AAU Workout Visits – Redline Hoops 2026

CUMMING, GA – Technically we were in Gainesville at East Forsyth HS, but the Redline Hoops organization headed up by Brian Burns and coached by Jay and Gordon Gibbons is based out of Forsyth County and has come a long way in a year’s time.

From their stirring 14U win last July over southeast power 1Family out of Florida to a string of other impressive performances, Year 2 shapes up to be even more exciting as they have caught on with the UA Rise Circuit in addition to taking aim at the ATL-Metro area circuits like our own OTR.

A year older, stronger and wiser with everyone back, had eyes specifically on the rising 15U’s on this night, and got a look at a few new impact 2026 faces as well.

By: Keith Agran

REDLINE HOOPS 15U

Will Dopfer | F | Lambert

Inserted to the starting lineup virtually from day of practice after starring as one of the top draws for the 14U Redline version of a year ago. Got several good looks a thin during this past regular season and the progression is real, as he can really score it in a bunch of ways from 15 feet in and is a terror already on the glass and as a shot-blocker. Listed at 6-4 but seems to be growing by the week, and plays a whole lot bigger than that on the interior, and with similar type guards around him like he had this year at Lambert he should continue his rapid upward radar swing.

Charlie Gersmehl | F | South Forsyth (pictured at top)

Part 1-A of the interior twosome that wreaked havoc on 14u teams all over town last year, he too saw significant minutes with the War Eagles this winter and sets up to be the cornerstone that South builds around moving forward. Can stretch-4 it for you or play a straight-up 5 and be really effective using size (6-6) to play effectively with his back to the basket. Moving better laterally than last year and that will get better with strength and maturity, and it’ll stands to be quite the package to deal with both this summer and when late October ’23 rolls around.

Payne Smith | G | South Forsyth

I think the minutes Smith got with South this year will pay even bigger dividends for both him and Redline because any freshman PG playing on the ATL-Metro HS-level is going to see really tough pressure and be forced to mature more quickly. He’s a terrific athlete who’s just starting to see how he can utilize his good basketball instincts to go with his speed and off-the-floor surprise lift. Reminds me of a right-handed version of former Denmark guard Sutton Smith (no relation), both as a leader and as part penetrator and part arc assassin.

Brennan Burns | G | East Forsyth

This can be a really valuable summer for Burns as he’s expected to be one of “the” guys for East next year with the primary backcourt rotation members graduating. He brings a little more to the table than just the 3-balls that the Broncs are known for launching in droves, as he has a real aggressive downhill approach that I like that will fill the void of the departing Matthew Rouse. He’s strong and has a good eye for scoring chances, and while he can hang around the arc and hurt you, with all this size at Redline he will see a lot of good outside-in scoring chances. Joined on Redline by Blake Bracco, younger brother of 2023 standout Bryce, and the two will get things rolling this summer to both prep for bigger roles with East HC Scott Bracco this fall.

NEW FACES TO WATCH:

Trey Rhodes, G, Norcross

Connor Coxwell, F, North Gwinnett

Michael Akinrinmade, F, North Forsyth

Among the intriguing new names to @RedlineHoops 2026 bunch is Trey Rhodes of @NorcrossHoops and Connor Coxwell of @NG_Hoops, Rhodes is an uber looking athlete which changes the lineup instantly, while Coxworth has nice size and good feel to augment Dopfer and Gersmehl pic.twitter.com/ZneFmwRzhk

— Keith Agran (@BracketSage) March 3, 2023

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.