2025/2026 Impact Combos Pt 1
By: Keith Agran
LAMBERT
HEADLINERS: 2025 G Cam Bland (pictured), 2026 F Will Dopfer
OUTLOOK: With a ton of leadership and production set to leave this spring it will be the Bland and Dopfer show next year, though as usual the Longhorns will develop a few other guys who’ll step up to surprise. But Bland, a high-level football recruit as well, will step right in for Region POY Niko Wilson and be among the better guards due north of the perimeter, while Dopfer is rapidly placing his name among the best young big men in the state and is geared up for a potential monster spring with Redline Hoops’ 2026 bunch on the UA Rise Circuit.
HOLY INNOCENTS’
HEADLINERS: 2025 F Caleb Wilson (pictured in white), 2026 G/F Devin Hutcherson
OUTLOOK: No one is silly enough to sleep on do-it-all 2024 guard Will Hopkins and his impending return to the halls of HIES, but from a youth perspective you could argue the duo of Wilson and Hutcherson is as purely talented as it gets. So much more still to see from both as well as Wilson continues to grow skyward potentially giving him more of an Ace Bailey-type look his last 2 years, while the ceiling for Hutcherson is so fascinating and could land him as a big guard, a bruising small forward or some seriously dangerous combination of both.
HERITAGE-CONYERS
HEADLINERS: 2026 G Jayden Scott (pictured), 2026 G Bobby Buggs
OUTLOOK: Breaking from the theme a bit to highlight a pair of freshman guards who’ve created a lot of buzz off I-20. A lot of skill within both packages at the moment, and this summer will prove quite the proving ground for them to take the next step. Scott has been a highly touted talent for some time now, and has delivered on a big first varsity season. I saw Buggs play last spring as an 8th-grader and he stood out immediately for the advanced approach to ballhandling and the attack.
PEBBLEBROOK
HEADLINERS: 2025 G Cameron Smith (pictured), 2025 G Caleb Thomas
OUTLOOK: Few programs in the ATL-Metro absorb graduation losses as well as the Falcons do, and having the kind of talent in the backcourt ready to step in like Smith and Thomas should have P’Brook right back in the mix in 7A. Both have seen key minutes this year and flashed brilliance, but there’s so much to see and the upside makes for some exciting possibilities with this pair.
GRAYSON
HEADLINERS: 2025 C Amir Taylor, 2026 G Kayden Allen (pictured)
OUTLOOK: A large portion of this year’s rotation will be back next year from a stacked junior class, but Taylor is already a household name in the frontcourt and Allen has been a nice piece off the Rams bench. Taylor’s development continues into the high major prospect most thought he could be, while there’s a ton of excitement around Allen and his length at the guard spot and wildly intriguing athletic and multi-level skillset.
WHEELER
HEADLINERS: 2026 G Kota Suttle Jr (pictured), 2026 G Amare James, 2026 G Nate Earl, 2026 G Lamarrion Lewis
OUTLOOK: On a stacked and nationally-ranked Wildcats team the above quartet hasn’t had a ton of chances to get on display. But commit the names to memory as even with 2024’s Julian Ormond and Ricky McKenzie coming back next year all 4 should feature prominently in what is always a deep backcourt rotation for Coach Larry Thompson off Holt Rd.
WINDER-BARROW
HEADLINERS: 2026 G Jerrin Samuel (pictured), 2025 Brian Arnold, 2025 F Jordan Samuel
OUTLOOK: Saying goodbye to explosive 2023 G Jeremiah Holloway won’t be easy but having one of the real sleeper top 2026’s in the state ready to step in makes it easier as Samuel is a must-know name. He’ll lead a young crew next fall that will look to build off what has been a strong season so far for this Bulldoggs bunch.
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 also spent 3 years as a sports writer at two newspapers in New Jersey. After a championship-coaching background on the HS-level also in NJ, he accepted the Girl’s Basketball Head Coaching position in May 2022 at Mt Bethel Christian Academy and now balances scouting and coaching still with a keen eye on talent around the region. You can reach him at keithagran1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BracketSage.
