2025 Swish Scouting SWISH LIVE! Recap

July 4, 2025 by Matt Heuser

The third weekend of June is supposed to provide varsity boys basketball programs an equitable opportunity to be seen by scouts, evaluators, and college coaches.  This has not always been the case however in Georgia, as teams who have good talent have been left at home and out of the party in recent years in a state that has a tremendous amount of depth in talent.  With the collaboration of Columbia, Miller Grove, and Southwest Dekalb High Schools, Swish Scouting, Baseline to Sideline, and these schools opened their doors to teams looking for an opportunity to be seen and there were some notable players who showed up and showed out.  In collaboration with Baseline to Sideline, we covered 30 teams in two days in this event and read below to see who stood out in the Swish LIVE! event:

Alcovy - The Tigers have double trouble this coming season as 2026’s 6’5 F Adrian Johnson & Adarian Johnson stood out from the event.  Two big guys with some length and versatility, both of these twin brothers have some good potential and versatility to their games.  They got bounce, perimeter shooting skills, and get up above the rim.  Both could be problems in a region that doesn’t have a lot of size this season, and if they continue to improve will easily find themselves on a roster somewhere at the next level.  2026 6’3 W Kellin Hendrix stood out as well.  A guy with some good size and strength, Hendrix was tough, moved well without the ball, and was really good in the pick & roll game.  He can guard multiple positions, is a strong finisher through contact, and showed off some handles a little bit as well.  Alcovy plays in Region 5A-8 that features the likes of Habersham Central and Winder-Barrow, but finishing in the top four this year is well within reach for the Tiger and getting into the state tournament.

Arabia Mountain - 2027 5’10 PG Rance McKenzie was a big player of note for the Rams after the weekend.  McKenzie is a quick and crafty guard who has some serious wheels on him.  McKenzie plays with some good confidence for a youngster, plays well through contact, and is another smaller guard who finds creative ways to score in the paint.  Most notable about his performances from the weekend was how efficient he was in the paint.  For a youngster, McKenzie was really good at finishing once he got in the lane.  The Rams play in the gauntlet of a region in 5A-4 where they will have to find ways to beat Tri-Cities, Woodward Academy, Decatur, and Dunwoody.  

Banneker - The Trojans graduated a ton of their productivity from a year ago and are going to need some time to calibrate and get back on schedule.  Banneker plays in the very difficult Region 5A-2 that features the likes of Langston Hughes, Newnan, and Dutchtown.  Getting into the top four and state tournament will be an uphill battle with a very young team.

Collins Hill - The Eagles were once again led by 2026 5’11 PG Carter Oglesby who does a nice job running the show for Collins Hill.  Oglesby has shown several times this summer his ability to make something out of nothing when attacking the basket and find ways to get a high percentage attempt still over or around longer and bigger defenders.  He has some really good passing skills, plays hard, and defensively makes a lot of things happen.  2026 6’4 W Kal’El Riley had a really solid weekend.  Riley hit some big shots at times, rebounded well on both ends, and did a nice job of using his length to cover ground on both ends as well to defend, get to the paint, and finish at the rim as well.  Riley has some good athleticism and in one-on-one situations did a nice job attacking north towards the basket and getting by his defender with his long first step.  Collins Hill is in Region 6A-8 where Buford will be heavily favored, but the amount of talent at Central Gwinnett is notable, but finishing top four is within reach as a number of other teams in the region have seen significant losses from a year ago.

Columbia - The host Eagles brought home the championship in the division over at Dr. Phil McCrary gymnasium in a game that lived up to the hype and could very well end up being a state championship preview.  Columbia took down Carver from Columbus in dramatic fashion, and 2026 6’2 PG Princeton King took home the MVP honors of the championship game.  King has a solid frame, gets by just about anyone to the lane, plays with a ton of poise displaying his quick change of speed ability to his game and still play off of two feet regularly.  2026 6’2 G Carlin Jacobs continues to shine this summer.  Jacobs is one of my favorite guys from this summer.  While he does stuff a stat sheet, he does all the little things that you need to win big games that may not show up ever in a stat line.  A silent but yet impactful guy, Jacobs gets after anyone, and is sneaky athletic with a great feel for the game, has the ability to guard just about anyone, and makes everyone around him better.  2026 6’7 W Zayd Muhammad continued to shoot the ball from the outside.  Muhammad at 6’7 does have a really notable perimeter shot that is even more deadlier from the left side of the floor.  His rebounding skills are also pretty solid and runs the floor way better than the typical 6’7 teenager does getting out in transition.  Columbia plays in Region 2A-6 where they will be the favorites this season going in, and will be a very serious contender for the 2A state championship.

