GBCA Live SE Regional 2027 Top Performers
Analysis

GBCA Live SE Regional: 2027 Top Performers


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Armond Smith2027 5-10 PG Armond Smith – Salem
Offers have to be right around the corner for Armond Smith, one of the steadiest stock risers from this summer. Smith is a true point guard, a speedy quick playmaker who uses a tight handle to get past defenders. Armond has an explosive first step while keeping his dribble low as he burrows his way to the rim getting his shoulders past taller guards. When in traffic, Smith finishes with his floater but also can get all the way to the basket and slyly maneuver amongst the trees with tough finishes putting backspin on the ball. With so much attention focused on Smith upon penetration, he’s adept at fitting in passes in tight quadrants, finding rollers and teammates in the dunker spot. In a 73-38 rout of Milton, FL, Armond drained a pair of threes finishing with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. D-II, NAIA and JUCO programs should be evaluating.

Nathaniel Edwards2027 6-4 SG Nathaniel Edwards – Salem
It was a very impressive first look at Nathaniel Edwards. The senior lit it up from deep against Milton, FL, draining five threes as he finished with a game-high 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Edwards scorched the nets off the catch but also showed the ability to create separation with step-backs. Nathaniel’s got a quick release as he works the baseline corner to corner against the zone. Edwards gets on the glass to rebound and runs the floor well, looking to catch and finish in stride. His versatility as a defender is a plus, as Salem likes to aggressively guard the ball. Edwards moves his feet well and with his length, has the tools to guard 1-4. Nathaniel could be a sneaky good prospect with his two-way effectiveness.

2027 6-7 F Xavier Butler – Grayson
In from North Cobb Christian, Butler’s hardworking toughness in the paint will fit in well at Grayson, a program that routinely churns out physical yet versatile big men. Xavier was effective in a 69-56 win against Dorman, collecting 17 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block. Butler posts hard, sealing for position. He uses a blend of tenacity and quick footwork to attack with his back to the basket. Butler can get to baby hooks and has a quick spin baseline on the low block. While he is often times the aggressor in the paint, playing a rugged brand of basketball with high skill attached, Xavier still has ample opportunity to add even more strength to his frame once he gets in a college weight room which will continue to help his trajectory as a prospect. He scored on second and third chance efforts inside, gathering his own misses before converting with either hand. Butler scored on four putbacks, his motor on display as he finished possessions with buckets. What gives Xavier really nice upside is his perimeter touch. He’s got a stretch game, a steady shooter from outside. He nailed a pair of straightaway threes to space out the defense. Butler’s double-double versatility should pique the interest of D-I and D-II schools alike.

MJ Curry2027 6-6 G MJ Curry – Grayson
I really liked how mature MJ’s game was against Dorman. A star prospect with tons of college coaches in to watch him specifically, the stage wasn’t too big for Curry; not pressing him into forcing the issue. Instead, MJ let the game come to him, completely fine with serving as more of a facilitator than a scorer. Curry made sharp decisions with the ball, exploding downhill to draw the attention of defenders before dumping off assists. When he had a teammate get hot from beyond the arc, he made sure to continue feeding him with accurate one-handed dishes. Off the dribble in traffic, MJ bounced quick pocket passes to teammates for layups. In the second half, Curry started to look for his offense a little more, driving for thunderous slams and scoring And-1s on coast-to-coast takes. The electric leaper didn’t save his athleticism for offense only; I really appreciated how well Curry closed out on shooters with great vertical contests. In total, MJ finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists in the 69-56 win. Georgia Tech offered at the beginning of the month.

2027 6-4 W Landon Grundy – Hillgrove
Easy to get slightly overlooked with Hillgrove’s star-studded roster, Landon is one of the most important pieces the Hawks have. The long-armed swingman is a legitimate two-way difference maker. He’s an active defender with great switchability, effective using his length to guard and contest shots along the perimeter and rangy enough to rotate down to help protect the rim. Offensively, Grundy is very efficient. He’s a knockdown shooter from the mid-range, dangerous off the catch and on one-dribble pull-ups. He wears out the elbow and when closed out on quickly, he’s adept at slithering to the rim strong at finishing with both hands. In a 70-66 win against Huntsville, Grundy posted 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 1 block. The 4.2 GPA student picked up a Clark Atlanta offer at GBCA Live. I think more D-II programs should jump in the mix soon.

