Fresh off a 21-0 trouncing of Gordon County Boom on Wednesday, the Cartersville 8U coach pitch team won in walk-off fashion Thursday night defeating Rome, 9-8. Hudson Lusk had a walk off single in the sixth inning for the Cartersville win. Lusk went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI in the game. Will Camp had four hits. Kamdyn Woods, Carter Rice, Peyton Emery, and Colby Craig had two hits. Asa Mitchum, Gavin Baxter, and Jacob Childers had one hit each. Cartersville plays Calhoun Gold at 6pm Friday at the Sonoraville Recreation Complex. Cartersville and Calhoun are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the double-elimination state tournament that continues through Saturday. The Cartersville 12U GRPA State Tournament team lost its opener to the Clayton County Red Sox Thursday morning, 9-6. Noah Ford hit a three-run home run. Giles Turner and Tanner Wall had two hits, Jonah Cooper, Jackson Rutledge, Gunner Millsap, and JaKiyon Porter had one hit each. Cartersville plays the Savannah Ravens in an elimination game Friday morning at 9:30am at Paulson Park in Savannah. The Bartow County Recreation Department’s 14U team was eliminated Thursday at the GRPA 14U State Tournament in Augusta with a 22-5 loss to the Savannah SS Jaguars. The Bartow County Recreation Department 10U machine pitch softball team was also eliminated at its state tournament in Tifton with two losses on Thursday. Bartow fell to Thomasville YMCA 19-1 and Vidalia, 13-7. In Georgia State Little League Tournament action, Cartersville Little League 11U was eliminated Wednesday night with a loss to Dudley Little League. The 11U team lost its state tournament opener, but then won three straight elimination games in the losers’ bracket before falling to Dudley. Dudley was to play against Northern Little League Thursday night in the 11U finals in Columbus. Cartersville Little League’s 10U team lost for the first time in the double-elimination Georgia 10U State Little League Tournament at East Marietta National Little League and Sewell Park. Cartersville fell to Smyrna Little League Thursday night, 15-5. Smyrna took an early 7-2 lead before Cartersville narrowed the gap to 7-5 in the top of the fourth. Smyrna responded, however, with a three-run fourth and added five more in the bottom of the fifth for their 10-run victory. Joseph Womack had two hits for Cartersville. Charlie Rothschild, Ayden Ray, Connor Brasfield (RBI), Caleb Daniel, and Hayden James (3-run HR) had the other hits for the locals. Gavin Shrewsbury added one RBI. Cartersville used five different pitchers, including Shrewsbury, Miles Owen, Womack, Daniel, and Brasfield. With the win, Smyrna advances to the championship round of the double-elimination tournament and will need only one more victory to win the state title. The finals will be played Saturday at 10am with an ‘if necessary game’ to potentially follow. The loss drops Cartersville to an elimination game on Friday at 7pm against Thursday’s Oconee County vs. Northern winner.

The Cartersville Recreation Department's 8U Coach Pitch team and the Bartow County Recreation Department's 14U team advanced Wednesday night at their respective state tournaments. Bartow County’s 14U team at the GRPA State Tournament in Augusta won twice Wednesday in elimination games to stay alive in the double-elimination event. Bartow lost to Wayne County in their state tournament opener Tuesday, but reeled off a pair of wins Wednesday over Union City, 13-2, and Vidalia, 12-5. Bartow 14U plays their third straight elimination game Thursday at 12:30pm against the Savannah Jaguars. The winner plays again at 6pm against the loser of a 10am game between Augusta and Wayne County. Augusta, Wayne County, Glynn County, and Moultrie/Colquitt are the four unbeaten teams remaining. The 14U state tournament continues through the championship game on Saturday. The Cartersville 8U Coach Pitch team defeated Gordon County Boom 21-0 Wednesday night to advance in the GRPA 8U Coach Pitch State Tournament at Sonoraville Recreation Complex in Gordon County. Cartersville plays Rome Thursday at 6pm in the next round. Cartersville, Rome, Calhoun Gold, and the Gordon County Braves are the four unbeaten teams remaining in the tournament after Wednesday’s games. The 8U Coach Pitch State Tournament continues through Saturday.

