This time of year is one of the slower seasons for hoops heads, but it’s not devoid of opportunities to evaluate. 

There are plenty of events around the Atlanta metro from fall leagues to open gyms to workouts to camps. They all provide unique settings to see players in different situations. 

I got out to several events this week and here are five players who stood out: 

Jaiston Duff - Murray County - 2027

Duff first caught my eye this time a year ago. Seldom is there a player with this kind of magnetism to his game that goes as under the radar as he does. He has an electricity to his game at the point guard spot that’s fun to watch. Duff is quick, competitive, and he can really dish the ball out. He’s a pass-first guy with the kind of vision that his teammates need to be prepared for at all times. He can zip a pass through a crease in the defense at any given moment. There are times when Duff’s passing can be a bit overzealous, but that may be due to looser environments in fall leagues—the only times I’ve seen him—or him seeing an opening that caught everyone off guard. 

KD Hernandez - Walker - 2028 

Hernandez sealed a close, comeback win for Walker. He’s a guard who can get a bucket when his team needs one. A tremendous finisher, Hernandez gets high-percentage looks at the rim with a combination of a quick first step and elusiveness. Hernandez can get to his spots well. That’s how he scored the decisive bucket on Tuesday night. He changed directions on a drive and shook a defender to clear himself a path to the rim. 

Trey Smith - CP Next Level Academy - 2027 

Smith brought it on Tuesday with his shooting. He saw a shot go down, and it just escalated from there. Any semblance of free space he had, he let it fly and it worked out for him more often than not. Smith also brings plus athleticism and secondary creation to this team. If this week was an indication, Smith will have a big season ahead of him. 

Lukas Romine - Hebron Christian - 2027 

Romine played the most impressive all-around game I saw this week. He did everything from Hebron Christian. Most impressively was the skill he showed at 6-foot-7. Romine’s passing was on full display. He got assists from the post, perimeter and in transition. Romine also knocked down a couple of 3-pointers. In addition to making skilled plays, he had impressive above-the-rim finishes and rebounded the ball well too. The game looked too easy for him. 

Landon Crews - Hebron Christian - 2029 

Crews is on the rise in the state’s 2029 class. He was outstanding on Thursday. He packed a big scoring punch at the point guard spot to the tune of 21 points. He got it done from multiple levels too. He made shots from deep and converted tough finishes at the rim. That’s in line with what we’ve seen him do in the past. His resume is building nicely and looks like he’ll be one of the better guard prospects in region in time. He should have a big sophomore season.