TOC Holiday Classic 2022 – Top Backcourts

MARIETTA, GA – One of the most anticipated stops on the GA basketball calendar yearly is Wheeler HS and the Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic.

The slate included 16 games between 2 gyms, and always sports some of the best teams in the ATL-Metro.

Jumping between both gyms, Let’s look at some combined units from the early portion of the day’s action, starting with backcourts I got eyes on (in no particular order).

By: Keith Agran

PARKVIEW

Players: Jacob Wilkins, Mike Matthews Jr, Chasz Holmes, Amari Shuler, Michael Carpenter

Analysis: 2025 Wilkins and his immense talents is the newest piece to a junior class plus Shuler that was on the way up after graduation losses from last year. But it takes a village with this team, and football star Matthews in particular is a game-changing talent as well.

HERITAGE-NEWNAN

Players: Max Skidmore, Mason Bolinger, Ian Hall, Dontae Smith

Analysis: If you don’t know the name Skidmore yet, shame on you, as the 2024 was terrific last year as a sophomore with alpha-type seniors around him and now is looking bigger and stronger and even more potent as a multi-level scorer. Gets able support from the others listed, Bolinger notably being a feisty and energetic wing sparkplug.

LANGSTON HUGHES

Players: Kabrim Roberts, Randy Latham, Christian Walthour

Analysis: A little thinner with options than in past years considering the kind of defensive pressure Hughes ratchets up nearly all game long. But Latham’s consistent offensive play and Roberts defensive prowess have been stellar and represent the kind of tough night you’ll get every time you see the green and gold opposite you.

MILTON

Players: Josh Dixon, Avery White, Devan Rush

Analysis: The two 2025’s Dixon and White have the ball to themselves with Eagle iteration as creators and key scoring threats, with Dixon well-known already as one of the top sophomore lead guards in the state. Rush adds perimeter shooting on the kick-outs and plenty of fight and feist.

TUCKER

Players: Josiah Lawson, Khayri Dunn, Christopher Whitemore

Analysis: The dynamic scoring ability of Lawson, such a tough matchup for opposing 2’s, has a strong augment with the arrival of Dunn, who is physical and quick and can break down defenses. This Tucker team will get better and better as the season goes on.

CHAPEL HILL

Players: Khirus Doucet, Oray Towns, Kyle White, Jaiden Glenn

Analysis: The senior combo of Doucet and Towns are skilled and dtermined, with Doucet a downhill force and Towns a composed floor leader and high % 3-point bomber. The diminutive but conscience-free White has emerged off the bench as a lights-out shooting option from deep.

PEACHTREE RIDGE

Players: Khush Chauhan, Rashad Dames, Jameel Peters, Bradley Goines, Byron Martin, Connor Teasley

Analysis: With all deference to the consistently great D we see from the likes of ATL-Metro defensive standard-bearers like Archer, Langston Hughes and Pace, no one has impressed more at that end of the floor this season than the Lions. It’s just suffocating stuff supported by deep options who are so well-schooled it’s a joy to watch. Offensively, pick your poison nightly from the group above, making them so hard to game plan against.

COLUMBIA

Players: Rashad Headges, Mekhi Craft, Jaden Baugh, Trevian Callaway

Analysis: The mix of seniors Headges and Craft with rising juniors Baugh and Callaway has proven to be yet another devastating combo of backcourt mates for the always tough 2A Eagles to deploy. They’re 7-0 as of publication for a reason and an obvious contender to win it all.

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.