The Cartersville Recreation Department’s 10U baseball season came to an end Wednesday evening at the E.B. Hamilton Complex in Tifton as the Canes fell to Calhoun, 13-5, at the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association 10U State Tournament. The contest was close early and Cartersville actually held a 3-2 lead in the second frame, but Calhoun scored nine times in the third inning to take control of the game. Luke Altizer had another strong offensive game for Cartersville with three hits and Geoffrey Gore tossed a pair of strong innings of relief to keep Cartersville in the game. Calhoun was able to hold off the Canes, however, for an eight-run final. With their win, Calhoun advances to another elimination game Thursday morning at 11am against Tift County. Four unbeaten teams remain in the double-elimination including Savannah Hot Rods, Sumter County, Burke County, and Thomasville YMCA. The tournament continues through Saturday.

The Bartow County Recreation Department’s 14U baseball team won 13-2 Wednesday afternoon in five innings over Union City at the GRPA 14U State Tournament in Augusta. Sheldon Appling led the Bartow offense by going 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Malachi Bradley was 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI. Aiden Blakeley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Micah Tart (triple), Jacob McBroom (RBI), Jonah Gambill (RBI), Mack Morris, Ajami Harmon, Noah Grisham, and Logan Stokes (2 RBI) Morris had three stolen bases. Gambill and Harmon each stole one base. McBroom pitched three innings with a pair of strikeouts. Blakeley struck out two in one inning of work and Tart recorded a strikeout in one inning on the bump. Bartow plays again Wednesday night at 8pm against Vidalia in an elimination game at Diamond Lakes Park in Augusta.

The Cartersville Recreation Department 10U baseball all-stars picked up an afternoon victory Wednesday at the GRPA State Tournament. Cartersville, playing in an elimination game at the double-elimination event in Tifton, defeated the Savannah Game On Bulldogs, 9-8, in extra innings. Jimmy Channel was 2-for-2 with a walk to lead the Cartersville offense. Sawyer Wilson was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly. Luke Altizer went 1-for-3. Tyler Taylor was the winning pitcher for Cartersville. Taylor tossed five innings allowing only two earned runs. Trenton Payne also worked one inning on the mound. Cartersville advances to a 5:30pm elimination game Wednesday afternoon against Calhoun. The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association 10U State Tournament continues through Saturday in Tifton.

The Cartersville Little League 10U all-stars defeated Oconee County 11-3 Tuesday night at the Georgia 10U Little League State Tournament to advance as only one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the double-elimination tournament. Cartersville 10U and the other unbeaten team, Smyrna Little League, will face each other Thursday at 6pm as the state tournament continues at East Marietta National Little League’s Sewell Park in Marietta. Smyrna has wins in the tournament over Peachtree City (9-4), Warner Robins American (7-1), and Washington Wilkes (10-0). Cartersville has wins over Northern-Columbus (18-6) and Oconee County (11-3). A trio of Cartersville pitchers — Gavin Shrewsbury (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2K), Caleb Daniel (2.2 IP, 2ER, 3H, 1K), and Connor Brasfield (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H) — limited Oconee to only five hits and did not walk a batter Tuesday night. Shrewsbury had three hits, including a pair of doubles and three RBI to lead the Cartersville offensive punch. Ayden Ray also had a pair of doubles and one RBI. Turner Abernathy and Miles Owen had the other Cartersville hits. The Georgia 10U Little League State Tournament continues through Friday night or Saturday morning in Marietta. An ‘if needed’ game in the double-elimination tournament would be played Saturday. Thursday’s Cartersville/Smyrna winner will be guaranteed a spot in the championship round of the tournament and would need only one more win to secure the state title.

