June GBCA Live Period (Georgia Only)
Emerson, GA – Every summer high school teams look forward to June. This is where they have the opportunity to play in front of college coaches. The Georgia Basketball Coaches Association puts together one of the more attended Live Period sessions in the country.
A little less than 170 schools from the Peach State attended the annual event at Lakepoint. College basketball coaches from around the country attended looking for the next player to fill their future rosters. This three-day event was loaded with tough games, highlights and a number of players even were extended college offers.
Here are a few teams and players noticed over the weekend.
Gainesville was impressive getting to the championship game of their bracket. the addition of Kevin Curtis. The 7-footers body is the first thing one notices. He has been in the weight room having added some strength. His presence in the lineup gives the Red Elephants a shot blocker. Curtis established himself inside and once teammates get accustomed to having someone his size to play with things will run smoothly. Pairing him up with 2026 Quintin Mansell, a 6’7 forward, and 2026 Charlie Gersmehl, a 6’8 forward, gives Gainesville a formidable frontline. Mansell has gotten stronger and is being more aggressive offensively. Gersmehl continues to asset himself as a strong interior option but has added a consistent jumper. The backcourt is manned by 2026 KJ White and 2026 Brandon Nelson. White, a 5’10 point guard, found ways to get the offense rolling forward while also taking advantage of scoring opportunities. Nelson, a 6’3 shooting guard, nailed jumpers from beyond the arc and was playing free. 2029 Jaxton Trammell, a 6’4 forward is a players development worth tracking. The young fella was inserted into the rotation early during the live period. He did not look out of place in any way running the floor hard and playing with confidence. Playing against the Red Elephants front court over the course of the season will only help his growth.
Pace Academy returns a team filled with players growing into their new roles. 2028 Bentley Lusakueno is a 6’8 power forward who is getting comfortable in the Knights system under head coach Sharman White. Lusakueno showed his versatility on the interior and the perimeter. His aggressive play is what stood out over the course of the weekend. This helped earn him offers from Miami and Auburn. 2026 Jake Agolli’s time is now. The 6-foot-11 center is moving with purpose and confidence. He is a space eater with his length blocking or altering shots. Agolli is an excellent communicator looking to establish himself inside. He earned a scholarship offer from Rhodes College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. 2026 Hayden Clay had a solid performance all weekend. The 6’9 forward was active on the board and finishing at the rim with purpose. He is looking sharper and more comfortable in a Knights uniform. 2028 Brielen Craft had a big weekend. The 6’1 point guard looked poised and exuded confidence running the team. His fluid movement helped him get to the rim or score over defenders. Auburn, Georgia, and Georgia Tech extended offers to him.
Model looked competitive against some of the bigger schools from across the state. The Blue Devils didn’t fold as they fought hard and competed. 2026 Dominic Fraley, a 6’5 small forward, showed a competitive edge defending and rebounding against taller guys. In the process, he made it difficult for them to guard him shooting the ball or around the basket. He has a high motor and will push himself to exhaustion on either end of the floor. 2028 Tyler Harrell, a 6’2 power forward, is undersized but don’t let that fool you. He plays hard and bigger than any measurable. There were times he was the best rebounder and defender playing.
2027 Jarvis Hayes Jr could easily have stolen the spotlight over the weekend for Woodward Academy. The 6’6 guard was deep in his offensive bag shooting the ball with high efficiency. He then showed off the athleticism by attacking the rim with vengeance. Hayes had scoring games of 36 and 42 points over the weekend. His efforts landed him offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Ole Miss and Cincinnati.
Calvary Day School has a new voice and coaching system to learn. The challenges are new but this team played solid on the weekend. This Cavaliers roster has some nice pieces. 2026 Koul Deng is eye catching player at 6-foot-11. His movement on the floor is like that of a gazelle. He ran the court well and finished at the rim and even showed some finesse at the rim. Deng is a prospect all college coaches need to recruit. 2027 Marlon Knight, a 6’2 combo guard, brings a sense of physicality to this team. His presence opens the floor giving him space to attack the basket. He knocked down mid-range jumpers and rebounded the ball well for his position. 2027 Jamin Martin, a 5’8 point guard, is the coaches son. He has a big motor and leaves everything on the floor. When he is on the floor you can see he is connected in getting everyone involved. His feel for the game is so technical. 2026 Demetrius Brown, a 6’1 point guard, ran this new offense and delivered plenty of pinpoint passes. He has a knack for scoring who also is a defensive menace. This Cavaliers team was on a long 9-day stretch from home. They learned hoops and were building team unity. This can help in late February.
