#GBCALive – Saturday Court to Court Observations
EMERSON, GA – Following up an entertaining Regional turnout the prior weekend, the GBCA put on its second weekend Live period extravaganza at LakePoint June 23-25.
The all Georgia team list was large and stacked with guys who emerged as our staff walked the grounds.
Here were some of my observations, first from Saturday action:
By: Keith Agran
WESLEYAN lost 6-7 2025 Derwin Hodge to transfer but they still have the tools to be dangerous in Region 7-3A. A pair of seniors will drive them, forward James McGriff (pictured) has looked really solid all spring with ATL T-Wolves and has an inside-out combo game which was on display at LakePoint and translates well to the next level. Point guard Josh Kavel has slowed his clock some, and being more under control will mean better scoring chances for the sparkplug who is a definite steal on the recruiting trail. Keep an eye on 2025 guard Brayden Tidwell, he’s got some smooth in his game and has matured notably both in body and in mind on the floor.
The name has been circulating for the last year after some monster scoring performances outside the ATL-Metro caught fire on social media. 2025 guard Marcus Gillepsie (pictured) is indeed one of the best players in the state who doesn’t get a ton of attention, when you watch him in the flesh for CLARKE CENTRAL you quickly see why. Can get his own shot just about any way he wants combining power and wiggle from the 2-spot. Has a chance to gain some noteworthy D1 interest starting very soon.
DOUGLAS COUNTY is looking for a new boys head coach, but you wouldn’t have known there was too much turmoil off I-20 westbound the way they played at #GBCALive. The three-guard trio of Khalid Racine, Christian Richards and feisty penetrating PG Milton Gibbs (pictured) was tough to deal with, all 3 are seniors and hungry. Richards is a sniper from deep, and Racine in particular sets up as a sleeper-type recruit from that neck of the woods at 6-4 playing all over the floor for the Tigers and possessing multi-level scoring ability.
Year to year it’s become clear HABERSHAM CENTRAL can produce regular winners in Mt Airy as the blue and orange put a really interesting product on the floor at LakePoint. 2025 big man JoJo McCurry (pictured) is perhaps the big fish for them as he is not just a space-eater but moves much better than you’d expect and plays a cerebral post-game you have to like. Getting him the rock is steady 2024 PG Brannon Gaines, experienced and fiery, he gives them stability but also critical scoring from that spot while they unleash further the rest of a 2025 class that has a chance to step forward themselves (Jalen Davis, Justus Gober and Enzo Combs among them).
CHATTAHOOCHEE will likely start 4 seniors and a junior this fall, a full returning lineup that has a lot of reps playing together in blue and gold and on the travel scene. Senior wing Cam James (pictured) is the headliner, in part due to the spectacular always lurking around the corner, but when he gets on a consistent roll it can be well-rounded college-level production beyond the high-flying antics. PG Yuta Yamamoto is one of the hardest workers north of the perimeter, and is a threat for sure when left open from 3-land but makes this team better with his precise decision-making and experience. 2025 SG Jaylen Edgerton is gaining traction on the recruiting scene as several coaches tapped me on the shoulder during the day about the skilled scorer.
Roster turnover and a new coaching regime might just be settled and ready to roll at BROOKWOOD, as this group may lack a huge post presence but I like their perimeter athletes. Elijah Milliner (pictured) has taken a step as he approaches his junior year, he can seriously shoot it from deep and I like how he’s matured in the drive game with a little more meat on his frame. 2024 shooting guard Hunter Amick is settling in at Brookwood as well now set for his 2nd full season there, and his game too has taken a step in both the confidence and strength categories. All this and one of the real super fast risers in the 2025 class, 6-5 wing Alex Young, who is the kind of guy that can go off this year and take over some games for the Broncos even in one of the toughest regions in the state Region 4-7A.
I’ve gone on record already about SOUTH PAULDING being a potential sleeper for a deep run in 6A, and it’s all based on their veteran returnees. Guard David Williams (pictured) came out of the June live period with coaches inquiring and interested, and his aggressive play at the basket and ability to help you at either guard spot are keys. Fellow 2024 Andrew Lavigne has been a spring travel ball star from March to May, and his game looks awfully good to college coaches the way he can get heated up from distance. They’ll add New Manchester transfer PG Tyler Hughes in August, and his play alongside Williams and Lavigne with GA Stunners has been a spring eye-opener as well. Keeping bruising 2024 forward Jabien Greene, a fourth Stunners member, out of foul trouble and in the lineup to eat rebounds and guard posts may end up being the biggest key of all for these Spartans.
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.
