2A Summer Stock Risers – “Workers”

ATLANTA, GA – With the travel season behind us with OTR having put on a monster spring and summer buffet across the region, attracting teams and players from as far as the West Coast, the Dakotas, Texas and the Midwest to name just a few, and along the way performing our core task of helping to set the table for hundreds of prospects to perhaps see their college basketball dreams come true.

Back to life on the local Georgia hardwoods with Fall Leagues soon to heat up, we take some time to look at Stock-Risers from the new Region alignments in a multitude of categories, and how they might impact those state tournament races (travel team in parentheses).

“Workers” encompasses a broad spectrum of talent and contributions, glue guys, high-effort guys, and who may not get the pub they deserve.

by: Keith Agran

Devin Long | 6-4 | SG | Providence Christian | 2023 (AC Georgia)

Long can fit into multiple of the categories we’re going through with our Stock Risers but since he does so many things well and emerged with such a bang this summer Workers suits him just fine, offensively he can give you the finesse game with a sweet-looking J or use a stout frame to take his game in closer as he did often for another good AC Georgia team, it’s his show in Lilburn this winter with some big name 2022’s having moved on and the increased recognition he received over the last 6 months will only ratchet up as he’s unleashed to show off more of his motor and versatile skillset.

Rashaad Headges | 6-2 | CG | Columbia | 2023 (Norcross Heat)

I’ve come to respect this program out of Decatur so much over the last 2 years as I’ve constantly run into players across the travel ball spectrum who can really play, Headges has been a solid contributor both for the Eagles and for Norcross Heat for 2 years and seemingly gets overlooked some on a Heat roster that has had more ballyhooed names on it, but he puts in the work punching the clock and does it with stellar defense and athletic offense plus a willingness to do whatever it takes, those type of guys are super valuable.

Vasean Moody | 6-3 | SG | Spencer | 2023 (Tri-City Elite)

One of south GA’s best shooters Moody is another like Long above who can fill out a bunch of Stock Riser categories as he ends up populating the stat sheet, big and strong and not afraid to use it he can do more than hurt you from long range and uses brain and brawn to Out-Work you, that level of shooting gets him in the front door in my view but he’s as smart a wing player I’ve seen over the last 6 months and is a superb passer and versatile defender with some beef to back it up, the Spencer program is tough and talented and filled with South GA gems to take a look at.

Qurahn Anderson | 6-3 | SG | Windsor Forest | 2023 (Georgia Ignites)

Whether with Forest, Team Intensity or Georgia Ignites all out of the Savannah area Anderson has been an eye-popping athletic talent for a couple of years now, he fits well into the Workers category because his effort-level is also noticeable despite freakish athletic gifts, he doesn’t do a ton of drifting out there waiting for the few opportunities to dazzle instead gutting it out like most of the Savannah kids do playing hard and competing often against more marquee programs, playing with D’Ante Bass at Forest got him some looks and now it’s his time to show off a very attractive shooting guard package.

Jakenes Heard | 6-5 | SG/SF | Model | 2023 (ENG United)

From first eyes on Heard 2 years ago to this past summer is what makes this job so much fun as he has come so far from a young man with obvious physical gifts to a legit college-level player with a multiple skillset that can be utilized at multiple levels, the Worker part is even more satisfying to tout as he has matured into a defensive stopper who can cover both the backcourt and frontcourt and an offensive spark who has expanded his game away from the basket with range and brings energy to the floor, tucked away in Rome is not a good excuse for not giving this Northwest GA potential steal a look.

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.