Five rising seniors in Georgia that helped themselves the most in June
The June live periods have passed. In Georgia, that means that two of the best live evaluation weekends of the year are in the books. As is the case every June in the recent past, the last month saw several players rise from relative obscurity to being at the forefront of the conversation, and it saw several players bolster their already prominent positions in the eyes of college coaches.
Since the 2024 class is the focus of college recruiting, here are five of the Peach State players that helped themselves the most in June.
This conversation starts and ends with Mount Vernon’s Sha’Yah Goba. He was the riser of the month with the Mustangs and set himself up nicely for what could be a fruitful July with the Georgia Canes.
The 6-foot-4 guard/wing played as well as anyone early in the month. He looked more confident than ever on both ends of the floor. First and foremost, he shined defensively and took on multiple assignments. Goba brought an edge to that end of the floor that paired well with his athleticism and physicality. He can be a serious defensive stopper for the Mustangs this coming season.
Offensively, he showed that he’s a threat to score from all levels. His paramount performance came during the first June live event, and it felt like he couldn’t miss. That was the most complete offensive game that I’ve seen from him. If he keeps sprinkling in scoring games like that to go with his quality defense, he will continue this upward trajectory going into the fall and winter.
Sometimes, these weekends are about being in the right place at the right time. I’m sure I missed some incredible performances by players in June, but I know I caught one on the last day of the June live periods when William Jobe went for 32 points for King’s Ridge.
With several college coaches on hand for the earliest time slot on the last live period day, Jobe had one of the best games I’ve seen him play. At around 6-foot-10 or so, his reliability in catch-and-shoot situations will open a lot of doors for him. That combination alone puts his baseline higher than most players’. In that Sunday morning game, he hit five or six 3-pointers, but he also mixed in some nifty moves around the basket and showed a deeper offensive bag.
An already in-demand prospect, Jobe’s Sunday outburst impressed the coaches that were on hand.
Recruiting can be fickle. Small things can pause or set back a player’s recruitment. West Forsyth’s Will Moore had been bitten by the injury bug, so these June periods were going to be good opportunities for him, and he capitalized by playing well, and his recruitment has been refreshed in a sense.
Moore’s athleticism is one of his best assets. He’s a high flier from the perimeter. When I got to see him in June, it was his shooting that stood out above all else. He knocked down several threes in a game during the first June live period. At 6-foot-6, his bounce and ability to hit shots will continue to make him a sought-after prospect this summer.
He picked up a handful of new offers in June and can keep the momentum going in July with Pro one.
A long intriguing prospect, Wheeler forward Josh Hill was a no-brainer prospect for coaches in June. He added a few offers after stepping into a more prominent role for the Wildcats.
Hill has so many positives in his game right now. His defensive aptitude and upside are what intrigue the most right now. At 6-foot-10, Hill brings overwhelming length to the floor. On top of that, he plays hard, and he’s light on his feet. In other words, he’s not a limited defender. He can be a switchable guy on that end.
On the other end of the floor, Hill showed scoring potential from multiple spots on the floor. That’s one area in which he has the most developable potential. He hit jumpers from mid-range out to the 3-point line, and he looked to finish assertively at the rim.
Most notably, Hill added a Marquette offer in June. During the last day of the live period, the Golden Eagles had two coaches on hand to watch him, including Head Coach Shaka Smart.
McEachern has reloaded with some new weapons to go with some of the high-level players returning from last season’s team. Ace Bailey is committed. Moses Hipps and Jeremiah Wilkinson have been targets for both high and mid-major programs. John McQueen, however, is a newcomer to the program that used the June live periods to his benefit.
McQueen brings 6-foot-6 size to the perimeter. During June, he showed off a well-rounded skill set on the offensive side of the ball. McQueen showed off his shotmaking and playmaking. His passing shined when I was able to see him throughout both weekends.
Folks around Peach State gyms have been high on McQueen’s upside for a while, and he played some of his best ball during stretches in front of healthy coaching crowds.
