Stock Riser Bigs – ATL-Metro Part 2

ATLANTA, GA – And next up are 12 more Stock Riser Bigs from the ATL-Metro and perhaps a bit beyond, guys whose stock has risen or is set to catch fire this summer leading into next season.

By: Keith Agran

Brigham Rogers | 6-9 | 2023 | Blessed Trinity

Such progress has Rogers made across the spectrum in the last 2 years that words hardly do it justice. Get down to a BT game to see first the offensive game that has moved much further from the basket, and the improved handle which has allowed him to play more facing up. Add shooting range out past the arc as well to go with the elite defending which has been his hallmark, and it’s easy to see why he’s a top riser in the GA Bigs market.

Spencer Elliott | 6-9 | 2023 | St Pius

After only seeing him from far up the stands prior, getting a floor-level look a the length and swiftness of movement was something to see recently when I was at Pius. Such a worker and so good on the glass at both ends, his defense both on the perimeter and at the rim is also high-level. With a year still to go to show off the expanding shooting range and more catch-and-downhill action as part of the fun Golden Lions scheme, this is surely one of the state’s rapid risers.

Arrinten Page | 6-8 | 2023 | Wheeler

Such athletic gifts immediately pop out when you watch Page move and do his business out there. With 3 elite-level guards getting him the ball in positions to score it would seem a cakewalk, but Page adds his own measure of power and finesse to those opportunities. Great timing as a shot-blocker, he’ll still have the dynamite Isaiah Collier to get him the rock next year and still-another big jump into the big-time recruiting stratosphere seems imminent next fall.

Bryson Tiller | 6-8 | 2025 | Pace Academy

Seems difficult to believe watching Tiller at both ends of the floor he could only be a freshman, the advanced ability to get what he wants offensively and absolutely erase at the other end has been a treat to watch all season. Scary is the quickly developing and efficient shooting ability from 3, to go with more put-it-on-floor attacking from the wings. And then there’s the work on the glass, where he can simply own it for long stretches and help stem or contribute to runs. It’s a wow-package.

London Williams | 6-5 | 2023 | Buford

Such attention is placed on the guards for the Wolves that Williams’ production can be an unfortunate afterthought. But there he is each night, battling hard as a defender and rebounder and filling up the stat sheet often in ways beyond scoring. When he does catch it in close, there’s a great understanding of the post game and he’s adept at drawing contact, he can also step out and knock one down from 15 feet as well. Underrated and sure to be more featured on the ’22-23 Wolves iteration.

Jeremias Heard | 6-8 | 2024 | Model (pictured above)

Tucked away in the northwest portion of the state is this absolute sleeper and giant of a young man, who always surprises with how well he moves up and down the floor and around the basket for a guy his size. Looking leaner and stronger when I saw him recently, I love the hands and the natural feet that allow him to use what has been mostly natural gifts to this point to still make a large impression. Is must-see in the 2A playoffs and this summer, as he can hardly be missed when he takes the floor and starts getting in his work.

Jayce Nathaniel | 6-7 | 2024 | Lanier

Fast-rising sophomore who was featured in our recent Playoff Impact 2024’s, the body and the game are super tantalizing, the motor and the enthusiasm are also key traits. One of the state’s best sophomore bigs.

Micah Smith | 6-7 | 2024 | Sandy Creek

Ditto for Smith in the same vein as Nathaniel, both bring such energy and ability to the forefront at a young stage, with Smith’s status as a true -warrior cemented playing hurt most of the 2nd half of another top-shelf season for the Pats.

Caleb Wilson | 6-7 | 2025 | Holy Innocents’

Call him a guard, call him a forward, he does it all for the Golden Bears in spots. He really works to get position on the block and can play most of the day backing you down, or use his great handle and array of moves to be a monster wing threat already as just a freshman. Should he grow more, his frontcourt prospects get even more devastating.

Kameryn Fountain  | 6-7 | 2024 | Washington

Big fan of the body and where that alone can take him as his skillset is ahead for a sophomore but has room to grow into something even more special. Right now he’s a serious handful on the in-close catch, and he kills on the offensive glass if you sleep on his movement. As he starts getting the ball further out and develops the deep shooting game, the stock skyrockets.

Aidan Temple | 6-6 | 2023 | Chattahoochee

Love the way he plays the game, it’s a mix of old-school Kevin McHale-work inside plus new-school understanding of the 3-pt shot and utilizing a sweet stroke. He’s an instinctive big-man passer and a smart defender particularly against bigger guys, it’ll be fun to see him next year out from under the seniors who dominate the ball right now, as Hooch is always well-drilled and next year’s crew has some fascinating possibilities.

Kelvin Hunter | 6-7 | 2023 | Chapel Hill

This is a 5A roster that can definitely get to Macon, and although their guards pull most of the headlines, Hunter is a critical piece with his rim-defense and sticky hands on the glass. Be fun to watch these Panthers go through the bracket, and Hunter next year with returning guard Khirus Doucet will give this Douglas County bunch one of the best inside-out combos in the Metro.

Keith Agran has lived in Georgia since 2011 and joined OTR as a National Evaluator in 2021. He previously scouted for Prep Hoops dating back to 2019 and has both a championship-coaching background on the HS-level and daily newspaper writing experience, both from New Jersey. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.