With the early signing period virtually over now, there are only a handful of top players remaining in the Southeast. Heading into the winter and on into the spring, these players will be very busy with their respective recruitments, whether the player is an elite prospect or a low-major guy.

With that being said, here are my five best remaining players left on the board in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

1.) Malik Newman, CG, Callaway (MS)

Newman is the unanimous top remaining player in the South, if not the country. The 6-foot-3 combo guard is one of the most talented and decorated young stars the country has to offer, as he is a gold medalist and reigning state champion.

From a recruiting perspective, Newman and his camp have kept things quiet and held their cards close. He has yet to cut his list or anything, but the schools receiving the most attention with him right now are Kentucky, Kansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.

With the commitment of Isaiah Briscoe, it will be difficult for Kentucky to bring in Newman. If I had to bet on it, Kansas and Mississippi State are the teams to watch here.

2.) Brandon Sampson, SG, Madison Prep (LA) - pictured above

There were rumblings that Sampson could make a surprise commitment during the early period, but it looks like he will be a late signee. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard is another electric scorer that has some of the nation's top programs pursuing him.

Hometown LSU and St. John's have been talked about as the most likely potential landing spots for Sampson, but don't count out any of the California schools, especially Cal.

This recruitment still has a long ways to go, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

3. Gerron Scissum, PF, Lee-Huntsville (AL)

Scissum may be the least talked about player on this list, but he is a sleeper on the national radar, and high-major programs are starting to take notice. At 6-foot-7, he has a versatile game and can play multiple positions on the floor, making him even more valuable to coaches.

A month ago Scissum was set on making a decision soon, but with some new high-major interest, those plans fell through. Florida Atlanta, Louisiana Tech, and Murray State are all heavily involved, but Maryland evaluated him a few weeks ago and liked what they saw. The Terrapins could be a factor in his recruitment going forward.

It is also worth noting that the three aforementioned players will be in attendance at the Lighthouse Classic in Corinth, Mississippi following Thanksgiving. HoopSeen.com will have coverage of the event.

4.) Chad Lott, PG, Byrd (LA)

At one time, LSU looked like the favorite to land 6-foot-3 point guard Chad Lott. However, things have changed. It looks like the Tigers are putting more focus on 2015 guard Antonio Blakeney and former Oregon signee JaQuan Lyle.

Either way, LSU could still find themselves in the mix, but it looks like Texas Tech and SMU are the schools most involved right now.

Lott will bring a nice scoring punch to any program at the next level. While he is a point guard, he has the ability to play off the ball and score in bunches.

5.) Melvin Frazier, SF, Higgins (LA)

Frazier is one of the most exciting high school basketball prospects to watch right now, due to his athleticism and high motor. The 6-foot-7 wing plays above the rim constantly and is a human highlight waiting to happen.

Like some of the others on this list, Frazier's recruitment is a bit of a mystery. Multiple high-major and mid-major programs are involved, but the high-flyer has not tipped any favorites at this time.