2025 Swish Scouting Battle On The Hill Grand Finale Recap

July 5, 2025 by Matt Heuser

 The final weekend of the June High School live period for high school teams went out with a bang!  There were 30 teams looking to get one last run in at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia where there were three divisions of great talent to go around.  There were some familiar faces who have had stellar June’s and put themselves on the map, and there were some new faces who showed off their talents and skills who cracked the list from the weekend and moved up the rankings.  To see who did well and who brought home the title, read below to see how the final weekend of the Georgia live June period went:

Tournament Recap - 

Collins Hill - The host Eagles went 3-1 on the final weekend and to no surprise, 2026 5’10 PG Carter Oglesby played well.  Oglesby has put together a really good June and has emerged as a leader for the Eagles who are under new leadership and graduated a ton of seniors.  A floor general, Oglesby runs the team efficiently well, sets the tone for them on defense, and does a nice job of using his dribble as a pass efficiently to create opportunities and keep the offense on schedule.  2026 6’4 Kal’El Riley put out a strong finish to the summer.  A taller perimeter guy, the long wing played really well in the four game set and hit some really tough outside shots as well in the process.  Riley showed that he could play hard and compete against some teams that have a reputation of playing very physical, but it didn’t phase him at all and he rose to the occasion.  He was one of the better rebounders for the Eagles and will be called upon to step up on both ends this season for Collins Hill as they look for their identity.  Collins Hill plays in Region 6A-8 where Buford will be the favorite, but expect the Eagles to challenge for a top spot this year and berth in the state tournament.

Columbia - The Eagles were arguably the best team I saw all summer.  They won the championship in two of the four events put on by Swish Scouting they played in, and lost in the championship in the other two.  2026 6’2 PG Princeton King stepped up big in the championship game when the Eagles were down to Griffin and needed a spark.  King has put together a really consistent June at a high level.  A bigger framed PG with a quick first step, King also displays great footwork and use of his body to get around defenders and create plays.  He made a killing in the paint offensively over the weekend, and defensively turned defense into offense regularly it seemed.  2026 6’2 CG Carlin Jacobs has been one of my favorite players this summer.  I didn’t see anyone all summer who is as sneaky as a defender as Jacobs is.  A guy who has very quick and active hands, Jacobs was a pest all summer defensively finding ways to create turnovers, but more impressively, easy baskets.  Jacobs sees the floor really well, can think quickly on his feet, and plays above the rim with a good level of physicality that translates well over to the next level.  A Swiss army knife given his strength and good size, Jacobs showed he can guard almost any position.  2026 6’7 W/F Zayd Muhammed put on his best shooting display this weekend.  Muhammad all summer has been a good three point shooter, but this weekend specifically was the first time I saw him consistently good from all thirds of the floor and from all angles.  He runs the floor in transition to set up for his shot as well as anybody, but his ability to pull up quickly at 6’7 and his high release form that makes him difficult to contest is really impressive.  Not only is he a 6’7 shooter, but Muhammed is also a really good rebounder and has some real good hands around the rim too.  Another guy colleges should be looking into.  2026 6’9 Amos Bouie Tumer played on Friday and instantly passed the eyeball test.  In a class that has little size in Georgia, Tumer is going to turn heads this season with the Eagles as a developing big man who has the height, size, and athleticism to play at the next level somewhere as he continues to develop his game.  2026 6’3 G Deven Nelson also played well on Friday in the two games he was there.  Nelson has a strong body, plays with good physicality, power, and explosiveness.  A guard who already has over 1,000 points and college coach attention, there’s a lot of upside to this guy’s game.  Columbia plays in region 2A-6 where they will be the favorites going in this year, but right now I have them as the number one ranked team in 2A public as well going into the school year.

Dodge County - The Dodge County Indians had the longest drive probably to the tournament, but they came within a few baskets away of playing for the championship on Saturday.  2026 6’5 W/F Kyler Johnson was better than advertised.  Hands down, the best jumper I saw all summer, Johnson was everywhere on both ends causing fits, making plays, and impacting the game in a variety of ways.  I can’t recall too many 6’5 guys I’ve seen in 21 years of covering high school basketball who can jump as high as this guy can, and get up on a backboard.  Johnson is very efficient in scoring at the rim, literally jumps over guys to dunk the ball on the attack, and does a nice job of drawing contact and getting to the free throw line where he was over 70% on free throws on the weekend.  He can guard just about any position defensively, and needless to say, the dude was swatting shots left and right all weekend.  2027 5’10 PG Jeremiah Burns was impressive as well for Dodge County.  A first team all region guy as a sophomore, Burns plays with a ton of energy, is powerful with the ball, and protects the ball as well as any point guard I saw this weekend.  Nobody could take it from him, and any pressure he saw led him to power his way through the defense and make a play at the rim typically.  A guy who seemed to be in the mix every time down the court on a play, Burns has a ton to like for a guy who has two years left.   Dodge County plays in Region 1A-2 where Southwest Macon will be the favorite to repeat, but Dodge County will be the pick for runner up going in, and don’t be surprised if they give SW Macon all they can handle or more when they square off.

