North Atlanta Fall League Standouts (9/9)
ATLANTA, Ga.—Late summer into the fall is a busy time in the Peach State. There’s plenty of basketball to be seen every week.
On Saturday, I made my way to the North Atlanta fall league to check out some of the premier teams and prospects in the state.
The following are some of the standouts from the session.
It should be noted that I missed the first couple of rounds of games, but I will be back out to catch the teams I missed in the coming weeks.
2026 G Kaleb Bilal is next up at Riverwood. Those who have followed Georgia basketball for the last several years are well acquainted with Bilal’s older brother and Vanderbilt commit, Karris. The younger Bilal showed a pretty similar game on Saturday with potent scoring from all levels and electric playmaking. Bilal was able to get into the paint often to score or get others involved. He should be further establishing himself this winter.
Things were too easy for Leonard on Saturday. In a short time on the floor, he showed that he was different. He’s among the best in the state’s 2025 class for a reason. Without having kept stats, Leonard rattled off a string of about 12 points in roughly three minutes. He was able to get to his mid-range jumper at will, and it touched net more often than not. Leonard is a prolific scorer and has high majors buzzing his line. He gave those in attendance a sample of what he can do on Saturday.
Bowyer is a defensive pest. I can’t imagine that playing against him is a ton of fun. On Saturday, that’s where he shined the most to me. He kept pressure on the ball and made plays that prevented baskets. Don’t get me wrong, Bowyer can go get a bucket too, he did that as well, but his defensive aptitude was exciting to watch.
Let’s just keep it in the Maynard Jackson backcourt. Cassius Watkins is another tough guard for the Jaguars. Like Bowyer, Watkins brings tenacious energy on defense. The pair will cause a lot of trouble for opposing ball handlers this winter. Watkins really stood out with his finishing at the rim though. He can consistently convert tough ones at the basket. That’s going to be valuable throughout his career when he’s tasked with making points happen in pressure situations.
Rounding out the Maynard Jackson group is Kennesaw State commit Mekhi Turner. His Saturday was more highlighted in flashes, but, boy, those flashes were bright. The 6-foot-8 forward brings pop to the floor, and he’s capable of making big, momentum-shifting plays at the rim. He also can operate away from the basket. He showed that with multiple jumpers that fell smoothly.
It’s a new era at Wheeler, but one thing that has been established is that the guard play is still going to be of the utmost quality. While young, Wheeler’s 2026 guards are as good as it gets in Georgia. La Lewis showed that in a fall league game. If you know Wheeler, you know that they love an uptempo game, and Lewis shined in that regard. He advanced the ball in a hurry but wasn’t rushed. When operating at a high speed, Lewis’ decision making never faltered. He routinely made great pass after great pass in transition. A bright future ahead for Lewis.
2024 F Josh Hill will round out this group of standouts. He’s one of the best long-term prospects in Georgia. At 6-foot-11, he’s long and mobile. He’s used those physical traits to make a name for himself as a defensive prospect in the past. Based on recent viewings—June live periods and Saturday’s fall league—his jumper is a legitimate tool in his arsenal. He’s been burying shots consistently and with range. He just recently wrapped a visit to Xavier.