The Bartow County Senior Little League Softball team took care of business early Tuesday night and completed their dominance at the Georgia Senior Little League State Tournament with a 15-0, five-inning, run-rule victory in the championship game over West Point Little League. The Bartow County Senior Little League team will now join the Bartow Junior Little League Softball team as both will represent Georgia at the Little League Southeast Regional July 22-24 in North Carolina. Loren Harris, who pitched a no-hitter on Sunday to beat West Point 11-1, was in the circle again on Tuesday night for the finals and almost repeated the feat. West Point’s Nicole Chambers managed a lone single in the top of the game’s final half inning to break up a second no-hitter. Harris pitched all five innings and allowed only one hit, no walks, and struck out six. After a scoreless first inning, Bartow exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. The locals added six runs in the third and that would be all they would need. Bartow’s Harris also excelled at the plate Tuesday. She finished the night with three hits, including a double, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Havyn Isaac also contributed three hits for Bartow in a perfect night at the plate. Isaac scored a run and drove in three. Sarah Fox (2 RBI), Sarah Moore, and Hope Elrod (RBI) had two hits each. One of the hits by Fox was a double, she coaxed one walk, and scored three times. Moore scored a run and Elrod scored twice and drove in a run. Sierrah Gani, Morgan Deboard (RBI), Emily Collum, and Alexia Najarro (RBI) all added one hit apiece for the state champs. Deboard stole two bases. Elrod, Collum, and Isaac also stole a base. Bartow went undefeated (3-0) in the state tournament. Along with the two game sweep of West Point, the locals defeated Northern (Columbus) Little League 8-4 last Saturday. Rowan Little League and North Carolina District 2 will host the Junior League, Senior League and Big League Southeastern Regional Tournaments July 22-24 at Salisbury Community Park in Salisbury, NC. The Bartow County Junior Little League team was unopposed in Georgia and will face Richmond County Little League (Warsaw, VA) in the opening round. The Bartow County Senior Little League team will also meet a team from Virginia in their regional opener. The Georgia champs take on Shore Little League (Nassawadox, VA) in the first round. The Southeast Regional tournament winners will advance to the Little League World Series in August. Southeast Regional festivities get underway on July 21 with a Tournament Kickoff Banquet at West End Plaza in Salisbury. SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SCHEDULES FOR BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL Junior League (13-14 year olds) (modfied double-elimination) Friday, July 22 G1 - Bartow County, GA vs. Richmond County LL (Warsaw), VA, 10 am G2 - Rowan County LL (Salisbury), NC vs. Florida, 12:30 pm G3 - Woodlawn, TN vs. G2 winner, 3:30 pm Saturday, July 23 G4 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G2, 10 am (elimination game) G5 - Winner G2 vs. Winner G3, 12:30 pm G6 - Winner G4 vs. Loser G3, 3:30 pm (elimination game) Sunday, July 24 G7 - Winner G6 vs. Loser G5, 10 am (elimination game) G8 - Winner G9 vs. Winner G7, 1:30 pm (championship game) Senior League (15-16 year olds) (modfied double-elimination) Friday, July 22 G1 - Washington, NC vs. Florida, 10:30 am G2 - Bartow County, GA vs. Shore LL (Nassawadox), VA, 1 pm G3 - Moorefield, WV vs. G1 winner, 4 pm G4 - Smoky Mountain LL (Newport), TN vs. G2 winner, 6:30 pm Saturday, July 23 G5 - Loser G1 vs. Loser G4, 10:30 am (elimination game) G6 - Loser G2 vs. Loser G3, 1 pm (elimination game) G7 - Winner G3 vs. Winner G4, 4 pm G8 - Winner G5 vs. Winner G6, 6:30 pm (elimination game) Sunday, July 24 G9 - Winner G8 vs. Loser G7, 12 noon (elimination game) G10 - Winner G9 vs. Winner G7, 3:30 pm (championship game) The Bartow County Senior League roster includes: Sarah Fox, Taylor Queen, Hope Elrod, Sierrah Gani, Loren Harris, Madison Harrison, Alexia Najarro, Makenzi McIntyre, Morgan Deboard, Maggie Collum, Sarah Moore, Emily Collum, and Havyn Isaac. Coaches: Greg Hight, Hannah Hight, and Haley Hood.

The Cartersville 10U baseball all-stars at the GRPA 10U state tournament in Tifton led for four innings Tuesday night, but Thomasville YMCA scored ten runs in the fifth inning for a come-from-behind 11-5 win. Cartersville had multiple scoring opportunities in the contest, but left too many runners on base. Thomasville YMCA took advantage of some Cartersville defensive miscues with timely hits to drive in runs in their rally. Lee Camp, Collin Genrich, Geoffrey Gore, Tyler Taylor, Luke Altizer (2 RBI double), and Davis Wilkey (2 RBI double) all went 1-for-2 for Cartersville. Jimmy Channel was 1-for-1. Trenton Payne reached base with a walk. Cartersville 10U will look to rebound Wednesday at 1pm against the Savannah Game On Bulldogs, a 12-4 loser Tuesday to Clayton County. The double-elimination 10U GRPA state tournament at E.B. Hamilton Complex in Tifton will continue through Saturday. In Augusta, the Bartow County 14U all-star team also lost its opening game at the 14U GRPA State Tournament. Bartow lost 14-2 to Wayne County and will play next in an elimination game Wednesday at 3pm against Union City. Union City lost Tuesday to Swainsboro, 10-3. The double-elimination 14U GRPA State Tournament continues through Saturday at Diamond Lakes Regional Park in Augusta.

