There was plenty of size on hand at LakePoint Sports as Prep Hoops Next kicked off its 2021 circuit schedule with the Southeast Kickoff. Teams from both inside the region and out showed off a mix of power and combination…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThere was plenty of size on hand at LakePoint Sports as Prep Hoops Next kicked off its 2021 circuit schedule with the Southeast Kickoff.
Teams from both inside the region and out showed off a mix of power and combination from the forward spot, and it was great to see young players pull themselves away from the arc and embrace the game closer to the basket. Here are some 2025 Georgia standouts:
Carby Martin, F, TSF
Among the most polished and impressive forwards on hand at any level, Martin had all the game and moxie of a much older player and a body to go with it, great poise and control with the ball in his hands, at 6-4 had the size to go right at opposing bigs but more than enough quickness and craft to slip by them as well, adept at establishing solid scoring position, he had sticky hands and was quick off the floor, athleticism to burn and clearly well-drilled on both ends, had 16 dominant points in an early Saturday win over Atlanta Xpress and 15 more Sunday in a close setback to GA Stars Simmons, monster upside.
Nigel Gist, F, TSF
A little bigger than Martin at 6-5 Gist was one of the weekend’s hardest workers, not quite the offensive force teammate Martin is but makes up for that with a work rate that was impressive, turns that effort into a ton of rebounds and regularly affects shots on the defensive end, can certainly get his points in close to the basket and finds a good deal of his production off the offensive glass, did just that against Xpress with an 8-point 2nd half in which he and Martin were simply too much to handle.
Micah Medley, F, Atlanta Xpress
Matched up against the above two skilled bigs in Saturday’s event opener Medley impressed with his fight and tenacity, spent a good deal of that first game going head to head with gist and the two showed the kind of overall production young bigs can post when the effort level is high, showed nice finishing ability around the basket even at an inch or two smaller than most of what he saw, smart clean-up man on the O-boards as he went as hard as anyone on that end, fought for his 8 points in that TSF game, upped his production in even more impressive fashion later in the day against just as much opposing size with the GA Stars Styles and dropped 14 total, including him stepping out beyond the arc during his 12-point first half.
Amir Taylor, F, GA Stars Styles
Very nimble for a big boy at 6-5 and carrying a big frame, really got up and down the floor and found himself an active part of the fast break more than once including a 1-man break with him handling it all the way that left me wide-eyed, when nearer the basket was very poised and skilled at establishing for the catch, had an eye for the basket from 8 feet in and with soft hands it added up to a handful for opposing forwards, dropped 21 points against Atlanta Xpress even in the close defeat and as he adds muscle bulk to a good base he can develop into a real package to handle.
Ja’cobi Hall, F, GA Stars Styles
Speaking of frightening future packages Hall has all the measurables to become something really special, right around that 6-5 number as well he teamed with Taylor for quite the hardship on defenses, a bit more athletic and bouncy he was quick to the glass or rising up for finishes tight to the rim, possesses a great frame already with room to add some serious strength, had 9 of his 10 in the 2nd half against Xpress and got them in spurts where he simply overpowered, this is another forward prospect with tantalizing potential moving forward.
Ethan Carter, F, GA Stars Simmons
Agile, rangy, skilled forward who wasn’t available Saturday but immediately raised eyebrows Sunday as I watched the Stars put together a big 2nd half surge to run past TSF, along with TSF’s Martin perhaps the most skilled “right-now” forward prospect on hand repping Georgia, explosive off the deck at 6-5 the leaping ability was simply more than anyone could oppose, great-looking soft jump shot that he took out beyond the arc as well in dropping 12 of his 14 during that terrific team-2nd half by the Stars, like everyone on this list has real “wow” possibilities moving forward with the skillset already in his possession.
