Small Town Players to Watch: 2025 Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Not everybody is necessarily afforded the same exposure opportunities. Metro Atlanta is known for its next level talent and rightfully so, but there are talented players scattered throughout Georgia in rural areas and cities just too far for most to know intimately.  Here's a look at some of the Peach State's better players tucked away in small schools dispersed throughout the GHSA.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1438508"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Mincey is a diminutive dynamo. Standing only around 5-foot-8, Elijah is a shifty bucket getter that excels in transition but can also score with the long ball. He has very good body control when finishing downhill through contact. Elijah already has multiple 40-point games in his career.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1861302"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bryant is an explosive athlete with a great motor. He doesn't take plays off on defense and will track down ball handlers until the play is over. Daryus has the bounce to meet people at the rim, both defensively and offensively. He is a quality decision maker that gets into the lane and looks to distribute. The three-point shot isn't a key factor in his game, but when Bryant takes them, he usually makes them, shooting 19-49 (39%). Daryus posted 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1 block per game. Expect Daryus to take a statistical leap in Year 3 as Manchester's top returning scorer and rebounder.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1810740"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Sizable guard has a smooth jumper. Gets into his pull-up with ease and can shoot over contests from beyond the arc. Averaged 24 points per game while shooting over 40% from three.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1414020"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Three-point specialist averaged 19.9 points per game. Connected on 170-487 (35%) threes. Has a very quick trigger and deep range.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2323194' first='Frankie' last='Raines']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Macon County","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Raines has become a catalyst for Macon County. The 5-foot-9 playmaker racked up 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Frankie is a career 35% three-point shooter (70-201) and shoots an impressive 50% from inside the arc.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64528058e5e87"} /-->