Drew Charter - 2026 6’7 W/F Vincent Kray was the surprise star of the weekend.  Kray was turning heads all weekend with his remarkable skill set as a 6’7 point-forward style of play.  He dropped 30 of his team’s 39 points in the last second loss to Woodstock on Sunday, averaged 24 a game on the weekend, and quite frankly, nobody in their four games was able to slow the guy down at all, and they played four quality opponents.  Kray can stroke it from the outside, plays hard the entire time he’s out there, and can handle the ball making good decisions every time he touches it.  He was easily one of the top players from the weekend, and a number of division one programs have already reached out to me about him after seeing/hearing what happened at Collins Hill this past weekend when he exploded.  I don’t get parents of other teams too often who come and grab my attention from another game. I may be watching to see another player play, but Kray was one of those guys.  Drew Charter also plays in the gauntlet of a region in 2A-6 where Columbia will be the favorite, but if Kray is having one of those nights, Drew Charter showed this weekend they can hang with anyone.

Duluth - The Wildcats put up a strong 3-1 record on the weekend and 2026 6’1 SG D’Quill Osbey Jr. was one of the best shooters from the weekend.  Osbey hit multiple threes in all four games for Duluth and quickly emerged as a player of note from the weekend.  A quick guard with a good feel for the game, Osbey showed that he could knock down perimeter shots in a variety of ways efficiently either off the catch or dribble, in the half court or in transition, and from all angles.  A good passer as well, Osbey offers a lot to like for a school at the next level somewhere.  2027 6’8 PF Randall Kellum was one of the better inside guys from the weekend.  A big framed post player, Kellum does a nice job of using his size to bully his defenders and finish strong in the paint.  He showed some good hands catching the ball and getting putbacks, but he also showed some solid footwork as well with some nice drop step moves inside that punished defenders.  A guy who has two years left, Kellum is going to be a next level guy somewhere on the college basketball ladder, but how high he climbs is yet to be determined over the next two years.  2029 6’3 CG Jeremiah Anderson was probably the best incoming freshman from the weekend.  A bigger perimeter guy with some notable length, Anderson plays with a ton of poise for a 14 year old at the varsity level, and nothing seemed to rattle him at all.  He has a huge first step that covers a lot of ground, uses his wingspan well defensively to play big, causing steals and deflections, and stretches out at the rim to finish as well.  A guy who’s only going to keep getting better and better.  Duluth plays in an incredibly difficult Region 6A-7 that will be favored by Berkmar going in, but Norcross, Peachtree Ridge, and typically Meadowcreek field really competitive teams for this coming season.  Duluth has the talent and really good coaching to challenge though in the region, and expect the Wildcats to be in the mix and conversation at the end of the season.

East Coweta - Coach Royal Maxwell suffered a ton of graduation losses from this past year’s sweet 16 run with four seniors going on to play college basketball somewhere, impressive.  But the cupboard is not bare over at East Coweta as they went 2-2 on the weekend, and 2026 6’0 SG Harper Rife showed why he’s considered one of the top three point shooters in all of Georgia.  Rife hit five threes in the first half alone against a very good Columbia team that eventually had to face guard him in the second half where he still hit shots.  Rife holds a division two offer to Columbus State already, but the way he can shoot the ball and handle it when defenses over pursue is impressive enough that even in today’s portal era, he might be good enough to end up on a division one roster given what he can do with the basketball.  2027 6’8 F David Askew immediately passed the eyeball test and was very good in the paint.  A big man who has gotten even bigger and stronger over the past year, Askew continues to exponentially grow his game and be even more and more impactful on the game.  He has good footwork, a great rip move with the ball over his shoulders, and has a real notable wingspan that led to some highlight reel type shot blocking displays that was really well timed, but really powerful as well.  Askew has two years left, and in a program that has developed some real notable big guys, it’s best to buy stock now on Askew.  East Coweta plays in Region 6A-2 that doesn’t really seem to have a clear favorite at the moment going into the season, but expect Maxwell’s crew to easily be in the mix for a state tournament spot and challenge for the region title.

Eastside Covington - 2027 6’5 F Christian Gatewood has put together a really impressive June and caught the eyes of college coaches who have seen him play.  Gatewood is a strong inside guy with good hands who can play above the rim, defend well on the interior and perimeter, and has a good arsenal of moves inside that are done with some of the highest levels of footwork.  Gatewood has drastically raised his stock this offseason and the Eagles success this summer is tied to his impact he has on the game in so many ways.  2026 6’0 PG Josiah Johnson also put together a solid June.  Johnson is one of the better on ball defenders I saw all of June, and has very quick hands on both ends of the floor, was a very good passer, and ran the point efficiently very well.  Johnson has great lateral movement, a good set of anticipation skills, and uses his teammates very well to keep the offense flowing.  Eastside plays in Region 4A-8 that will be favored by North Oconee, but expect Eastside to challenge the Titans this year and push them over the course of the season.

