Five ATL-Metro 7A Backcourt Summer Stock-Risers – 2024’s
ATLANTA, GA – OTR is headed to Gainesville (FL) for our Final Run tournament, but the bulk of the travel season is behind us, and as August and fall leagues approach, let’s look at some stock-risers from the Atlanta metro area.
First, five guards from 7A:
By: Keith Agran
Trey Shephard III | 6-6 | Hillgrove
First with GA Canes and most recently in a Team Scoot uniform Shephard has been really impressive regardless of uniform colors, the size and the scoring chops are a meaty combination encompassing a multi-range scoring package that has elements of smooth and power built in, the ability to be a big PG-type at the next level adds to the flavor and he can carry what will be a tough out of a Hawks club this fall.
Caleb Jones-Dicks | 6-1 | North Gwinnett
Loved the work both with Sunshine Elite out of FL and his energetic generalship with North Gwinnett during an eye-catching June, gets at the rim with an urgency that forces defenses to back off and that’s when he can hurt you from distance, has the look of a seasoned guy with a lot of logged minutes with the ball in his hands who will be a solid college player.
Josh Langefels | 6-4 | Denmark
The work in the weight room has made him really tough to handle as he gets a head of steam in the drive game, the jumper has always been textbook in form and he’s knocking more of them down from a variety of distances, does whatever is asked of him and is among the hardest workers in the 2024 class, such notable strides means he can help a college program in year one.
Michael White | 6-2 | Mountain View
Has been as consistent a productive scorer as any guard in the 2024 class over the last 4 months, you can bank on him piling up the points as the moxie and understanding of the scoring game is often a 1/2 step ahead of defenders, gets to the line with a stout frame and doesn’t take very many bad shots, still flying under the radar more than he should as he sets up as a steal for the program smart enough to hustle over to Lawrenceville.
Brennan Wansley | 6-3 | Buford
Caught my eye at multiple junctures the past 4 months excelling with both Team SMASH and then the Buford Wolves in June, with SMASH you saw inklings of the increased assertiveness as a go-to guy even with scoring wizzes like Mike White (featured above) and others alongside, then with Buford he took over in spots as the #1 option flat-out overpowering folks and being a ready target for slick guards Chase Robinson and Torre Costin to find.
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.