Columbus - The star performer on Saturday might have been 2027 6’6 G/W J.J. Johnson, who put on a shooting clinic on Saturday when the Blue Devils’ star did whatever he wanted it seemed.  A sleeper from Columbus, Georgia, Johnson was scoring from all three levels, getting above the rim, and had a really unique skill set for a 6’6 guy.  His knack for getting to the middle third of the floor where he did a nice job of getting his defender on his back hip, keeping him there, and pulling up from the 12-15 foot range was really something I haven’t seen in years out of a high school kid.  Johnson has two years left, but at the rate he’s going, is a 2027 of note with no question and has been left out of the conversation unfortunately as a guy to watch.  Columbus plays in Region 2A-1 where Carver Columbus will be a heavy favorite to win again, but Sumter County will be right on their heels with a ton of size and length.  Columbus will be a team to pay attention to as long as Johnson is healthy and hitting shots.

Columbus Carver - The Tigers were the number one overall seed this past season in 2A, went to the final four, and will return a lot of pieces from that team.  2026 6’8 F Tobiaz Tolbert who holds a division two offer to Columbus State was arguably the best player in the gym all weekend.  Tolbert was dominant inside.  He has some really notable athleticism, a really notable second jump, and gets up on the rim with the best of them.  A lefty who has some real shot blocking skills, Tolbert is a guy who is a big player of note in 2026 hiding out there still waiting for a school to come scoop him up.  He hits his free throws, can guard on the perimeter, and rebounds well outside his area.  A next level guy who is deserving of way more offers than his one division two offer.  2027 5’8 PG Kodee Truesdale was a problem for guards all weekend.  A smaller guard that is still very young, Truesdale plays with a ton of moxie that other opponents just had a really difficult time matching over the two day stretch.  A guy who commands the ball, Truesdale got by his defender regularly, and his size actually gave him an advantage as it was hard to take the ball from him at his small stature and hard handling of the ball.  2028 6’1 SG Tim Woodson Jr. also stood out.  Woodson shot the ball well for the Tigers when called upon and teams would sag on Tolbert.  Woodson is a big player of note in the 2028 class who has some good skills.  He competes well, matches the older guys’ physicality, and does a nice job of moving without the ball to get himself open for the shot.  Carver plays in Region 2A-1 where they will be the favorite once more, but they will be challenged by Sumter County and Spencer.

Douglas County - The Tigers are an extremely young team.  But they compete extremely hard, have some good trap schemes that cause problems, and are aggressive.  2028 6’0 SG Jayden Avery stood out from the weekend.  Avery hit a lot of big shots for the Tigers, had active hands on defense, and seemed to be one of those players after taking in a game who seemed to be in the right place, at the right time, making the right plays.  He has a good head on his shoulders, plays wide, and made some really tough passes as well.  Douglas County competes in Region 6A-2 where all the teams appear to be really young.  East Coweta, Westlake, Chapel Hill, and even Carrollton have a lot of question marks in a region that appears to have a lot of equality.

