EMERSON, Ga. — It’s a slow time of year on the basketball calendar as we are in a bit of a holding pattern between the AAU and high school seasons. To fill late summer and early fall, there are individual player camps, high school workouts and open gyms—high school coaches, send me your schedules—and fall leagues to pass the time.
The Ryze Hoops fall league is one of the staples in Georgia. Per usual, they have a crop of teams with a nice blend of known names in the state and deep-cut sleepers.
Through two weeks, these are the standout players I’ve seen.
Jared Smith, Next Level Academy, 2026: Smith has been one of the best, most consistent players at Ryze thus far. He’s helped lead Next Level to two dominant wins with his versatility. At around 6-foot-7 or so, he’s been productive inside and out. In this setting, Smith has been able to create for himself off the dribble and step out and hit shots from three. Around the basket, there hasn’t been much resistance keeping him from asserting himself. Strong finishes, rebounds, Smith has more or less been able to do what he wants in the paint.
Connor Teasley, Next Level Academy, 2026: Coming off of being named the OTR Circuit MVP, 2026 G Connor Teasley has been solid for Next Level Academy. His second game was the better of the two. He did a little bit of everything in that one. Athletic finishes, shooting, passing, Teasley had an all-around game.
Note: 2026 guard Jacob Zhu had great moments in a game for Next Level. More on him in a different post.
Anderson Carey, The Walker School, 2026: If there’s a better shooter in this fall league, you have to point me in his direction because Carey has been lighting it up from deep. Through two games, I have him down for 11 3-pointers. He’s hit shots in multiple ways and with range well beyond the line. Carey has helped with secondary creation duties as well having dished out some nice passes and finishing on drives to the basket. Look for him to put up big-time numbers this high school season.
KD Hernandez, The Walker School, 2028: Paired with Carey in the Walker backcourt, Hernandez has also been putting up significant numbers in the scoring column. While he’s hit some shots, his production has mostly come at the rim off the bounce. He’s more of a crafty driver than anything else and knows how to use his body to carve out space. He’s also mixed in some ambidextrous finishes at the basket.
Shane Goines, Mount Paran Christian, 2028: I’ve had multiple people tell me about Goines over the last few months. These fall league games have been the first time I’ve earnestly been able to watch him. His athleticism and ability to play above the rim is what made him stick out at first, but then his shotmaking added to the intrigue. Goines has been reliable from distance through two weeks. He’ll be a fun player to track for the next few years.
Jaiston Duff, Murray County, 2027: A total surprise. Unknown to several in the local basketball space, Duff was one of the eye-openers during the second week of the fall league. Not the biggest guard in the world, Duff negates that to a degree with his speed with the ball, his passing acumen, his fearless approach, and his high motor. For the most part, he made quality reads, and dished some outstanding passes. His mentality allows him to play bigger than he is too. Duff is completely unafraid and plays hard. There were times, as the smallest player on the floor, when he beat multiple opponents for rebounds in traffic.
Abu Jallow, Kennesaw Mountain, 2028: Jallow has had some bright flashes. I locked in on their game the first week of the fall league, and he made some outstanding passing decisions. The second week, I kept an eye on their game from afar. He looked more comfortable handling and making plays with the ball. Both align with what I saw out of Jallow at the On The Radar Hoops Breakout camp earlier in the month.