The Rear View Mirror: SUV's look back at the 2013 Chick-fil-A Classic

Back in ATL from  the Chick-fil-A Classic, and I'm making the transition away from some of what I had gotten used to over the course of webcasting more than 22 games during those four days in a great atmosphere, things like:

• Sitting through two Chick-fil-a cows and a couple calves do everything from dance moves and firing t-shirts into the stands to pre-game stretching routines and halftime shows
• Eating enough "chikin" to where even the aforementioned Chick-fil-A cows told me to just go grab a burger for Pete's sake
• The County Fire Marshall and extra Richland County Sherriff's Department personnel onsite to close the entrance because the tourney audience and Seventh Woods following had both gyms at Richland Northeast High School filled to capacity.
• The ability to go roughly thirty feet back and forth between the gyms and see the amount of high caliber players and teams on display

Here's some of what's top of mind when I take a look back...

When it comes to Oak Hill and tourney MVP Cody Martin, this about sums it up:

Yes, I had to include it...

We've all probably seen this 50 times minimum but can we really recap or reflect on the 2013 Chick-fil-A Classic without including this Seventh Woods dunk?

These dunks were pretty noteworthy also...some say they are even better. I'm biased towards Woods' dunk because my ears are still ringing from it. These are tough to deny though:
Ladarius Chester (c/o 2015) of Arlington Country Day(FL) takes the elevator up to the next floor
Kaleb Johnson (c/o 2016) dunks on defender to the point where he's facing downward

Ahmed Hill aka Bruce Leroy - he had that glow...
We're all no strangers to Med Hill's game and numbers - the Marquette signee just brought the talents to Columbia this past weekend. In addition to his  tourney average of 28 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game, he played 92 out of the 96 minutes Aquinas was on the floor at Richland Northeast HS. His book of work included a 36 point effort against one of the tourney's most aggravating defenses in South Pointe - those minutes shouldn't even be considered normal minutes - I got tired just watching.
Ahmed Hill sees the mismatch - hits the 3
Ahmed Hill ahead of the pack with the slam

USC fans to Temarcus Blanton: "No need to even board the bus back to Georgia, just stay here chief..."
I'm kidding of course, but if it were feasible, I don't think USC followers would have any qualms with that. Luella High School's Temarcus Blanton didn't do anything differently than what I see on a regular basis here in Georgia, but it's hard not to acknowledge how hard he plays and how efficient he is game in and game out. After a tough loss vs. Southe Pointe, he responded with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in the next game on his way to being named to the All Tourney Team. You want flash? Look elsewhere. Want buckets and plays made? BINGO!
Temarcus Blanton coast to coast for the bucket 
Temarcus Blanton block on one end, bucket on the other 

Thon "Play" Maker...
Length, shot blocking ability, and above the rim play are givens of course, but the sophomore 7-footer for The Carlisle School (VA) does more than just that. I enjoyed watching him push the ball on his own, take his man off the dribble a few times, and knock down some three pointers.
Thon Maker with the dunk off the nice assist 

Theo Pinson's play presented by....
Wesleyan Christian's Theo Pinson made the All Tourney team, even putting up 21 pts on 65% shooting from the field against the eventual champion, Oak Hill. No disrespect to Chick-fil-A, but his play there was sponsored by Staples - very easy button-like. With the exception of the Oak Hill game, the UNC commit got to the rack whenever he wanted to and served up dimes with no problem.
Theo Pinson threads the needle to Gilmore for the dunk 
Jalen Johnson with the finish off the Theo Pinson outlet 
Theo Pinson steal and dunk

Jalek Felton's play matched the expectations tied to his last name in the Carolinas
The nephew of the NBA's Raymond Felton, plenty of people already know the freshman's pedigree and potential. Simply put. He got buckets for Mullins HS (SC) in every game (24ppg) despite defenses really being able to key in on and him and Alex Brown who shouldered the load scoring wise for their squad.
Jalek Felton with the and1
Jalek Felton fall-away J 
Jalek Felton w/ the assist 
Chick-fil-A Classic webcast: Mullins  vs Richland Northeast (31 points for Jalek in this one)

Jordan Bruner block party on opening night - stood up to the challenge on the tourney's final day....
The 6'8" sophomore was a bright spot for a shorthanded Spring Valley HS (SC) squad due to PJ Dozier being injured. In addition to having six blocks against WJ Keenan on opening night, he also put up 18 points and 12 rebounds against the 7-footer Thon Maker in the matchup vs. Carlisle.
Jordan Bruner two hand tip dunk

South Pointe - second place finish but first place effort...
Coaches don't aim for moral victories, I know, but I enjoyed watching Southe Pointe HS (SC) play because of how they play. The consensus on Melvin Watson's South Pointe team is that the the squad reflects the same intensity he brought to the table while at Columbia's own USC - en route to career stats that are still in the Gamecocks' records books. The Classic II runner-up is a scrappy team overall, and Tyreece Brice, Anthony Johnson, and Mustafah Love harass opponents on defense while manufacturing buckets along the way.
Anthony Johnson with the tip dunk
Mustafah Love with the cut and second effort for the bucket 
Tyreece Brice with the first step and layup 

Lance Tejada, Jr. can shoot and will shoot, but he does more...
Yes, he's not shy at all about the letting the three fly, but All Tourney team Lance Tejada, Jr. also did a nice job of doing whatever he needed to do to make sure Blanche Ely (FL) came out of each game with a W, including knocking down 13 free throws in the Classic II Championship game vs. South Pointe, who forced him to work in tight spaces and seal the deal himself late in the game and in OT. It wasn't the East Carolina signee's best shooting performance, but South Pointe's defense can do that to ya.
Watch Tejada's matchup against Tookie Brown and Morgan County (GA)
Watch the replay of Blanche Ely (FL) vs. South Pointe (SC) in the Classic II Championship


Check out all of the archived webcasts from the 2013 Chick-fil-A Classic.

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