2021 5-11 PG Tre Grane – Warner Robins All-Stars – Northside-Warner Robins
Tre Grane made his hay with his quickness and wiggle, constantly putting pressure on the defense. Grane, who has a 3.7 GPA, would routinely rebound the ball and push it in transition all while weaving through the defense until he got to the rim. For his size, Tre is a solid and willing rebounder. He’s got above average speed when handling. Grane did a nice job of getting to the line as teams had to foul to stop him. In two games he went 10-15 from the foul line and averaged 15.5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. Even with the small sample size, Grane managed to match his high school season output of 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. Equipped with a sharp pull-up jumper, Grane is a name for college coaches to track over the next few months.

2021 6-3 F Greg Jones – Warner Robins All-Stars – Warner Robins
A reliable finisher around the rim, Greg Jones scored effectively inside on dump-offs and second chance points. Jones is another player that doesn’t let his height define him. With great heart and energy, he plays bigger than his size and loves to fight for rebounds. Over two games, Jones averaged a double-double at 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds. His activity caused major problems, especially in the All-Stars’ last second loss to NME as Jones piled on 18 points and 11 boards. With a 3.4 GPA and high school average of 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game, you know night in and night out what you are going to get with Jones.

2022 6-6 W TJ Grant – Warner Robins All-Stars – Veterans
A known name in the 2022 class, TJ Grant helped Veterans to their best record in school history last year as a sophomore, averaging 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 3.4 steals and 1.5 blocks as the Warhawks finished 25-4 with a Sweet 16 appearance. Grant has great versatility on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can hurt teams both on the perimeter and on the block. He has a fluid handle and can slash to the basket while also boasting a respectable mid-range game. His three-point shot will need to improve (9-44; 20%), but Grant has good mechanics and should be able to figure it out soon. TJ was tough in the post this past weekend. He’s got a good strong body and has quality footwork, able to work the pivot until he gets what he wants inside. In two games he averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block per game. Defensively, Grant has switchability and the length and quickness to defend a number of positions. He’s got good instincts and finds himself in playmaking positions often. With a 3.9 GPA to boot, Grant should become a hot commodity by the time he’s a senior.

2022 6-2 SG Ethan Elliott – Warner Robins All-Stars – Warner Robins
A subtle surprise this weekend was Ethan Elliott. The flash he showed against Lights Out Ballers left an interesting impression. Though it was a 67-32 blowout, Elliott did provide a spark every time he entered the game. He has a sneaky good handle and some nice athleticism that helps him get to the rim and finish with finesse. Elliott even knocked down a three-ball in the rout. In total, he finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Elliott may be a name to remember in a couple years.

2021 6-3 SG DaQuan Riggins – Game Elite – South Cobb
An unsung hero, DaQuan Riggins made an impact throughout Battle For Georgia with his activity on defense. Riggins is a wiry athletic guard that can hit the open three but is best at playing in transition and finishing at the rim. He had great energy throughout the course of the tournament and turned defense into offense. He averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds, right on par with his high school output as a junior. Riggins is an interesting long-term option for smaller schools. Check back on him in a few months.

2021 6-6 W Jaylen Jackson – Game Elite – Greenforest
I firmly believe that Jaylen Jackson might be the most underappreciated household name in Georgia. By now, everyone should know who the North Carolina A&T-commit is. Jackson is a freak athlete, possibly the best in the state. Last year, Jackson made a splash with Team Forrest and caught my eye before he was a known commodity. While he still needed to work on some things, it was clear to see that Jackson had some major potential. Fast forward to present day, after a breakout campaign (16.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) landed him on the All-State team, Jackson has kept his momentum. He was great with Game Elite this past weekend when the offense ran through him. He averaged 15.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3 steals. Jackson has grown his game, consistently creating off the dribble and pulling up from both mid-range and beyond. Already a strong straight-line driver, Jackson’s added weapon grows his arsenal even more. What was most impressive this weekend however, was his improvement getting others involved. Being able to make plays for his teammates is a whole new dimension. With his raw tools and expanding game, Jackson feels like a steal in the MEAC and a future All-Conference performer if he continues his steady ascent.

2021 6-0 CG Preston Kent – Bostic Next Level – GMC
The Cinderella story of the event, Bostic Next Level entered Battle For Georgia with no fanfare.  Instead, they decided to earn people’s respect by “upset” after “upset”. At the head of the snake was Preston Kent. The pride of Milledgeville went for 27 points against BCB before cooking AC Georgia for 26 in their biggest shocker of the qualifying round to punch their ticket to Sunday’s official Battle For Georgia. Though they fell short against Game Elite, Kent once again didn’t back down, going for 19 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Preston is a downhill guard with shifty handles. He puts his head down and always finds a way to touch the paint. Kent does a good job using his body to shield the ball away from defenders. He also proved over the weekend that he could hurt teams from distance. He’s a well-rounded scorer that excelled in Class A-Public, averaging 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 56-159 (35%) from three.

2021 6-3 W Leroy Wilson – Bostic Next Level – Hancock Central
Bostic Next Level’s magic could have ended on Saturday if it wasn’t for Leroy Wilson. “Pookie” drilled a three at the buzzer to stun AC Georgia, 63-61. A state champion at Hancock Central, Wilson isn’t a stranger to the big stage. After coming up big against AC Georgia, he provided a strong effort against Game Elite, tallying 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. He’s got a great wingspan that helps him play larger than his size. Wilson’s got a good motor and plays with toughness when slashing to the hoop and helping out on the glass. He has a quality three-point shot and a quick first step that helps him keep defenses off balance. Wilson’s a grinder that gets the job done.