Holiday Hoopsgiving Saturday: E.J. Montgomery dominates

ATLANTA – Some of the very best from the state of Georgia and the surrounding states hit center stage at the Holiday Hoopsgiving. What we learned at the official tip-off to a number of high school programs this weekend: Donovan Gregory has begun to emerge in the 2019 class and the Montverde basketball program is clicking on all cylinders - though it was E.J. Montgomery with one of the most dominant showings that we will see all year.

Domination. That was what E.J. Montgomery had in store on Saturday evening. Entering his second full season at Wheeler High School, the five-star power forward showcased just how good his ceiling is as he hammered the box score to a total of 35 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.

Knocking down 16 of his 20 shots attempted from the field, the lefty power forward, who reopened his college recruitment in September following the FBI investigation that saw Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person arrested, opened up about what the past several weeks have been like. “It has been going good,” he said. “I have just been trying to focus on basketball. I am just focused on my high school season right now.”

Uncommitted on the college recruiting process, Montgomery was rather intent on not naming schools in pursuit, as a commitment is not expected for the foreseeable future. “I am just going to take my time with it all," he said. “Me and my dad are going to wait until the late period in the spring to make my decision and sign."

Head coaches from Georgia Tech and Florida State, along with assistants from Clemson and Wake Forest were spotted watching Montgomery on Saturday. A top-five available prospect this winter that should have the pick of his choosing, it looks as if Montgomery will keep things close to vest regarding his college recruitment. He is a game-changing talent who could turn a contender into a national title favorite, so his decision is one worth keeping tabs on this winter.

For the second time in a matter of three weeks, Donovan Gregory has impressed Rivals with his ability to complete whatever task is asked upon him. A 6-foot-4, wired-to-compete athlete with a college-ready body and a prolonged wingspan, Gregory may be the next out of the Tar Heel State to break out, as his versatility and innate toughness are a difficult mixture to find.

Playing a point-forward role for his Carmel Christian unit, Gregory is the type of ballplayer who can finish with a triple-double and it wouldn’t be a surprise. While he does have to show that he can consistently knock down shots out to the perimeter, Gregory did nail a handful of pull-up mid-range jumpers while displaying quality mechanics and confidence on each attempt.

Finishing with 31 points and nine rebounds, highlighted by a tremendous two-handed dunk that was poster-worthy, it was rather surprising hearing of Gregory’s rather short list of college offers. “Right now, I have four offers,” he said. “Winthrop, Charlotte, Hampton and USC-Upstate, with a few others showing interest.”

That should all change, and while it may be difficult for his offer list to reach a level that is respectable comparable to his talent level by the time his senior summer rolls around, Gregory might be hearing overtures from a handful of ACC and SEC programs.

It wasn’t pretty, but that still should not undersell how hard the Montverde Academy squad competes and their unwillingness to lay off the gas pedal, even when their opposition is in dire straits. Kevin Boyle’s team is led by top-ranked 2018 wing and Duke-bound R.J. Barrett as he finished with 33 points. The lefty continued to show a much-improved jumper but remains at his best around the basket. Whenever he gets a touch of the paint, Barrett is either scoring or getting fouled. He may not answer Duke’s current dilemma in the perimeter-shooting department, but he gives Coach K his next offensive weapon and a go-to scorer in replacing phenom big man Marvin Bagley III next season.

For the second straight day, Mike DeVoe eclipsed the 20-point plateau in front of his future head coach, Josh Pastner. A super-shifty and versatile guard who can score, pass and defend, Georgia Tech fans should expect an immediate offensive spark who can start immediately alongside current freshman guard Jose Alvarado next year in Atlanta.

Alongside DeVoe in the Montverde backcourt is Andrew Nembhard, arguably the best passer in high school ball. He recorded nine assists by halftime before finishing with 13 dimes, while he attempted just three shots from the field. For Florida fans already giddy over all that Kevaughn Allen and Jalen Hudson are doing this year, they might be salivating even more imagining an elite playmaker alongside those two next year in Gainesville.

Ashton Hagans might just be the meanest, most competitive dude around. After finishing with a triple-double on Friday, there was no sleepwalking out of the top-10 junior on Saturday, finishing two assists shy of another triple-double. He has begun to erase the major deficiency in his game, as his jumper is something that must be accounted for, but it is his lock-down defense, elite passing skills and leadership that will make him a college star from his first day on a college campus.

Settling in for his second full year in the Peach State, Marcus Watson took a little while to get going, but once he did the four-star wing showed why he holds over 20 scholarship offers. A phenomenal athlete who can make shots out to 23 feet, Watson finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Following his outing, Watson rattled off a long list of schools involved, including Missouri, N.C. State, Oregon, Oklahoma State and Georgia.

Joey Baker may have been hit by the tryptophan on Friday after his Thanksgiving Day feast, leading to a poor performance overall and a loss for his Trinity Christian School bunch. But he bounced back in a nice way to end his stay in Atlanta on Saturday. Baker, who committed to Duke last month, brings tremendous potential as a small-ball power forward. He reached the foul line 12 times and knocked down a trio of pull-up jumpers while remaining a presence on the glass and as a rim protector. The time is not now for Baker, but in three years he has the opportunity to be a major two-way threat in Durham.