Thanksgiving Week Look-In Around Atlanta, Pt 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanksgiving week yearly has the promise of family get-togethers and plenty of tasty grub, but if you're heading out to the local Atlanta hardwoods you can feast your eyes on some really tasty basketball matchups as well as you navigate what to do with your time off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few places, part 1 of 2, that might tempt your taste buds for some juicy hoop treats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic | Saturday, November 23 | Holy Innocents</strong>'</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Always one that has to be considered for any basketball enthusiast's calendar or a Scout's dream for content and top evaluation possibilities, it being a first-class event with the Atlanta Hawks at the forefront partnering with Georgia high school basketball. The three evening boys' matchups set up the tastiest.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672938,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/hawksnaismith2024.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/hawksnaismith2024.jpg?w=791" alt="" class="wp-image-2672938" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Hawks-Naismith</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5:00 PM | Gainesville vs Wheeler</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New-look Gainesvile in Coach Charlemagne Gibbons' 2nd season will see Red Elephant guards [player_tooltip player_id='2385367' first='Brandon' last='Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2046362' first='Kevin' last='White'] with their hands full versus the relentless backcourt depth of [player_tooltip player_id='2075194' first='Kevin' last='Savage'], [player_tooltip player_id='1696229' first='Kota' last='Suttle'], La Lewis and Jake Taylor. Up front, GHS forwards [player_tooltip player_id='1543522' first='Charlie' last='Gersmehl'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2471160' first='Jaxson' last='Jones'] will get their first big test as they bump chests with still more high-profile Wildcat options for Coach Larry Thompson in [player_tooltip player_id='1383029' first='Tylis' last='Jordan'] (Ole Miss), stud 2026 Alabama-transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1958491' first='Colben' last='Landrew'], [player_tooltip player_id='2380956' first='Amare' last='James'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2111477' first='Mansur' last='McClain'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6:40 PM | Pace vs Holy Innocents'</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hosts didn't dodge the smoke and never do as 5-star 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1383017' first='Caleb' last='Wilson'] (pictured at top, Kentucky, UNC among his final five choices) leads the charge vs another stacked Pace group under Sharman White. Scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='1543489' first='Kingston' last='Whitty'] and do-it-all small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1696172' first='Devin' last='Hutcherson'] are Golden Bears to keep an eye on as well in the 2026 class. The Knights 2025 class boasts three good ones in [player_tooltip player_id='1383030' first='Eric' last='Chatfield'] (Georgia Tech), [player_tooltip player_id='1762523' first='Chandler' last='Bing'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1589322' first='Jackson' last='Ferry'], while juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1543546' first='Hayden' last='Clay'] and Brian Clark are also key contributors. In the new faces category, 2028 studs [player_tooltip player_id='2436947' first='Bentley' last='Lusakueno'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2194478' first='Brielen' last='Craft'] are drawing a bunch of early interest at the highest level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8:20 PM | Decatur vs McEachern</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I recently highlighted Decatur as a team to watch in 5A and being featured in an event of this ilk gives that thought process some credence. Fun to watch guards [player_tooltip player_id='2047515' first='Bryce' last='Howson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2308804' first='Jason' last='Welborn'] on a bright stage like this should be entertaining, while the addition of 6-6 [player_tooltip player_id='2046359' first='Tobias' last='Brinkley'] from St Pius adds another dimension to Coach Rory Welsh's lineup. The Indians said goodbye to Ace Bailey (now starring at Rutgers), but that departure opens the door for 2025's Jaden Bynes, [player_tooltip player_id='1986596' first='Isaiah' last='Dulaney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1383028' first='Christian' last='Curl'] to take on the feature roles you'd imagine they've been itching for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jared Cook Tipoff Classic | Saturday, Monday, Tuesday November 23-25-26 | North Gwinnett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>It's another typical outstanding extravaganza at North Gwinnett as the former NFL and Bulldog tight end hosts 14 games over the three days.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2672940,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/jaredcook2024.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/jaredcook2024.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2672940" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Jared Cook Classic</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newton</strong> and <strong>Woodward Academy </strong>is juicy on Saturday, matching [player_tooltip player_id='2046352' first='Ted' last='Neal'], [player_tooltip player_id='1543533' first='Jordan' last='Green'] and a slew of fleet-footed guards with the dynamic duo of guard Zac Foster (a Clemson signee) and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1383026' first='Deke' last='Cooper'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday night's feature matchup of <strong>Grayson</strong> and <strong>Milton</strong> is one of the early-season must-sees, the defending high A champ Rams so obscenely loaded again with [player_tooltip player_id='1444779' first='Jacob' last='Wilkins'] (Georgia), [player_tooltip player_id='1383021' first='Amir' last='Taylor'] (Kennesaw St) and highly ranked 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1958488' first='Caleb' last='Holt'] just to name a few. The Eagles are among the 5A favorites and boast an impressive platoon of their own in North Fulton, guards [player_tooltip player_id='1383022' first='Josh' last='Dixon'](Wisconsin-Milwaukee), [player_tooltip player_id='1655579' first='Jaydon' last='Cole'] and Nate Earl can all get at the rack, while Yale-signee [player_tooltip player_id='1559292' first='Daniel' last='Ogunyemi'] anchors the paint. Keep your eye on 6-8 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2478482' first='Solomon' last='Bratton'], a serious stud in that class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday's Atlanta vs Augusta match of <strong>Etowah</strong> (technically Cherokee County, about 30 miles north of Midtown) and <strong>Westside-Augusta </strong>has a ton of flavor. The Eagles are looking really solid early on (out at 3-0 at publish time), and adding 6-6 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1639113' first='Alex' last='Young'] to star 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1559535' first='Aiden' last='Weaver'] (Alabama-Huntsville) and company has really boosted the possibilities for superb tactician Jason Dasinger. Westside is a state power, winning 81 games the last 3 seasons and three straight 2A titles. They move to 3A for this next two-year Region cycle, but remain loaded, led by a trio of experienced stellar guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2372174' first='Jarius' last='Adkinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2471141' first='Aldrion' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2372176' first='Dontrell' last='Jackson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->