Next Up: Atlanta Hardwood Classic Breakout Performers (Middle School)

6’1” CG Blake Bazile | Respect The Game (GA)
Blake is a long, crafty scorer who looks like he’s just scratching the surface. He’s wired to put points on the board, whether that’s pulling up from midrange or gliding to the rim. He plays with confidence and has the tools to grow into a serious matchup problem. His length gives him defensive upside as well. As his body continues to fill out, expect his game to jump with it.

6’2” SF Branden Harrison | Georgia Generals (GA)
Branden is a rangy wing that does a little bit of everything. He scores in the paint, gets out and runs in transition, and makes plays with his length on defense. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective, which makes him a valuable piece in any lineup. Knocks down the open jumper and plays with quiet intensity. Productive and steady on both ends.

6’8” WF Joshua Sanders | Georgia Push (GA)
Joshua is a high-ceiling wing-forward who continues to put all the pieces together. At 6’8”, he already anchors the defense with rim protection and defensive awareness, but what separates him is his ability to stretch the floor and contribute offensively with control. He’s a lefty with good touch, strong rebounding instincts, and the ability to finish with power. He affects the game in multiple ways. The size, skill, and growing confidence make him one of the top long-term prospects in the 2029 class. Definite D1 upside.

6’1” PG Darryon Devine | Elite Stars (GA)
Darryon had one of the best weekends of anyone in the gym. He’s an electric lefty guard with elite athleticism and the skill to back it up. He attacked the rim with purpose, made shots from deep, and flashed top-tier vision as a passer. Every time he touched the ball, something happened. A breakout performer with real upside and highlight potential

5’10” Gavin Barker | Georgia Generals (GA)
Gavin surprised with his ability to create and score in bunches. He’s a tricky guard who can shoot it from range and keep defenders off balance with his handle. Has a strong feel for when to score versus when to facilitate. Not afraid of the moment and plays with confidence. Under-the-radar guard who left his mark.

6’0” PG Jaden Barnes | Elite Playmakers (GA)
Jaden is a fast and fearless lead guard who lives in attack mode. He’s got elite change of direction and puts pressure on the paint every time down. He can score it in traffic, hit the midrange, and still keep the offense running smoothly. A natural competitor and vocal presence. Coaches will love the way he takes ownership of a team.

6’3” SG Jaxon Primus | T3 Mamba (TN)
Jaxon continues to build his name as one of the more athletic wings in his region. He plays well above the rim and is a real weapon in transition. But what makes him dangerous is his deep shooting range. He knocked down threes consistently and made an impact defensively with his quickness and length. A name to know moving forward!

5’11” CG Joshua McGill | T3 Mamba (TN)
Joshua is a confident scoring guard who plays with fire. He has a tight handle, makes tough shots, and brings defensive intensity every trip. His clutch gene showed with a buzzer-beating shot that had the gym buzzing. He never backs down and plays every minute like it matters. A gamer through and through.

6’0” CG Micheal Cain | Atlanta Swish (GA)
Micheal is a strong guard with a smooth jumper and a tight handle. He changes speeds well and creates space for his shot. His ability to control tempo and hit tough shots makes him a tough cover. Has a physical presence and isn’t afraid to mix it up defensively. Very steady and skilled.

5’10” PG Kyan Valentine | Lesson Learned Elite (GA)
Kyan is a solid scoring point guard who finishes well with either hand. He stays low, plays with pace, and knows how to control the offense. Doesn’t try to do too much but makes the right reads. Can shoot it when needed and attacks when the lane opens. Dependable and balanced lead guard.

6’3” SG Shaheem Barbosa | Georgia Push (GA)
Shaheem is a smooth scoring wing who rotates between the two and three seamlessly. He has the ability to knock down jumpers from multiple levels and plays with good poise. Strong build and good decision-making stand out. One of those players who makes the game look easy. Quietly effective and highly skilled.

6’7” SG/SF Symeon Watson | Atlanta Swish (GA)
Symeon has one of the highest ceilings in the gym. He’s a legit 6’7” with some guard skills and a buttery smooth jumper. His court vision and length give him mismatch potential in any lineup. He’s a nightmare to defend when he’s locked in. As his frame and confidence continue to develop, he may potentially turn into a high-level national prospect sooner than later.

6’3” PG Trace Adcock | Georgia Generals (GA)
Trace is a cold-blooded shot-maker with deep range and zero hesitation. He has excellent length for a lead guard and continues to show more explosiveness in his movement. Can create off the bounce and make the right reads out of pick-and-rolls. Quiet assassin-type who lets his game speak.