Elbert County - The Blue Devils have a lot to be excited about this coming season.  Chris Owens is now in charge of protecting “The Inferno” up in Elbert County, and 2026 6’3 G AJ Brown is exciting as they come to watch.  Brown was all region this past year, and will be a strong candidate this year for region player of the year.  Brown is notably fantastic at using his length where he can use his fingers as well as anyone to control the ball as he stretches out towards the rim to finger roll the ball to the rim around and over defenders.  His ability to get to the middle third using his athleticism, long stride, and explosive first step is very impressive, and Brown is also a good perimeter shooter.  Easily a next level guy somewhere, Brown does so many things that translate well to the next level, he’s arguably one of the more overlooked guys I saw this summer in 2026.  2026 6’0 PG Jordan Morrison is just the right complementary player to play alongside Brown that Elbert County needs that makes them one of the better backcourts you’ll see this year in 1A Georgia.  Morrison plays with a fantastic motor, his energy impacts the game, and has a real knack for turning defense into offense quickly with his anticipation skills and quick hands.  Morrison is definitely better than some of the players I’ve seen the past few years here in Georgia who have ended up somewhere playing college ball, which instantly makes him a guy of note for 2026 in my opinion.  Elbert County plays in Region 1A-8 where the title will arguably come down to them or Rabun County who will be loaded as well with talent this year.

Flowery Branch - The Falcons are a small cast, but they play with a great level of physicality, turn it up on defense, and have a number of guys who can really shoot the ball well from the outside if you don’t close out.  2027 6’0 G Brayden Lee continued to impress.  Lee has a real knack for scoring the ball as he scored from all three levels, plays really well off of two feet, and has a unique ability for a smaller guard to finish around defenders who are notably bigger than him.  Lee has a high IQ as well that leads to good defensive plays, good playmaking skills, and creates extra opportunities for himself in the process where it seems like there’s nothing there at times.  2026 5’9 PG Jack Huey lit it up from the outside.  Huey hit a number of key threes at times for the Falcons to keep them in games.  In the Saturday night tilt with Woodstock, Huey hit a number of threes from the top of the key area where he seems to be as automatic as they come to hang in the game.  Huey has a good motor, a strong base, and some really tight handles that allow him to get past defenders and get a piece of the paint.  Flowery Branch plays in Region 4A-8 as well and will have to find ways to beat North Oconee, Eastside, and Cedar Shoals to hang around in the state tournament conversations.

Griffin - The Bears were one of my favorite teams I saw this summer.  Playing Griffin is like 32 minutes of having a root canal the way they get at you on defense.  They are deep, physical, and just wear you down defensively until you don’t have much left in the tank.  2026 6’3 PG Demari Bailey runs the team as well as any point guard I saw on the weekend.  Bailey has great length, plays physical, and has shown all summer he can score at all three levels efficiently.  He holds an offer to Edward Waters already, and several other colleges have made note of Bailey this summer given his skills and talents.  A next level guy who doesn’t get phased by pressure, Bailey is a producer that impacts the game in a variety of ways.  2026 6’6 G/W Bubba Sullivan is another Bear who has caught college coaches eyes this summer.  Sullivan is a tall, long, athletic shooter who can really knock it down from the outside.  Not only can he shoot it well, but this guy gets up on the rim quickly off the dribble and instantly passes the eyeball test.  One of the better under the radar guys out there, Sullivan caught my eyes last summer as a guy who could be really good if he grew his game, and not only has he grown his game, but he continues to grow, period.  He’s sprouted about two inches in the past year which is why he has such good perimeter skills to go with all that length.  2026 6’0 CG Jordan Mays stuck out for the Bears.  Mays is as tough as you will find out of the gritty high school guards 6’0 and under, but his defense is top notch.  In an era of college basketball where you’re as good as the level you can defend, Mays jumps out right away as a guy who is worth tracking and seeing how his season progresses this year.  Griffin also has 2028 6’5 F King Fuller who plays with a ton of power and is years ahead of the curve in strength and inside presence for a youngster.  One of the top tight end prospects in all of Georgia for 2028, Fuller is fielding interest already from power five football programs.  Griffin plays in Region 4A-3 where they and Jonesboro will be the top two teams in the region this year and should make for some intriguing matchups this season.

Lakeside, Augusta - The famous Brandon Dotson takes over at the helm for Lakeside this year, and expects Lakeside to look very different very quickly.  Dotson is a well respected coach out of the Augusta area that players tend to gravitate towards.  2027 6’2 G Jaden Mincey was a bright spot for the Panthers who was extremely shifty.  Mincey can turn on a dime with the ball, explosive, and was a brute defensively.  Mincey is one of those Swiss army knife type guys who can do a little of everything, and at 6’2 does a lot of things well on both ends.  Lakeside plays in Region 5A-1 that will be favored by Bradwell Institute and Statesboro.  The defending champs will need to regroup and learn new roles and schemes to sneak into the state tournament.

