2029 6-6 F Tyler Mathews – Carver-Columbus
In a 50-point rout of Fannin County, Tyler Mathews firmly pinned himself on my radar with an eye-opening performance against the Rebels and their D-I prospect Kolton Kaylor. Part of a team with no seniors, Mathews was all over the floor as the Tigers pressed Fannin County into submission. The long, athletic high-energy combo-forward made plays on both sides of the ball. He was a bouncy rim protector who also showed the footspeed to guard away from the basket. On offense, Mathews ran the floor for a dunk and got on the glass for putbacks but most impressive was his shooting touch. The rising sophomore sank a mid-range jumper and buried three three-pointers to finish with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Coming off a season in which he averaged 6.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, it’s hard to envision Mathews not enjoying a massive second season. I love his tools – length, athleticism and skill. Tyler could blossom into one of the best prospects in West Georgia, possibly another Tycen McDaniels (UT Arlington).

2029 6-6 F Drake Nix – Franklin County
Albeit in a loss, there were a lot of positives I saw from Drake Nix in my first viewing. Standing around 6-foot-6, Nix has a deceptively high skill level. The slender forward has quality moves in the low post and the polish to stretch the floor from the perimeter. In a 56-48 loss to Roswell, Drake recorded 10 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals and 7 blocks. He hit a pair of threes and had a coast-to-coast layup. Adding more strength to his frame will be key, allowing him to convert through contact more frequently. His activity in the paint on defense stood out as he competed hard for the Lions, a team lacking impactful interior size. Only a rising sophomore, there are plenty of tools to work with. I think Drake has a sneaky high ceiling.

2029 6-2 G Kingston Clahar – Newton
Kingston has a good feel for the game. He’s a balanced scorer but doesn’t pigeonhole himself as being one dimensional. Clahar influences games aside from scoring as he tallied 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in a 61-55 win over Christian Heritage. Kingston netted a pair of threes and saw the rest of his buckets come in the paint. Wiry with a frame that looks capable of stacking on more mass, Clahar’s functional strength was impressive as he converted three And-1s. A Region 4-6A Honorable Mention selection as a freshman, Kingston will be thrust into an even more prominent role in Year 2 and looks more than capable of emerging as a go-to guy.

2029 6-1 G Chase Wilson – KIPP Atlanta
KIPP Atlanta thrashed Norcross 77-49, Chase Wilson finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. The Warriors killed the Blue Devils in transition. Chase ran the floor for offense but also was extremely effective in the halfcourt. Mature for his age, Wilson buried three threes with his easy, compact shot. His touch on the perimeter helps open lanes for Akil Robinson and Galen Roberts to work. Wilson is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the better 2029 guards in Georgia, looking to build off a freshman campaign which saw him average 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

2029 6-2 G Austin Coleman – Mays
In an otherwise sluggish performance to open GBCA Live, a 12:00 PM Friday loss to Sequoyah 58-42, Austin Coleman finished with a flurry to try and spark a comeback. The sophomore was elusive with how he attacked the lane, scoring on numerous drives, converting a pair of And-1s. Austin finished with his left hand at the cup and had crafty moves to create scoring chances. Coleman netted a long step-back jumper and utilized a step-through move to split the defense for a floater. Austin’s final bucket was a pull-up three, putting a capper on a big game after scoring just four points in the first half, finishing with a game-high 22 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

2029 6-3 PG Amare Medhin – Redan
Looking for an encore after winning Class 2A Freshman of the Year, Best Scorer and Best Shooter upon averaging 21.6 points, 4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game, Amare Medhin has Redan in a position to build upon last year’s 20-9 record. The Raiders used a balanced attack to hold off South Paulding 52-45 but in the forefront was still Medhin, who finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Amare sank two threes and showed off his ball handling as he utilized a crossover to free himself for a mid-range pull-up to start the game. Medhin’s supporting cast is improving, likely lessening the scoring burden on his shoulders moving forward. Amare is one of the most explosive young scorers in the state and likely a future D-I guard.

2029 6-0 PG Vance Wilder – Tucker
Already on D-I radars, Vance is a potent guard capable of playing on and off the ball. Wilder is a lethal shooter, getting three-point shots off the dribble and even more dangerous with his feet set on the catch. Wilder competes at a high level. When running the point, Vance can see plays unfolding before most others. He makes sharp surehanded two-handed bullet passes cross court to open shooters. Vance is heady with how he manipulates the defense and he himself is a stingy defender who guards well in the full court. Wilder played a starring role in Tucker’s Teal Bracket Championship run.

2029 6-6 W MaKari Townsend – Gainesville
Already a known commodity, averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1 block per game at The Heritage School, Townsend now moves to Gainesville where he will get to torch GHSA opponents full-time. At 6-foot-6, MaKari can do a little bit of everything. He was dominant at the Sandy’s Spiel Tip-Off Classic last season. What really impresses me is his growth as a shooter. Townsend can spray it from the mid-range on pull-ups but even more so now off the catch from distance. In a 48-41 win over ELCA, MaKari banged in three three-pointers and closed his day with an alley-oop slam in transition to finish with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Mississippi State offered after watching at GBCA Live. Townsend is one of the very best in Georgia’s 2029 class.

2029 6-5 W JaCody Terry – South Gwinnett
Trailing for the majority of the game, in the second half down the stretch JaCody Terry put his head down and physically dominated to lead South Gwinnett past Cedar Grove 64-63. Terry went bully-ball mode, powering his way to the rim as he used his body to absorb contact. JaCody worked the baseline and utilized drives to score or draw fouls. He totaled 23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals. Continuing to expand his scoring range out to the three-point line with consistency will help Terry reach his sky-high ceiling. Austin Peay State offered at the beginning of the month to tip-off his recruitment while Stetson offered just prior to the start of GBCA Live to mark his second bid.

2029 6-6 F Jacob Reid – South Gwinnett
A long 6-foot-6 lefty with athleticism and blossoming versatility, Jacob Reid is an intriguing long-term prospect. Following a scoreless first half against Cedar Grove, he was game changingly effective producing 13 points and 4 rebounds. He was aggressive getting to the hoop. Reid’s to-the-rim mindset led to a big slam and an And-1. Jacob went 2-2 at the line. Using his natural gifts to influence games on both ends of the floor will help Reid reach his potential. He has the physical traits to become a switchable defender capable of guarding 1-5.

2030 5-11 G Daemeon Holmes – Cedar Grove
Daemeon Holmes was unconscious against South Gwinnett, drilling seven threes on his way to 29 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. The incoming freshman was among the very best shooters in all of camp regardless of age as he averaged 19.3 points while shooting a blistering 53.8% from beyond the arc. Holmes had a Christian Anderson (Texas Tech) type feel to his game, a spindly young guard with an elite stroke. Holmes can do more than just shoot the ball. When he was finally run off the line in the second half, he utilized quick slithery moves to penetrate to set up a quick floater, a beautiful repeatable release. Daemeon Holmes might be a major problem over the next four years. Stay tuned.

2030 6-4 SG Shane Collins – Norcross
Originally a 2029 expected to land at St. Francis, instead Collins stayed back a year and now is ready to make a major impact at Norcross. Shane is a smooth operator. With quality size in the backcourt, Collins is able to split traps to get downhill without issue. He’s got a pretty floater in traffic. Where Shane can really torch defenses is with his three-point shot. He has deep range off the catch and off the bounce. In a loss to KIPP Atlanta, Shane knocked down four threes, finishing with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. D-I schools are offering, the latest being Georgia State.