EYBL Atlanta: Petty puts on a show

SUWANEE, Ga. -- Five-star guard John Petty showed his early spring slump was a thing of the past on the final day of the 2016 Nike EYBL season. Here is a full report on Petty and others as they competed in an event that determined the field at the season-ending Peach Jam in July.

Early this spring, five-star shooting guard John Petty looked like he had lost his way. His shot wasn't falling, he looked disengaged and the No. 17 ranked player in the 2017 Rivals150 looked like may have peaked early as a prospect.

After a mid-spring switch from Nike EYBL program We All Can Go to Team Penny in the EYBL, Petty looks like a new player.

Playing against the Alabama Challenge -- a team from his home state that he played for last summer -- Petty wasted no time reminding everybody just what he’s capable of. The 6-foot-5 wing broke a close game open in the first half during a stretch where he hit three-pointers on three of four possessions and helped lead Team Penny to a 92-56 victory.

In total, Petty pumped in 32 points and connected seven of his nine three-point attempts. He also chipped in nine rebounds and six assists in the blowout win. When the Alabama native gets rolling like he did on Monday, there isn’t much anybody can do about it. Some of his deep balls were open shots, but a few contested and even from deep beyond the arc. Even though he caught fire early, he didn’t force any shots and played a very unselfish game.

Most SEC schools have been involved in Petty’s recruitment such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky has long been considered the favorite for Petty, but Alabama and Auburn should be taken seriously as threats as well.

Five-star small forward Kevin Knox had an impressive morning in a win over Seattle Rotary on Monday morning. There aren’t many prospects that are more physically imposing on the wing than Knox, and that makes him tough to contain when he goes to the basket. Knox threw down several highlight reel dunks in the 85-79 win.

Three-star guard Luis Hurtado isn’t a flashy athlete, but the 6-foot-5 guard has a terrific feel for the game. He’s a next-level passer and a very strong ball handler against pressure.

Despite the loss, Seattle Rotary guard Jaylen Nowell had a terrific game. The 6-foot-4 guard dropped 29 points, and scored in a variety of ways. It was his energy that helped Seattle Rotary come back from double-digit deficit to make it a contested game late in the second half.

Nowell’s sidekick in the backcourt, Daejon Davis, also had a nice outing for Seattle Rotary. The 6-foot-4 guard who recently opened up his recruitment after an early commitment to Washington, is an electrifying athlete who matched Knox dunk for dunk on Monday morning.

Center Mitchell Robinson has clearly taken his game to the next level this travel season. He completely took over the game against Howard Pulley and helped Pro Skills erase a 56-34 halftime deficit. He’s an elite shot-blocker and dunks everything in the paint. If there was any doubt about him getting an elevation to five-star status in the next update, it's gone. LSU and North Carolina got involved after his April decommitment from Texas A&M and Kentucky is starting to nose around his recruitment.

Ashton Hagans has emerged as a prospect to watch in the 2019 class out of Georgia. The 6-foot-3 point guard is one of the better passers around and a tough scorer off the bounce. He’s added offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Oklahoma State this spring.

Christian Brown is another talented prospect on the Georgia Stars 15-under team. The 6-foot-6 wing is an elite athlete with a smooth looking jumper from three-point range. Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest have offered.

Trey Doomes, a 6-foot-3 guard on the Southern Stampede 16-under team, impressed on Monday afternoon. His jump shot has improved in a big way lately. He’s become more active on the defensive end as well. He’s one to watch out of Georgia in the 2018 class.