GBCA Live Backcourt Top Performers
Analysis

GBCA Live Backcourt Top Performers

Milan Kennedy2023 6-3 G Milan Kennedy – Alexander
I was very impressed with Milan Kenney. He is a shot maker on the perimeter, hitting jumpers off the dribble, creating separation with his handle. Kennedy has good size. He can play either on or off the ball. Kennedy piled in 17 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists and 3 steals in a 62-57 win over King’s Ridge. If the wiry guard can bottle up how he played on Friday, there’s no reason he can’t help a good program at the next level.

D'Marion Floyd2024 6-0 PG D’Marion Floyd – Darlington
With a 12-point halftime lead dwindling away, D’Marion Floyd stepped on the gas and left LaGrange in the dust. Floyd found his offensive aggressiveness, attacking the rim for 18 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block in a 49-41 win. The athletic rising junior used his bounce and quick first step to elevate for tough contested layups, finishing with both hands. A natural playmaker, when Floyd is keeping the pressure on the defense as a scorer, Darlington is dangerous. He will need to develop an outside shot, but either way Floyd will be a stock riser in Northwest Georgia over his final two seasons.

2024 5-7 PG Yuta Yamamoto – Chattahoochee
It’s been a year since I last saw Yuta Yamamoto. The pound-for-pound bundle of scoring lit it up in a 62-53 win over Paideia, hitting three of his four threes in the second half, finishing with 14 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists. Yuta has a quick trigger. Though he is undersized, he’s been in the weight room and protects the ball well. He’s a solid playmaker off the bounce, able to hit the mid-range pull-up or get into the paint for floaters. Yamamoto is a good decision maker when he has two feet in the lane, savvy enough to find open shooters if a clean look for himself isn’t available.

2026 6-2 G David Smith – Paideia
A dual-sport standout that also excels at baseball, I had not heard of incoming freshman David Smith before GBCA Live. I am certainly happy I decided to sit on his court. Smith didn’t immediately wow me with elite size or one certain skill, but after reading his final stat line, it’s clear that David can play. He tallied 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 10 steals. David was always around the ball, having his fingerprints all over the game. Smith is a well-rounded two-way player that can impact games in a variety of ways. He cashed in a pair of threes, had two And-1 drives, got on the offensive glass and converted turnovers into points. Smith is wiry and looks like he still has some room to grow and add muscle. He averaged 10 points per game over the event. David is a sneaky good player that will make a quick difference for the Pythons.

2023 6-5 G Preston Parker – Sequoyah
Offers have started to trickle in for Preston Parker including his first D-I bid from Radford. Parker will be the unquestioned go-to guy for a Sequoyah team that will see many new faces fill big roles left behind by graduation. Parker’s ascent began last offseason. He’s a big guard that can score from all three levels. Preston shined with the spotlight on him this past weekend averaging 18.3 points per game. He dumped in 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in the Blue Division Championship in a win over Marist 43-34. Parker sank three three-pointers and scored on three And-1s.  His creativity with the ball can catch some defenders off guard and his shot making is near the best in Cherokee County. Out of past leading scorers Jacksen Greco (Mercer) and Dylan Wolle (Rollins), Parker looks like the most well-balanced Sequoyah guard in terms of size and scoring diversity.

2024 6-2 G Andrew LaVigne – South Paulding
Slow and steady wins the race. Andrew LaVigne has quietly been working on his craft. Now entering Year 3, if South Paulding surprises some people, LaVigne may be a big reason why. He’s a steady three-level scorer. LaVigne’s jumper is his top weapon. He can get his shot off the dribble and is a knockdown shooter on the catch. Big moments don’t seem to phase him either. Needing a three to send the Yellow Division Championship to overtime, LaVigne coolly cashed in on a corner trifecta with seconds left. Andrew plays well off two feet and is South Paulding’s best shooter. He finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. With two more seasons to develop, D-II schools will want to watch closely.

2023 6-1 G Jeremiah Taylor – South Paulding
Adding a outside shot has long been the area of development needed for Jeremiah Taylor to take the next step. Taylor has shown signs of improvement this summer and can thank his hard work and new contacts for the growth. Now able to see the rim clearly, Taylor has had a handful explosive three-point shooting games throughout the month. On Sunday, Taylor stuck to his bread and butter against North Forsyth, identifying his athleticism as an advantage and attacking downhill. Taylor posted 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. His signature push floater has range out to 10-feet. The high flyer got on the offensive glass and scored on a pair of putbacks. If Taylor’s outside shooting stays consistent, he should be a valid option for D-II programs.

2024 6-1 G Braden Mullis – North Forsyth
Braden Mullis caught fire in the Yellow Division Championship, draining four threes en route to 18 points. The lefty can be an electric scorer. He has deep range and is an extremely crafty finisher that puts backspin on his balls to score from tough angles. Mullis is one of the best natural scorers in Forsyth County.

2024 6-4 PG Gicarri Harris – Grayson
High Major offers have poured in at a rapid rate. Gicarri Harris took a big jump in Year 2 and looks primed for another leap heading into Year 3. Harris has transitioned into being a lead guard full-time, serving as the point man for the Rams. Gicarri is an elite slasher that always finds a way to get his feet in the paint, but he’s also become a steady playmaker that hits the open man when defenses collapse. Harris has great body control and absorbs contact when scoring at the rim. His tenacity as an on-ball defender still separates him from most. He had 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block vs. Westside-Augusta.

Brandon Rechsteiner2023 6-1 PG Brandon Rechsteiner – Etowah
The balloon has burst. High Major offers are now a reality with Kansas State, Georgia Tech, Northwestern and Dayton some of the fewest big boys to jump into the mix. Rechsteiner’s electrifying ball handling, NBA-range and court vision are too much to pass up. He averaged 17 points per game and netted 18 threes over four games. Rechsteiner posted 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal in a 53-36 win over Columbia, canning four three-pointers in the process. Rechsteiner gets better and better at a scary rate.

KeShaun Pace2023 6-2 G Ke’Shaun Pace – Carrollton
Reinhardt offered following a strong GBCA Live. Pace is a long guard with a smooth attack downhill. He’s a good scorer in the lane and can shoot the three as well. He energizes Carrollton in the full court press and is able to cover 1-3 in the halfcourt. He’s always been a steady rebounder and an all-around stat sheet stuffer. He put up 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals vs. Lovett.