Decatur, Georgia – On the Radar Hoops was on site for the 12th annual Southwest DeKalb Showcase Showdown Saturday. Southern Hoops Report collected standouts from the entire day. Read the names here. Below is a list of players we took note of from the last four games of the day.

Jayden Avery – Columbia – 2028

Avery had the performance of the day, scoring 33 points in a win over Paideia. He burst out with 17 points in the first quarter and finished the evening with six 3-pointers. Along with his confident shooting, Avery was active getting to the rim and scoring off the dribble. He also provided leadership for his team through his activity on the defensive end. This is a great start for the 6-foot-3 shooting guard as he begins the season.

Stevie Shields – Paideia – 2028

We got another look at the 6-foot-9 forward. We became aware of his game after several strong performances with Sewer South this past year on the OTR Circuit. He backed up his reputation as a big man with a diverse skill set by scoring 23 points in the matchup versus Columbia. He showed off his 3-point jumper and even showcased a crafty step-back jumper on the perimeter. Just as important, he went 8-for-9 at the free-throw line. Shields should be a regular name in recruiting conversations over the next 18 months.

Savant Gans-Lartey – Archer – 2028

Archer hung on to knock off Tucker in a close game, 56-53. Coach Antoine Stroud has another tough group that appears to be bought into playing defense and playing together. Gans-Lartey played an important role down the stretch in this game. He finished with 14 points, but we took note of his playmaking ability in the second half. He muscled his way into the lane and pitched passes to open teammates after the defense rotated. He plays bigger than his listed 6-foot height as well. He is a player we will want to check on as the season progresses.

Vance Wilder Jr. – Tucker – 2029

Wilder Jr. was the top sophomore we watched on Saturday. He finished with 21 points in the game versus Archer. He could be listed as a shooting specialist, but that would do a disservice to the type of all-around game that he has. He plays with good pace and mixes speeds when handling the basketball. His court presence is superb as well. We watched him initiate the offense and provide the stability that his team needed.

Jourden Smoak – Southwest DeKalb – 2027

Smoak earned a reputation as one of the top scorers on the OTR Circuit last year. At 6-foot-3, he has size and athleticism that many other guards do not have. He used both to his advantage on Saturday evening. He led the break, scored at the basket, and proved to be an effective scorer off cuts in the half-court. Expect Smoak to continue to earn headlines this season with the Panthers.

Jackson Ushery – Southwest DeKalb – 2027

Ushery was instrumental in the Panthers’ win over Eastside in the nightcap of the event. The 6-foot-3 guard set the tone for his team by bringing energy to the defensive end. He got into the passing lanes and disrupted the Eagles’ offensive rhythm. He finished with 13 points on the night, including 6-of-8 from the foul line. He added a 3-point jumper, which is a nice complement to his aggressive driving style.

Corey Harris – SACA – 2028

Finding young, talented big men seems to be at the top of every college coach’s priority list every recruiting season. Harris should land on those watch lists this high school season and during the spring live periods. He is a 6-foot-11 center who has a lot of natural athleticism. He runs the court very well and gets off the floor better than a lot of big men his size. He illustrated that talent by slamming home a dunk on a runway breakaway where he took off just inside the foul line. The lefty still has some polish to add to his offensive game, but he has the motor and size to make a consistent impact for SACA this season.

Written, edited, and formatted for web by the author

Jonathan Hemingway is a senior writer for On the Radar Hoops. He has covered basketball for the site since 2013 and has been involved in the game since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. Reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com or follow @CoachHemi on X.