A big weekend of basketball saw players take center stage across the Cobb County area for On The Radar's Run For The Cup. Here are some of the trending names from the weekend:

AJ Cox - Smyrna Stars - 2027

This 6’10” big man is a monster in the middle. He runs on an extremely high motor and makes athletic plays everywhere that will captivate your attention. At his size, blocking shots comes naturally to him, but he also moves great laterally, allowing him to switch onto guards in the pick-and-roll game. AJ is smart and plays the right way, understanding the balance between being aggressive and sound. Offensively, he’s comfortable on either block and demands a lot of defensive attention when he receives the ball. He’s got great vision and is a willing passer out of double teams, often leading to great shots for others. Although he has a slim frame, AJ is a strong athlete and seeks out contact when driving to the rim. And of course, he springs off the ground to throw down powerful dunks with ease. All of this combined, and you get a highly impactful player that’s able to change the dynamic of an entire game.

Drake Nix - Atlanta All-Stars - 2029

Drake Nix is the type of person that every coach would love to have on their team. His mindset is absolutely team-first, and his play on the court reflects that attitude. He’s a high-IQ player who knows how to play to his strengths, which are many. In terms of scoring, Drake is well capable at multiple levels, but keeps pressurizing the rim as his top priority. He uses his bigger frame to bump through defenders, but also uses his handle and quickness to shift players off balance when attacking. His outside shot looks nice and certainly poses a threat to opposing defenses. As I mentioned before, he’s team-first, so it comes as no shock that he can make plays for others as well. Defensively, he’s a workhorse and takes on the challenge of guarding bigger players. And when it comes to rebounding, he’s good at carving out space beneath the rim to come up with a great deal of boards. Drake is a big-time competitor that you can count on to perform in tough matchups, as we say all throughout the weekend here.

KJ Reed - GA Stunners - 2029

KJ Reed is smooth as silk. His pace and control are elite, as it looks as though the defense cannot do much to bother him. He’s got a nice handle that he seems to just float with, and he gets to his spots with ease. Once he gets there, he uses his explosiveness to rise high over defenders and knock down jumpshots off the dribble. His explosiveness isn’t limited to elevating on his jumpshot, though, as we saw him finish above the rim several times with authority this weekend. KJ is much more than just a scorer, too. He has a nice balance of creating his own shot and finding his teammates in position to succeed. Standing at 6’5” and with lots of length, he’s able to be a positive on the defensive end as well. He finds himself in great position often and is able to come up with deflections, which then lead to the highlight plays he’s known for. KJ's immense skill and calm demeanor make him an exciting talent to keep track of for the rest of the season.

Jacorey Lee Jr. - Team Swain - 2029

Jacorey was potentially the hardest-playing kid I had seen all weekend. He feeds off the energy of intense games and thrives in competitive settings. His defense immediately jumps out at you when watching him, as he is most impressive at sliding his feet and pressuring the ball. He’s disciplined to be able to use his hands to create disruptions and turnovers without bailing out offensive players with ill-advised fouls. And when he does get a stop, he is not shy to express himself and pour that energy into his teammates. He is a nice option on the offensive end as well. His quickness and jumping ability make him a strong attacker to the basket, and he displayed the capability to hit the outside shot. He’s got a solid handle to go with his game, demonstrating his potential to be a great lead guard. Because of the reasons listed above, and his oozing confidence, Jacorey Lee Jr is a name that should garner a lot of attention in the coming years.

Braylen Weaks - Team United - 2030

Braylen is an impressive athlete at the guard position with great spatial awareness. He understands angles really well and is able to use them to his advantage to score. This weekend, he showed a wide range of acrobatic finishes in the paint, but he also has an array of different footwork he uses to go around defenders as well. He is a knockdown shooter from the perimeter, which goes hand-in-hand with his high IQ, as he knows where to be and when to be there on the court. He plays for an extremely well-coached Team United program, so we have the benefit of seeing Braylin pushed to his best effort, and it is exciting to watch. He’s a great defender with impeccable instincts, seemingly always making plays on that end. Braylin looks to always play in sixth gear, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing guards and teams as a whole.

Nigel Broome - GA Canes - 2027

Nigel Broome plays a calm and sound brand of basketball that is perfect at the point guard position. He plays the game the right way and always makes the simple read. His tight handle gives him the opportunity to shoulder responsibility for his GA Canes team as both a scorer and a playmaker. He has a stocky frame, allowing him to drive strongly to the basket and finish through contact easier than most. He also uses his strength and speed impactfully on the defensive end. He’s an active pest to opposing ball handlers, forcing them to speed up and make errors in their decision-making. Nigel is a very smart player who is rarely out of position as a help defender as well, able to play gaps and rotate aptly as a helper. In summation, his high effort, high IQ, and strong build give him all the tools he needs to be a leader for his team on both ends of the floor.