Dunwoody - The Wildcats put on a clinic this weekend on shooting the basketball, passing the basketball, and team basketball.  Nobody seemed to be able to solve their attack and slow them down.  The Wildcats won the championship over Southwest Dekalb in an environment that’s about as good as it gets in summer high school basketball and did so behind 2026 5’9 PG Emerson Mitchell.  A true leader, Mitchell went unchallenged much of the weekend and any time the Wildcats made a big play, Mitchell was somewhere in the picture.  Under pressure, traps, bigger defenders, it didn’t matter and Mitchell stayed cooler than the other side of the pillow and made one big play after another unphased.  His ability to play in tight spaces off the dribble or with his pass is some serious next level stuff, but mixed with his athletic ability and strength, he’s a coach’s dream in all honesty if you have a taste for smaller guards.  He took home the MVP title of the championship game as he handled the Southwest Dekalb pressure as well as any point guard I saw this summer, and the Panthers have quite the established reputation of making life a nightmare for opposing point guards.  2027 6’4 W Trevor Lordo hit one big shot after another.  Lordo was really good in many phases of the game, and has a Midwest style skill set that you have to adore.  He plays with a ton of poise, control, and sheer understanding of the game all off of two feet.  He finished through contact well, used his length, and had some really good lateral movement to keep guys in front of him on the defensive end.  He rebounded well outside his area, was strong with the ball, and had a really notable pivot game to create space.  2026 5’9 Brennan Smith shot the cover off the ball all weekend.  Smith hit a ton of daggers right into the heart of the defense a number of times that when anyone had to leave and help on Mitchell attacking, Smith was right there to can a three from outside the arc.  Dunwoody plays in the treacherous Region 5A-4 that features state championship game contenders and champion Tri-Cities and Woodward Academy.   On top of that Decatur is also in the region making it the toughest 5A region in Georgia this coming year.  But the Wildcats will challenge anybody with their organized style of play, and if anybody isn’t prepared or focused, they will be ripe to be beat by this incredibly organized and well balanced Dunwoody team. 

Flowery Branch - The Falcons put together a 3-1 weekend and while they lack some size, they shoot the ball really well as a team, play solid team defense, and they do a nice job moving the ball collectively to open up shots.  2027 6’0 G Brayden Lee was one of the top players in the gym at Miller Grove all weekend.  Lee is highly skilled in many different facets of the game.  Lee scored at all three levels regularly and notably did it in both directions, off the dribble, and off the catch from both sides of his body.  Lee plays off of two feet, gets to the paint, and does a nice job at 6’0 only of maneuvering the ball around taller defenders and using the glass to finish the attempt.  Lee was really impressive.  2026 5’9 PG Jack Huey  shot the ball really well.  A lefty who has great court sense, IQ, and is fantastic off the dribble from all three levels going to his strong hand on the left. His anticipation skills and passing skills are really good and plays with a solid motor at all times.  Huey does a nice job of turning or changing angles with the ball once he is past defenders.  Flowery Branch plays in Region 4A-8 where North Oconee and Eastside Covington will be the favorites, but will definitely challenge for a top four spot in the state tournament this season.

Greenbrier - The Wolfpack are under new leadership this year, and coach David Viti has a good problem on his hands, a ton of size.  The Wolfpack are going to have three guys roughly over 6’6 on their roster.  2027 6’7 Jonathan White is a high level baseball prospect, but he’s also a notable basketball prospect too.  White does a good job inside at playing bigger than he already is, has a good arsenal of moves inside to score, and runs the floor well with some real hustle to get a cheap bucket from time to time and get back defensively to set the tone.  A guy to pay attention to.  2027 6’2 SG Avery Upchurch shot the ball really well for Greenbrier from outside.  A catch and shoot guy, Upchurch was finding shot opportunities all weekend and created for himself regularly.  But a youngster of note that really grew on me over the weekend was 2028 6’1 PG Kenny Redd.  A point guard with some length to him, you would watch Redd play and have no idea that he’s only a freshman and plays the game years ahead of the curve.  He is a fantastic defender, an explosive attacker, and was efficiently finishing at the rim all weekend.  One of the better 2028’s I saw all weekend.  Greenbrier plays in Region 5A-1 where Bradwell Institute and Statesboro will be favorites, but Greenbrier will challenge for a top four spot.

