#GBCALive Emerging Names

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The stars shined bright for sure at the first weekend of #GBCALive, but we also got a taste of some new names to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2891665' first='Marquise' last='Leslie'] | Forward | Alexander | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vying to partially take the place of the now departed Braeden Lue which is about as tall a task as any around town in the roster replacement category, will benefit playing alongside newly arrived transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1696237' first='MJ' last='Madison'] who comes over from Pace Academy, Leslie is long and rangy and with some offensive marination can become really interesting at 6-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2380946' first='Carter' last='Higdon'] | Forward | Cambridge | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A backup QB for the Bears he was among the better passing big men I saw at 6-8, still learning how to play basketball he gets by on natural gifts but shows flashes of what more reps can produce as a scorer around the basket, a good defender and shot-blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2308804' first='Jason' last='Welborn'] | Guard | Decatur | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among a bunch of Bulldog juniors who stood out in weekend one, played a bunch of roles for an undersized group but did them all with vigor and high effort, showed off the shooting range and strength going to the goal at 6-2 and in new coach Rory Welsh's system should thrive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125534' first='Isaiah' last='Chandler'] | Guard | North Cobb Christian | 2027 (pictured at top)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Played really well as a freshman last season and has taken additional strides, like the way he sees and dissects the game both as an unselfish teammate and willing scorer who'll take over when needed, playing with an uber-talent like [player_tooltip player_id='2102290' first='Brock' last='Bass-Bonner'] hasn't gotten in the way of him establishing an early star-making profile of his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2471160' first='Jaxson' last='Jones'] | Forward | Gainesville | 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loved the way the Collins Hill transfer got up and down the floor, playing alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1543522' first='Charlie' last='Gersmehl'] will make for a tough scouting report, high motor and jumping jack leaper he can affect by cleaning the glass at both ends or doing damage catching in close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2425890' first='Tatum' last='Holmes'] | Guard | Johns Creek | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guy you're going to hear more about I think the way he impacts the game in more ways than scoring, can go on some scoring runs for sure at 6-5 but rebounds like a forward and passes like a point guard, make a point to look for him with SEBA in July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2743591' first='King' last='Jones'] | Forward | Kell | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He steps into some large frontcourt vacancies for the Horns but has the kind of effort-level that makes up for him being only 6-5 down there under the basket, smart and strong he can outwork bigger players or just use sly movement to out-position them, poised to get more attention. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1835731' first='Ryan' last='Cain'] | Guard | Lovett | 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Could have easily made the 2025 Gems list I put out the way he shot all of Weekend One, has put in such good work with Hoop Atlanta the last two years and is emerging as a constant force entering his senior year, makes good decisions and plays sound defense to match the shooting prowess they crave for the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Daniel Gadsden | Forward | Lovett | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with electric classmate guard [player_tooltip player_id='2102283' first='Cameron' last='Cannon'] gives the Lions two of the fastest risers in the '27 class, smooth stroke from 3 and runs like a gazelle, can blow by you and get up above the rim at 6-5 and all of it hasn't even been untapped yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Stone Richards | Guard | Marist | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another '27 guard that impressed in Weekend One, excellent young floor general with poise and confidence and the kind of burst which suits Marist well when they get out and run, slices up defenses for the slick feed or the floater and defies the under-6 foot stigma with his sound play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->