This year’s boys basketball scene across the Augusta area is an intriguing one as there are seismic shifts in the landscape with Westside moving away from Class AA after a three-year domination, Butler bringing back a solid backcourt with second-year coach Chaz Clark and a new, intriguing Region 4-AAA race with two of the area’s foremost powers in Westside and Cross Creek.
One thing that hasn’t changed in the CSRA is the depth of basketball talent scattered across the area. Here, we’ve selected 15 of the top boys basketball players in the area to highlight. Surely there are more. But we felt like this is a great place to start.
Check out the list. Tell us who we missed.
Marcus Scurry, Sr., Butler
Though Westside and its three-peat Class AA state championship last year was all the rage, let us not forget that Butler was one win away from being able to reprise the All-Augusta Class AA state championship game from a couple of years back when Westside won its first of the three. And the 6-foot, 175-pound point guard was a big reason why. Four of Butler’s five starters averaged double figures last year in a 24-7 Final Four season, and Scurry is one of two double figures scorers who will return. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game last year, and he’s, without a doubt, one of the top returning players in the area — and in Class AA now that Westside has jumped up Class AAA.
Jaden Priester, Sr., Cross Creek
The 6-foot-7 senior isn’t a big rah-rah, trash talker guy. He doesn’t have to be because of the way he plays. As a junior, Priester rounded his game out to take a step up from Cross Creek role player to arguably the top returning big in the CSRA. His 11.3 points and seven rebounds per contest last year led the team. He often flexed as a rim protector on defense as well with his 1.5 blocked shots per game. He helped the Razorbacks to a 19-10 record and a first place finish in regular season region standings, and he’s back and ready to show that the junior breakout season was not just an anomaly. In a 91-51 scrimmage win against Lakeside Saturday, Priester was one of four Cross Creek players in double figures with 16 points — perhaps an omen that coach Lawrence Kelly’s team is primed for a fast start.
Jarious Adkinson, Sr., Westside
Ever since the 6-foot-1 combo guard took off from the baseline, put the ball between his legs in mid air before completing a one-handed flush during an actual game last year, we’ve been calling him “Mr. Eastbay.” His coach, Jerry Hunter, calls him “J2.” This season, expect more opposing teams and coaches to call him a more complete player. Adkinson was a highlight waiting to happen last year, as many of his 10.2 points per game came on an array of spectacular, above-the-rim finishes. But Adkinson is much more than a dunker, and with senior leadership as an expectation, he’s looking forward to proving that. He’ll have to wait a while as he continues to recover from an ACL tear sustained during the high school offseason. Hunter is hoping he’ll be ready to go by December. Then, all eyes will be on him to see how long it takes him to get back to regular form.
Dontrell Jackson, Jr. Westside
Speaking of Westside’s backcourt, the Patriots’ offense officially runs through Dontrell Jackson now. As a sophomore, he came off the bench to chip in 7.6 points, 3 assists and 2 steals per game, often spelling graduated seniors Demarco Middleton and Lavonta Ivery with valuable minutes and experience gained off the bench. Jackson really began to come of age during last season’s Class AA state tournament, and with Hunter trusting the then-sophomore with the ball in his hands in high-pressure, high-stakes moments, you could see the wriing on the wall that Jackson was about to become the heir apparent leader of this team. He’s put in work over the summer. He’s gotten bigger and stronger, and maybe even an inch-and-a-half taller. His jump shot is better. His skill set more refined. Now, he just needs to learn how to put it all together in primetime for the duration of an entire season. That’s something, Hunter says, will come with time, but definitely within his young floor general’s abilities.
AJ Williams, Soph., Harlem
There aren’t many players in the area who’ve had a “louder” offseason than the son of new Harlem head coach Jeff Williams. But the accolades aren’t coming to him just because he’s the coach’s son. The younger Williams’ game is super legit. He’s a versatile playmaker that’s also got a lot of floor general in him too. In fact, if you watch the way he plays and peep his court IQ, you might forget that the film you’re watching on him is of a freshman. He’s got a game that belies his youth. He’ll provide instant impact to this newly constructed Bulldogs squad, especially with double-figures scorers BJ Reese (13.9 ppg) and Lemond Edmond (12.5 ppg) having graduated. In fact, virtually all of Harlem’s top scorers from a season ago have received their high school cap and gown. That means big expectations will be heaped upon the sophomore to deliver early and often for his new squad.