Greenforest - The Eagles are under new leadership with BJ Thomas at the helm now.  The Eagles also look very different than they did a year ago losing a lot to graduation.  They went 3-1 on the weekend with their lone loss being a narrow four point defeat to eventual champion Dunwoody.  2026 6’7 F Anointed Adams immediately passes the eyeball test.  Adams is powerful inside, runs the floor extremely well in transition, and physically went untested by anybody he matched up with on the weekend.  Adams is a next level guy in 2026 that as he continues to polish his skills is going to make a college coach a very happy guy somewhere.  2027 6’0 PG Savion Stewart was impressive on the weekend as well.  Stewart has a solid frame to him, facilitates the offense well finding the bigs, but also showed off his three level scoring over the weekend when the defense would focus on slowing down the bigs of the Eagles attack.  2027 6’10 C Alyko Raphael was a star for Greenforest.  The new big man is as long as the day with a wingspan well over 7’0.  Raphael was notably very versatile in his ball screen defending, was an exceptional rebounder, and has a high level of athleticism for a 6’10 youngster.  A high level prospect of note sheerly off his size and athleticism alone.  Greenforest plays in Region 1A-4 that will be loaded with talent this year.  Jasper County, Putnam County, Towers, and SW Atlanta Christian all have college level prospects on their team and are already circling the dates with the Eagles to have their shot.

Grovetown - The legendary Jerry Hunter now takes over at Grovetown and will look to return the Warriors to their winning ways.  Hunter won three state championships in a row at nearby Augusta Westside and is a highly respected coach not just in the Augusta area but in the state.  2026 6’5 F TJ Filkins caught eyes over the weekend and played at a high level at times.  Filkins is another guy that has a solid frame to him at 6’5 and instantly passes the eyeball test.  He plays hard, can shoot the ball at an efficient clip from the outside, and showed some versatility being able to guard just about any position and score from just about anywhere on the floor in the half court.  Filkins does a lot that translates over to the next level and as he continues to polish his senior season will be a guy of note in the class.  2027 6’1 PG DJ Postell was another Warrior that caught attention this weekend.  Postell was an explosive guard that was able to create his own shot just about any time he touched the ball.  A youngster with a good frame and is a tough defender, Postell is one of those guys who is still scratching the surface as to how good he could be and is going to be a natural leader for Grovetown this season.  The Warriors play in the noted Region 6A-4 that will feature the likes of Grayson and Newton this year, but they will be in contention for a state tournament spot.

Lithia Springs - The Lions graduated a ton of talent from a year ago, but 2026 6’8 F Uriah Scott is still there, and has been a really good big man in the 2026 class.  A lefty with a soft touch, Scott rebounds really well, has a long wingspan, and is really efficient when he gets the ball inside around the rim.  He runs the floor well, alters a lot of shots, and will be the anchor of the team this year for Lithia Springs.  The Lions play in Region 5A-5 where Alexander will be heavily favored, and making the top four will be a tough task for the Lions who finished fifth this past season.  But Scott will arguably be one of the top big men in the league this year that lacks size.

Mary Persons - This Bulldogs team is going to be much improved this coming season, and there’s a lot to like about what Lemetrice Ray has done with his crew.  2027 6’0 PG Dee Grier put together a really solid weekend.  Grier hit a ton of shots from outside and played with a lot of confidence.  He was efficient shooting the ball from all three levels, wasn’t rattled by pressure, and everything he did was off of two feet.  A guy who’s energy is contagious it seems, Grier offers a lot to admire for a school at the next level, and he’s still got two more years.  2026 6’5 Anderson Harris played well over the weekend.  A long and versatile inside-outside guy, Harris has a Swiss army knife like game that does translate over to the next level.  He uses his length well, has a set of good change of direction moves to free himself up and create space, and does seem to finish well at the rim.  He can guard multiple positions, cause steals and deflections with his length, and runs the floor well.  Harris will be a key part of Mary Persons success this coming season as he is in a space by himself in a region that doesn’t have a lot of versatile guys like him.  The Bulldogs are in Region 3A-2 and will compete against the likes of Sandy Creek, Troup County, and Fayette County.