Lithia Springs - The Lions went 1-3 on the weekend but were competitive.  2026 6’8 F Uriah Scott continues to impress.  The tall and long lefty is pretty solid inside on both ends of the floor.  Defensively he alters a ton of shots in the paint, rebounds very well outside his area, and protects the rim well.  Offensively he can shoot it a little bit, finishes well inside at the rim, and hits his free throws where he gets there often to the line.  Lithia Springs plays in Region 5A-5 where they will have an uphill battle to sneak into the top four and make the state tournament.

Midtown - The Knights were led by 2026 6’3 G/W Darrion Hadley who played efficiently well all four games for Midtown.  Hadley caught my attention last year and was probably one of the bigger snubs for all region honors out there.  A strong lefty who can score at all three levels, you’ll have to look pretty hard to find a lefty in 2026 Georgia who is as good as Hadley is at attacking to his weak hand (right) and finishing off of two feet strong at the rim.  He gives his body up as good as anyone where he gives a hit as well as he takes one, and gets to the free throw line a ton where he is a good shooter.  There is no doubt that Hadley is a next level guy, and Hadley will be a player of note this year in 2026 Georgia.  2026 6’0 PG Trent Bockman had a strong showing on Friday.  Bockman is a quick and crafty guard who is really good at getting to the paint where he is good at creating for himself.  He has a quick and low crossover move that was really difficult to stay in front of that caused fits for even the likes of Columbia on Saturday where the Knights held the lead in the second half.  Midtown plays in the gauntlet of a region in 4A-4 where Pace Academy, Midtown, and Maynard Jackson all play and will easily compete for a top four spot, but finishing at the top will be hard for anyone in this region this year.

Mill Creek - The Hawks lost a lot of talent from last year’s team to graduation, but then found out that reigning region player of the year 2026 6’7 Braxton Rembert committed to Wake Forest for football for college and that is a blow for any program.  2027 5’8 PG Christopher Mitchell was a star for the Hawks who went 2-2 on the weekend.  A smaller guard, Mitchell plays a lot bigger than his 5’8 stature presents, and in the open court causes a lot of disruption with his sound speed, quick hands, and ability to think quickly on the fly.  When the game speeds up, and the pace picks up, Mitchell shines and plays at another gear.  2026 6’8 F Landon Williams has improved and gotten bigger and stronger.  Williams has some notable size to him, and in a class that doesn’t have a lot of size, Williams instantly pops onto the scene and radar for next level programs looking for size.  Williams uses his size well inside bullying opponents, rebounds well, and clears the ball quickly off of the rebound.  Mill Creek plays in Region 6A-8 where Buford will be a heavy favorite to win, but with so many teams starting over, the Hawks are still a team of note as they are extremely well coached and have some size with quick guards to be in contention.

Miller Grove - The Wolverines got some good minutes again from 2027 6’5 F Dominion Bunch who has really put together a nice June.  A big man with some good size, Bunch has a solid frame, good strength, and has a nose for the ball on the boards on both ends where he can time his jumps to snatch a board or get a putback dunk even.  Miller Grove plays in Region 2A-6 where Columbia will be the favorite to win.

Mt. Paran Christian - The Eagles only played in two games in the weekend tournament, so I didn’t get a full look at them like I do everyone else typically, but they did go 2-0 on Friday and saw some good things.  2027 6’0 G JT Scott was really solid in both games.  Scott plays with a ton of energy, has a quick release, and a lightning quick first step.  His ability to shoot past defenders and create for himself is really notable, and when you think about the fact he’s a smaller guard doing what he does against longer defenders is even more intriguing.  Scott’s high motor, athleticism, and ability to think quickly is next level stuff that with two years remaining is worth paying attention to.  2028 6’2 G Shane Goins showed glimpses.  A youngster with a long way to go still, Goins did show that he could get to the paint at will at times, used his length well to not only finish, but did a nice job using his length to create passing windows where he found open teammates often for shot or attack opportunities.  A youngster with some bounce and can get up on the rim quickly, Goins does check some boxes already and is a guy of note in the 2028 class moving forward as he continues to polish and grow.  2029 6’0 G Peyton Easley was one of the top incoming freshmen in the building all weekend.  A high IQ perimeter guy who has some real notable skills, Easley showed off his shooting skills in game two on Friday where he canned four threes from outside enroute to a 21 point performance in the narrow victory over West Hall.  Easley does a nice job of getting his feet set quickly as the ball is arriving in order to get his shot off quickly before the defense can quickly close out.  He plays with some really good poise for an incoming freshman yet to play in a varsity basketball game, and when he shoots the ball, it looks like it’s going in every time.  A name to circle and track on your 2029 early watch list.  MPC plays in the infamous Region 1A-D1-5 that is home to the Atlanta metropolitan private school league that features the likes of Walker School, Paideia, St. Francis, Mt. Bethel, and more.  The Eagles are going to be very young in a league full of upperclassmen and experience.

