With summer ball winding down, here’s an early preview of some of the top players in the GHSA’s newly formed Class 7A.
2027 6-6 G MJ Curry – Grayson
MJ Curry’s game continues to evolve. At 6-foot-6, Curry has great length and athleticism. He’s one of the bounciest guards in the state, always on the verge of creating a highlight when the ball is in his hands. With his size in the backcourt, Curry can influence games in a multitude of ways. He has major upside as a perimeter defender. MJ rotates down to rebound and block shots when he isn’t stifling ball handlers on the perimeter. Offensively, Curry can go on scoring binges with his jump shot, accurate from beyond the arc. His vision as a playmaker continues to grow as he is unselfish when it comes to making the right reads. Power 4 schools are recruiting.
2027 5-11 PG Kevin Savage III – Wheeler
The four-star floor general committed to Purdue in early July. Savage is a heady lead guard who dictates the flow of games. What the lefty lacks in height, he makes up for in other areas. He’s got a college-ready body with explosive athleticism. He handles with his head up, always in a position to attack – pulling up with jumpers or dishing alley-oop lobs. Kevin averaged 20.8 points, 2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.8 steals on the Adidas 3SSB circuit.
2027 6-7 W Asa Montgomery – Hillgrove
Asa exploded onto High Major radars last season and has continued his upward trajectory this summer winning gold with the USA U17 National Team averaging 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Montgomery has size, strength, athleticism and skill. He routinely is able to hit tough shots from all three levels and provides production defensively as well. He dominated on the EYCL circuit, averaging a league-best 27.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 blocks after posting 18.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks as a junior at Hillgrove. A four-star prospect, Asa is currently ranked No. 29 in the nation by ESPN.
2027 6-4 G Chase Lumpkin – McEachern
Ranked No. 28 in the country, Chase Lumpkin can score the ball with the best of them. The big guard is a knockdown shooter. He gets his shot off the catch and off the dribble. Lumpkin, still wiry with length, has added muscle to his frame consistently over the course of his career. While getting to his spots with his jumper is still his top attribute, Chase has become a bouncy finisher downhill. His consistency in big games can’t be overstated as Lumpkin always seems to deliver. His stock continues to rise, earning offers from Arizona State, Southern California, Michigan, Vanderbilt and Villanova in June.
2029 6-5 G Austin Leonard – Grayson
Currently tabbed as a five-star prospect, No. 6 in the nation according to ESPN, Austin Leonard is a sophomore with a mature game. Austin can fill in wherever asked. He’s comfortable running point guard but is more than capable of sliding off ball as well. Leonard has great functional strength, powerful to the rim as he absorbs fouls and converts And-1s. Austin finds baskets from all levels while still letting the game come to him. Leonard has a workman like demeanor on the floor. He’s trustworthy to compete and produce at a high level.
2027 6-6 G Brandon Pemberton – Parkview
Pemberton erupted as a junior to average 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Gameplans revolve around slowing him down. With his length, Brandon has the tools to touch every portion of the box score. He’s got a high-usage rate, but Pemberton is often efficient in his attack, a long-striding slasher who mixes in mid-range jumpers and threes. He netted 34-98 (35%) of his threes last season while capitalizing on 81% (108-134) of his free throw attempts. D-I programs are heavily involved, especially at the Mid-Major level.