We are a week away from the largest June varsity boys basketball tournament in the Peach State. The big event that takes place opening weekend features 54 varsity teams from every corner of Georgia, and will make their way to McDonough High School for what promises to be one of the most talked about June events in 2025. Remember to buy your copy of the Georgia Basketball Yearbook heading into the weekend to read about all these great teams and players! The link to purchase your yearbook can be found HERE.
Read below to see a preview of each team participating in this year’s June Jam, and a player or two of note heading into the weekend….
Groups I-L (June 6-7):
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Elbert County – Elbert County is under new leadership now with Chris Owens coming up from New Hampstead where he had success. The Blue Devils are led by 2026 6’0 G AJ Brown. Brown was first team all region this past year, and is an incredibly shifty guard who has a fantastic basketball frame on him. He is one of the better 6’0 & under rebounding guards you will see out there, has a great change of direction to his game, and plays with a solid motor that makes him a legitimate threat to score any time he has the ball in his hands.
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Hart County – The Bulldogs return region player of the year 2027 5’10 PG Kurston Curry who was one of the few underclassmen in the entire state of Georgia to claim such honors. A guy with a fantastic IQ and serious court sense, Curry has some serious lateral movement, scoring ability, and relentless defender. Curry will be one of the top players in the gym this weekend in Groups I-L.
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Mary Persons – The Bulldogs come in after a season where they did not have a single senior on the roster. These baby Bulldogs have grown up though, and with a ton of experience, 2027 5’10 PG Dee Grier will be a guy to turn to. Grier has a strong frame, a great motor, and a bully mentality to go along with it. Grier was all region this past year for Mary Persons and can also really shoot the ball well. Another shooter of note is 2027 5’11 SG Jayden Castlin. A youngster who can hit it from the parking lot, Persons is going to be a matchup problem with their speed, experience, and shooting ability as a team if they are on.
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Miller Grove – The Wolverines bring back second team all region selection 2026 6’4 W/F Jimmy Mattox IV. A strong stretch four man who plays a lot bigger than he presents, Mattox can also really stroke it from the outside, play with his back to the basket or face up, and is a much better passer than the typical player in his position. Mattox is good enough to impact the game in a variety of ways, and he is sneaky good on the offensive glass.
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Model – Coach Jacob Travis and Model lost a lot of players to graduation this past year. But the Blue Devils still have some tools in the toolbox. 2026 6’0 G Bryson Denson returns from a year ago and made second team all region. 2028 6’1 G Chadon Woodley is another name of mention heading into the weekend. The freshman had a solid first year campaign this year, and physically is remarkably gifted given his age. His bully mentality, pace, and ability to think quick on his feet is really unique for a guy his age and could mold into something special.
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Putnam County – The Eagles bring back nearly their whole team from a year ago who went through the entire regular season this past year nearly unscathed. And had they not lost to East Laurens in the Elite 8 in what was quite possibly the best playoff game of the year this year, Putnam very well could have won the state championship. The Eagles begin their revenge tour in McDonough this weekend, and will feature 2026 6’2 G J’Mari Greene who was region player of the year this year. A stronger guard who can get to the paint whenever he wants, Greene can really create. A guy who can finish through contact and score at all three levels efficiently, Greene is a guy you could consider a “scoring point guard” if you had to label him. A guy who commands the ball, he really gets the party started, and one false move by a defender, he’s at the rim for a finish. 2026 6’7 W/F Zay Hargrove returns. An intriguing prospect who can play inside and outside, Hargrove has some really good perimeter skills for a 6’7 guy who can shoot it, drive it, and play with his back to the basket.
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Rabun County – The Wildcats bring back their two best players from this year’s region championship team. 2026 5’10 PG Huey Blalock was the region player of the year, and plays the point position as good as anyone you’re going to see. A guy who already has a division two offer, Blalock’s ball handling and passing are of near Jason Williams like status with his tight space handles, motor, and pin point precision passing. Blalock will be one of the top players to watch overall this weekend regardless of division. 2026 6’7 Hayes Free is also back, and the first team all region stretch guy is with no question another college level prospect who will be in the gym this weekend. A true Swiss army knife, Free can handle it, shoot it, and really does do a little bit of everything. A hard guard, Free also does a nice job of creating and finishing through contact when attacking the rim, and causes a lot of matchup issues for a team.
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Spalding – You can’t talk about the Jaguars without talking about 2027 6’1 G Keelan Day. An explosive and tough guard, Day can really stroke it off the dribble in either direction. He does a fantastic job of creating his own shot, and has a good frame with length to him. A guy who has a high ceiling, Day could be a very good ball player over the next two years to pay attention to. Another youngster of note for Spalding heading into the weekend is 2027 6’4 W/F Willie Hightower. An incredibly gifted athlete, Hightower has some good length, a solid frame, and is a really good rebounder on both ends of the floor. His nose for the ball is really unique for a 6’4 inside guy, and if he continues to expand his game, he will be a guy to watch.
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Stockbridge – The Tigers went through their fair share of injuries this past year, but 2026 6’5 F Cameron Niles was a rock for Stockbridge who they relied on heavily night after night. A true rim protector, Niles is a really unique athlete with a second jump of the highest level. His shot blocking skills are next level, and the power that he plays with is also made of next level stuff. A guy who can guard multiple positions, Niles does a fantastic job of impacting the game in other ways besides just scoring.
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Thomson – 2026 6’3 G Markevion Jones returns for his senior campaign and is a first team all region player from this past season. Jones is also the quarterback for the football team, and his shooting, passing, and playmaking abilities transfer over real nicely. He has a strong frame, is a fantastic rebounder for a guard, and does a nice job of finding little things to do that extend the possession or create offense. 2026 6’4 W/F Jer’Meer Hatcher is another player of note heading into the weekend. A Swiss army knife type guy who can really stroke it, Hatcher has a motor, is physical, and can guard just about any position. His upside is really one of note, and is someone who is worth the look.
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Upson Lee – The Knights graduated a lot of seniors this past season, but Upson-Lee is one of those programs where success doesn’t graduate. Expect the Knights to have some good young talent in the gym this weekend and will compete in the division. 2026 5’9 PG Qua Smith is a relentless defender and an absolute pest on defense. His ability to turn defense into quick offense in transition is very good, and his impact should be noted heading into the weekend. His quick release on his shot and his ability to hit it from the parking lot is also of note, and he will be a very difficult guard for just about anyone in the division this weekend.
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Wilkinson County – 2027 6’2 G/W Myles Cobb will have a coming out party this weekend. Cobb was first team all region this past year, and has barely scratched the surface as to how good he can be. A guy with good hands and good length, Cobb displays incredible athleticism already and with the time he has remaining could be molded into a really special player.
