The Best Prospects Available In The 2025 Class

With National Signing Day for basketball about two and a half months away, let’s take a look at some of the top basketball prospects in the state that are still available on the hardwood. These players can make an impact at the next level and help out collegiate programs.

Newton G Marcus Smith II - One could make the argument he is one of the most underrated prospects in the country. Against elite competition, he drops buckets. Back in a matchup against Wheeler, he dropped a game-high 23 points and four assists. What makes him special is his quick first step and ability to penetrate the lane and get good looks at the rim. Smith II can also run the offense at a high level and is an elite floor general. Smith II has a high basketball IQ and is always operating at a high level. He’s been underrated his entire career but plays his best in big games and big moments. Smith II has helped lead the Rams to a 15-7 record and in contention for a top region seed. He was named to the Atlanta Tipoff Club Late Season list and continues to get recognition around the state.

Savannah SG Maki Joyner - Joyner is averaging a double-double this year with 18.9 PPG and 10.2 RPG and has led Savannah to a 14-4 record. He crossed the 1,000-point park in a win over Beach in January. Joyner has been a standout player for Savannah since he made the varsity team as a freshman. He has improved his scoring every season going from 9.6 PPG his first year to now nearly 19 points. Joyner also averages a career-high 10 rebounds per game. Joyner is a high-level scorer who only needs a slither of daylight to take over a game. He’s seen double teams, blitz coverage, and various zone defenses over the course of his career and it has never slowed him down. Joyner is also an underrated player on the defensive side of the ball and is a steal and nearly a block per game. He is one who should definitely have more offers and will be one to watch during signing day.

Woodward Academy SF Deke Cooper - Cooper is another recruit that is currently uncommitted in the peach state. He plays for state title contender Woodward Academy and he along with a great team is in contention to win it all. Cooper leads the team with 17.8 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He has recorded five double-doubles this season for the War Eagles. Cooper has played on varsity since his freshman year and has continued to improve his craft and get better. Cooper is good at finishing in the paint. He is also an underrated shooter who can knock down big shots when you need it.  He is one of the catalysts and a big reason why the War Eagles have a chance to win it all. He would be an asset to any program at the next level.

Wheeler Wing Mansur McClain - I talked about him in my top performers this past week at the Nike Elite Classic where he finished with 19 points and was scorching from three-point range hitting three consecutive threes in less than a two-minute span. McClain has already shown this year he is capable of going off at any moment’s notice taking over a game and making defenses pay for laxed coverage. Wheeler is a deep and talented team and McClain is one of the few that gets overlooked. Make no mistake about it, he can be a difference-maker at the next level. His 6’6 frame allows him to be a good defender on the perimeter and switch on different guards. Offensively he can stretch the defense with his elite three ball and can post up smaller defenders around the paint and finish with ease.

Pace Academy SF Chandler Bing - Bing is certainly one of the best players in the state who remains unsigned. Bing was previously committed to Texas State before decommitting and opening back up his recruitment. He has had a number of memorable moments this year including dropping 37 points against Holy Innocents in the Hawks Naismith Classic with Atlanta Hawks legends Joe Johnson and Josh Smith in the building. He also came up big in the Playing For A Change Showcase dropping 21 points without star guard Eric Chatfield. His most recent performance in the Nike Elite Classic was also special as he led the team with 31 points and nine rebounds showcasing his full skillset. Bing is an aggressive athletic guard who can slash to the rim and finish through contact. He also has a smooth jumper that allows him to keep defenses honest with how they decide to guard him. On defense, he is an underrated player that is a good on-ball defender and pesky that can create a lot of steals and deflections. He is the second-leading scorer on the team averaging 18.8 PPG and also leads the team with 6.2 RPG.

Chapel Hill SF CJ Geathers - Geathers has been special this season for the Chapel Hill Panthers. He is averaging 20 points per game this season for the Panthers and is a go-to scoring option on offense. Defensively, he uses his athleticism to sky and block shots even against taller players. He has good lateral quickness and stays in front of his opponent making them take difficult shots or poking the ball loose and getting steals that lead to easy transition buckets. Offensively, he is a great slasher who can get to the cup and finish through traffic or put you on a poster with a dunk. I got the chance to see him in the Battle of the Peach back in December and was impressed with the way he commanded the basketball and put the team on his back. Geathers is another good player who just needs a chance at the next level.

Greenforest SF Orion Wilson - Wilson has continued to make a name for himself this past summer and this season as well. He was instrumental in handing Putnam County its first loss of the season with a 20-20 effort. Wilson finished with 24 points and 26 rebounds in a 66-53 victory. A thing that catches your eye about Wilson is how relentless he is no matter what point of the game it is. He is always giving 100% on both ends of the floor whether trying to chase every rebound or diving on the floor for loose balls. Although Class A-3A Private is loaded with teams including Holy Innocents, North Cobb Christian, and Walker, Wilson is a difference-maker for the Eagles. He is averaging 13.9 PPG and leads Greenforest in points per game. With his 6’8 frame, he is one of the best two-way big men in the state.

Hughes PF Jaron LeMelle- An underrated big man flying under the radar out of Fairburn GA. LeMelle has a different level of tenacity on the defensive end of the court. One of his best plays of the season came when he chased down a player on the fastbreak jumped up and palmed the ball out of his hands in the air and took it away from him. It was probably one of the most athletic plays you will see from a high school player. On the offensive end, he does his damage on the interior. LeMelle is a good finisher around the rim and a great attacker. Once he gets a head of steam, he is tough to slow down. He has been a standout for the Hughes program for a while and is still on the board.

Luella C Jordan Smith- Smith is an old-school big man who does a lot of his damage in the paint. He is really good at setting screens and rolling to the rim and finishing dunks. He is also good on the glass at finishing putbacks and converting second-chance opportunities. When he is not rolling to the rim, Smith has a really good post-up game. He can back down opponents and get to his sweet spots where he is virtually unguardable and converts a lot of his chances. Smith also has an underrated mid-range jumper that can hurt defenses. Smith is averaging 13.7 PPG and 6.6 rebounds per game which both lead the team. He is one of the go-to options for Luella this season and will be a prospect to watch to see where he lands.

Tags: , , , , ,

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

*