Six local all-star teams begin state tournament play this week in various age groups of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) while another local team will represent the state of Georgia at the Dizzy Dean Softball World Series in Mississippi. The Bartow County Recreation Department will have softball teams in 10U and 12U state tournaments in Tifton and Moultrie plus a 14U baseball team at the GRPA state tournament in Augusta. The Bartow County 8U team will play in the Dizzy Dean Softball World Series. The Cartersville Recreation Department will be represented by 8U, 10U, and 12U baseball teams in state tournaments in Calhoun, Tifton, and Savannah. Teams, events, and rosters: DIZZY DEAN 8U SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES Bartow 8U Dizzy Dean World Series in Southaven, MS. Games begin Thursday at Greenbrook Park. Bartow earned a bid as the Georgia state champions. The pairings and bracket for the tournament will be determined by blind draw at a coaches meeting on Wednesday afternoon. ROSTER: Haley Collum, Lily Roberts, Alana Carnes, Elizabeth Hartsfield, Kamryn Smith, Darianna Sosa, Jordan Hammonds, Kaitlyn Arnold, Reese Dumas, Aliva Joslin, Sadie Raughton, Kate Self, and Anna Grace Fraley. Coaches: David Collum, Carey Carnes, Nick Roberts, and Jesse Hartsfield. GRPA 10U MACHINE PITCH STATE TOURNAMENT Bartow County 10U Mite Machine Pitch softball. Location: E.B. Hamilton Complex in Tifton, July 13-16, Double-elimination Bartow County plays Thursday at 9am against the South Bryan/Thomasville winner Other teams in the tournament include Vidalia, Ware County, Troup County, Moultrie-Colquitt, Swainsboro, Liberty County, and host Tifton. ROSTER: Gabriela Becerra, Taff Bradley, Lanye Callan, Hayley Dillow, Taylor Evans, Heather Gilbert, Megann Griffith, Emma Hensley, Erin McCrary, Elizabeth Nelson, Harley Owens, Marly Pruitt, and Naxyria Roberts. Coaches: Chris Owens, Larry Owens, and Ulisses Becerra. GRPA 12U SOFTBALL STATE TOURNAMENT Bartow County 12U softball. Location: Jim Buck Goff Complex in Moultrie, July 12-15, Double-elimination Bartow County plays Tuesday night at 7pm against the Swainsboro/East Point winner Other teams in the tournament include Glynn County, Ware County, Grady County, Troup County, Rome, Wayne County, Lyons, Moultrie, and Colquitt County. ROSTER: Kimberly Allen, Maliyah Creamer, Macenzie Dougharty, Madison Flemons, Trinity Hatfield, Michiah Hicks, Rylee Massingill, Dylynn Motes, Brooklyn Pittman, Mia Scott, Gracie Styles, Makayla Wade, and Kelly Young. Coaches: Thad Creamer and Justin Scott. GRPA 8U BASEBALL COACH PITCH STATE TOURNAMENT Cartersville 8U Coach Pitch baseball. Location: Sonoraville Recreation Complex, Calhoun, July 13-16, Double-elimination Cartersville plays Wednesday night at 7:15pm against the Gordon County Boom/Calhoun White winner Other teams in the tournament include Rome, East Point, Pickens County, Gordon County Braves, Calhoun Gold, Whitfield County, and Rockmart. ROSTER: Gavin Baxter, Logan Buchanan, William Camp, Christopher Childers, Colby Craig, Peyton Emery, Hudson Lusk, Asa Mitchum, Carter Rice, Sydney Seigler, Harris Turner, and Kamdyn Woods. Head Coach: Ty Mitcham. GRPA 10U BASEBALL STATE TOURNAMENT Cartersville 10U baseball. Location: E.B. Hamilton Complex, Tifton, July 12-16. Double-elimination. Cartersville plays Thomasville YMCA Tuesday at 7:30pm. Other teams in the tournament include Savannah Game On Bulldogs, Clayton County Pirates Gold, Clayton County Pirates Black, South Bryan, Burke County, Dublin-Laurens, Sumter County, Savannah Ravens, Savannah Hot Rods, Sylvester/Worth County, Calhoun, and host Tift County. ROSTER: Luke Altizer, Leland Camp, Jimmy Channell, Charlie Crum, Collin Genrich, Geoffrey Gore, Jaiven Johnson, Trenton Payne, William Stiles, Tyler Taylor, Michael Wilkey, and Sawyer Wilson. Head Coach: Ben Genrich. GRPA 12U BASEBALL MIDGET MAJOR STATE TOURNAMENT Cartersville 12U Midget Major. Location: Paulson Park, Savannah, July 13-16. Double-elimination. Cartersville plays Thursday at 9:30am against the Clayton County Red Sox/Savannah Ravens winner. The other teams in the tournament are East Point and Grady County. ROSTER: Jackson Chatman, Hunter Cochran, Jonah Cooper, Jackson Davenport, Noah Ford, Gunner Millsap, Jakiyon Porter, Evan