Carmelo Williams2027 6-2 G Carmelo Williams – Buford
I’m still waiting for Carmelo to start bursting with offers. I called for his ascent back in his sophomore season, and all he has done since is steadily produce at a consistent level. Williams has gotten bigger and stronger each and every season. He’s an explosive athlete with easy elevation. Williams does a great job using his body. The wiry guard is now packed with muscle, implementing his shoulders by burying them into the chest of defenders when attacking baseline to power up for And-1s.  When he isn’t using power to finish at the rim, he’s using smooth skill, expertly gliding and hanging in the air off two feet to finish with either hand. While getting to the basket is his bread and butter, Melo has shown over his career a steady outside shot, good at getting to mid-range pull-ups and respectable off the catch from beyond the arc. What gets me excited about Williams is his consistent impact across the box score. Carmelo routinely snags rebounds, dishes assists and makes plays on defense. In fact, over the course of his career in four regular season games I have watched spanning his sophomore and junior seasons, Williams has averaged 18.5 points, 4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. In a 66-63 win against Westminster at GBCA Live, Carmelo totaled 30 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. I love Williams at the D-II level. The 3.3 GPA student is still hunting for his first college bid.

Ace Thomas2027 5-10 G Ace Thomas – Buford
Ace really wowed me against Westminster. Much like Carmelo Williams, Thomas has been anchored in the weight room, adding serious muscle to his upper body. A defensive back and wide receiver on the gridiron where he has offers from multiple D-I programs, Thomas brought his football toughness to the hardwood as he tallied 23 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. Just like he does on Friday nights, Thomas’ anticipation and explosion off-ball allowed him to blow up plays on defense, shooting gaps for steals. Ace was physical guarding the ball, wilting weaker handlers to turn it over, sparking Thomas’ offense. The big energy guard scored in a variety of ways. He hit a three, scored off steals, putbacks and pull-ups. With an integral 2026 backcourt now graduated, Thomas will have a serious load on his plate to produce both offensively and defensively. The Columbus-native could be a breakout candidate his senior season.

2027 6-5 F Carson Medor – Westminster
In a narrow loss to Buford, Carson was a tough cover. The stretch-forward was active on the glass and was tough to corral from 15-feet as he would catch and look to spin over his right shoulder to get to his left hand. Medor was able to create some mismatches, opening the floor with his three-point shot, using crafty footwork to get to the hoop and finishing with power up close. Medor finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. An ace student with a 4.0 GPA and a 34 ACT, Carson should draw heavy attention from D-III programs his senior season.

Tyler Barnes2027 5-10 PG Tyler Barnes – Peachtree Ridge
I liked how vocal Tyler was on defense. His offense gets the headlines but the little things stuck out in a 47-44 win over Gadsden City. Barnes was an anchor on the backline shouting out where he was on the floor, leading the communication for the Lions’ defense. Offensively, Tyler swished four threes, finishing with a team-high 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. Schools looking for firepower in their backcourt should check in on Barnes, a proven scorer and floor general.

Zach Graves2027 5-11 PG Zach Graves – McEachern
The fire hydrant southpaw posted 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks in a loss to Riviera Prep. Graves’ stout, overpoweringly physical frame allows him to put his head down and get to his spots. He’s got shifty moves, an advanced handle with nuanced head and ball fakes. Zach hit a step-back jumper, a three, a pull-up and a floater to score against Riviera Prep’s length. He confidently attacked 1-on-1 as McEachern’s go-to scorer. Graves is one of the state’s more potent scoring guards, making him and intriguing prospect that should draw attention from multiple levels.

2027 6-6 W Josh Smith Jr. – Pebblebrook
There is rumored uncertainty as to where Josh Smith Jr. will play his senior season upon leaving Norcross, but with Pebblebrook this summer he’s been explosive with his outside shot. In a 68-62 win over Orlando Christian Prep, there wasn’t a shot Smith didn’t like, coming out of the gates on fire sinking six threes in the first half, finishing with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. When Smith is on, he’s on. With his size, strength and athleticism, Josh is able to rise and fire over contests in rhythm. When he’s not on the perimeter, he uses those same physical gifts to explode for rebounds. Offensively, continuing to diversify his game by using his physicality to get to the rim will help him earn easier buckets instead of relying on deep jumpers. His lone bucket in the second half came on an And-1 drive. All the tools are there for Smith to legitimize himself as a major D-I prospect.

2027 6-5 W Daniel Gadsden – Lovett
Listed at 6-foot-5, but feels maybe an inch taller, Daniel Gadsden is a valuable prospect who I feel like is still flying under the radar. A combo-forward who can play both wing and post, Daniel is an agile athlete that covers a ton of ground. Gadsden rim runs in transition for dunks. He attacks from the high post off the dribble but also possesses shooting range out to the three-point line. Daniel is active inside and out, his versatility providing him with great switchability on defense. In a 63-60 win against Valdosta, Gadsden tallied 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. The 3.5 GPA student should be on radars for D-II, D-III and NAIA programs.

