After having some time to reflect on recent holiday events, I will start digging into some of the prospects who caught my eye over the last few weeks. As always, we’ve had a large number and wide range of tournaments in the Atlanta area which has allowed me to see a nice variety of teams & prospects. Here are 4 guys who stood out at local Atlanta events before Christmas.

6’6” Osmar Garcia (2023/Lanier)
Having not watched Garcia in a while, I was looking forward to getting another viewing of him at Lambert’s Santa Jam and he did not disappoint. One of the most unique players in the state, Garcia is a constant matchup problem with the way he can do things with the ball at his size. He pushes in transition and facilitates well, has great passing vision, and can finish on the move with either hand. In the halfcourt he’s able to pull forwards away from the lane and break them down off the dribble. He can play with some flair but is a fundamentally sound prospect. Although not the tallest or a particularly explosive athlete, Garcia is a high IQ defensive player too. He understands positioning, and in this matchup, he drew a handful of charges. A lot of schools are inquiring about him and like what he brings to the table; I’m interested to see where he eventually lands.

6’1” Trajen Greco (2024/Mill Creek)
Greco has quickly gotten back in the swing of things since rejoining Mill Creek’s team after the conclusion of his football season. In both recent games I watched of theirs, he had his fingerprints all over the contests and was the engine that made the Hawks go. When he’s needed to step up as a scorer, Greco has shown he can heat up and produce points from different areas. His jumper is reliable and he has some craftiness at the rim. However, he’s just as good controlling the game and setting the table for others. What I like most about him is his competitive fire and peskiness that he brings on the defensive end. He has great hands & instincts, which results in a lot of steals to ignite transition, where Mill Creek has excelled. In wins over Lanier and Shiloh, Greco averaged 18.5 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 4.5 SPG while making 3 3’s in each game. Mill Creek has won 7 straight and their success should continue with him leading the way.

6’6” Ethan Carter (2025/Arlington Christian)
Arlington Christian might not get a ton of attention, but Carter is among the most explosive sophomores you’ll see in all of Georgia. That quality was on display when Arlington faced Creekside Christian at St. Francis. He had numerous eye-popping plays well above the rim, both offensively and defensively. Carter can pop off the floor off of 1 foot easily without much momentum and looks to finish dunks or swat shots with authority even if guys are in his way. At 6’6” he has good speed and can really cover ground. I was also encouraged with the progress he showed in his shot. It is still a bit mechanical, but he stepped out and was pretty comfortable in hitting 3 3’s for the game. He could really rise as his skillset becomes more polished.

6’6” Jake Whitaker (2024/Kennesaw Mountain)
Kennesaw Mountain went into Christmas with a 6-3 record and Whitaker has been an important part of their early success. I watched them against New Manchester at Pope, where the Mustangs walked away with a win and Whitaker scored 17 points to lead them. He is playing with lots of confidence and has been placed in good situations for him to produce. Whitaker is a legit shooting threat at 6’6” with range that extends beyond the 3-point arc. In this game he was very good in pick & pop situations and showed IQ when ghosting screens to get himself open. He has a high release with no hesitation and proved to be capable putting the ball on the floor when the defense adjusted to his shooting ability. Whitaker has continued to improve his body & athleticism, which will make him even more effective in the paint. He has size and skill that will make him worth recruiting.