2020 Late-Bloomers & Breakout Candidates

6'6 SF Emon Washington (South Cobb) An out-of-state transfer from Mississippi, Washington has already benefited greatly from the visibility and exposure opportunities in Georgia since moving here in August. Both Mercer and Illinois State have offered him this fall, with lots of other schools coming in to watch him workout. Washington is an explosive lefty who has a good motor and possesses versatility on both sides of the ball. He's tough enough to guard taller and stronger forwards, while being mobile enough to guard wings. Washington crashes the offensive glass hard where he can rise up quickly off of two feet for putback opportunities. He is also a respectable shooter from deep, which he displayed at multiple camps the last few months. People in Georgia and coaches around the region are starting to become familiar with Washington; expect to hear his name a lot throughout the winter.   6'3" G Ryan Landers (Walnut Grove) I still find it hard to believe that Landers does not have more going on in his recruitment. With his combination of skill and physical tools as a lead guard, he should have a hefty number of college suitors. Landers has been known for his high-level athletic ability for quite some time, but has continued to develop his overall skillset and shooting ability at an impressive rate. He stays controlled with his speed and leaping, maneuvering through traffic to create for both himself and others. Landers has a solid build and excels as a two-foot jumper; these qualities make him a reliable finisher inside even among multiple bodies. Although getting downhill is where he is best, Landers's confidence and consistency from range has improved significantly over the last year. This upgrade from deep makes him even more of a threat and more attractive to college programs. I think he is due for more Division 1 inquiries.   6'3 G Raul Arias (Trinity Christian) The newest Dominican product at TCS, Arias will be a huge piece for the Lions and is bound to have a lot of people talking this season. He brings an energetic approach on the court and has skill to go with it. Arias is really good with the ball in his hands, proving to be capable of manning both the PG and SG spot effectively. He scores in a variety of ways and creates a lot of opportunities with his speed and ball-handling ability. Arias constantly looks to attack but does so in a way where his mistakes are limited. His effort and passion for the game are evident; Arias plays hard and you can tell he is having fun. Pairing him alongside Isaac Brito and fellow seniors Brady Burnett and Giancarlo Bastianoni should make Trinity a force in A-Private. It's only their 2nd season in the GHSA ad they aren't a well-known program yet, but this could be the year where TCS puts everyone on notice.   6'7" F Chase McKey (Johns Creek) After starting to catch some attention this summer, McKey has gained confidence and added to his game since the beginning of the school year. A long 6'7" with ball skills, McKey is a mismatch waiting to happen at the high school level. He can take many forwards out to the wing and slash past them to finish at the basket. Although he's thin, McKey seems to becoming more physical and he has the touch to convert on hooks and jumpers even when he doesn't optimal position. McKey's length allows him to extend over opponents when finishing, and he uses his long arms on defense as well. He elevates fairly quickly for blocks and will stretch out to grab rebounds in traffic. The different pieces that McKey has to his game and room for growth within them makes you think that his best basketball is ahead of him. If we see an aggressive, assertive version of him this winter, it will really pay off for both McKey and Johns Creek.   6'4" G Cole Bearden (Cambridge) Cambridge's roster looks much different this year and the door is wide-open for Bearden to have an exceptional senior season. After being patient the last few years and continuing to develop, Bearden seems ready to take the reigns for the Bears and impress in Region 7-6A. He has grown all the way to around 6'4" now and has shown during the fall that he can act as a primary ball-handler and make things happen for this team. Bearden plays with pace and has the confidence you want to see from one of your seniors. He has shown some craftiness both as a finisher and distributor once he penetrates the defense, making good reads once he draws help defenders. Bearden will also keep defenders honest with his outside shot and gives Cambridge a vocal presence on the court. It seems like he is sure to sneak up on people this year.   6'4" SG Mason Pierre (Mundy's Mill) Pierre is quickly making a name for himself as we get ready to start the season. I liked what I saw from Pierre when I watched him during June, but he has especially taken advantage of fall individual camps, picking up offers from Chattahoochee Valley, Hill College, and Wallace State since September. Pierre has a college-ready body and a well-rounded offensive game to go along with solid defensive ability. He shoots well from the perimeter but can also push the ball in transition, take contact when finishing, and rebound well from the guard spot. There aren't many times when you will find Pierre taking a play off as he asserts himself on both ends and stays involved. Pierre has a business-like approach and a toughness about him that will also be appealing to college coaches this season.