2027 5-11 G Cameron Cannon – Lovett
Cannon has been a bucket getter since Day 1. Fast forward to the start of his senior season and the All-State scorer is still adept at carrying the load. Cameron finished with 19 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal against Valdosta, scoring in bunches with an explosive 14-point first half. Cannon netted three threes, scored on two left-handed drives and mixed in a floater. Cameron is comfortable playing either on or off the ball. When breaking the press, he’s well-schooled on when to dribble and when to pass. Non-D-I programs will likely be involved in the veteran guard’s recruitment.

2027 6-0 G Jake Reid – Valdosta
Jake has nice touch. He opened up hot against Lovett, netting two of his three threes in the opening half while showing off some creativity downhill with a spin move to get a left-handed floater. Reid’s offensive profile off the ball stretches the floor. When the ball was put in Reid’s hands to make decisions, he did well as he finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.

2027 6-7 C Kaleb Johnson – Valdosta
Valdosta made a late rally to push Lovett to the brink before ultimately falling by three points. Kaleb Johnson was dominant down the stretch as the Wildcats started to feed him the ball. Johnson worked to get open on baseline out of bounds sets, crashing to the ball, sealing for layups. He managed to get on the offensive glass for a pair of putbacks. Kaleb scored with his left hand and had his best move come via a backdown, stepping through the defender for an And-1. Johnson’s athletic frame should be able to put more muscle on once he gets to college. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kaleb took a year to refine his game at the JUCO level before reappearing on recruiting boards. I like his long-term future.

2027 6-6 SG Roman Avery – Mt. Bethel
Mt. Bethel fell 69-60 to The Villages, netting 14 threes in the process. Following a two-point first half, Roman Avery got hot finishing the game with 18 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. He hit four threes as he found a groove as the game went on. At 6-foot-6, I’d like to see Roman attack the basket a little more. He’s a smooth scorer capable of slicing his way to the rim, but instead of being overly aggressive, he played within the flow of the offense which is commendable. When he has the freedom to make plays off the bounce, I think Avery’s game is at its best. The toolsy guard is starting to pick up steam. Roman earned his first offer at the conclusion of GBCA Live, a bid from Kentucky Wesleyan. More D-II programs along with D-III schools will be courting the high academic 4.0 shooter.

De'Cori Fleming2027 6-3 G De’Cori Fleming – Butler
Fort Valley State offered De’Cori after watching him at GBCA Live, joining Augusta University. Fleming continues to climb as his role has steadily increased each season. In a 43-39 win over St. Francis, De’Cori posted 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. The wiry stat sheet stuffer puts his fingerprints all over games. He has a quick first step to the rim. Fleming explodes off one foot but also knows when to power up off two feet. He glides to the hoop, smooth switching hands in mid-air to finish. De’Cori is a steady shooter off the bounce from 15-feet. His athleticism and motor make him one of the more impactful two-way guards in Georgia.

2027 6-6 W Jaylen Samuel – St. Francis
Samuel finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in a 43-39 loss to Butler. Jaylen hit a corner three, a mid-range pull-up, scored an And-1 in transition and had a backdoor dunk to pair with 4-4 shooting from the foul line. I like Samuel’s game. He’s a big wing who can shoot the ball from all over the floor. I think Jaylen even has the skill to go into the post to create mismatches, either scoring with power or facing up and shooting over defenders. With his size and soft scoring touch, I wouldn’t be shocked if D-I programs get involved at some point. D-II schools should be doing their due diligence on the high upside swingman.

Brandon Pemberton2027 6-6 PG Brandon Pemberton – Parkview
One of the hottest prospects in Georgia, Brandon Pemberton has picked up a handful of offers in June; North Florida, Mercer, Wofford and Norfolk State now the latest following Georgia State, Kennesaw State, Tulane and Chattanooga. Parkview defeated Cardinal Gibbons 60-57 behind Pemberton’s 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Brandon’s skilled offensively, very good at getting to his pull-up jumper. The tall point guard is crafty downhill with euro steps and spin moves. Though slender, Pemberton will post up from time to time, creating mismatches with how he can score over smaller guards or use his vision to find shooters and cutters. With his length guarding on the perimeter, I’d like to see him ramp up his motor to be a little more disruptive. I think he has the ability to rack up steals at a high level as well as be impactful around the rim, rotating over to block shots from behind. With a high usage rate on offense, Parkview asks a lot of Pemberton. I still think he has an immense ceiling, as do all the Mid-Major programs offering him. Another All-State season is forthcoming for the breakout star.

2027 6-3 G DJ Newman – GAC
A super athlete, Daniel Newman has a freaky 45-inch vertical which he uses to elevate to finish at the rim. He explodes to score with efficiency, playing bigger than 6-foot-3. The 3.7 GPA student averaged 16.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals at GBCA Live, closing with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block in a last-second win over Cardinal Gibbons. DJ’s offense came on drives, putbacks and a corner three. Newman has elite measurables that should garner recruitment from schools of different levels.