2026 5-11 PG Cortez Redding – Jonesboro
I loved what I saw out of Cortez Redding in Jonesboro’s 63-62 win over Woodward Academy. Diggy controlled the game with his playmaking, shredding the defense as a dynamic drive-and-dish penetrator. Redding played within himself even when the game got chippy at times as Jarvis Hayes Jr. barked at him to shoot threes against the Woodward zone. Instead, Redding methodically moved the ball around and tried to set up his teammates for easy baskets, notably doing so with his zippy passes to Frank Jackson for layups. Redding, a four-star cornerback, has elite speed and defensive instincts. He was outstanding laterally against Woodward Academy, beating drivers to their spots every time when they tried to get downhill. Diggy does a great job reading moves and is always in a position to either strip the opponent or take a charge. Although he didn’t make a single field goal in the win over Woodward Academy, make no mistake his fingerprints were all over the game as he supplied the Cardinals with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists and 1 steal.

2026 6-3 W Tyler Lesch – East Forsyth
Tyler put on one of the best shooting performances of the weekend in the Blue Bracket Championship, netting seven threes in a 66-59 loss to Walker. Lesch was on fire as a catch-and-shoot specialist. While the vast majority of his buckets came with his feet set upon the catch, Tyler also got out in transition with a left-handed layup on the right side and a lay-in after picking up a steal. Lesch recorded 27 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block. Maryville offered last June.

2026 6-1 G Devan Fernande – Walker
In from Cherokee, Devan looked sharp at his new home. A strong mature guard that can play both the 1 and the 2, Fernande made good reads and delivered accurate one-handed zip passes to open teammates. Devan used strength and quickness to penetrate, finding hoops at all levels in the Blue Bracket Championship against East Forsyth. Fernande scored on a left-handed And-1 drive, hit two threes, sank two mid-range pull-ups and scored in transition on his way to 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Devan is a sneaky good guard that is trending up in the state of Georgia heading into his senior season.

2026 5-10 G Devon McField – Hebron Christian
Down 30-20 at the half to Sequoyah, Devon McField caught fire with 20 second half points to spur a 65-57 win. The lefty finished with a game-high 24 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals as he piled in four threes to spark the comeback. Devon was the emotional leader for the Lions, playing with great energy as his shot-making swung momentum. McField mixed in mid-range jumpers and scored on a pair of floaters to help diversify his attack.

2026 6-3 CG Julian Horton – Midtown
Julian caught my eye in a loss to Westminster. Standing around 6-foot-3, Horton is a good-looking athlete capable of playing either guard position. He shoots the ball well upon the catch and has some wiggle to his game when attacking the paint. Horton helps run the point but is most dangerous when he’s able to play off the ball and hunt his shot with scoring as a primary objective. With a new look Midtown roster in the process of redefining roles, don’t be surprised if Horton takes a major step forward and emerges as a legitimate scoring option after averaging 3.7 points, 2 rebounds and 1.4 assists as a junior.

2026 6-3 G DJ Hubbard – Cedar Shoals
Cedar Shoals secured a 52-50 victor over Fannin County, DJ Hubbard playing a big role on both ends of the floor. Hubbard spent significant time defending 6-foot-7 Kolton Kaylor and did a nice job holding him in check. Offensively, Devin attacked gaps and scored on straight-line drives with a quick first step. He scored with both hands at the rim but most impressive was his outside shooting, a key area of growth in his game as Hubbard drained three three-pointers to tally 18 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block in front of Georgia College and North Georgia.

2026 6-2 G Deston Foote – Cedar Shoals
The lefty scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half to pair with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block in a stat sheet stuffing effort against Fannin County. Foote thrived in transition, getting to the rim without getting bumped off track. Deston scored thrice in the open floor, sank two straightaway threes and buried two pull-up jumpers in a balanced attack.

2026 6-7 W Hayes Free – Rabun County
JUCO programs will want to take a look at Hayes Free. The 6-foot-7 combo-forward had a big weekend at GBCA Live as a top scoring option for Rabun County. Free is a versatile scorer with inside-out skill. He’s a steady three-point shooter on the catch and has enough mobility to create one and two-dribble scoring opportunities with his pull-up. Hayes is a major beneficiary of playing with Huey Blalock. Free flashes to open spots on the floor for easy hoops. He plays physical in the paint and can get off the ground to finish with slams. Hayes has room to grow as a left-handed finisher but he does a nice job attacking the offensive glass for putbacks. Free is a perfect pick-and-pop floor stretcher. In a 69-64 loss to Putnam County, Hayes poured in a game-high 33 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks, sinking two threes and going 6-7 from the foul line.

