It feels weird walking into South Garner High School to watch Garner play. Garner High School has a certain feel to it that just isn't quite translated to the South Garner location, while Garner is being renovated.
Garner is an electric team. Their top seven are all seniors, they have been playing together for a while. They move the ball great, play great suffocating team defense and they are all long and incredibly explosive.
Garner Vs. Apex is always a good atmosphere. No love lost between the two teams, there were multiple times that the referees had to stop the game as players got face to face. The coaches even had to be talked to as they were jawing back and forth. It was heated and a good atmosphere.
This game was close until the 4th quarter. Garner led the entire way, but Apex kept the game within 5-10 making runs. All in all, it was a fun game.
Final Score
Garner – 81
Apex – 58
Let's look at the game standouts…
Garner
6'5' unsigned senior Jarren Ellerbe
Ellerbe is a ridiculously explosive player, an absolute highlight reel waiting to happen. When he is consistently able to get downhill, in transition, where he is a load to handle. Last night he finished with 30 points on an array of dunks and high-flying aerial dunks.
6'3' unsigned senior Marque Maultsby
Maultsby has a way to dominate a game from the point guard position. He has elite speed and is a high to elite level on the ball defender. He has great length and really navigates traffic at a high level with great control and vision. Maultsby, who carries a 3.9 GPA and a 1200 SAT recently picked up his first D1 offer from Army. College of Charleston was in last night to watch, while Elon, Eastern Illinois, Northern Kentucky, Hampton, New Hampshire and others have all recently reached out. Yes, he is good enough for all those levels.
Apex
6'7' 2019 Jaylon Gibson
Each time out it seems Gibson gets better. He is slender, very long and a good athlete with good timing. In earlier viewings, Gibson's consistency was in questions, mostly due to strength and confidence. Well, that is not an issue he seems to have any more. He went up for numerous dunks over people, he finished with numerous blocked shots and rebounded well in traffic. He has firmly cemented himself as a player to watch as he progresses, he has some nice natural tools.