Miller Grove - The host Wolverines captured the championship of their division by rattling off four straight victories after dropping the first game of the weekend to Flowery Branch in a narrow defeat.  2027 6’5 F Dominion Bunch was really impressive on the weekend.  A big framed, strong, soft handed big man who has tremendous potential still with two years remaining.  Bunch plays with some good explosiveness, but he also does a really good job of timing his jumps where he seems to be notably efficient at putback layups and dunks.  He can bang inside with guys much bigger than him given his size and strength, and as he grows his game the next two years will be a guy to keep an eye on.  2026 6’4 W/F Jimmy Mattox IV continues to have moments this summer.  Mattox at 6’4 leaves a lot to admire about his game when he is at his best.  He can shoot it from the perimeter, has a nice one dribble pull up move in the mid-range, and is one of the best rebounders I saw this summer at 6’4 roughly.  A guy with a ton of varsity experience, Mattox is due for a big season this coming year.  2027 6’0 PG Carlin Cabbil brought home the MVP of the championship game after knocking down five of seven threes and facilitating the offense really well in the title game versus a pesky Salem team.  Cabbil has a solid frame to him for a youngster, plays in tight spaces well, and does a nice job of keeping his head up to find the open teammate when the defense over helps or pursues.  A guy with two years left, Cabbil has some good upside to his game.  Miller Grove plays in Region 2A-6 that is loaded with talent.  All six teams in the region have a college level player, which at 2A is unheard of and unrivaled.  Columbia will be the favorite coming in, but they will be challenged by everyone who could go off any given night, and Miller Grove is really tough at home.

Morrow - The Mustangs have a pair of bigs of note.  2026 6’9 C Keyden Pittman basketball aside is one of the biggest dudes you’ll see in 2026 Georgia in a class that lacks size.  That being said, Pittman is a good basketball player and is a guy flying under the radar at Morrow that schools should be checking into.  He has a real good feel for the game, plays with some really good physicality, and has a sweet baby hook shot in the paint that all translates well to the next level.  2027 6’8 F James Lee also played well for Morrow.  Lee is an above the rim youngster with some really notable length.  He runs the floor well, blocks a ton of shots, and shows off a nice drop step dunk move with a change of direction built into it a few times.  If Morrow can develop a point guard to run the show, the Mustangs are going to surprise some people this year with all this good size that they have.  Morrow plays in Region 5A-3 that features the likes of Dutchtown, Langston Hughes, and Newnan.  But Morrow is a serious contender to finish in the top four and bust into the state tournament.

NFCA - A GIAA school, NFCA was led by 2027 6’6 F Judah Luster who is an explosive and powerful athlete that is a bit of a Swiss army knife.  Luster can guard pretty much any position, plays above the rim regularly, and physically was one of the strongest guys I saw all weekend.  A guy with two years remaining still, Luster offers a lot to like for a college program and is only going to keep getting better.  2027 6’3 PG Landen Render also had a solid weekend.  Render has good length, plays off of two feet, and has some really good skill for a tall, young, point guard.  Another guy that’s above the rim often, Render also does a lot of things that translate well to the next level and is a prospect of note for 2027.

Northgate - The Vikings graduated a ton of talent from last year, but 2026 6’5 W Benjamin Sprague was the star for Northgate.  Sprague has some good size to him, is very skilled, and shot the heck out of the ball at times over the weekend.  Sprague is also a good rebounder that has a nose for the ball, has no problem getting it and taking it up, and does a nice job using screens by coming off of them tightly with good footwork.  A next level guy for sure for the Vikings.  Northgate also plays in Region 5A-3 where they will look to compete for a state tournament spot this coming season.  Dutchtown will be the favorite coming in, but Langston Hughes and Newnan also lurk and will be very good as well.

Ola - The Mustangs graduated a ton of their productivity from a year ago, have a new coach, and play in a very talented region.  But new coach Marques Watkins will steer the ship now at Ola, and have the Mustangs back on track sooner than later.  They compete in Region 4A-2 that will feature the likes of McDonough, Locust Grove, ELCA, and Woodland this year.  Finishing in the top four will be a tough challenge, but they will improve as the year goes on with no question.

