New Year, New Names: Upperclassmen Hidden Gems of Northeast GA

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that 2024 is here, that means the first half of basketball season is behind us. Region play is in full swing and there have been some new names that coaches should be paying close attention to, as the second half of the season gets under way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2312500,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Nick Huff","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Monsignor Donovan Catholic School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Classic City Ballers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nick Huff is a 6'8u0022 Forward that should be getting a lot more attention from college coaches. He can run the floor well, play above the rim, and rebounds and blocks shots at a high clip. He's reminiscent of a traditional big that can play with his back to the basket and can finish around the rim. He's the defensive anchor for his team, leading the state of Georgia in both rebounds and blocks per game at 16.1 and 6.6 respectively, which are some of the best numbers, in those categories, in the country. As he continues to develop his jump shot and ball handling skills, he could be a very good stretch forward on the college level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6594e7dec735b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hampton Ford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Athens Christian School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hampton is a quick and agile lefty that pushes the ball well in transition, but can also run a half court offense well. He's a great ball handler and makes good reads, as a playmaker with his pass first tendencies. He can also put the ball on the ground, get to the rim, and finish around the basket. As he becomes a better knock down shooter, from three, and continues to  become more comfortable attacking with his right hand, he will turn more and more heads for sure. Hampton's athleticism allows him to play above the rim, at times, which when combined with his other skills, increases his overall ceiling as a player.  He's currently the leading scorer for the second consecutive season for his team, which had an Elite 8 berth, in Class A, in GHSA last season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Grady Jones","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Elbert County High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Grady is highly overlooked Point Guard that has a wide range of skills. He's lefty that can go either way with good ball handling ability. He is an absolute sniper that shoots with a good rotation on the ball from deep, and knocks down NBA range threes regularly with ease. He comes off screens well, can catch and shoot and shoot off the dribble. Grady is a 3 level scorer that has a good basketball IQ and takes the best shot based on what the defense gives him. As a Floor General, he moves the ball well on fastbreaks and sets up well in the half court game. In transition, he's shown the ability to play above the rim jumping off one foot or both feet, and finishing with tomahawk dunks or two handed jams. As he works to add more muscle to his frame, he's going to be a highly sought after guard that will be able to run a college level offense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Malik Ware","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Washington-Wilkes High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Malik is a high energy Forward that can knock down the occasional jumper and score around the rim. His athleticism allows him to be an effective rebounder, scorer on second attempts, and dunks the ball with regularity. He has a great attitude and plays both ends of the floor with great effort and intensity. As he continues to showcase his ball handling abilities and grow his confidence with knocking down the jumper regularly, he's going to be a great addition to a college program in the near future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"John u0022Tripu0022 Griffith","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Monroe Area High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"John u0022Tripu0022 Griffith has been having a highly productive season for his Monroe Area team. He's averaging double-double in points and rebounds, and recently had a game where he scored over 30 points and had 20 rebounds. Trip has a high motor that allows him play both sides of the court well.  He runs the floor extremely well, and finishes with touch around the rim. As he continues to shoot the ball more often and knock down shots, college coaches will want to keep an eye on him as he has college athleticism.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6594e7dec7370"} /-->