Grayson New Year’s Classic Notebook

The annual Grayson New Year's Classic was loaded with terrific Top 10 matchups to tip off 2026. Here is a look at some players that impressed.    Point-forward type mismatch. Does a terrific job delivering on-the-money passes from the top of the key. Hits slips and finds big men sealing on high-low looks. Uses his strong frame to score around the rim and rebound.     Powerful forward scores in different ways. Moves well without the ball. Comes off shuffle cuts off screens, flashes opposite and seals on high-low feeds. Attacks inside with a variety of moves. Scores through contact. Effective rim protector with length and strength.     Freshman plays with tremendous poise. Plays at his own pace. Calm demeanor. Streaky three-point shooter has a knack for hitting big shots. Has a high release on his jump shot, loading the ball back to his ear. Steady ball handler surveys the floor well. Aggressive on-ball defender who will also rotate over to draw charges.     Fiery high IQ playmaker. Has a burst of speed when turning corners to penetrate. Thrives as a drive-and-kick passer after breaking down his man. Has shown over the course of his career the ability to score tough buckets when needed. Three-level offensive protection. Skillful finisher in traffic.     Big guard made huge plays down the stretch in an overtime win. Down 60-59 with 1:40 left, Chandler tracked down a transition layup attempt to block it from behind, helping the Eagles get to overtime and eventually outlast North Gwinnett 70-63. Chandler was lethal when he got two feet in the paint. He finished at the rim but also peppered the defense with pull-up jumpers, shooting over smaller defenders. Isaiah's two-way prowess gives him a high ceiling.     Wiry forward showcased stretch capabilities. Knocked down corner threes and fluidly cut off the post for slashes to the basket. Holds versatility on defense with his length and lateral foot speed.     Attacking guard has great speed in the open floor. Shows touch when dropping in floaters over shot blockers. Can kiss it off the glass from tough angles. Opened up his scoring against Greenforest with a three. The constant pressure he put on the defense with his off the dribble game resulted in scoring opportunities for the Dawgs.     Crafty finisher netted a pair of free throws late to lift Dutchtown past Greenforest. Good size for a lead guard. Can play both on and off the ball. Tight handle creates separation. Plays with good pace. Influences games in other ways aside from just scoring. Steady rebounder, facilitator and defender.     Shifty penetrator was able to slither into the paint to create drive-and-kick looks for shooters. Pesky defender. Smooth pull-up jumper.     Versatile skill set can have him play inside one possession and outside the next. Strongly built forward likes to grab rebounds and push in transition. Initiates the offense off the bounce with his court vision. Defensively stood out with his toughness when guarding the post. Bodies up bigger opponents and doesn't let them back him down.     Belmont-signee has smooth perimeter footwork for his size. Creates off the dribble for pull-up jumpers. Can play physical in the low post or stretch out and attack from the wing. Fluid agility. Clean release on his jump shot. Underrated defender. Did a great job guarding [player_tooltip player_id='1696170' first='Manny' last='Green'] in the fourth quarter. Uses his length to protect the rim and doesn't easily get lost when guarding 1-on-1, tough to shake.     Lean shot blocker flashes promise of a high upside. Long frame looks like it can add mass in college. Though thin, doesn't play overly soft inside. Utilized a baby hook. Can drop step and dunk or catch alley-oops to finish above the rim. Long strider moves his feet well for size.     Stretchy forward has terrific length. Pogo-stick off the floor, a defensive gem that can guard on the perimeter and in the post. Offensive game continues to polish. Smooth looking three-point shot. Quick enough to exploit slower bigs that try and guard him. Lots of tools and talent to work with.     Loved his quickness and vigor with the ball. Sleek penetrator. Plays with great tempo. Stays in attack mode. Can get overlooked at Alexander but is strong and well-rounded. Defends, distributes and scores. Had bright moments in Alexander's win over McEachern.     Pops carried the offensive load with 28 points. Physical guard blends finesse with power. Got to his spots in the mid-range and finished at the rim. Colorado State-signee controls games with how he is able to manipulate defenses.     Buried five threes as the Titans pulled away from Tri-Cities in the second half. Star guard netted 23 points. Bouncy finisher with deep range. Really good defender with his ability to block shots. Continues to come up big on the largest stages.     Scored in transition with three seconds left to stun Grayson 64-62. Floor general scores the ball well and is adept at getting to his mid-range pull-up but often times instead of hunting his shot, looks to make others around him better. Unselfish leader. Great handle. Has played in big games since early in his career. Gets over looked as one of the best true point guards in Georgia.     Got hurt on a dunk attempt in the first half but returned to play. Checks all the boxes. Long, athletic, smooth, competitive and consistent. Lives above the rim with highlight slams. Deadly three-point shooter off the catch and off the bounce. Gets in to rebound. Doesn't shy away from contact. Wingspan and quickness help him earn numerous deflections. Has upside to become a lockdown defender. High Major recruit for a reason.

The annual Grayson New Year's Classic was loaded with terrific Top 10 matchups to tip off 2026. Here is a look at some players that impressed.