New Manchester - This Jaguars team is exciting to watch.  They play fast, they play hard, and the entire team is invested in the game from tipoff to horn.  Chris Hollomon has really built up the Jaguars in a short amount of time and 2027 6’3 G Adrian Guilford was really good all weekend.  Guilford is remarkably strong and big framed for a perimeter guy, and is very good defensively where he bullies weaker opponents, has great lateral movement, and is a very good communicator with his teammates.  Offensively he’s a very difficult guard.  He’s got a notable inside-outside game, can shoot the ball at a high clip, and plays notably well off of two feet.  His explosiveness immediately jumps out at you though and is going to be a highly sought after guy in 2027.  2026 6’2 Touren Thurston is another Jaguar who’s really improved and caught attention.  Thurston has a good frame to him at 6’2, plays above the rim, and has a good motor.  He does a lot of things that translate well to the next level given his ability to handle the ball, defend, and guard multiple positions.  Thurston was one of my guys from the weekend I liked who I had never seen before in person.  New Manchester plays in Region 5A-5 where Alexander will be heavily favored to win, but the Jaguars get after you and won’t back down to anyone after what I saw this weekend and will be a strong contender.

North Atlanta - The Warriors went 2-2 on the weekend and had a pair of guards that were really tough that caused a lot of fits over the two day stretch.  2027 6’1 PG Jace Edwards was really electric on both ends of the floor.  A guy with some serious handles and craftiness, Edwards went four games where he scored double figures, had very few, if any, turnovers, and had some remarkable passes on display to open teammates because his presence with the ball was so strong that opposing defenders respected the heck out of his abilities.  Edwards plays with a ton of moxie, has some notable leaping abilities, and his quick hands defensively are a nightmare to deal with in the open court in one-on-one situations.  A prospect who plays a lot bigger than his 6’1 physique presents, Edwards is a player to circle on your 2027 list.  2027 6’4 G/W Ben Howery stuck out as well over the course of the weekend.  Howery has some good perimeter skills, but at 6’4, he’s a heck of a rebounder too, who battles inside with guys much bigger than him with little issues.  He explodes out of the gates in transition, is strong, and hit some really difficult shots against some good defense that you had to admire.  North Atlanta doesn’t have enormous size, but their speed, above average length because they aren’t small at all, and good decision making is enough to cause some problems this year in season.  The Warriors play in Region 6A-6 where Lambert will be the favorite on paper, but North Forsyth, Forsyth Central, and North Atlanta all have college level players who will compete for a top four spot in the state tournament.

Osborne - The Cardinals went 2-2 on the weekend, and 2027 6’1 PG D’Qori Abanikanda continued to play well.  A strong guard with a good physique, Abanikanda plays with a lot of poise, power, and presence for Osborne to the point that the Cardinals right now go how he goes.  When he is on the floor they’re an entirely different team, and his ability to dictate traffic, run the offense, and guard in the full court changes their team makeup entirely.  2027 6’5 G/W Nate Winters was really good off the dribble for a tall youngster.  Winters has a long wingspan that sticks out immediately, and he has some good skills that allow him to be efficient off the dribble getting to the middle third where he likes to pull up for jumpers.  While he is a very good mid-range jump shooter, Winters is very good attacking the baseline too where he really does a nice job stretching out at the rim for a dunk attempt often if he sees an opportunity.  Osborne plays in Region 6A-3 where they will have to knock off the likes of McEachern, Pebblebrook, Hillgrove, and Campbell if they are going to find their way into the top four and state tournament.

Redan - 2029 6’1 SG Amare Medhin was as good as advertised.  Medhin can hit it from the parking lot, and it doesn’t matter which direction he is dribbling in.  He has a quick release, some serious range, and rarely misses two shots in a row.  Medhin has some good length for a younger and smaller guard, and has an IQ that is off the charts in terms of understanding how to move without the ball, shot selection, and really good defensively in terms of being in the right spot.  A youngster who’s going to be really good I think by the time his career is over, we are going to get four years of Amare Medhin (hopefully) here in Georgia and watch him shoot the cover off the ball each night.  There’s a lot to be excited about with him.  2026 6’5 Tae Beavers was a post player of note.  A big man with a big frame, Beavers is really good on the boards.  He gets a lot of offensive rebounds, is really good at pinning opponents under the rim to get those offensive rebounds, and was a good shooter from the foul line where he found himself a lot on those putback attempts.  A guy who doesn’t have to get touches to feel good about his role, Beavers does the runt work for Redan and does it well.  Redan plays in Region 2A-6 where they will have to find ways to beat Columbia, South Atlanta, Salem, and Drew Charter to get into the state tournament.

