Ace Bailey, a 6-foot-10 forward from McEachern, is the state’s No. 1 boys basketball recruit this season. He’s the nation’s consensus No. 3 prospect and has signed with Rutgers.
Bailey heads this list of 10 seniors at the top of their class in Georgia. They include five who led their teams to state championships last year.
Ace Bailey, McEachern
Height/position: 6-10 small forward
Stats: 29.5 points, 16.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3 blocks
Team: 13-5, ranked No. 2 in Class 7A
College: Signed with Rutgers
Fact: Bailey scored 31 points, pulled 16 rebounds and made the winning shot last week in a 61-59 victory over Edmond North, an Oklahoma team that was No. 6 in MaxPreps’ national rankings.
Coach’s assessment: “Best player in the country. He’s 6-10 with a guard skill set. Able to play and guard every position on the floor. The most unselfish five-star in the country. Nothing this kid can’t do on a basketball floor.” – Tremayne Anchrum Sr.
Karris Bilal, Riverwood
Height/position: 6-2 point guard
Stats: 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 33 total 3-pointers
Team: 14-5, No. 8 in Class 6A
College: Signed with Vanderbilt
Fact: Bilal has started every game of his four-year varsity career.
Coach’s assessment: “Karris is having a big-time senior season. He has scored over 2,500 points in his high school career at Riverwood. Karris is a competitor and prolific scorer. He can score at all three levels and is exceptional with his ability to get to his spots. He’s the type of player who is difficult to game plan for because he can create shots and can score from anywhere on the court. He also uses his athleticism and instincts on the defensive end.” – Buck Jenkins
C.J. Brown, Kell
Height/position: 6-2 point guard
Stats: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Team: 14-3, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A (defending champion)
College: Signed with South Florida
Fact: Brown had 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks in Kell’s 61-53 victory over Eagle’s Landing for the 2023 Class 5A title.
Coach’s assessment: “C.J. has really developed into a complete guard. He has added to his strength of being more than an attacking guard. He can hit the open 3 consistently, is great shooting off the dribble and is an exceptional defender. C.J. is our engine to get us going.” – Jermaine Sellers
Kyle Greene, Pace Academy
Height/position: 6-2 guard
Stats: 11 points, 8 assists, 3 steals
Team: 13-2, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A (defending champion)
College: Signed with Central Florida
Fact: Greene, a top-100 national recruit, scored 19 points with four rebounds and four assists in Pace’s 66-52 victory over Fayette County for the 2023 Class 4A championship.
Coach’s assessment: “Kyle epitomizes what it means to be a true point guard. His high basketball IQ and how he sees the game gives him the ability to make his teammates better while also scoring and defending, which makes him one of the top point guards in the country.” – Sharman White
Gicarri Harris, Grayson
Height/position: 6-4 guard
Stats: 18.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 42 total 3-pointers (49%)
Team: 16-2, ranked No. 1 in Class 7A
College: Signed with Purdue
Fact: Harris a top-75 national recruit, and junior teammate Jacob Wilkins, a Georgia commit, led Grayson to a season-opening win over McEachern, and that’s what keeps Grayson highest among Georgia teams in state and national polls.
Coach’s assessment: “Gicarri is a great young man and someone that any coach would want to represent their program. One of the most selfless players that I’ve ever coached. Always respectful of his teammates and coaches. Approaches each game with the mindset of giving us whatever we need in that particular game to win the game. It doesn’t matter if it’s scoring, facilitating, defending or rebounding. He may give you some of each area or one big night in a certain area. His mindset is doing whatever it takes to win the game.” – Geoffrey Pierce
Josh Hill, Wheeler
Height/position: 6-10 wing/forward
Stats: 17.7 ppg, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
Team: 12-4, ranked No. 3 in Class 7A (defending champion)
College: Signed with Arkansas State
Fact: A top-125 national prospect, Hill is the highest-rated signee in Arkansas State history.
Coach’s assessment: “A skilled 6-10 wing/forward that is only scratching the surface on how good he can be. Josh is a few years away from playing his best basketball, and once he gains some muscle to his frame and slows down a bit offensively, Josh has the potential to go a long way in this game of basketball.” – Larry Thompson
Braedan Lue, Alexander
Height/position: 6-6 forward
Stats: 20 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2 blocks, 1.4 steals
Team: 16-2, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A (defending champion)
College: Signed with Kennesaw State
Fact: Lue was the AJC’s Class 6A player of the year as a junior and led Alexander to its first state title.
Coach’s assessment: “Braedan is a matchup nightmare. He can bring the bigs out on perimeter and shoot the 3 or drive past. Or if you put smaller player on him, he is going to take them inside. He has worked really hard to improve his perimeter skills. He is a winner.” – Jason Slate
Jaye Nash, McEachern
Height/position: 6-2 point guard
Stats: 12.9 points, 7.4 assists, 2 steals
Team: 13-5, ranked No. 2 in Class 7A
College: Uncommitted
Fact: McEachern, ranked No. 15 nationally by MaxPreps, has lost to four of MaxPreps’ top six teams plus No. 14 Grayson.
Coach’s assessment: “He’s a leader. Tough as nails. True point guard. Ball-hawking defensive point guard. Can pick up full court and also great half-court defender. Can shoot the deep 3-ball with consistency.” – Tremayne Anchrum Sr.
Xavier Shegog, Mount Vernon
Height/position: 6-6 forward
Stats: 12.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team: 12-8, ranked No. 1 in Class A Division I
College: Signed with West Georgia
Fact: Shegog moved from Tennessee last season and led Mount Vernon to its first state semifinal.
Coach’s assessment: “Xavier impacts the game on both ends of the floor and does it consistently. He always gives us an advantage from a matchup standpoint because he is so mobile and active at 6-6, 210 pounds. He’s our team captain, and he is a phenomenal teammate and leader. His biggest games are against the best competition.” – Tarrik Mabon
Micah Smith, Sandy Creek
Height/position: 6-7 forward
Stats: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 2 steals
Team: 13-2, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A (defending champion)
College: Signed with James Madison
Fact: Smith was the AJC’s Class 3A player of the year as a junior and led Sandy Creek to its first state title.
Coach’s assessment: “Micah has made a huge jump in his 3-point percentage on the season. It’s making him extremely difficult to defend because now teams can’t sag off. They have to respect him as a shooter, and his elite athleticism allows him to go by them if they’re overly aggressive. Micah’s greatest skill set is his passing and defense though. I honestly think he’s the best passing forward in the country. He has led our team in assists for three straight seasons, and when your best player is your most unselfish, it makes for great chemistry and balanced scoring, which makes us hard to match up with.” – Jon-Michael Nickerson
COMING SATURDAY: Top 10 Georgia girls basketball seniors
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