Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic Top Performers (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic showcased 8 of the state's top programs at Norcross High School. Here are some of the top performers and prospects from Saturday's action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2879787"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb0097"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 6'4 guard from Newton High School had the best individual performance of the day with 25 points in a loss to the host school Norcross. White scored in every way imaginable including at the rim, in the midrange, at the free throw line and beyond the arc. His strength, athleticism and improving offensive skill set make him one the state's top available prospects in the 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2521052"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb0137"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The best prospect in the gym on Saturday was probably this 6'5 wing from Grayson. Curry becomes more productive and efficient with every evaluation and his best basketball is certainly ahead of him. His combination of size, length, athleticism, offensive skill and confidence, make him a threat to score every time he touches the ball. It's not a mystery why he is one of the names trending up national rankings in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1907232"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb01b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A sleeper in the 2026 class for Head Coach Jesse McMillan, Gillespie is strong, productive wing who is have a breakout senior season for the Blue Devils. He can use his strength to attack the paint and showed his ability to make shots from beyond the arc on Saturday night in a win over Newton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1696173"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb022b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Grayson Ram who is helping himself with a strong season is Coach Geoffrey Pierce's point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1696173' first='Malik' last='Rideout']. The 6'1 senior can be a scorer or distributor and showed off his improved perimeter shot making. Rideout made four shots from beyond the arc in a win over Berkmar on Saturday night. Combine that with his improved decision making, and you have an intriguing lead guard prospect in Georgia's 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1595765"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb02a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Berkmar senior had a strong second half and finished with a double-double on Saturday in a loss to Grayson. The 6'9 lefty is versatile forward with length, size and an improving offensive skill set. He is capable of scoring on the block or stepping out and making an open jumper from beyond the arc. Rampersant has visited Tulane, Hofstra, Georgia State and will continue to field interest from college programs this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2046359"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb0316"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was a balanced attack for Head Coach Rory Welsh and the Decatur Bulldogs in a 60-59 win over Dutchtown but it was Brinkley who finished with 3 points and 10 rebounds to help seal the win. The Tulane commit did most of his damage in the paint at the offensive end and helped on the glass with 4 offensive rebounds. At the defensive end, Brinkley uses his length and size to be effective guarding multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2085759"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940ceefb038a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Dutchtown senior is wired to score and while he was quiet in the first half, Buggs got going in the second half and led the Bulldogs with 18 points on the night. Buggs has high level quickness and athleticism and is capable of creating his own offense off the bounce. It's not surprising that Buggs scored his 1,000th point back in late November</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2478483"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6940d47865d75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the nation's top forwards in the 2028, Montgomery's versatility was on display on Saturday in a decisive win over Paideia. The 6'7 sophomore scored 16 points for Head Coach Greg Moultrie's Hawks and continues look more comfortable playing on the perimeter at the offensive end. His upside and potential is evident and he will be a sought-after prospect in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->