EMERSON—The GBCA live period events are some of the ones I look forward to the most on the calendar. It’s always exciting being at Lakepoint with coaches on the sidelines and I really enjoy getting a different look at some of the prospects around the Peach State. I also love getting to see what roster movement has occurred. 

The first day of the 2022 GBCA extravaganza provided all that I could have asked for and more. Here’s a quick look at some of what I saw on Friday. 

Derrion Dominates

The best performance of the day goes to Derrion Reid. This was a star-making performance out of the 2024 wing from Grovetown. 

We’ve seen the potential out of him for quite some time now, but this was the breakout that I’ve been predicting for quite some time. To say that Reid was outstanding would be an understatement. I can’t think of a box that he didn’t check on Friday. 

He finished with 29 points, which included five-made 3-pointers. Reid was also tremendous and tenacious on the glass. Without having kept track, I’d put him in the neighborhood of 15 rebounds. What impressed the most was his ability to be a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Whether it was via grabbing rebounds and initiating the break or Grovetown actively utilizing him as a primary ballhandler, Reid routinely made plays for himself and others. 

He’s been steadily rising up our rankings at HoopSeen. We have him all the way up to No. 2 in our 2024 rankings for Georgia. It’s performances like the one he had on Friday night that have led to such a drastic climb. Before long, he’ll be a national name. 

Reid played in front of an array of college coaches. If he doesn’t walk away from the weekend, with a handful of offers, I don’t know what we’re doing here.

Another 6A Favorite

While early, Alexander looks like they could be among the favorites in 6A after an impressive outing to start the GBCA weekend. The Cougars blend size, balance and athleticism in a way that not many can match. 

The star of the show was 6-foot-6 wing Marvin McGhee, who led them in a win over a really great King’s Ridge team with 22 points. McGhee showed off his range with four 3-pointers and made big-time hustle plays in a close game. 

A guy that I’ve been high on for a while, Braedan Lue, also played well. One of the state’s best forward prospects in the 2024 class, Lue showed off his well-rounded, versatile game. He has a strong build with long arms and plays with a high motor. He uses that combination to impose his will around the basket on both ends of the floor. Where his game had taken a step forward is from the perimeter. Lue has shown that he can step out and reliably hit from beyond the arc and make plays from the perimeter. 

Noah Melson is always a threat too. The 6-foot-5 guard is quick with good burst. He has good positional size and length, and his jumper is consistent with good range on it. 

Those three will be constants for the Cougars all season long, and guys like Milan Kennedy and Christopher Hutchison look like they could take steps into starring roles as well. 

A Big Hill to Overcome

Wheeler has a new big man on their roster, and he looks like he’s going to be a special player for the Wildcats. 6-foot-10 Josh Hill transferred in from Vertical Academy in North Carolina, and he’ll be a name that the Peach State faithful will want to acquaint themselves with sooner than later. 

He’s long, lanky and mobile. What I love about him the most after two viewings is the energy he brings on the defensive side of the ball. I feel like he’s always moving and creating chaos for opponents. His length combined with how well he moves for his size makes him so disruptive on that end of the floor. Paired with Arrinten Page in the frontcourt, it’s going to be difficult for teams to score in the paint against this Wheeler squad. 

I don’t know that my sample size has been enough to accurately delve into his offensive game, but from what I’ve seen, he looks to be a capable shooter that’s comfortable pulling from midrange and out on the perimeter. 

In any regard, Hill certainly gives the Wildcats another valuable frontcourt piece. That staff does a great job when it comes to development, so I’m excited to see what Hill is looking like by the time the calendar turns over to 2023.