The Race for Georgia’s Mr. Basketball
The Race for Mr. Georgia Basketball
Players:
Landers NolleyFavorite
- Landers Nolley – Even though he was not chosen to participate in the annual McDonald’s All-American game, the work that the Langston Hughes guard and Virginia Tech commit has done cannot go unnoticed. Recently picking up player of the year honors for region 5 in Georgia’s 6A classification Nolley has logged in multiple 50-point games this season, is currently averaging 31 ppg, 8.1 rpg on the year, and has his Panthers in line for another run at a state championship after an impressive 15-1 campaign in region play. Nolley’s perimeter shooting ability, overall offensive consistency when team’s know he is the primary option each night out, and value to his team on the floor is the reason I would have him down as the favorite to take home this year’s Mr. Georgia Basketball honors.
Next 5
- EJ Montgomery – Many who are familiar with peach state prep hoops know plenty about the 6’10” 5-star forward out of Wheeler high school. Fresh off a McDonald’s All-American selection as well as region player of the year in a competitive region 2 in Georgia’s highest classification, Montgomery has been a hot topic among coaches like John Calipari and the Wildcats of Kentucky. His college decision is yet to be determined but he is undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects still undecided nationwide. His athletic ability and skill around the basket have led to a
EJ Montgomery
successful senior campaign individually and has put him right in the mix for the illustrious award for this season as well.
- Reggie Perry– The second McDonald’s All-American from the peach state this year comes in the form of 6’8” power forward out of Thomasville high school. An enforcer inside, Perry has had the opportunity to flash his skills at the USA basketball U17 select practices in Colorado Springs as well as Adidas Nations and he will continue his progression in Starkville for the Mississippi State Bulldogs next fall. Perry will lead his bulldogs into the 2A state playoffs with hopes of advancing past the sweet 16 that was achieved a season ago.
- Amanze Ngumezi – Maybe not being in the suburbs has affected his ability to be seen consistently but make no mistake about it, “Slim” can play. The UGA commit and Johnson HS forward is athletic and possesses a nice mid-range game that should suit him well at the next level. Nearly averaging a double-double this season (15.5ppg and 9.9 rpg) he makes his impact felt on both ends of the floor.
- Khavon Moore – Moore, like Montgomery, is one of the hottest Georgia prospects still available for the 2018 class. He has offers from the likes of Florida, UCLA, and USC but there is nothing set on when a decision will be made for his collegiate career. His prep career was cut short a few weeks ago because of a broken ankle and leg however Moore’s legacy at Westside-Macon is one to be remembered for a long time as he’s already eclipsed the 2,000-point scoring mark and was named region 4 player of the year in Georgia’s 3A classification. Moore was averaging 22.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 5.6 apg before his injury.
- Tye Fagan – One of the best prospects that few know about is Upson-Lee guard and Middle Tennessee State commit Tye Fagan. Fagan, like Ngumezi, plays in middle Georgia but Fagan specifically didn’t play for shoe sponsored team during the AAU months. However, with all those things going against him, his skillset is right there with the best guards in the state. He is the centerpiece to his teams’ current 57 game winning streak dating back to last season as they look to repeat as state champions in class 4A. Fagan is a smooth left-handed assassin that received region player of the year honors out of region 2, averaging an impressive 26.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 4.6 apg.
Tye Fagan
Others on the Radar
- Ashton Hagans – Is it out of the ordinary to place a junior in the running for Mr. Georgia Basketball? If so, throw all the traditional selections out of the window. The Newton county guard and UGA commit has been lights out all year posting over 10 triple-doubles throughout the year and increasing
Ashton Hagans
the level of play from his teammates with his unselfish play. While he is selfless and imaginably a pleasure to play with on the floor, he is not afraid to take over games either. He is masterful in the open court and a big-time finisher at the rim. He is coming off region 8 player of the year in class 7A, a 34 point 8 rebound and 8 assist output in the region championship game, and with his consistency over the entire year it would not surprise me to see him get votes for the award and the unanimous favorite for the award going into next season as well.
- KJ Jenkins – The unsigned senior is one of the top guards in the state for the 2018 class and has also been a module of consistency this season from the first game of the year where he scored 29 points against North Forsyth until now. He is the heartbeat of his Creekview squad and led them to a region regular season title, a 22-4 overall record, and 14-1 mark in region play. He plays the game with great pace and can get it done on all 3 levels. Jenkins was unanimously voted region 6 player of the year in the 6A classification and has posted over ten 20-point games this season.
- Devin Vassell – Vassell has kind of snuck under the radar but has been a productive guard all season and has a smooth offensive game on all levels. He has good size at 6’4” and long arms that suit him well on both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive side of the ball where he is the top defender in Peachtree Ridge’s full court trap. He earned region player of the year honors in region 6 of class 7A and posted impressive numbers (24.3 ppg, 2.5 apg, and 1.7 bpg) this season. The Florida State commit will look to finish this season strong as his Lions enter state tournament play as the number one seed out of their region.
- Nelson Phillips – Nelson Phillips came out of the 2017 AAU season with a lot of momentum with his play and gained a lot of interest from big time programs around the country. This basketball season he’s done nothing but carry that momentum into a successful senior campaign so far with hopefully more fireworks to come in the next few weeks in the class 5A state playoffs. He is the region 1 player of the year in that area and has posted some impressive numbers throughout the year with his elite athleticism and three-point shooting ability. The Georgia State signee has led Warner Robins to a 22-3-mark, undefeated region record, and deserves to have his name mentioned among the best players in the state this season.
Devin Vassell
- Jaylin Williams – Another junior and coincidentally the teammate of Hagans on the AAU circuit, Williams has been on a tear in South Georgia this season. Brantley County would not be what it is without the 6’7” wing and post man with crazy athletic ability and high basketball IQ. Williams has already surpassed 1,500 career points as a junior and earned region player of the year in region 1 of class 3A. He has posted recent numbers of 44 and 51 points on back to back nights and astonishing numbers throughout the entire box score have been the norm for the 4-star prospect out of Nahunta, Georgia.