Osborne - The Cardinals are going to be very young this season, but there is a ton to like about what they could look like as these baby birds grow up.  2027 6’1 PG D’Qori Abanikanda is the rock for Osbonre.  While they are long and talented, the team seems to go how D’Qori goes, and his ability to make plays and lead the team without having to score a ton of points is really admirable as he runs the point efficiently.  Abanikanda is strong with the ball, has a quick release shooting the basketball and attempting floaters, and does a nice job of drawing contact to get to the foul line.  But his skill of attacking help defenders and getting his body into them to free up teammates is extremely impressive and of note.   2027 6’5 Nate Winters is a long and wiry guy who passes the eyeball test that can really shoot it off the dribble.  Winters has a skill of getting to the middle third of the floor regularly where he lives and pulling up for jumpers and threes.  He did show a few baseline drives for dunks or layins, but his comfort zone and efficient scoring from the middle third of the floor is impressive for a young guy.  2028 6’5 Kahmil Patton showed some glimpses as well.  Patton is a long athletic youngster with some real good upside to his game.  While Patton has three years left to grow his game, he does have an impact on the game right now where he alters shots, rebounds well, and runs the floor really well.  Osborne plays in region 6A-3 where McEachern, Hillgrove, and Pebblebrook will be heavily favored, but Osborne will be much improved from last year.

Parkview - The Panthers are under new leadership this year, play in an incredibly difficult region, and graduated one of their top scorers.  2027 6’6 C Jason Brown, who recently picked up an offer to Virginia Tech football, was an absolute brute inside for Parkview.  Brown muscled his way around inside in both games on Saturday for the Panthers and caused some real fits as they were able to go 1-1 that day.  2027 6’4 W Brandon Pemberton was a star for Parkview.  A long and athletic wing who could knock down shots from all angles and all levels, Pemberton immediately passes the eyeball test and won’t take you long to like his game watching him play.  Pemberton has some good ball handling skills in the half court, has some soft hands, and got out in transition quickly to set himself up for the catch and attack.  Will be a guy of note to watch in 2027.  Parkview plays in Region 6A-7 that is loaded with talent like Norcross, Peachtree Ridge, Berkmar, and Duluth.

Riverdale - The Raiders were led by 2026 6’1 G Nigel Favers who showed glimpses again over the weekend.  Favers is really quick, can handle the ball really well, and has some notable athleticism that gives him an edge over most.  He has a good ability to create his own shot and find his way through traffic.  Riverdale will rely on him heavily as they navigate through the season.  Riverdale plays in Region 3A-5 that will be headed up by Cedar Grove this year, but Douglass and Luella will be at the top as well in a talent rich region.

Salem - The Seminoles cruised to the championship game where they met up with region foe and host Miller Grove and fell short.  2028 6’5 W/F Anwar Molette is going to be a household name in the class of 2028.  Molette was the best 2028 prospect in the gym all weekend and played fantastic.  Molette is smooth with the ball, plays off of two feet at the rim, has a long wingspan, and can score at all three levels.  Molette got better and better all of June, and is going to be high on the 2028 rankings when they come out.  2027 5’11 PG AJ Smith was a leader for the Seminoles and ran the point efficiently well.  Smith has a certain moxie to his game. You have to admire that he controls the ball very well, pushes it well, and can really zip that ball to a teammate off the dribble when passing.  Smith gets after you as well on the defensive end, and his pace, presence, and pursuit of the ball sets the tempo for Salem where they really get into you and can open up a lead on you in a blink of an eye.  Salem plays in Region 2A-6 where Columbia on paper will be heavily favored, but Salem, South Atlanta, and Miller Grove will all have something to say.

Shiloh - The Generals went 2-0 on Saturday in the event, and 2026 5’11 CG Dyson Thompson was a big reason why.  Thompson is a high energy guy who finds himself in the play regularly.  He is an aggressive player that rebounds really well for a smaller guard, gets to the free throw line a lot with his ability to create contact, and has a quick release from the perimeter where he was able to knock down some big shots.  2028 6’6 W/F Deon McCoy was a standout player as well for Shiloh.  McCoy has three years left, but already has developed a sense of wanting the ball in his hands to make plays and take good shots.  A stretch guy who knocked down some perimeter shots often, McCoy also does a nice job of using his length to stretch out towards the basket even more and finish around challenging defenders.  McCoy is going to be a real prospect of note in the 2028 class.  Shiloh also plays in Region 5A-4 where they will have to find a way to sneak into the state tournament somehow by taking out either Tri-Cities, Woodward Academy, Decatur, and Dunwoody.