Buford’s roster has added some players while others who have been there have improved. 2027 Carmelo Williams is one of the more athletic players in the class. The 6-foot-2 guard drove toward the lane and it looked he was even going to take a mid-range jumper or a layup. He gave everyone something to talk about finishing with two-handed dunk in the lane. It was not the only thing he did on the weekend. He has added to his game from a season ago nailing three-pointers more consistently. His quickness and athleticism allowed him to finish through contact or traffic. 2026 Dillon Nixon is the orchestrator of the Wolves offense. He is a floor leader and gets everyone involved. His ability to change direction like changing lanes on a Georgia highway is impressive. Nixon takes advantage of opponents who don’t take care of the ball. An intricate addition to Buford’s roster is 2026 Dream Rashad. He is a 6’6 forward with much needed size, length, and strength. He gives the Wolves a skilled interior player with some experience.
Franklin’s 2026 Bentley Huff, a 6’2 guard, can get hot quick from the perimeter. He moves without the ball and gets a shot off quickly. His commitment to defense makes him a leader to a young team. They fed off of his efforts. 2028 Sam Shaver, a 6’3 guard, is lefty who plays hard on both ends of the floor. His role is to knockdown shoots. He hit a few shots and will continue developing consistency with maturity.
Berkmar had to endure a gauntlet of playing three games on the first day. The Patriots did not let this affect them or their energy. Leading the way in those games was 2026 Jayvon Rampersant, who is returning back to the Lilburn school. The 6’9 forward gave the staff something to build on. He showed he can be a defensive rim protector and a tough rebounder in traffic. His game and athleticism was on the display in the open floor. He played free while finishing around the rim with a soft touch. The Patriots staff will push the best out of him once they are able to get more time in the gym. 2026 Caden Jacksone, a 6’2 point guard, is in new threads handling Berkmar’s offense as its floor general. He is a natural scorer with tremendous athleticism. His game is predicated on speed and high elevation in the mid-range game. Look for him to settle into the program and build off his skills under the Patriots staff. Berkmar went undefeated (4-0) winning the Teal championship.
Calhoun has a tough-minded backcourt. 2028 Trace Hawkins, a 6’0 point guard, has a K9 mindset. He put that on display all weekend not willing to pack up from any competitor. There were two games when the Yellow Jackets trailed he refused to fold. Hawkins’ late shots helped them to a win. The other way was against Berkmar. Hawkins came down the court and nailed three consecutive three-pointers and the Yellow Jackets lost by one. Hawkins is more than just a shooter. He is a solid point guard always looking to push the ball up the floor. Hawkins, a two-sport athlete, kicks the ball ahead and spreads out the love. 2026 Jaxon Moore, a 6’3 guard, is another gritty player with the same dawg DNA. He is a nose to the ball defender with quick hands. His efforts led to break away baskets where several jumpers were sandwiched between scores. This duo will be fun to watch this coming season.
Mount Paran has a young scrappy roster. The Eagles played with a competitive edge and turned some heads. 2027 Landon Breckley, a 5’9 point guard, is an excellent facilitator and was under control running the team. He has good court vision. His feel for the game and poise helps provide the leadership this team needs. 2029 Peyton Easley, a 6-foot point guard, gave the Eagles energy and scoring. He can score at a high-rate. Once he gets his feet underneath him transitioning into high school Easley will be an intricate piece on the roster. 2028 Shane Goings, a 6’3 combo guard, plays off and on the ball. His feel for the game is impressive for a player this young. He handled the ball well and is a smooth scorer. Goings athleticism was on display in the open court delivering a thunderous dunk over a defender.
2026 Cason Harden is a name people will need to become familiar with from Colquitt County. The 6-foot point guard is the heart of the team. He plays at a neck breaking pace but knows how to throttle it down when needed. His jump shot is consistent and textbook-like. Harden nailed 10 three-pointers through two games. Hitting shots with this level of consistency will garner attention from a college program soon enough.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.