked out perfectly.”

As always, there will be copious amounts of talent on display. The match-ups appear to be compelling.

Friday, Raleigh-Egypt represents Memphis in Game One. The Pharaohs bring 2018 guard Michael James, a gifted shooter, and 6'5” Jadakiss Williams, a rugged and athletic forward, into the fray. They also have a talented pair of 6'3” freshman on deck: Quintavious Bailey and Jordan Johnson.

At 6:00, in Game Three, a pair of the best teams in the country collide. Covenant Christian, 2016 NACA High School National Champions, collide with 2016 Tennessee AAA (highest class in the state) runner-up, Cordova. Covenant Christian has a beast: 6'7”, 240 pound Chris Ago, a Division I prospect. Cordova, #20 in the nation according to MaxPreps/CBS, counters with the outstanding trio of point guard Blake Williams (2017, 5'9”, low-to-mid-major), Tyler Harris (2018, 5'8”, one of the very best shooters in the country, multiple high D-I offers) and Rodgerick Brown (2018, 6'6”, Arkansas recruiting very heavily).

The next game on Friday night looks to be a dandy. Columbia (GA) has a 6'7” point guard, Terrance Boykin (2018) that D-I coaches are salivating over. W.E.B. Dubois counters with a wide open style of play that has seen them eclipse the century mark multiple times this season already. Branson Bush (2017, 6'2”, G), Josh Conrad (2017, 6'4”, G) and Chris Mitchell (2017, 5'6”, PG) are as good a trio as you will see. Conrad literally has unlimited shooting range and is expected to shoot a LOT. He has made 10 treys in a single game four (4) times this season.

In the final contest of the evening, host school Duluth will take on Mitchell, which has won Tennessee Class three (3) consecutive years. Duluth has 6'11” Alex Powell (2019, F/C) who, at his height with a nice touch, has garnered lots of D-I attention. Mitchell is powered by point guard Tyran Davis (2017, 5'11”), a dogged defender and composed floor general; Tomonique Marion (2017, 6'4”, F/C), a rebounding machine with loads of athleticism; and transfer Joseph Johnson (2017, 6'2”, G), a voracious lefty who scores easily at all three levels.

Saturday will be the Memphis vs. Atlanta vs. Birmingham experiment, and the match-ups are just as enticing as Friday's. Game Two at noon features Jules Erving (2017, 6'6” F), NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving's son and the best player for Holy Innocents. Georgia State, Kennesaw, UMass, Rhode Island have all shown heavy interest.

At 6:00 p.m., Berkmar (GA) will collide with Midfield (AL), representing the Birmingham area. Berkmar is powered by A.L. Durham (2017, 6'4”, G), signed with Indiana University. Midfield had an Alabama AAA state runner-up finish in 2016. They have a pair of intriguing student-athletes. Shy'im Cunningham (2017, 6'4” All-State G). He's got offers from several Georgia JUCOs and has also talked to Lipscomb, Montevallo, New Mexico State and South Alabama. Keenan Isaac (2018, 6'3”, G), is a football/basketball talent, getting plenty of looks for both sports right now.

Cordova returns with their Three Muskateers (Brown, Harris and Williams) to do battle with #19 MaxPrepsCBS pool team, and host of Day Two, Norcross, GA. Norcross has an extremely impressive roster. Jordan Goldwire (2017, 6'1”, PG) has an Arizona offer. Rayshaun Hammonds (2017, 6'8”, F) is a top 50 prospect in the country with well over 20 D-I offers. Lance Thomas (20167, 6'9”, F) has already committed to Louisville. Joseph Toppin (2018, 6'6”, F) is a national top 100 prospect in his class. Kyle Sturdivant (2019, 6'2”, G) is a top 150 recruit in the national sophomore class standings.

Among the remaining participants, the recent accomplishments are stellar. Cumberland Christian, the GA GICAA 2016 2-A champions; Whitefield, 2016 GA Class A Final 4; Allatoona, 2016 GA 5-A runner-up; Shiloh, 2016 GA 6-A Elite 8, losing to eventual state champion Westlake; Berkmar, 2016 GA 6-A Region 8 champions, 2 wins from the state title tournament; and Westlake, 2016 GA 6-A state title. Westlake boasts 6'8” F Chuma Okeke, who has signed with Auburn, and 6'3” G Danny Lewis, a Central Florida signee.

Shiloh is led by Thurman Massenburg (2017, 6'8”, F), who signed with Middle Tennessee State.

It all adds up to a staggering 14 games in two (2) days at a pair of beautiful locations.

Memphis won the event in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015. Atlanta reigned supreme in 2010 & 2012, while in 2013 snow disrupted proceedings.

“The teams don't necessarily know about the overall results,” Williams noted. “But for some reason, in the featured games, the final pair of games each night, Memphis teams generally win. But they've got their hands full this year.

“We're gonna see what some of these Memphis teams are made of this year.”

Friday, December 9, 2016

Host school: Duluth High, 3737 Brock Road NW, Duluth, GA

3:00 p.m. East Coweta, GA vs. Raleigh-Egypt, TN

4:30 p.m. Lambert, GA vs. East Jackson, TN

6:00 p.m. Covenant Christian, GA (2016 NACA Titlists) vs. Cordova High, TN

7:30 p.m. Columbia, GA vs. WEB Dubois, TN9:00 p.m. Duluth, GA vs. Mitchell, TN

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Memphis vs. Atlanta vs. Birmingham

Host school: Norcross High, 5300 Spalding Drive, Norcross, GA

10:30 a.m. Discovery, GA vs Cumberland Christian, GA

12:00 p.m. Holy Innocents Episcopal, GA vs. Christian Academy of Knoxville, TN

1:30 p.m. Whitefield, GA vs. Mitchell, TN

3:00 p.m. Allatoona, GA vs. Raleigh-Egypt, TN

4:30 p.m. Shiloh, GA vs. WEB Dubois, TN

6:00 p.m. Berkmar, GA vs. Midfield, AL

7:30 p.m. Westlake, GA vs. Pinson Valley, AL

9:00 p.m. Norcross, GA vs. Cordova, TN