2026 5-10 PG Huey Blalock – Rabun County
Huey plays at an elite pace. He has a terrific change of speed with the ball, using a lightning-fast crossover to plant his foot and go. The shifty Blalock is a great passer who always has his head up and dribble alive. He whistles in assists that slice through the teeth of the defense as he makes others around him better. Blalock isn’t afraid to attack the rim, elevating extremely well to finish without getting his shot blocked. Against Putnam County, he recorded 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in a heated contest. Huey’s toughness and competitiveness has never been in question. He averaged 19 points and 8 assists at GBCA Live just five weeks removed from a broken wrist and even played with a cast in weeks leading up to the event. Height may be the only weakness in Huey’s game, the rising senior coming off yet another All-State campaign in which he averaged 19.9 points, 3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.8 steals while netting 72 threes at a 39% rate. Young Harris offered right before the New Year. Blalock will dazzle as a floor general at the D-II level.

2026 6-0 G J’Mari Greene – Putnam County
In a battle of two contenders in Class A D-I, Putnam County eked out a 69-64 win over Rabun County as J’Mari Greene pumped in 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Greene helped ignite an aggressive War Eagle defense that dug themselves out of an early double-digit deficit. J’Mari is physical for a guard, using his sturdy frame to apply defensive pressure in the full court and that same strength to get downhill and finish through contact. Greene finished with both hands on drives and sank three three-pointers. J’Mari has a nonchalant set shot on his jumpers but is able to create off the dribble and pull-up with limited lift.

2026 6-6 W Will Dopfer – Lambert
Will was a one-man wrecking crew against Seckinger, outscoring the Jaguars 20-15 in the first half before finishing with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a 54-34 victory. Dopfer is an explosive athlete that looks like a freight train when getting downhill. Will looks to dunk every chance he gets, a powerful slasher that lives at the rim. While his leaping ability turns heads, Dopfer also has an important finesse game that will need to continue to expand in order for him to play on the perimeter at the next level. Will knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers and displayed polished footwork inside with step-thru moves. Adding consistent three-point range will be a major boon for his development. His tweener status as a combo-forward can sometimes be both a gift and a curse. Finding the right fit in college could lead to a productive career. Kennesaw State became the latest to offer earlier this month, joining Kent State, Stetson and Chattanooga who all offered in 2024.

2026 6-5 W Tatum Holmes – Johns Creek
I am a big fan of Tatum’s game. Standing around 6-foot-5 on the perimeter, Holmes has great versatility on both ends of the floor. He passes the eye-test with his length and strength but it’s his motor that really allows him to reach his ceiling. Holmes makes plays all over. Johns Creek toppled previously unbeaten in the summer Newnan in the Red Bracket Championship and in the semis beat a hot Eastside team 54-40 with Holmes leading the way piling in 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals. Tatum’s wingspan and quick feet make him an above-average on-ball defender with great switchability. He swallows up smaller guards on the perimeter and is a stingy defender when protecting the paint. Offensively, Holmes shoots, drives and facilitates equally well. He is a bouncy finisher but also hurts defenses with his three-point shot, hitting a pair of long balls against Eastside. An underrated aspect of Tatum’s game is his court vision, a subtle playmaker who makes good reads off the bounce. Holmes has a full tool kit. I love him for D-II programs.

2026 6-6 F Dream Rashad – Buford
The Purdue football-commit played a big role for the Wolves in a narrow loss to Norcross. His activity was paramount to Buford being able to contend with the bigger Blue Devils. Rashad pulled down rebounds and scored through contact for a pair of And-1s. Dream ran the floor and kept plays alive with his length. He tallied 13 points, 9 rebounds and 1 steal.

2026 6-0 G RJ Knapp – Jackson County
A productive week on the hardwood ended in tragedy as RJ Knapp broke his right forearm with roughly three minutes left to play in the final game of the weekend. Before the injury, the starting quarterback was playing some of his finest basketball highlighted by a 25-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist, 1-steal effort in a 44-43 loss to eventual Yellow Bracket Champion Woodstock. Knapp used his physicality to get downhill consistently, barreling his way to the rim using quick spin moves to set up crafty finishes. The lefty scored with both hands, displaying deft footwork with step-thru moves to evade defenders. Trailing by eight with two minutes left against Woodstock, Knapp led a furious comeback before running out of time. He netted three threes including a pull-up with five seconds left. When Knapp is able to loosen up the defense with his perimeter jumper, it opens more driving lanes to both score and facilitate. Aside from his offense, RJ can be a rugged defender that can wear down the opposition with his physicality. He often draws difficult assignments and when he’s able to stay out of foul trouble, usually does a good job hampering top options. Upon his return from injury, Knapp will be both QB1 and PG1 for the Panthers.