Sanders, Kaden Stephenson, Brody Tidwell, Adam Turner, and Tanner Wall. Head Coach: Jamie Cooper GRPA 14U BASEBALL STATE TOURNAMENT Bartow County 14U baseball. Location: Diamond Lakes Regional Park in Augusta, July 12-16, Double-elimination. Bartow County plays Wayne County Tuesday afternoon at 4:30pm. Other teams in the tournament include Swainsboro, Union City, Pooler, Vidalia, Clayton County Braves, Clayton County Red Sox, Glynn County, Savannah Jaguars, Moultrie/Colquitt County, Warner Robins, and host Augusta. ROSTER: Sheldon Appling, Nathaniel Arrington, Aiden Blakely, Malachi Bradley, Jonah Gambill, Noah Grisham, Ajami Harmon, Will Hughes, Jacob McBroom, Mack Morris, Byers Murray, Logan Stokes, and Micah Tart. Head Coach: Michael McIntyre.

The summer may be heating up, but so has the play for two minor league baseball players with ties to Cartersville and Bartow County. Connor Justus has started his professional career with solid defensive play and a hot bat for the Rookie Pioneer League Orem Owlz, while Grant DeBruin has heated up for the Hagerstown Suns in recent days after a slow start coming out of extended spring training. MiLB players with local ties to Cartersville and Bartow County: Grant DeBruin — Hagerstown Suns — Class A, South Atlantic League — MLB Parent Club, Washington Nationals -- (Adairsville HS) The former Adairsville High School and University of Alabama-Huntsville standout had a 4-for-5 game Sunday that included a home run and five RBIs as his Hagerstown Suns team defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds 9-5. The homerun was the DeBruin’s third of the year. DeBruin, who has recently raised his season batting average to .248, has recently been starting at third base for the Suns. He has also played first base and been utilized as a designated hitter since joining Hagerstown. He has seven doubles and 28 hits in 113 at bats in 33 games played. DeBruin, 26, spent the first part of the year in extended spring training and was briefly at the Advanced Class A level with the Potomac Nationals. Hagerstown is 10-8 in the SAL second half, currently three games behind the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins affiliate) in the Northern Division. Hagerstown already clinched a post-season spot by winning the division’s first half. Dalton Geekie — Rome Braves — Class A, South Atlantic League — MLB Parent Club, Atlanta Braves -- (Georgia Highlands College) Geekie has a 2-3 record with a 5.18 ERA in 25 appearances in 2016. He has one save in 40 innings of work and opponents have a .232 batting average against him. The most recent appearances for the former GHC Charger were July 4 and July 8. On Independence Day, Geekie pitched the sixth and seventh innings of a 6-5 home victory over the Greenville Drive. He allowed no runs and no hits with one walk and three strikeouts. July 8, Geekie was utilized in the seventh and eighth innings of an 11-4 home loss to the Hickory Crawdads. He recorded one strikeout and was charged with two earned runs on five hits and no walks. Rome is currently 9-9 in the South Atlantic League’s second half standings, in third place, three game behind the Southern Division leading Augusta GreenJackets (SF Giants affiliate). Sam Howard — Hartford Yard Goats — Double-A, Eastern League — MLB Parent Club, Colorado Rockies -- (Cartersville HS) Howard’s most recent start was in an 11-4 home loss to Binghamton. He completed four innings on the mound and pitched to three more batters in the fifth in suffering his fifth straight loss. The visiting Mets’ affiliate picked up seven earned runs on ten hits and three walks. Howard struck out four. The 23-year-old former Canes and Georgia Southern University southpaw is now 4-8 on year after starting the season 4-3 with the Advanced Class A, Modesto Nuts of the California League. He has a 3.74 ERA in 17 starts and 96 and 1/3 innings. Opponents have a .249 batting average against him. The Yard Goats are 48-40 on the year and in third place in the Eastern League’s Eastern Division. They trail the Reading (PA) Fightin’ Phils by 14 games. Connor Justus — Orem Owlz — Rookie level, Pioneer League — MLB Parent Club, Los Angeles Angels -- (Cartersville HS) Since joining the professional level after this year’s MLB draft, Justus has been