Salem - The Seminoles went 3-1 on the weekend with their lone loss coming to Therrell to open up the weekend.  Denzel McDaniel has a very young team with no seniors for this year, but 2028 6’5 W Anwar Molette has grown up this summer and has vaulted up the rankings in the class of 2028 Georgia.  Molette has been a matchup problem in pretty much every game I’ve seen Salem play this summer given his length, strength, and skills.  A true wing and slasher that can shoot threes well, this 2028 star checks a lot of boxes for a college coach and he still has three years left.  Physically very mature, skill sets ahead of the curve, Molette is going to be a highly sought after prospect in the 2028 class.  2027 6’4 G Nathaniel Edwards was impressive this weekend as well.  A perimeter guy with some notable shooting abilities, Edwards has a good versatile game that he can impact the game with in a variety of ways.  His length caused a lot of problems this weekend, and did a nice job getting out in transition where he created some nice scoring opportunities for himself and for teammates when the numbers were there to attack out of the break.  With two years remaining, Edwards could bloom into a guy of note in 2027.  Salem also plays in Region 2A-6 where it will be a chase to take down Columbia this season, but the Seminoles came out of nowhere last year and upset the region, taking home the title.

Social Circle - 2027 6’3 G/W Le’Son Nelson was a bright spot for Social Circle this weekend.  While they did go 1-3 on the weekend, they were competitive throughout the event and Nelson is another guy who has a strong frame that you don’t see in perimeter guys too often anymore that causes a matchup issue oftentimes.  Nelson is strong, has a scorer’s mentality, and can hit some really difficult shots at times that when he shoots it, looks as if he’s shot it a million times.  Nelson is a solid defender who gets physical on and off the ball doing a nice job making it very difficult to make cuts, attack the basket, and get open even at times.  Social Circle plays in Region 1A-D1-4 where they will have an uphill battle to beat the likes of Greenforest, Putnam County, SW Atlanta Christian, and Jasper County.  But if Nelson is on, they are capable of hanging with any of these teams.

Southwest Atlanta Christian - The Warriors are a very young team, but there’s a lot to like about these youngsters who hung with every team they played this weekend.  A tough, physical, and above the rim squad with great athleticism, 2027 6’6 Chase Wiggins is a name to get yourself familiar with right now.  An above the rim brute, Wiggins was arguably the best shot blocker from the weekend, and physically could hang with anyone.  He runs the floor exceptionally well for a big guy, gets up on the rim with explosiveness, and is going to be a hot commodity in the 2027 class.  2026 6’6 F Myles O’Neal showed really good growth in the last year.  O’Neal is another big man with a solid frame that plays with some good power inside.  But O’Neal has great body control, plays through contact, and was arguably at the foul line more than any other player on the entire weekend.  O’Neal is a big man in 2026 that is as good or better than most guys his position at getting to the line and getting to the rim facing up with the ball on the blocks.  2027 6’3 PG Jabari Burleson played well for the Warriors.  Bureson is a taller guard who has some explosiveness himself and gets above the rim quickly in transition.  A good passer as well, Burleson is a tough matchup with his point guard skills and length.  2027 6’0 G Talyn Harris also turned some heads on the weekend with his above the rim playmaking skills for a smaller guard showing off all that athleticism at times.  A strong and tough smaller guard, Harris is worth keeping an eye on.  The Warriors play in the loaded Region 1A-D1-4 where they will battle the likes of Putnam County, Greenforest, Jasper County, and Towers for the region title.  It will be one of the more exciting region races to watch in 1A this year.

Southwest Dekalb - The Panthers went 5-0 on the weekend and ran away with the title on Sunday when they quickly pulled away from Woodstock without a challenge.  2026 5’11 PG Thomas Glanton III has had arguably one of the best June periods of anyone I saw this summer.  Glanton has taken charge of the Panthers squad and his IQ goes unrivaled by anyone.  A true coach on the court, this guy is playing chess when everyone else is playing checkers, and his skills, strength and competitiveness are high level stuff that it’s no wonder why colleges are calling and asking about him just about as often as any other kid in Georgia I get asked about.  Glanton can shoot it at a high clip, thinks one pass ahead better than anyone, and relentlessly defends anybody who tries to challenge him.  Glanton will be one of the bigger stock raisers for 2026 when I redo my rankings this month.  2026 6’5 Aaron Burks was a matchup problem all weekend.  In a grouping that didn’t have any major size, Burks crushed anyone he went up against, and just about every team they played had a guy his size.  Burks has high level athleticism, high level leaping ability, and is really good on the boards on both ends.  Burks is another next level guy for the Panthers.  2027 6’1 G Jackson Ushery was probably the star though of the championship game.  A guy who gets after it, Ushery is very polished skill wise and can stroke it from all angles on the floor.  Ushery’s aggressiveness and willingness to get on the floor and make a play is extremely intriguing and very few players I saw in June get after it on the defensive end in the fashion that Ushery does.  Southwest Dekalb plays in Region 4A-5 where the highly anticipated matchup with Pius looms as both will arguably be top five this year in 4A.

