#GBCALive 2026 Backcourt Gems

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Georgia's truly great events was back at LakePoint for the first of what will be two electric weekends of June Live Period action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Georgia Basketball Coaches Association does a first-class job putting together three days of basketball before a tremendous yearly turnout of college coaches, and Prep Hoops GA was canvassing the building.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During my Saturday and Sunday gym time, I like to spend time away from the feature courts and see what's cooking with diamonds from other parts of town, here were some 2026 Backcourt Gems who made noticeable statements with their play:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2047515' first='Bryce' last='Howson'] | Guard | Decatur</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473515,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_185335-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508466.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_185335-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508466.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2473515" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='2047515' first='Bryce' last='Howson']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This whole Decatur bunch under Rory Welsh was one of the day's big surprises as they are the real deal, they play hard and are undersized in spots but Howson in particular makes up for that with his stellar all-around play, went head to head with [player_tooltip player_id='1696246' first='Jerrin' last='Samuel'] of Winder-Barrow in a great game and announced his presence as one to watch with authority, quick first step can get him from the arc to the rim against anyone but it was his mind that impressed as he found great spots to score from, fellow 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2308804' first='Jason' last='Welborn']</strong> and he were absolutely among the top "Emergers" from the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2046360' first='Harris' last='Reynolds'] | Guard | St Pius (pictured at top)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the most overall impressive performer I saw all weekend as I didn't spend a ton of time around the feature courts where the marquee programs were playing but Reynolds was that impressive anyway, smooth and sleek and covers a ton of ground on the move, has so much in the arsenal and much of it is yet fully untapped, there's shooting and ballhandling and passing and rangy defense with his length at 6-4, despite his obvious exceptional skill he fits beautifully into the Pius Way indicating high-level coachability, skyrocketing up recruiting boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2245774' first='Jackson' last='Williams'] | Guard | Mt Pisgah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473520,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240623_103012-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508557.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240623_103012-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508557.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2473520" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='2245774' first='Jackson' last='Williams']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Has made basketball his sole goal after a promising baseball career may have been in front of him as well and the work he's put in with OTP NXT 2026 and the exposure it's gotten him has been palpable, bigger and stronger and with a fuller understanding of the hardwood game he has been unleashed in a lethal combo of athleticism and growing IQ, plays at 100 mph all the time which you love out of the gate but has slowed his mental clock a bit and become a more cerebral scorer from all levels, versatile defender at 6-4 and a rising prospect that bears watching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1696246' first='Jerrin' last='Samuel'] | Guard | Winder-Barrow</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473524,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_183231-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508649.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_183231-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508649.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2473524" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1696246' first='Jerrin' last='Samuel']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As fully dynamic a scorer as there was in the building as he can go on scoring runs that aren't match by many, heats up from 3-land and then stretches the range so the defense can't get to him, then he uses crafty work off the bounce to blow by and either facial you at the rim or pull up from 12 feet with the soft J, watching him I found it difficult to come up with a fruitful game plan for stopping him and subsequently found it comforting I wouldn't have to coach against him, a full spectrum package and handling the ball a lot more for this Bulldogg iteration makes him even more dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1696232' first='CJ' last='Harper'] | Guard | Paideia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473541,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240623_151611-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719509711.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240623_151611-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719509711.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2473541" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1696232' first='CJ' last='Harper']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Got an up close look at him when Paideia came to Mt Bethel last year and he was very impressive, watching him play defense at #GBCALive was even more impressive as you so often see guys with emerging star profiles not bring it all the time at that end, anyone that's watched five minutes of him play knows he can score it and has explosive ability to get by people and push the ball, is the kind of guy when the offense breaks down that can save you late in the sort clock with his elite lift and something spectacular, his name is circulating more prominently but should pick up major steam this winter, plays in a backcourt with fellow 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1543541' first='Frank' last='Jackson']</strong> that is stellar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1696172' first='Devin' last='Hutcherson'] | Guard | Holy Innocents</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2473529,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_154731-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508914.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/20240622_154731-rotated-crop-2740x1799-1719508914.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2473529" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1696172' first='Devin' last='Hutcherson']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plays as much a hybrid guard/forward as he does a true backcourt man but he kind of does whatever is called upon him and that has been his moniker for a couple of years now, plays so much bigger than his 6-5 and most of that has to do with pure effort mixed with the smarts to know how to go and get the ball, catches it near the basket and finishes like a guy 6-8 but has the face-up variety of a shooting guard, still developing the full gamut which is scary and by this time next year we could see an even more versatile package.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->