nothing but consistent at the plate. The former Cartersville Hurricanes and Georgia Tech shortstop has hit safely in 16 of 19 games and has five multi-hit games in that same stretch. Justus is currently on a five-game hitting streak. The current streak comes on the heals of a six-game streak that was interrupted for only one game during the first game of a doubleheader July 6. During the current streak, Justus is 9-for-19 with a triple, two doubles, and six RBIs. He spent the early part of the season hitting in the middle of the Owlz’ order, but has recently been placed in the No. 2 spot in the order. For the season, he has a .333 batting average in 66 at bats. He also has driven in 15 runs and coaxed 13 walks. His on-base percentage is .463. Defensively, Justus has a .986 fielding percentage (only one error) in 74 total chances. He has been part of 10 double plays in just over 161 innings. The Owlz are currently in first place in the Pioneer League South Division with a 15-8 record. Orem leads Colorado Rockies’ affiliate, Grand Junction, by three games in the standings. Donavan Tate — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes — Advanced Class A — California League — MLB Parent Club, Los Angeles Dodgers (Cartersville HS) Tate has now played in ten games after coming off the disable list to start the season. He has a .143 batting average in 35 at bats with a home run and four RBIs. After driving in a run with a 1-for-4 effort July 1, he was hitless in games he started July 4 and July 6. He did drive in a run and walked twice against the Inland Empire 66ers July 6. He has played defensively at both corner outfield positions and has been utilized as a designated hitter. The Quakes finished in second place in the California League’s South Division during the first half of the season. They currently sit in second place again in the second half with a 10-8 record. They trail the Lancaster JetHawks (Houston Astros affiliate) by one game. To check on these local players any time, use the 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' page of this web site to locate active links to each players statistics, schedules, results, and other team information.

The Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department is currently taking registration for its 2016 football league, flag football league, and football cheerleading. Please see the fliers included for full explanation of requirements, age control dates, and fees. For further information, contact Mike Streetman, CPRD, at 770.387.5626 ext. 6174.

Kyle Sandy, SandysSpiel.com, contributed to this report. LakePoint Sporting Community in Emerson will play host next week to one of the most prestigious youth basketball events in the nation. The Under Armour Association Grassroots Basketball Circuit Finals will take place at the new LakePoint Indoor Pavilion Wednesday, July 13 through Saturday, July 16. The national finals will include many of the top travel teams and individual players in the 15U, 16U, and 17U divisions. High profile college coaches from across the nation will be in attendance as well as basketball scouts for multiple amateur and professional levels. Several of the top players in Georgia will be on three different age level teams for the Atlanta Xpress. The top scorer (20.7 ppg) in the 17U division of the Under Armour Association circuit is M.J. Walker Jr. Walker is a rising 6-5 senior wing from Jonesboro HS, GA and a two-time state champ. Currently listed as the 18th-ranked player in the country, Walker plays with the Atlanta club. Kyle Sturdivant, the point guard for the 17U Xpress, is a rising sophomore who starred at Norcross HS, GA this past year but is transferring to Pace Academy, GA for his sophomore season. The Atlanta Xpress has major size inside with Michael Durr (Westlake HS, GA) 6-10; Kentrevious Jones (Central Macon HS, GA) 6-10, 280; and Ahsan Asadullah (North Clayton HS, GA) 6-8. Asadullah usually comes off the bench, but is a skilled scorer and passer. The top-ranked player in the UAA is Trevon Duvall. The 6-4 guard from Delaware is ranked No. 5 in the ESPN100 Class of 2017 rankings. He plays for WE R1 and leads his club with 15.9 points per game and 4.9 assists. Kris Wilkes is a 6-8 forward for the Indy Hoosiers. He is the No. 11 ranked player in the nation and brings a 20 point average and six rebound average on the circuit to the national finals. Jalek Felton might be the best all-around guard. The UNC-commit is ranked No. 24 in the nation and averages 19 points, 5 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Team Felton. In terms of record, the top three teams are Team Charlotte (11-1), DC Premier (10-2) and Houston Defenders (10-2). Team Charlotte is led by Ty-Shon Alexander. The 6-3 guard from Oak Hill Academy is ranked No. 51 and is committed to Creighton. He averages 16.