UGA Team Camp: Point Producers in the Paint

While going from Court 1 to Court 4 and watching everything in between at the Ramsay Center in Athens on Sunday, I saw some of the best post players not only in their state and region, but the entire country at UGA's team camp. The UGA staff, including new head coach Ayla Guzzardo and Recruiting Coordinator Bri Patton, along with other members made sure they took a very close look at a couple of players in particular while also making sure they were seen by those players and their families. [player_tooltip player_id='324541' first='Khalia' last='Hartwell'] came into camp holding an offer from UGA and I would not be surprised if [player_tooltip player_id='1226988' first='Peyton' last='Frazier'] receives one today (Monday after). Other players also made a big impact scoring the ball in the painted area and not all were posts players.    Khalia scored the ball in a variety of ways, primarily right at the rim and also showing off very nice touch shooting the basketball from 12-15 feet. Specifically, Hartwell looked confident and comfortable knocking down multiple shots from the elbow area and beyond. Around the rim Hartwell was dominant scoring the ball and/or going to the free throw almost every time she got a paint touch. She did a nice job using her size and length to grab missed shots off the rim before her competitors even had a chance and getting the ball back up off the backboard before they could react. She scored the ball several times on offensive rebounds and put backs. Hartwell has been a household name in the southeast for 3-4 years now. It is clear that the work she has put in during that time has led to her development as one of the very best '27 post players in the country. With offers from schools like Iowa, Duke, Virginia, and Central Florida recently, Hartwell has one of the more impressive offer sheets you will see from a high school player. UGA and the new staff extended an offer before camp and Hartwell proved why she was such a highly ranked prospect as the entire staff watched on as her and Westside were dominant.     Peyton was her usual long, bouncy self playing with a high motor and making plays around the basket on both ends of the court. Offensively, she continues to dominate the competition whether it is with Team Elite Hubbard on the 3SSB circuit or playing high school ball with GAC. She is too big and explosive with a very soft touch for normal high school kids to guard. Frazier has all the physical gifts a player could ask for at 6'3 and the ability to move and explode off the ground like very few others at that height. Her development as a player over the last two to three years has been staggering. She is unrecognizable as a player from just the work she has put in that short period of time. The skill is there in a major way now to go with the size and athleticism. Peyton plays with a high motor and is a competitive kid. She does not like to lose possessions, let alone games and does not take plays off. If she turns the ball over (rare), you will see her sprint full speed back on defense to prevent the opposing team from scoring. With recent offers from Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, and Princeton major division college coaches see the improvement too and that list will only continue to grow. She was basically unguardable in the two games I watched GAC play. The two teams they played had no answer for her in the post. She continues to make shots from outside of the painted area as well, something I know she has been working hard on. Long term she has the ability to play on the perimeter with no problems whether that be in college or as a pro.     Ava is another player whose hard work and dedication to getting better is impossible not to see with the way she is playing the game now. Against Creekside Ava had her best offensive performance scoring the ball that I have seen from her. She was incredibly efficient scoring on put backs and quick, dump off passes from the Whitefield guards, something you would expect from a 6'4 player. I have seen her do that before, however her work with her back to the basket and shooting the ball outside the paint I had not seen from Anthony previously. On one possession Ava caught the ball, patiently took a dribble, used her size to put the defender under the goal, and then rose up and scored over her shoulder calmly. On another play she caught the ball on the baseline and without hesitation let one fly on the baseline, from 8-10 feet away from the basket, and started getting back on defense before the ball went through the net. If she continues to improve at this rate, Anthony could find her self where Hartwell and Frazier are. There are not many girls that size who have the skill and athleticism to go with it.     It was very clear early on Sunday when watching Newton that Levell has really been working on her perimeter game. She looked very good taking multiple shots from three and making some in the time I watched her play. If she can consistently make shots from three point range at Lakepoint with Newton and in July during other live period events, then she should have a few offers in hand before she starts her senior year of high school in August. Shooting from the perimeter wasn't the only change I saw in Levell in Athens, she clearly has made strength and conditioning a priority this offseason. She has always been a strong, powerful player at six feet tall who scores the ball effectively and with very good efficiency in the post. She was noticeably quicker on her feet since I last saw her play with Newton in January. She is a very skilled player with excellent size who competes hard on both ends of the floor. If Sunday were any indication then I expect her to have a very productive senior season as the she and the Lady Rams try to win another state championship in her final season.     Bryant made a big play early in the game defensively for Westside with a big block on her AEBL teammate [player_tooltip player_id='899792' first='Jazmin' last='Maddox'] who was slashing to the basket and looked like she had an easy finish at the rim. Bryant came over and swatted the ball against the bottom of the backboard preventing the two easy points. She did a good job capitalizing on her scoring opportunities as well. With Hartwell and the very talented cast around her, Bryant did not necessarily need to score a bunch to affect the game. She is a very athletic kid with quick reaction time and explosive athleticism. She was excellent defensively and rebounding the ball. Remember the name because physically she has the gifts/tools to the next big thing from Anderson, literally.

While going from Court 1 to Court 4 and watching everything in between at the Ramsay Center in Athens on Sunday, I saw some of the best post players not only in their state and region, but the entire country at UGA's team camp. The UGA staff, including new head coach Ayla Guzzardo and Recruiting Coordinator Bri Patton, along with other members made sure they took a very close look at a couple of players in particular while also making sure they were seen by those players and their families. Khalia Hartwell Khalia Hartwell 6'5" | C Westside | 2027 State #21 Nation SC came into camp holding an offer from UGA and I would not be surprised if Peyton Frazier Peyton Frazier 6'3" | PF GAC | 2029 State GA receives one today (Monday after). Other players also made a big impact scoring the ball in the painted area and not all were posts players.