Sophomore Explosion
G Chance Moore (Holy Innocents’)- No one took better advantage of the Hoopsgiving stage than Moore did. Coming into the event, he had already established a reputation as one of the top sophomores in the state (#4 in our most recent rankings), but his performance last weekend put him in the national conversation. Moore’s versatile scoring package allowed him to average 25.5 PPG in two games, resulting in offers from UGA, Clemson, Xavier, Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest. If he keeps this up, he’ll be in good shape to take over the #1 spot in the state for 2021 when rankings are updated again in January. The sophomore duo of Moore and Garrison Powell will be a fun one to watch throughout the winter.
G RJ Noord (Greenforest)- Making the move to Greenforest this year, Noord looks ready for a big season alongside Lamar Oden in the Eagles’ backcourt. Greenforest started off the season with an impressive win over Langston Hughes at Hoopsgiving; Noord led the charge with his energy while also pouring in 20 points. He has continued to become more consistent as an outside shooter and frequently slithers his way through the paint for finishes at the basket. Noord was offered by Xavier following the game; putting together his scoring ability with a competitive nature and commitment to defense will continue to attract coaches.
F Robbie Armbrester (Therrell)- Armbrester never disappoints when I watch him play. His performances throughout the fall slotted him at 5th in our 2021 rankings and his play at Hoopsgiving justified that. Going against an undersized HIES team to start the event, it was a perfect game for Armbrester to dominate in. He did just that, going for 30 points and collecting 18 rebounds in the exciting overtime battle. His activity and strength always put him in good position to rebound and finish inside. He is reliable and efficient, you don’t have to question what you’ll get from him each time out. Armbrester will be a double-double machine all season for the Panthers.
PF Jabari Smith (Sandy Creek)- It is rare to see a young prospect of Smith’s size with the type of touch and perimeter skill that he possesses. Smith did a variety of things for Sandy Creek as they went up against defending 3A state champion GAC at Hoopsgiving. He stepped out and hit 2 3’s, showed a nice turnaround on the baseline, and was effective as a rim protector for the Patriots. An efficient, productive post player like Smith is a huge boost for any high school squad. Smith has already received multiple offers and with the tools he has, many more should be on the way.
PG AJ White (Chattahoochee)- White had a strong freshman campaign, but with the graduation of Will Bracknell, he has the ball in his hands to make plays even more now. He has started the 2018-19 season on a tear, winning MVP of the Roswell Honor Air Invitational and leading his team to a championship. White’s scoring numbers are absurd for a sophomore, putting up 36, 22, 29, 34, and 25 points in Hooch’s first 5 games. The defense is almost always at his mercy; White is an exceptional outside shooter with a great package of moves to create shots off the dribble as well. He is one of those guys where his skill negates his lack of size. White and Cam Sheffield will continue to lead the Cougars offensively this year.