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. DC Premier boasts Naji Marshall (247sports 4-star), Nate Watson (ESPN 4-star) and junior Prentiss Hubb (ESPN 4-star). Marshall averages 15.5 points, 6-foot-8 Watson averages 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds and Hubb, a point guard, goes for 11.4 points and 5.9 assists. 6-foot-7 Savion Flagg is ranked No. 67 in the C/O 2017 and leads the Houston Defenders at 14.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. 16U Division The Atlanta Xpress had a rough season in the 16U division as well as the only Under Armour team from Georgia going 4-8. They do have Khavon Moore, the No. 9 ranked player in the Class of 2018 from Westside-Macon HS, GA. The 6-foot-8 point-forward averaged a team-leading 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks. Isaiah Kelly from Pace Academy GA is the second most sought after prospect on the team, averaging 9.5 points as a 6-foot-8 forward. Kelly has already drawn interest from basketball powers Xavier and Wisconsin. Team Thad is 11-1 and enters with the best record in the 16U division. The backcourt of Tyler Harris (4-star) and Drue Drinnon (3-star) leads Team Thad. Harris averages 15.9 points and 5.5 assists. Drinnon, who has played at East Jackson HS GA the past two seasons, is transferring to Pebblebrook HS GA this year with a handful of other blue chip D-1 prospects. Drinnon is averaging 13.6 points as a point guard on the UAA circuit. 4-star guard Anfernee Simons of Team Breakdown (7-5) leads the league in scoring with 22.9 points per game. Simmons has bounced between Edgewater HS FL and Montverde Academy FL, but is set to return to Edgewater for his upcoming junior season. DC Premier is 10-1 in the 16U division while the Florida Vipers are 10-2. Big man Darius Days anchors the Vipers with 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game inside. 5-foot-11 point guard Derquan Washington leads the DC Premier in scoring at 12.9 points per game. 15U Division Following a trend for Georgia basketball in the UAA, the Atlanta Xpress has struggled to a 3-5 season. Anthony Edwards is a talented 6-foot-3 guard from Therrell HS GA. He leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points. Toneari Lane (Central Gwinnett HS GA), TJ Bickerstaff (Sandy Creek HS GA) and Amir Langlais (Parkview HS GA) are names to keep an eye on this season. All are very long and skilled. KC Run GMC finished the season 8-0 heading into this week’s UAA finals. Zach Harvey (14.6 ppg), Lamel Robinson (13.8 ppg) and Jeremiah Robinson (13.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg) lead the charge. DC Blue Devils’ Marvin Price leads the league in scoring at 22.9 points. The 6-foot-4 guard attends Dematha Catholic HS MD. Connecticut Basketball Club arrives at LakePoint with a 6-2 mark and has arguably the best next level prospect in Chol Marial. The 7-foot-2 center averages 11.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks. Pool play begins for all three age groups Wednesday at 5pm with games on all 12 courts scheduled for 5pm, 6:15pm, 7:30pm, and 8:45pm. Tournament competition continues Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with games beginning at 8am each day and continuing through the evenings on Thursday and Friday nights. Championship semifinal bracket play is scheduled to begin Friday evening with Championship and consolation play on Saturday taking place from 8am to 2:15pm. There is a daily $5 parking fee for the event at LakePoint Sporting Community’s Indoor Pavilion on Stars Way in Emerson. Admission each day includes access to all games in the Pavillion. Tickets are $10 Wednesday evening and $15 for each of the other dates. No tournament pass is available.