Forsyth County preseason open run

Forsyth County preseason open run

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Cumming, GA – The annual Forsyth County open run is an opportunity for some of the rising seniors and juniors to be seen by a few college coaches and scouts Monday night.

While you may know who some of the players are it is another chance to see them just before the start of the season. It is also good to see what they have been working on since the end of the summer.

Many of the county schools will see each other again during the regular season. In the meantime, here are some of the guys who left an impression.

2025 Cole Gibree | Denmark | is a nice-looking prospect. He is a long wiry prospect with tremendous range from the perimeter. His quick release and touch will come in handy in the Danes offense.

2025 Louie Koulouvaris | East Forsyth | has become a tremendous floor general. He is playing with a much better pace and feel for the game. There are no wasted movements in running the team. His body control and court vision looked sharp since he was not playing with any of his teammates. In the previous open runs and watching him over the years, Koulouvaris has dripped with confidence. This swaggy confidence was on full display whenever he finished through contact or mid-range jumper in the lane. He will have the Broncos running and bidding for a playoff spot this season.

2025 Camp Wyatt | Forsyth Central | is an unconscious shooter. He can shoot it from anywhere on the floor with tremendous confidence and accuracy. The Bulldogs have themselves a guy willing to compete on both ends of the floor. He is capable of getting his shot off on his own. However, Wyatt is more effective in a catch-and-shoot situation. He is lights out and this season will have a game for the record books.

2025 Jacob Salvador | Horizon Christian | needed some time to get into a rhythm against the guys from the bigger schools. Now, when he finally got comfortable there were glimpses of his skills. He nailed a few deep three-pointers. His footwork was exceptional playing off two feet. Salvador was balanced and finding gaps in the defense to make a difference. He will shine this season with the way he started playing toward the second half of the open run.

2025 Taj McLeod | Lambert | is a big interior player. He will anchor the Longhorns’ defense this season rebounding and altering as many shots as possible. His length is impressive for any coach looking to for an interior player with some presence.

2025 Ian Lockett | Lambert | is an athletic player who is solid on the open floor. He easily showed being in space is when you can see what he brings to the team. Lockett rebounds and defends on the perimeter with tenacity. He will then finish above the rim on the other end of the floor. His skills will help the Longhorns get out on the break early and often.

2025 Jacob Hobson | South Forsyth | is a physical guard with some decent size. He can get into the lane with relative ease. When in the lane, Hobson is going to finish at the rim or is going to finish through contact. This lefty is tactical in handling the ball with pressure.

2025 Gray Smith | West Forsyth | had the best shooting performance of the open run. This marksman was on one in every game he played. It didn’t matter if he was on either side of the court or how far he was on the floor. He was on fire like the old graphics on NBA Jams, “He’s on fire!” His night was so impactful because Smith even hit one off the glass. The way he was shooting the ball it is hard to imagine any college coach seeing the performance not be intrigued with Smith’s availability.

2025 Jayden Frias | West Forsyth | will be an interesting player with the Wolverines this season. He can play on and off the ball. His poise against an aggressive defense helped display his patience and court vision. Frias worked through traffic and enjoyed the contact. When he wasn’t finishing inside he nailed a few jumpers. This helped keep defenders honest.

2026 Will Dopfer | Lambert | was easily the best-looking prospect on the floor. He was the only junior playing with the senior group. His body and game have matured. Dopfer worked inside the paint like a carpenter re-designing the interior of a home. He then stepped out to the three-point line with a few mid-range jumpers in the mix. His athleticism was on display defensively blocking shots and finishing several times above the rim on the break. He has been on a few college visits and will soon have more inquiries about him. Look for a breakout season for the 6-foot-6 redheaded hammer because he will be punishing opponents.

2026 Brennan Burns | East Forsyth | enjoys playing physical. This 6-foot-2 guard welcomes contact and plays through it like it doesn’t affect him. He drives the lane and displays a few different finishes. His jumper is improving. Look for him to be in a position to run the team at some point this season. He has enough moxy to handle the responsibilities of a floor general.

2026 Hunter Holbrook | East Forsyth | showed why the Broncos will look for him to bust open defenses. He shot the paint off the ball throughout the open run. His confidence grew with every shot he took. He is a spot-up guy with a scope. Teams will give him plenty of attention but the Broncos will have him on the move with the floor generals leading the way.

2026 Caleb Drummer | Forsyth Central | is a thumper. He is an undersized interior player but you wouldn’t know it watching him play. His motor and mentality made him hard to guard. He is always around the glass carving out space in the paint. Drummer finished while double-teamed or just going after a missed shot. His footwork is fluid. It helped him get around taller more athletic players. He does have some finesse to his game with the ability to step out to about 10 to 12 feet in range. Here is some advice to defenders playing against Drummer: bring a hard hat because he’s going to make you work.

2026 Isaac Rodriguez | Lambert | impressed with his versatility. He played on and off the ball with comfort. He showed the ability to run the team by getting guys into easy-scoring opportunities. Whenever he wasn’t on the ball Rodriguez was causing havoc running around the floor. He was either shooting the ball with good confidence or running into open gaps for him to score. His IQ and feel for the game helped show how he can affect a team’s success without scoring the ball.

2026 Kenny LaRue | Lambert | is a pit bull of a player. He was locked in guarding opposing players for the full length of the court. His lateral quickness disrupted the opponents’ offensive flow. This is where he just made sure to lock in defensively. Once he neutralized the defensive end of the floor, LaRue ran the team. He got into the lane with relative ease. Getting into the lane allowed him to show off his skill. He nailed floaters, finished through bumps, or found teammates looking for a three-pointer.

2026 Michael Akinrinmade | North Forsyth | is going to be a player to watch throughout the year. His 6-foot-6 frame is not difficult to recognize. He steps on the floor and immediately anchors down the interior blocking shots and pulling down rebounds in traffic. His defensive activity got him involved with the action of the game. He then went to the offensive end. Akinrinmade has some good hands and a soft touch around the rim. The Raiders have a prospect loading.

2026 Payne Smith | South Forsyth | is a competitive junkie. There is nothing wrong with seeing a player willing to play with his class and then jump in with the seniors. His performance on the floor catches a person’s eye because he refuses to stop going. It did not matter whether he was on the ball, off the ball, or on defense opponents were going to see Smith. He was handling the ball with ease and running the team with calm. His finishing package is deep. Look for him to be a menace to opponents this season.

2026 Preston Bagwell | South Forsyth | showed how to make shots despite a defender draped all over you. He scored and scored consistently. His ability to nail shots in rhythm or in catch-and-shoot was flawless. This two-sport athlete, who plays baseball, was never rattled by the speed of the game.