With summer ball winding down, here’s an early preview of some of the top players in the GHSA’s newly formed Class 5A.
2027 6-4 G Justin Wise – North Oconee
High Major programs from across the country have offered Wise, a two-time state champion. The elite shooter has good size and deep range. It feels like the bigger the stage, the bigger the game for Justin. Along with being a knockdown three-point shooter, Wise is a bouncy finisher who doesn’t get enough credit for his athleticism. Wise is strong enough to absorb contact downhill and is springy enough to block shots on defense. Justin demands defensive attention from the moment he steps over halfcourt.
2029 6-3 G Brayden Wise – North Oconee
Brayden’s stock has soared over the summer. The lefty trades buckets with his brother showcasing deep three-point range and slithery wiggle with the ball. When Wise penetrates not only is he a threat to score, but he’s an unselfish distributor who can riffle out assists to shooters. Brayden’s offensive acumen has led to offers from Georgia, Mississippi State, Miami and Georgia Tech.
2027 6-2 G Tyler Griffin – Starr’s Mill
The legend of Tyler Griffin continues to grow. A habitual producer, Griffin earned Region 3-4A Player of the Year honors last season by dropping in 28.3 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals a game to land Second Team All-State. Tyler’s feel for the game is what makes him special. He rarely gets flustered as he steadily goes about his business. Griffin drains threes, gets to spots in the mid-range, is crafty off the bounce and baits fouls to get to the line. He may not wow you with dazzling highlight plays, but the game comes easy to him as 20-point games materialize routinely. Tyler’s deep shooting range and vision as a passer make him one of the toughest covers in Georgia. College offers are right around the corner.
2028 6-7 F Laron Mack Jr. – Dutchtown
New to Georgia, Laron Mack will quickly become a household name. The four-star combo-forward netted offers from Washington and Florida State in 2025. Mack scores in the frontcourt in a variety of ways. He loves to play on the wing and is effective in the high post. With his size and strength, he’s able to attack off the dribble in traffic to finish with either hand. Laron’s a smooth shooter from the mid-range, good at rising over defenders to fire. His diversity in high ball screens will cause defenders issues as he can both score on pops and rolls.
2027 6-6 F Christian Gatewood – Eastside
Gatewood is a workhorse. Physical and quick off the floor, Christian is a handful to deal with inside the arc. He’s a powerful finisher in the paint with nifty footwork. Gatewood plays with great balance, playing off two feet to explode up to score. Christian is a threat to slash across the lane for hard earned buckets. His rebounding prowess leads to nightly double-doubles as he aggressively pursues 50/50 balls. Gatewood is the glue for an experienced Eastside team that continues to improve each season.
2028 6-1 G Calvin Goss – Jonesboro
Que is a polished scorer who has no issues finding buckets without much assistance needed. He’s a creative scorer in one-on-one settings, good at getting to his spots and shifty downhill. Goss’ jump shot is his greatest weapon. He’s skilled at working the baseline and mid-range for turnaround jumpers. The lefty is heady when it comes to drawing fouls, doing so both off the bounce on drives and with his jumper as he tends to flare his legs out. Goss netted 62 threes at a 34% rate last season en route to averaging 16.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists as the Cardinals reached the Class 4A Final Four. West Georgia offered in June.
2027 6-3 SG Jackson Ushery – Southwest DeKalb
A three-level scorer, Jackson Ushery posted 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior. Jackson fills it up with his jump shot, a 41% three-point shooter coming off a season in which he netted 78 long balls. Ushery’s game has grown from being just a shooter. He’s a bouncy finisher downhill who can dunk or snap off sharp euro steps to score with either hand. South Carolina offered in April.
2028 6-1 G Sterling Pritchett – Tucker
Heading into his junior season, Sterling is a proven scorer. In Year 1 at Tucker after a move from Lakeside-DeKalb, Pritchett averaged 14.5 points and 2.1 steals while sinking 41 threes at a 33% rate. Physically strong, Sterling is a versatile scorer. He powers through traffic on drives with body control and is crafty off the bounce with step-back jumpers.