Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic Standouts Pt. III

MARIETTA, Ga. — There’s nothing better than holiday hoops. It’s part of what makes Feast Week the best in college basketball. In high school basketball, especially in Georgia, from late November through the new year is the most fun. 

We’re talking 12-hour days in the gym, seeing prospects of all levels, and filling notebooks with evaluations. 

There’s nothing better. 

One of the best events, every year, is the Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic because it delivers on quality matchups that provide meaningful scouting opportunities. 

Because of the breadth of prospects to discuss, this’ll be broken up into four parts via two game segments. 

RELATED: Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic Standouts Pt. I | Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic Standouts Pt. II

Here’s who used the penultimate two games to leave an impression: 

Jaden McCullough, Holy Innocents’: As the 2028 class continues to step into more of a spotlight, Jaden McCullough keeps producing. He helped the Georgia Stars win a Peach Jam championship, and now, he’s shining for Holy Innocents’. He does a little bit of everything on the floor. His stat line reflects that. 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists. He’s consistently checking lots of boxes in the early stages of his career as a prospect. Versatility is the name of his game. 

Khalid Worthy, Holy Innocents’ (6’8, F, 2026): Embroiled in a tough battle against a team with one of the top prospects in the country, 2026 forward Khalid Worthy was a difference maker for HIES. He gave them a paint presence that created issues for their opponent. He finished with 16 points and served as a reliable play finisher around the basket. Worthy is a good athlete who can rise up and play above the rim. He had a couple of highlight-worthy plays on Saturday. 

AJ Williams, ELCA: It feels like every year this event has a top-5 player, nationally, in it. The frequency with which one can see that level of talent without arduous travel is what makes Georgia basketball so special. Top ranked sophomore AJ Williams was the next superstar to put up a huge game at the TOC Holiday Classic when he dropped 32 points for Eagle’s Landing Christian. He has an easy offensive game. Paired with his legitimate 6-foot-6 size, his ability to hit a variety of shots is special. This game was more about his scoring than anything else, but he’s shown, across multiple platforms, that he’s much more than a bucket getter. He’s just different than most at this level. It’s what someone with pro potential looks like. 

Jackson Harrison, Milton (6’4, SG, 2027): The best shooting performance of the day, bar none, goes to Milton’s Jackson Harrison. A newer name to Georgia, Harrison immediately made it clear that he slots in as one of the best shooters in the state in the fall. Saturday only bolstered that status when Harrison netted six 3-pointers in the first half of the Eagles’ game. It was an unconscious hot streak. He got another to fall in the second half bringing his total to seven. It was efficient too. He was just vaulting shots at the rim on a whim. Harrison took good shots, and moved the ball if he didn’t have anything. That earned him eight assists. Look for him to keep torching nets this season. 

Pierce Strom, Milton (6'2, G, 2028): Paired with Harrison, sophomore Pierce Strom helps form one of the most dangerous shooting tandems in Georgia. Honestly, the scope is probably wider than that, but it’s a discussion for another time. While Harrison finished with seven-made 3-pointers, Strom added an exceptional six of his own. Having two players who can reasonably combine for 13 threes makes Milton one of the most potent offensive threats in the state. 

Solomon “Niko” Bratton, Milton: While Milton’s sharpshooters were setting nets on fire from deep, Niko Bratton owned everything inside the arc. He’s a perfect physical, high-motor presence for this team. He can hit a jumpshot, he showed off his mid-range game on Saturday, but there aren’t many at this level who can stop him when he’s driving to the basket. He’s too strong and athletic. His 19 points and 11 rebounds didn’t come as a surprise. 

Micah McMorris, Peachtree Ridge (6’5, G, 2026): Peachtree Ridge went blow for blow with Milton for a while. Senior guard Micah McMorris was their catalyst. He finished with 18 points which included four 3pm (3-pointers made). He’s a multi-faceted guard who can run offense on the ball or serve as an off-ball scorer. On Saturday, it was his ability to get timely buckets that stood out most. 

Josh Tec has been covering prep basketball in Georgia and nationally since 2020. He has served myriad roles as a writer and evaluator, including editor-in-chief. Tec has a degree in journalism from Georgia State. Follow his work on X (Twitter) @_joshtec.