Top Available Players 6-6+

<p>With the recruiting window tightening and big men becoming harder to find by the day, here is a look at some of the best available players that are 6-foot-6 and taller and not nationally ranked.</p> <p><strong>6-6 F [player_tooltip player_id="806639" first="Ross" last="Shepherd"] – Pope<br /> </strong>With a LaGrange offer in tow, Shepherd is a tough combo-forward that can score inside and out. He’s a solid athlete that can finish above the rim. Shepherd can attack from the wing and high post and take his man off the dribble. He has a good enough outside shot to keep defenses honest. Shepherd can get chippy inside and isn’t afraid to mix it up.</p> <p><strong>6-6 F [player_tooltip player_id="868145" first="Sean" last="Rutledge"] – East Paulding<br /> </strong>A confounding talent, Rutledge has shown flashes of a D-I skill set but shot selection and decision making on and off the court has put him in a JUCO only situation. Rutledge plays with a mean streak and bullies opponents around the rim. He is a great rebounder. He can hit the occasional three, but forces his offense too much and can be turnover prone. He is good for a few highlight plays each game, but also a few lowlights. Rutledge is a tremendous talent and could surface as a D-I player one day if he decides he wants to be one.</p> <p><strong>6-6 F [player_tooltip player_id="868208" first="Ryan" last="Johnson"] – Lanier<br /> </strong>Schools looking for a stretch big should take a peek at [player_tooltip player_id="868208" first="Ryan" last="Johnson"]. He has a solid body and is a good shooter from deep. He needs to be a little more effective around the rim on both sides of the floor but he has skills and can fit a need in the right offense.</p> <p><strong>6-6 F [player_tooltip player_id="868111" first="Emmanuel" last="Jones"] – Glenn Hills<br /> </strong>JUCO’s are hot after Eman Jones. The big wing can score from the perimeter but has the size to finish around the hoop. He’s a combo-forward that prefers the outside and his jump shot which has proven to be effective. He’s cut down on his three-point preference, shooting 64-187 (34%) as a junior to 39-129 (30%) as a senior.</p> <p><strong>6-6 F Qua King – Dublin<br /> </strong>A long combo-forward that can handle some of the ball-handling duties, Qua King is a versatile piece that can score on post ups or from the mid-range. He has long strides that help him get to the basket but needs a few counter moves when he initially gets cut off. He is a quality shot blocker and uses his length well on defense.</p> <p><strong>6-7 F [player_tooltip player_id="948489" first="Varun" last="Danak"] – Brookwood<br /> </strong>Super skilled for his size, [player_tooltip player_id="948489" first="Varun" last="Danak"] might be one of the most intriguing “sleepers” left on the board. He averaged a double-double and led Gwinnett County in rebounding at 19.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Danak handles the ball exceptionally well for his size and is a nightmare to guard with his smooth approach. He moves well and can euro step defenders with ease. Danak finishes at the rim and can hit from the mid-range and beyond. He has continued to get stronger each year and with it has come great confidence.</p> <p><strong>6-7 W [player_tooltip player_id="948488" first="Franklin" last="Champion"] – Lithonia<br /> </strong>Another smooth forward that can play on the wing or in the post, Frank Champion had a breakout year with Lithonia. Champion is aggressive on the boards and has long arms that help him get into passing lanes and start his own fast breaks. From 15-feet and in, Champion slithers around his man and can finger roll at the rim. He also can create space off the dribble and drop in jumpers.</p> <p><strong>6-8 C Jabari Burge – Model<br /> </strong>With a football career likely, Burge is still one of the better bigs in Georgia I saw this year. He is a big strong mountain of a man and plays like it. He is physical inside and seals deep in the paint. He dunks everything and rebounds with two hands. Burge moves well and can catch and finish in transition.</p> <p><strong>6-8 PF [player_tooltip player_id="868095" first="Giancarlo" last="Bastianoni"] – Trinity Christian<br /> </strong>An ankle injury shortened his senior season but [player_tooltip player_id="868095" first="Giancarlo" last="Bastianoni"] remains one of the most skilled back-to-the-basket bigs in Georgia. He can score with either hand down low and has sneaky athleticism. Bastianoni passes well out of the post and has range out to the three-point line.</p> <p><strong>6-8 C Amaree McGriff – Lanier County<br /> </strong>McGriff has a very strong and athletic frame. He is a big-time shot blocker and runs rim to rim looking to clean up misses. He averaged 13.6 points, 11 rebounds and 5.6 blocks. He still needs to polish up some of his post moves and footwork inside, but McGriff’s size and bounce makes him a good candidate to develop at the next level.</p>