2026 6-6 F Gideon Kamuelyu – Peachtree Ridge
The powerful southpaw had a big game against Mt. Vernon collecting 22 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in a 61-58 loss. Kamuelyu excels at getting back to his left hand. He scores with his back to the basket but also shows creativity when attacking on the wing and in face-up situations. Gideon spaced the floor with a corner three, a positive sign of his growth. His final bucket against the Mustangs came with his right hand. If he can develop counter moves while playing inside adding the threat of scoring with his right hand consistently, it will prevent defenses from cheating to cover his strong hand. D-II programs should be tracking closely.

2026 6-6 W Daniel Hollis – Peachtree Ridge
Daniel Hollis’ return to the GHSA will be impactful. Following a sabbatical at The Academy Prep after starting at Cedar Shoals, Hollis is back on the scene and reminding the rest of the state of his immense talent. Daniel is an explosive athlete, a high-riser that punishes those who try to jump with him. While his length and leaping ability stand out, Hollis has become more than just a one trick pony. His three-point shot is a legitimate weapon, a dangerous shooter that can hit long balls in bunches. With his gifted physical traits, Hollis has the makings of becoming an impactful defender. He’s quick enough to defend on the perimeter and possesses switchability with the length to defend inside to swat away shots. In a narrow loss to Mt. Vernon, Daniel racked up 7 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Columbus State and Edward Waters have offered in June.

2026 6-5 W Darrell Dickens – Mt. Vernon
I really liked how smooth Darrell looked on the perimeter in a three-point win over Peachtree Ridge. Dickens’ outside game has improved over 12 months, looking extremely comfortable making plays off the dribble and most notably hitting threes. Dickens cashed in on three three-pointers, scored on a slip and converted a left-handed layup en route to 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. With his size, athleticism and well-balanced game, college offers shouldn’t be too far away.

2026 6-0 G Jaden Perkins – Calhoun
The combo-guard can fill it up from deep. Jaden is a very good shooter off the catch. He netted four threes in a rout of Woodland-Stockbridge, finishing with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. While Perkins is known for his outside shooting, his strength with the ball gives him added value as a potential drive-and-dish playmaker.

2026 6-0 F Blake Hammett – Calhoun
I came away quite impressed by the effort and sneaky high skill level Blake Hammett possesses. In an 83-59 blowout of Woodland-Stockbridge, Hammett caught my attention with his toughness. The undersized forward is a heady glue-guy. He’s a physical rebounder and post defender. Offensively, he has crafty footwork, utilizing his pivot patiently to maneuver up-and-unders. Blake is a very good passer out of the low block and can catch defenders napping with his three-point touch. Hammett hung 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal against a taller more athletic frontcourt.

2026 6-5 G Jerrin Samuel – Winder-Barrow
It was a tale of two halves for Jerrin Samuel in the opening game of GBCA Live. A scoreless opening 14 minutes led to a 25-15 halftime deficit against Dutchtown. In the second half, Samuel caught fire and nearly led the comeback before falling 53-42. Jerrin piled in 17 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. He sank two top of the key threes, two mid-range jumpers, converted an And-1 drive and dropped in a floater. Even when his shot wasn’t falling in the first half, Samuel never strayed from his identity. He didn’t force bad shots, continued to be a team player with drive-and-kick reads and attacked the glass hard. Once he got going, Dutchtown ran double teams at Samuel to try and slow him down. Mercer, Marshall and Georgia Southern all offered after watching this past weekend.

2026 6-0 PG Britt Richardson – Winder-Barrow
I really enjoy watching Britt Richardson run point guard. The senior has a tight handle and is shifty off the bounce with his head up. He does a great job of passing people open. Richardson delivers accurate assists standing still and on the move. Against Dutchtown he sank a three, hit a floater and converted a left-handed layup to finish with 7 points, 1 rebound and 4 assists. Schools looking for a mature pass-first point guard should check in on Britt.

2026 6-6 W Maddox Melancon – Dutchtown
Big and physical, Melancon has a grown-man frame. The power wing likes to attack the hoop, overpowering most. He shrugs off defenders as he gets to his spots and scores through contact. Maddox is most efficient from 15-feet and in. He can hit the mid-range turnaround. On the block he does a very good job using his shoulders to score through the defender’s chest. Maddox put up 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists against Winder-Barrow. While he may be a bit of a tweener at the next level, Melancon has the versatility and natural tools to make an impact regardless of position and level.