6’4” PF Xavien “Dully” Littleton | Elite Stars (GA)
Dully is a big-bodied athlete with serious bounce and agility. He runs the floor, finishes above the rim, and can even handle it some in the open court. Despite his size, he moves fluidly and makes plays in space. Defensively, he eats up rebounds and contests everything. High-energy forward with game!

6’1” PG Zaiden Nelson | Georgia Push (GA)
Zaiden is a confident floor general with the ability to score or set others up. He has good size for a point guard and sees the floor well. Plays with a calm demeanor and rarely forces. Scores it efficiently and makes the right decisions. Solid feel for the game and a mature approach.

6’2” SF Charleson Baker | Unknown Elite (FL)
Charleson is a lengthy wing who makes his mark around the glass. He’s an active rebounder, finishes through contact, and brings defensive toughness to every possession. Doesn’t need touches to be effective and plays within himself. Always seems to be in the right spot. Big presence who does the dirty work well.

5’6” PG Deshonvaris Lundy II | Georgia Push (GA)
Deshonvaris is a crafty point guard who controls pace like a veteran. His handle is elite for his age, and he uses it to get to his spots with ease. Plays with his head up and sees the floor. Finishes well with his left and stays poised under pressure. Played up and didn’t miss a beat.

6’0” SG Isaiah Harrell | Elite Stars (GA)
Isaiah played up and looked comfortable doing it. He’s a good shot-maker who doesn’t hesitate when he gets space. He defends with purpose and uses his length to make plays. High motor and a nose for the ball. His energy stood out in every game he played.

6’0” CG Marcus Taylor | Atlanta Select (GA)
Marcus is a wiry combo guard who draws contact and lives at the free throw line. He attacks the basket with intent and can shift into scoring mode when needed. Good lateral movement defensively and stays active. Does a little bit of everything. One to keep tracking. Has a great frame and knows how to use it.

5’6” PG Juelz Butler | Elite Playmakers (GA)
Juelz is a high IQ guard with feel beyond his years. He blew past defenders all weekend and scored at will in the paint. Also hit shots from the perimeter and set up teammates in transition. Plays with swagger and confidence. Hard to keep out the paint. Has the type of skillset that will translate to production early on when he reaches high school in a little over a year.

5’4” PG Caron Warren | NOLA All-Stars (LA)
Caron was a defensive menace from the jump. He set the tone with his ball pressure and created chaos every trip down. What made him even more valuable was his scoring punch—he got into the paint at will and had one of the highest point totals in his division. Crafty, tough, and fearless. A little guard with a big presence.

5’5” PG Elijah Merisier | KT Kings (FL)
Elijah is a skilled scorer with great touch and pace. He used change of direction to break defenders down and was comfortable finishing with either hand. His shot looked clean from the perimeter and he didn’t hesitate when open. The way he kept defenders off balance showed maturity beyond his grade. Fun to watch.

5’10” SF Julius Berry | TDBA (GA)
Julius is a long-limbed wing who stays around the basket making things happen. He scored consistently on putbacks, slashes, and transition leaks. His motor never dipped, and he made key hustle plays throughout. Has a good nose for the ball and finishes well inside. Tough matchup because of his activity.

5’5” PG Kiere Hammond | TDBA (GA)
Kiere is a shifty guard who plays the game with flair and control. He can create space off the bounce at will and sees the floor like a true lead guard. His jumper looked smooth, but it’s his creativity that really stood out. He made plays and kept defenders guessing. Flashy, but effective.

6’4” PF Ryan Charleston | KT Kings (FL)
Ryan is a developing big with size, touch, and good instincts. He rebounded everything in his area and showed soft hands on finishes. Even at a young age, he looked comfortable handling physical play. Knocked down free throws consistently and kept improving with each game. One of the more promising post players in his class.

5’10” SF Reid Stroud | KT Kings (FL)
Reid brought non-stop energy and a strong feel for the game. He made open shots, crashed the boards, and always found himself in the middle of the action. Not afraid to defend bigger players and moves well without the ball. He was the ultimate glue guy all weekend. Coaches will love his motor and mindset.

5’3” PG Zion Wesley | Unknown Elite (FL)
Zion lit it up all weekend. The lefty buried eight threes in one game and was hands down one of the most impressive shooters in the gym. But he’s not just a sniper—he’s got a tight handle, makes reads off the bounce, and never looked rattled playing up a division. Pure confidence and pure buckets. One to follow early.