Southwest Dekalb - The host Panthers coasted through their first four games enroute to the title game where they ran into a very skilled and poised Dunwoody team.  2026 5’10 PG Thomas Glanton III continued his fantastic June run where he shot the ball at a high efficient clip, was a witty defender causing all sorts of problems for opposing teams with his quick hands, smarts, and ability to think quickly on his feet and make good decisions.  He is very strong for a smaller high school guard, and is one of those guys you love to have on your team and just absolutely hate to play against.  He has no quit, loves to win, and will very often give his body up to make a play that will help the team win.  A next level guy that has caught the attention of next level programs.  2026 6’5 F Aaron Burks has shown some real improvement this summer in his game, and his athleticism, leaping ability, and soft hands have only enhanced as he continues to polish.  Burks has had a major impact on every game I’ve seen him play this summer on both ends of the floor.  As he continues to polish his skills, he has some really good upside to his game that he is still scratching the surface as to how good he could be.  2027 6’1 CG Jackson Ushery also had a really good weekend.  Ushery can really shoot the ball, but his aggressiveness, active hands, and great lateral movement make him an absolute terror on the defensive end making plays regularly.  Offensively he has a great shot, finds himself at the free throw line regularly, and does a nice job of taking what the defense gives him without forcing it.  Southwest Dekalb is extremely well coached, and doesn’t beat themselves often, if ever.  The Panthers play in Region 4A-5 where they will not only contend for the region title this year, but they will be a top five team in 4A this season as well and in every conversation as long as they stay healthy to compete for the state title as well.

Spalding - 2027 6’1 PG Keelan Day was notably impressive both days.  A guy who impacts the game in so many ways, Day thinks one pass ahead or more all the time and had some serious circus shots he was able to knock down for his team.  But as good of a scorer as Day is (and he really is a heck of a scorer), his ability to silently hide out at half court and regularly pick off outlet passes thrown ahead by the other team while in transition and turn it into quick points and easy points for Spalding is something I didn’t see anybody else do this summer at the level that he does it at.  In college basketball where you have to find ways to score easy baskets against anybody, Day’s ability to do this and create easy points is something of note.  2029 5’10 PG Jamarii Piercy was one of the more notable incoming freshmen from the weekend.  Piercy scored in double figures to open up the weekend affair for the Jags, and Piercy just seemed to be Robin to Day’s Batman all weekend helping Spalding finish 3-1 on the weekend.  He hit some big shots at times that were crucial, came up with some key turnovers, and did a nice job of feeding off of Day to move without the ball and find himself some quick and easy baskets.  Spalding plays in Region 3A-2 where they will definitely be in the conversation to finish towards the top with the likes of Sandy Creek, Fayette County, & Troup County.

Stephenson - The Jaguars suffered from serious graduation losses, are on their third head coach in three years, and play in a region with the likes of Cedar Grove and Douglass.  But first year head coach BJ Thomas knows a thing or two about winning basketball games, and will have the Jaguars back to their winning ways in no time.  2026 5’9 PG Onyx Stallings-Brown was electric throughout the weekend.  The smaller but strong guard was incredibly fast with and without the ball, turned defense into offense regularly, and was an absolute spark plug for his team creating opportunities for all.  Stallings has a next level motor, next level defensive skills, and as he continues to polish his shooting skills could really mold this year into a nice prospect.  2026 6’5 F Cameron Ramsey was a player out of nowhere who showed up and played really well.  Ramsey has a grown man’s frame with some real good athleticism.  He rebounded really well outside his area, had soft hands, and was deadly from the middle third from outside the arc where he knocked down a number of threes in the trail spot.  Ramsey is oozing with potential and could be a next level guy as he continues to polish as well.  

Tucker - The Tigers of Tucker are probably going to be one of the youngest teams in all of 4A this coming season, but 2028 6’1 G Sterling Pritchett shined over the weekend, and was arguably the top 2028 prospect in the event.  Pritchett shines when the ball is in his hand, lives in the moment of being the guy, and hit some really tough shots over some really good defenders as well in the process.  2029 5’11 PG Van Wilder played big as well for Tucker.  A sharp shooter who already has a reputation, Wilder is as good as advertised, and is on his way to stardom.  A youngster who has some really unique skills, Wilder can shoot the ball exceptionally well, and he can do it in both directions off the dribble or off of the catch at an efficient rate.  He has a really good motor on him, a good feel for the game, and as he continues to physically grow will only get better and better.  Tucker plays in Region 4A-5 that features the likes of Pius, Marist, and Southwest Dekalb and those three will be favored heavily at the top.  But the Tigers will definitely challenge for a state tournament spot as they try to repeat the successes of last year where they reached the final four.

