GBCA Live: Friday Standouts
EMERSON, Ga.—The second June live period is upon us. The first weekend saw several offers fly, and this second should be that and more as coaches get eyes on new players or continue to track long-time targets.
The first day of the weekend had plenty of standout performances on the big stage. Here are some of the notable performers from Friday.
It’s hard to not love Onyirimba’s game. He’s all motor, all effort. If you’re looking for someone that’s going to do all of the dirty work for a team, it’s Onyirimba. He’s unorthodox, but he’s productive, especially on the glass. His production on the floor all stems from his motor, and I’m here for it.
Gillespie showed how impactful he can be on the offensive end of the game on Friday. He can get a bucket from all levels. Gillespie has drawn plenty of junk defense assignments, and that continued on Friday. When his scoring slowed, he whipped high-level passes around to his guys. He always delivers in one way or another. Gillespie is one of the best in Georgia’s 2025 class. He's a must-see player this weekend.
Cooke looks like he could step onto a college court from a physical perspective already. The 2025 wing led Berkmar in the afternoon with 17 points. He’s able to overpower as a slasher and either get all the way to the rim or get to the free-throw line. He stepped out and knocked down some shots from beyond the arc as well. One of his best assets is his ability and willingness to contribute on the glass from the wing. He is going to be a name that coaches will want to see for the remainder of the weekend and into July with the Georgia Stars.
Moses Hipps is one of the better pure shooters in Georgia. He showed that off to open the weekend. He has a shot that looks like it’s going in every time. He used that threat to get open looks for others and to attack to get easier looks at the rim.
2026 guard Torre Costin was a bit of a surprise on Friday afternoon. He’s not the biggest guy, but he made a big impact with 17 points and some excellent shooting.
After transferring to McEachern, Jeremiah Wilkinson is using his new platform to his advantage. He’s had some outstanding moments with his new group this June. As a point guard surrounded by talent, he’s done well balancing scoring and distributing. Previously committed to Mississippi State, Wilkinson should have no shortage of suitors after these June live events wrap.
2024 G Ryan Williams did it all for Hiram this morning. Going against one of the more talented squads in Georgia, Williams scored well from all levels and found himself at the free-throw line frequently. Now that he’s at Hiram, he should keep the Hornets operating as one of the better teams in 5A.
There aren’t many players in the 2025 class with more upside than Tylis Jordan. He popped off for 23 points and showed his multi-faceted scoring package. He did a little bit of everything for Shiloh. Long, skilled, athletic, it’s not difficult to see why he’s drawn high-major attention. While he shows flashes of brilliance—like he did on Friday afternoon—Jordan is still scratching the surface of his potential.
It’s not everyday that guys with Ragland’s size can do the things that he can do on the floor. He’s nimble and has good feet around the basket. He’s not just a paint lingerer though. Ragland can put the ball on the floor some, and he has shooting touch. He showed off plenty of what schools at the next level like in him for Berkmar on Friday.
Physically, Williams is as impressive as any guard in the state. Williams uses his physicality well on defense, and he’s a strong slasher. In a game against Clarke Central, Williams stepped out and hit a couple of threes as well. He’s a guard for next-level coaches to know from outside of the Atlanta metro.
A new addition to Eagle’s Landing, 2024 forward Dwight Brown was good for them on Friday afternoon. He opened as a lob target for his guards, and as the game progressed, he showed off some range with his jumper. The Eagle’s had success with KJ Brayboy playing a similar role last season.
Watkins was dynamic at the guard spot for Carrollton. He got where he wanted with the ball in his hands with a blend of athleticism and strength. He was hard to keep out of the paint for the Trojans. From there, he kicked the ball to scorers or kept it and took it all the way to the bucket.
One of the young names to know in Georgia’s 2026 class, Maddox Melancon looks poised to have a breakout season on the southside with Eagle’s Landing. He has a solid build with good length. He was at his best as a slasher and had good moments as a tweener forward bit around the basket and away from it.
Marcus Smith has caught my attention plenty this June so far. He’s shined as a pass-first point guard with the ability to get buckets when needed. He’s got a nice burst of speed that he uses to get to his spots, and he’s plenty athletic. He had a good sophomore season with Walnut Grove, but if this June is any indication, he could be poised to take things a step further when November hits.