Stone Mountain - The Pirates are extremely young this year after losing some key pieces to graduation.  They will need some time to navigate the course and find their new roles.  The Pirates play in Region 3A-5 where Cedar Grove will be a heavy favorite to win, but Douglass and Luella will have something to say as well.

Therrell - This ain’t your grand daddies Therrell Panthers squad.  These guys are tough, fearless, and compete their Panther tails off.  Tay Sorrell has turned the Therrell Panthers program around in a short amount of time, and 2027 6’6 F Morion McWhorter was a star all weekend.  The big man capped off his June with a bang performance as they needed overtime to take down Dodge County in the semifinal, and then held off Elbert County in the title game.  McWhorter impacts the game in a ton of ways, and it’s not just his size.  He showed his ability to score with both hands inside, block shots, rebound well outside his area, and notably showed off his passing skills even a few times where he threw a few alley-oops to teammates.  McWhorter is going to only get better with time, and is still scratching the surface as to how good he could really be.  He was active in the press in the open court, played off two feet, and guarded the pick & roll quite well.  2026 6’0 PG Gordon Davis has had an impressive June.  Davis is very strong, can score from all three levels efficiently, and is very explosive with the ball.  Davis gets above the rim in a hurry, guards anybody on the perimeter with quick hands, fantastic lateral movement, and good anticipation skills.  Davis has emerged as a player of note in the 2026 class and should be a highly sought after guard in the class.  Therrell plays in Region 2A-5 where they will have to deal with Holy Innocents’ & Lovett in the regular season, but in the post season should be a state tournament caliber team that could make a run.

Thomas County Central - 2026 6’3 SG Quincy Anderson was really good for TCC.  A sharp shooter with a strong frame, Anderson has a quick release, is light on his feet, and physically passes the eyeball test immediately.  Anderson is a guy who I had never seen in person, only on film, but was better in person than expected and there is a lot to like about this guy who has a grown man’s body with some really good shooting skills.  2026 6’4 W/F Colby Mullinax has grown his game and grown his body in the last year since I saw TCC last in person.  Mullinax is a stretch guy who can really shoot it, has some really notable skills, and plays a lot bigger than he really is.  His footwork is next level, has a high IQ, and clearly is a student of the game in all phases.  Mullinax is going to be another guy who makes a college program happy somewhere at the next level.  TCC plays in Region 5A-2 where Houston County will be the clear favorite, but these Yellow Jackets once they get their football guys back are going to be a team right up there in contention in the region.

Tucker - Tucker is going to be a very young team this year, but you have to like 2028 6’1 G Sterling Pritchett.  A skilled youngster, Pritchett passes the eyeball test immediately, plays with a ton of moxie, and hits some really tough shots.  A three level scorer, Pritchett is another young player to circle on your 2028 list who everyone will be talking about in a few years.  Skills for days, Pritchess can score it, defend it, and pass it.  2029 5’11 PG Van Wilder is an incoming freshman of note who’s a viral sensation already for his age.  Wilder is another young Tiger who is very skilled, can shoot the cover off the ball, and plays with a ton of moxie as well.  Tucker may take their licks being a young team this year, but when these Tiger cubs grow up, look out, they’re going to have the talent and varsity experience to be right back to where they were.  Tucker plays in Region 4A-5 where they will need to beat Pius, Marist, SW Dekalb, and North Springs to find their way into the state tournament.

West Hall - West Hall’s 2026 6’0 SG Troy Smith was really impressive.  Arguably, nobody had to do more with less around them than Smith did, but his sharp shooting skills from the outside were next level, and his quick release, range, and ability to get himself open for shots every time down the floor was really admirable.  He has a strong frame, good athleticism, and showed that he could defend well in the half court as well keeping guys in front of him, mirroring the ball well, and bothered the ball well.  West Hall is going to have a difficult time in Region 3A-8 with the likes of Cherokee Bluff, East Hall, and Jefferson, but Troy Smith is good enough in that region to get hot and turn some heads.

Woodstock - 2028 6’0 Jahmar Maurice was one of the top players in the gym all weekend.  The youngster who is highly ranked in 2028 Georgia by every scouting service out there, Maurice played like a division one player all weekend.  Even in the championship game when SW Dekalb face guarded him, he still found the ball and found himself at the foul line regularly where he still had double figures.  He had a play on Sunday where he stole the ball in the press, pulled up for a three immediately, had a guy that fouled him by hacking his shooting arm, and he still made it and finished off the four point play.  High level stuff right there.  A sharp shot, a high IQ, and a floor general, Maurice is on track to be a division one player somewhere at the next level.  2026 6’0 SG Camden Smith had some games where he was on fire.  Smith has moments where he can hit it from the parking lot in a way where it looks effortless like he’s throwing it in the ocean.  He has a strong base to his attack, is aggressive, and is a really nice complementary piece to Maurice making Woodstock a very difficult guard.  If Smith is on, teams will be in for a long night trying to solve the riddle of keeping Maurice in check and Smith from shooting.  Woodstock plays in Region 5A-6 where Riverwood will be the favorite, but Maurice will be the best player in the region, and he’s only going to be a sophomore.

