Compelling 6A storylines

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>IS GRAYSON HEADED FOR A 2ND STRAIGHT TITLE?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Already the returning trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1444779' first='Jacob' last='Wilkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1383021' first='Amir' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1696178' first='Kamari' last='Brown'] would have had the Rams an easy pick among the first few favorites to capture 6A and get a second straight state title (they conquered 7A a year ago). And then they went out and attracted a bevy of transfers, as has been a consistent trend for them in recent years. In comes 2025 stud KJ Garris from Mt Vernon to bolster the backcourt, and that alone probably would have moved them from a top contender to the favorite. Far from done, in the 2026 class comes 247 Sports #4 nationally ranked prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1958488' first='Caleb' last='Holt'] from Alabama as a transfer, he a second wildly dynamic wing talent available to join the entertaining and explosive Wilkins. From fellow Gwinnett power Berkmar comes two more sure-to-be major contributors in rising 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2307198' first='Janon' last='Singh'] as well as recent New Jersey transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1595765' first='Jayvon' last='Rampersant'], who had some nice moments with the Patriots back during the June live period.. Singh, an intriguing developing wing player in his own right, will give them more shooting and above-the-rim ability that like Wilkins and Holt can be spectacular. Rampersant is an active 4-man to keep defenses from packing in on Taylor more than they already do, and he's got a Jersey edge I can relate to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE INTRIGUE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nipping at the Rams heels are a host of other teams plenty good enough to unseat the defending highest A champs. <strong>Wheeler</strong> welcomes back four terrific guards in [player_tooltip player_id='1696229' first='Kota' last='Suttle'], La Lewis, [player_tooltip player_id='2075194' first='Kevin' last='Savage'] (pictured at top), and Jake Taylor, all capable of being starters just about anywhere else but will instead comprise the deepest backcourt of guys who can each take over in the state. The frontcourt welcomes back wing [player_tooltip player_id='2380956' first='Amare' last='James'], set to make a jump in his development, but the Wildcats like other top 6A programs rarely rest on their laurels, and brought in [player_tooltip player_id='1383029' first='Tylis' last='Jordan'] from Shiloh and a pair of out-of-state transfers in Alabama-arrival [player_tooltip player_id='1958491' first='Colben' last='Landrew'] and California-transplant [player_tooltip player_id='2111477' first='Mansur' last='McClain']. I saw the 2026 Landrew first with Alabama Fusion two summers ago and he was the best player on the floor for a Fusion team that is always 5 or 6 deep with future D1 talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norcross</strong> has all kinds of intriguing mysteries yet to unfold with their roster makeover, as [player_tooltip player_id='1696247' first='Jaron' last='Saulsberry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1907232' first='AJ' last='Gillespie'] and their athletic talents headline the returning crew, Saulsberry a rising 2026 who has game-changing ability. But a healthy clipboard of transfers will newly don the blue and white for the Blue Devils this winter, and this is where the mystery thickens. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2275455' first='Rudy' last='Anderson'] heads northwest from Savannah and brings a diverse skillset and a well-deserved gaudy state ranking to the point guard spot, he was everything as advertised when he joined the team for June. Four more new arrivals, [player_tooltip player_id='1300718' first='Connor' last='Teasley'] from Peachtree Ridge, [player_tooltip player_id='2056122' first='Miles' last='Clanton'] from North Gwinnett, [player_tooltip player_id='2375441' first='Whitfield' last='Hyde'] from Dunwoody, and [player_tooltip player_id='2226204' first='Thomas' last='McBride'] from Osborne, all will play key roles both in whether team chemistry comes quickly or festers, and whether these ingredients ultimately add up to the tastiest of championship cakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paying homage to my home county of Forsyth, <strong>Lambert</strong> seriously intrigues, both for their up-tempo style of play that poses all kinds of problems but also for a lineup that can hit you in spurts from multiple levels. At his peak performance, Longhorn football standout Cam Bland can flat-out take over games, the speedy combo guard can go for 30 one night then kill you defensively with a game-altering steals/assists/rebounds type game that still fills the rest of the stat sheet anyway. He has backourt help back with 2026 Kenny LaRue, another downhill freight train coming off a good summer, and [player_tooltip player_id='1543571' first='Dyson' last='Beaty'] comes as well from Mt Pisgah. The frontcourt tandem of 2026 Will Dopfer and 2025 Taj McLeod, both at or near 6-7, can hurt you both around the basket with movement and creatvity, but also step away and threaten from 15+. Some element of depth will be key to emerge or develop, and the Horns usually find a few guys who make the critical hustle plays and can knock down a shot in a key moment, so while minus the embarassment of riches the top contenders boast, Lambert's first five should be able to go toe to toe with most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>6A NAMES YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW WELL (in no particular order)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2102285' first='Braylon' last='Luster'], Cherokee, Guard, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2592281' first='Rashad' last='Holloway'], Berkmar, Guard, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2132947' first='Jayvion' last='Nurse'], Pebblebrook, Guard, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2046355' first='CJ' last='Geathers'], Chapel Hill, Guard, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam Stephen, Dacula, Guard, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1696173' first='Malik' last='Rideout'], Peachtree Ridge, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson Barnes, Forward, Campbell, 2026 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1967582' first='Dylan' last='Barbra'], Guard, East Coweta, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2521052' first='Marcus' last='Curry'], Guard, Grovetown, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2790103' first='Marc' last='Chavenet'], Forward, South Gwinnett, 2025 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->