Jalen Brantley and Nerlens Noel combined to score 20 first half points while leading BABC to a 33-30 halftime lead over Memphis YOMCA at the 2011 Nike Peach Jam championship game. BABC has done a great job at controlling tempo opting to slow the pace with a trapping full court press into a zone with Noel defending the basket.
When Memphis has been able to speed the game up they have been successful. Jarnell Stokes has 11 points at the half scoring on a variety of ways with some tough inside moves. Rivals ranks Stokes in it's top 10 overall and the 6-foot-7 power forward has received a handful of offers from schools such as UConn, Florida, and Memphis among others. The going hasn't been easy for Southwest Dekalb's Shaq Goodwin who has four points and two personal fouls in the first half.
Both Stokes and Goodwin have had a difficult time navigating Noel's length in the first half. Perhaps even more surprising about Noel's game is the quick first step that he has displayed in going left to score at the basket. He has also displayed some quick hands coming up with a couple of steals in the first half.