Villa Rica - Villa Rica went 3-1 in the event and has put together a really solid June.  2026 6’3 Brandon Williams put together a really complete weekend.  The highly energetic Williams was impactful on both ends of the floor where he flirted with a double double twice on the weekend and even had some real powerful blocks that caught some people’s attention.  Williams will be one of the senior leaders for the Wildcats this season.  2028 5’9 PG Jason Hart was another 2028 that had a really good weekend in the event.  Hart was getting to the paint regularly in all of his appearances where it seemed like nobody could handle his quick handles and ability to use change of direction as well to get by defenders and create shots for himself from the middle third of the floor often.  Hart does a nice job of playing bigger than he really is, but he also does a nice job of playing smaller than he really is to get by defenders and create opportunities in transition before the defense is fully back and set.  A guy who makes a living on fast paced basketball, Hart is exciting to watch.  An incoming freshman of note was 2029 6’2 G Jaden Barnes who came off the bench for Villa Rica, but gave some really good minutes and was a producer in a number of ways for Villa Rica.  Barnes is one of the more talked about incoming freshmen in Douglas County, and there’s a lot to like about his upside and potential as he already checks a lot of boxes.  Villa Rica competes in Region 5A-5 that will be heavily favored by Alexander, but after that things are really up for grabs.  Just about every other team in the region suffered from graduation losses and those other three spots in the state tournament are fair game.

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

Showcase MVP: Tobiaz Tolbet (2026) 6'8 F - Carver Columbus HS

FIRST TEAM:

Keelan Day - 6’1 PG - (2027) Spalding HS

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

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

Emerson Mitchell (2026) 5’9 PG - Dunwoody HS

Alyko Raphael (2027) 6’10 C - Greenforest HS

SECOND TEAM:

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

JJ Johnson (2027) 6’6 G/W - Columbus HS

Judah Luster (2027) 6’6 W/F - NFCA HS

Anwar Molette (2028) 6’5 W - Salem HS

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

THIRD TEAM:

Anointed Adams (2026) 6’7 F - Greenforest HS

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

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

Trevor Lordo (2027) 6’3 G - Dunwoody HS

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

HONORABLE MENTION:

GOLD TEAM:

TJ Filkins (2026) 6’5 W - Grovetown HS

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

Brandon Pemberton (2027) 6’4 G/W - Parkview HS

Keyden Pittman (2026) 6’9 C - Morrow HS

Cameron Ramsey (2026) 6’5 W/F - Stephenson HS

Landen Render (2027) 6’3 PG - NFCA HS

Kodee Truesdale (2027) 5’8 PG - Carver Columbus HS

SILVER TEAM:

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

Dee Grier (2027) 6’0 PG - Mary Persons HS

James Lee (2027) 6’8 PF - Morrow HS

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

Benjamin Sprague (2026) 6’5 W - Northgate HS

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

Tim Woodson Jr. (2028) 6’1 SG - Carver Columbus HS

BRONZE TEAM:

Carlin Cabbil (2027) 6’0 PG - Miller Grove HS

Adarian Johnson (2026) 6’5 W/F - Alcovy HS

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

DJ Postell (2027) 6’1 PG - Grovetown HS

Kenny Redd (2028) 6’1 PG - Greenbrier HS

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

Brandon Williams (2026) 6’3 W - Villa Rica HS

COPPER TEAM:

Jason Brown (2027) 6’6 C - Parkview HS

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

Adrian Johnson (2026) 6’5 W/F - Alcovy HS

Deon McCoy (2028) 6’6 W/F - Shiloh HS

Carter Oglesby (2026) 6’0 PG - Collins Hill HS

AJ Smith (2027) 5’11 PG - Salem HS

Onyx Stallings-Brown (2026) 5’11 PG - Stephenson HS