Troup County-Long County
Analysis

Sweet 16 Top Performers: Troup County-Long County


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Jalen Brown2026 6-0 G Jalen Brown – Troup County
Saddled with two fouls roughly a minute into the second quarter, Jalen Brown sat nearly the entire frame waiting to get back in the game. With Brown on the bench, Troup County ripped off a 13-0 run to seize control, but Long County would splash back with an 8-0 finish to deadlock the game at 28 at the half. From that point on, once Brown stepped foot back on the court, he took over the game leading the charge in a 27-13 third quarter to grab a 55-41 lead before holding off one last Blue Tide wave to secure a 73-66 victory to punch the Tigers’ ticket to the Elite Eight. Jalen dumped in 15 third quarter points and scored 21 total after halftime en route to a game-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. I’ve long been a fan of Brown’s since I first saw him in a travel ball game at Marietta as a rising junior. His electric athleticism jumps off the court as he explodes toward the rim for finishes and rebounds. In the third quarter, Jalen thrived at getting pieces of the paint on his drives. Whether it be in transition or the halfcourt, Brown was able to wriggle himself free as he scored with both hands. Throughout the game, Jalen mixed in a pull-up jumper and a baseline mid-range. One of the more intriguing unsigned seniors in Georgia, Brown is a high-motor stat sheet stuffer that will make a positive impact at the next level.

2026 5-5 PG Gavyn Gates – Troup County
The undersized point guard played a huge role for Troup County, stepping up especially when Jalen Brown was on the bench in the first half. Gates has a Mighty Mouse build, small but strong with muscle, helping him negate his size disadvantage. He’s got quickness with the ball, looking to push the pace in transition. Gates gets defenders on skates and breaks them down to hit mid-range pull-ups. He does well burrowing his way into the teeth of the defense to draw fouls on drives and he is also a competent three-point shooter when given space. Gavyn had the ball zipping around the perimeter in the first half as the Tigers used a by-committee approach to score. Gates finished the day with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while shooting 5-6 from the line.

Zyi'Air Holt2026 6-1 G Zyi’Air Holt – Long County
Zyi’Air’s high school career closed with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and a drawn charge. Holt attacked Troup County’s zone from all levels. He sank two threes, hit a mid-range jumper, scored on a pair of floaters, had a left-handed drive, a putback and scored on a BLOB set. Zyi’Air plays with a calm, experienced demeanor. He’s steady in the backcourt and holds the versatility to play either guard position. NCCAA schools are among those in contact.

Kelvin Hayes Jr.2027 6-1 G Kelvin Hayes Jr. – Long County
I really liked how hard Kelvin Hayes Jr. played down the stretch. He stuck to what was working – putting his head down and attacking the rim. Kelvin got to the line consistently, helping carry the Blue Tide through stretches with his ability to draw fouls. Hayes shot 8-12 from the free throw line and saw all five of his made field goals come in the paint to finish with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

Jyson Mallard2027 6-3 G Jy’son Mallard – Long County
The Region 3-3A Co-Offensive Player of the Year got hot in the fourth quarter as Long County tried to trim the deficit. Mallard scored nine points in the final frame, totaling 16 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in the 73-66 loss to Troup. Jy’son drilled three three-pointers including a pair over the final eight minutes. Aside from his offensive output, Mallard made a difference with his length on the perimeter. He was able to hem in Gavyn Gates out top, using his wingspan to limit clean looks from distance. With his size and shot-making, Jy’son has the tools and traits to build even further upon his breakout junior season.