CARTERSVILLE, Ga.- The second Live Period of the summer kicks off this week, and we are previewing the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association (GBCA) Live Period, where nearly 150 teams across the Southeast Region will take the stage at the 12-court facility at LakePoint Sports. Here are eight (8) rising sophomores to watch throughout the event:
By: Ross Van De Griek
6-8 PF Cayden Gaskins, Christopher Columbus HS (FL), Nightrydas Elite EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-8 rising sophomore power forward is one of the top-ranked prospects in the upcoming sophomore class in the country, according to several recruiting services. Gaskins is a hard-nosed athlete who can impact the game in a variety of ways, whether it’s altering shots at the rim with his length or finishing at the point of attack on the offensive end. He has become more adaptable when it comes to stretching the floor playing more of a combo-forward role where he can knock down shots from the perimeter both off the catch and bounce. He is the younger brother of University of Miami signee Caleb, bringing all the physical tools as he will be a name worth noting over the course of the next three years.
6-5 SF Desean Clayton, Westminster Academy HS (FL), Nightrydas Elite EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-5 rising sophomore wing is having a strong start to the Grassroots season, playing on the national stage. He is averaging 17 points and 6 rebounds per game for Nightrydas Elite this spring through the first three sessions. He brings a versatile skill set of athleticism, good size, and length, and he possesses a great overall feel for the game on both ends of the floor. He has also continued to show true aggressiveness, attacking the rim on offense, and is a high-level rebounder on defense. With more confidence and growth in his game, Clayton could climb higher in the national rankings for his class.
6-5 SG Austin Leonard, Grayson HS (GA), JET Academy EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-5 rising sophomore shooting guard brings ideal positional size, length, and athleticism on both ends of the floor. During his freshman season, Leonard earned All-Region honors, where he was one of the lead catalysts for the Rams to make a run to the regional final. He is a capable scorer who can be effective on all three levels, whether it’s off the catch or bounce. Leonard already holds offers from Auburn, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. Expect many more schools to start calling for the 6-foot-5 rising sophomore guard as the summer rolls on.
6-6 SG Cadien Hudson, Wheeler HS (GA), JET Academy EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-6 rising sophomore wing is still getting acclimated to his new teammates after transferring to Wheeler High School earlier in the summer. He brings a strong skill set that includes length, a good frame, and versatility to both ends of the floor. He has a smooth handle where he can often at times be the primary guard, making the right reads to his teammates, as well as displaying a high IQ, knowing when to take opportunities to score. Hudson is just scratching the surface as far as potential goes but he should have a strong second half of the summer where college coaches are already piquing interest in the 6-foot-6 rising sophomore combo guard.
6-2 CG Boston Sheppard, Providence HS (FL), Georgia Stars EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-2 rising sophomore combo guard brings a ton of shiftiness, speed, and strength to his game on both ends of the floor. On offense, he has a knack for scoring on all three levels, both off the catch and bounce. On the defensive end, his burst of speed allows him to cover a lot of ground, whether it’s playing above the rim or utilizing his athleticism to cover the passing lanes. His transition from playing the lead guard position where he led Impact Christian Academy to the Class 1A semifinals as a freshman to Providence where he will likely be playing off the ball will be a smooth transition for the 6-foot-2 combo guard.
6-8 PF Jacori Thompson, Grayson HS (GA), Atlanta Celtics 3SSB- 2029
The 6-foot-8 rising sophomore combo forward can impact the game in a variety of ways. On the offensive end, he is very diverse when it comes to shot selection, where he has a dangerous mid-range game as well as utilizing his strength, where he can finish above the rim. He also rebounds at a high level, using a ton of energy and effort, where he limits the opposition from getting second-chance scoring opportunities. The 6-foot-8 rising sophomore forward is already hearing from Georgia State and Kennesaw State where we could possibly see his recruitment take off as we near the second half of the summer.
6-9 PF Chudier Diew Yak, North Broward Prep HS (FL), Florida Rebels EYBL- 2029
The 6-foot-9 rising sophomore forward possesses a long frame, fluid athleticism, and an impressive overall skill set for his size. On the offensive end, Yak moves comfortably and effectively when playing on the perimeter as well as making strong back-door cuts where he can finish above the rim at a high percentage. He can knock down tough shots from both inside and outside the arc when given the right amount of space off the catch. On the defensive end, his length and awareness allows him to be efficient when guarding on all three levels as he can play above the rim and out on the perimeter. Overall, Yak is projected to be one of the top combo forwards in his class as he is already receiving national attention in the upcoming sophomore class.
6-10 Center Jalil Hill-McCorvey, Fleming Island HS (FL), 1Family Hoops PRO16- 2029
The 6-foot-10 rising sophomore center can impact the game on both ends of the floor, where he can run in transition-scoring opportunities, create early opportunities for himself to make an impact, and display great court vision for his size. On the defensive end, his length and timing allow him to be a solid rim protector, where he does a great job limiting the opposition from getting second-chance scoring opportunities. On the offensive end, he has become more adaptable when taking mid-range jump shots as well as stretching the floor, knocking down shots from the perimeter off the catch. Hill has all the tools to become a reliable inside-out scoring package as he continues to gain more consistency when scoring on all three levels. He will be a name college coaches will get to know over the course of the next three years.
Ross Van De Griek has been a Southeast Region Scout for On The Radar Hoops since 2024 and has been the Owner/Founder of Southeast Hoops Report since June 2026. You can follow along with his work on X (@SEHoopsReport), Instagram (sehoopsreport), and Facebook (@sehoopsreport).