Please See My All-Showcase Teams below based on performance during the day:

Showcase MVP: Thomas Glanton III (2026) 5’11 PG - Southwest Dekalb HS

FIRST TEAM:

Demari Bailey - 6’3 PG - (2026) Griffin HS

Adrian Guilford - 6’3 CG - (2027) New Manchester HS

Carlin Jacobs - 6’2 CG - (2026) Columbia HS

Princeton King - 6’2 PG - (2026) Columbia HS

Vincent Kray - 6’7 W/F - (2026) Drew Charter HS

Jahmar Maurice - 6’0 PG - (2028) Woodstock HS

Harper Rife - 6’0 SG - (2026) East Coweta HS

Bubba Sullivan - 6’6 W/F - (2026) Griffin HS

SECOND TEAM:

AJ Brown (2026) 6’3 CG - Elbert County HS

Gordon Davis (2026) 6’0 PG - Therrell HS

Jace Edwards (2027) 6’1 PG - North Atlanta HS

Darrion Hadley (2026) 6’3 CG - Midtown HS

Kyler Johnson (2026) 6’5 W/F - Dodge County HS

Morion McWhorter (2027) 6’6 F - Therrell HS

Deven Nelson (2026) 6’3 CG - Columbia HS

Jackson Ushery (2027) 6’1 CG - SW Dekalb HS

THIRD TEAM:

David Askew (2027) 6’7 PF - East Coweta HS

Amos Bouie Tumer (2026) 6’10 C - Columbia HS

Christian Gatewood (2027) 6’5 F - Eastside HS

Randall Kellum (2027) 6’8 PF - Duluth HS

Anwar Molette (2028) 6’5 W/F - Salem HS

Zayd Muhammad (2026) 6’7 W/F - Columbia HS

D’Quill Osbey Jr. (2026) 6’1 SG - Duluth HS

Chase Wiggins (2027) 6’6 F - SW Atlanta Christian HS

HONORABLE MENTION:

GOLD TEAM:

Quincy Anderson (2026) 6’3 SG - Thomas County Central HS

Aaron Burks (2026) 6’5 F - SW Dekalb HS

Shane Goins (2028) 6’2 CG - Mt. Paran Christian HS

Jordan Morrison (2026) 6’0 PG - Elbert County HS

Colby Mullinax (2026) 6’4 W/F - Thomas County Central HS

Myles O’Neal  (2027) 6’6 W/F - SW Atlanta Christian HS

Uriah Scott (2026) 6’8 F - Lithia Springs HS

Touren Thurston (2026) 6’3 CG - New Manchester HS

Nate Winters (2027) 6’5 G/W - Osborne HS

SILVER TEAM:

D’Qori Abanikanda (2027) 6’1 PG - Osborne HS

Jeremiah Anderson (2029) 6’3 CG - Duluth HS

King Fuller (2028) 6’5 PF - Griffin HS

Josiah Johnson (2026) 6’0 PG - Eastside HS

Brayden Lee (2027) 6’0 CG - Flowery Branch HS

Jaden Mincey (2027) 6’2 CG - Lakeside, Augusta HS

Carter Oglesby (2026) 5’11 PG - Collins Hill HS

JT Scott (2027) 5’10 PG - Mt. Paran Christian HS

Troy Smith (2026) 6’0 SG - West Hall HS

BRONZE TEAM:

Dominion Bunch (2027) 6’5 F - Miller Grove HS

Jabari Burleson (2027) 6’3 PG - SW Atlanta Christian HS

Jeremiah Burns (2027) 5’10 PG - Dodge County HS

Peyton Easley (2029) 6’0 SG - Mt. Paran Christian HS

Ben Howery (2027) 6’2 CG - North Atlanta HS

Amare Medhin (2029) 6’0 SG - Redan HS

Christopher Mitchell (2027) 5’9 PG - Mill Creek HS

Le’Son Nelson (2027) 6’3 G/W - Social Circle HS

Sterling Pritchett (2028) 6’1 CG - Tucker HS

COPPER TEAM:

Tae Beavers (2026) 6’5 F - Redan HS

Nathaniel Edwards (2027) 6’4 G/W - Salem HS

Talyn Harris (2027) 6’0 CG - SW Atlanta Christian HS

Jack Huey (2026) 5’10 PG - Flowery Branch HS

Jordan Mays (2026) 6’0 CG - Griffin HS

Kal’El Riley (2026) 6’4 W/F  - Collins Hill HS

Camden Smith (2026) 6’0 SG - Woodstock HS

Landon Williams (2026) 6’8 F - Mill Creek HS

Van Wilder (2029) 5’11 PG - Tucker HS