Braylon Maddox, Sr., Cross Creek
The beauty of Cross Creek coach Lawrence Kelly’s program is that it’s become such a plug-and-play machine that departures, whether by graduation or by transfer, don’t really phase it. There’s always someone “up next,” prepped by Kelly’s diligence to fill in voids left by another. Count Maddox as one of those players. Last year as a junior, the 6-foot-5 swing player showed flashes of promise while averaging 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. But with the departure of 2023-24 leading scorer Kylen Clark, Maddox looks to be that guy who can fill that scoring role and become the perfect complement to Jaiden Priester’s down low presence. He’s already showing a deeper scoring toolbox, evidenced by his game-high 19 points in that aforementioned Saturday scrimmage with Lakeside. Don’t be surprised to see Maddox pile up the postseason accolades as he helps Cross Creek continue to pile up more wins and potential region championships.
Bryce Reynierson, Sr., Augusta Christian
The rich keep getting richer with regard to Augusta Christian basketball. After a near-miss SCISA state championship three-peat last year, the Lions once again have a roster full of playmakers thanks to a couple of key transfers, Reynierson being one of them. The 6-foot-5 senior can play three positions on the court. He was one of the scoring heartbeats for Lakeside last season with his 15.8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He’ll be one of five seniors on what should be an ultra-talented AC squad if the new pieces can gel together well.
Ty Shine, Soph., Augusta Christian
No matter what level of basketball, it takes a special player to lead a team in scoring and help pilot that team to a championship in your first year playing on that level. That’s exactly what Ty Shine, Jr. did for Curtis Baptist last year. He led them in scoring (19.3 ppg), assists (3.6) and steals (2.9) while also leading them to a 28-1 record, region championship and SCISA Class A state crown. He gets his guard play honestly as his father, Ty Shine Sr. is a former Augusta-area high school star and played on college basketball’s biggest stage. His uncle, Darrin Shine, was a former Richmond Academy standout, played college ball at Delaware State and has become one of the foremost basketball trainers in the Augusta area. Ty Jr. has the pedigree, indeed, but he’s also shown himself to have the work ethic to follow in his family’s footsteps. He’ll get a chance to add to that legacy as a sophomore for another state title contender.
Cosa Pender, Sr., Warren County
A second-team Preseason All-State selection, and standing at just 5-feet-7 inches, Pender returns as one of six seniors of what should be one of the most experienced basketball teams in the CSRA. His 12.2 points per game last year was second on the team, barely, behind only freshman Torossie Leslie’s 12.9 ppg. He led the team in steals and assists, four his size, averaging almost four rebounds per contest is pretty impressive in its own right. Pender is a solid combination of skillful and scrappy, and his non-stop motor on the court makes up for his diminutive stature.
Torossie Leslie, Soph., Warren County
This 6-foot-1 sophomore turned a lot of heads and surprised a lot of people during a freshman campaign that saw him become the leading scorer for a Warren County region champion squad that came within a 3-point basket of playing Greenforest for a Class A Division II state championship. Along with the aforementioned Pender, this backcourt has the ability to be one of the area’s most dangerous which also makes Warren County a solid favorite to return at least to the Final Four if not beyond.
Aldrion Jones, Sr., Westside
The 6-foot-4 Jones is another of those Westside players who will have every opportunity to step up and fill a huge void for the departed Javan Webb who transferred during the offseason to Monsignor Scanlan High in the Bronx. When asking Hunter about the possibilities to try and make up for some of Webb’s productivity, Hunter didn’t hesitate to say Jones’ name. He’s the kind of player who can get long and play bigger than his height and weight suggest. And he’ll be counted on for more scoring. Jones was another Westside player, like Dontrell Jackson, who took huge steps during last season’s state tournament.
Daron Dunbar, Sr., North Augusta
Dunbar’s already got his college choice figured out. He’s set to sign to coach Dip Metress and the Augusta University Jaguars on Monday. That means he’s got nothing to concern himself with this season except making sure his senior campaign can help North Augusta make another push for a region championship and deep run in the SCHSL Class AAAA state tournament. A big-bodied guard who can also play small forward, Dunbar’s diverse skill set makes him one of the CSRA’s best talents and one of South Carolina’s most versatile basketball athletes.
Ty Jones Sr., Lakeside
Nope, this is not a football list. No, this is not a typo. Ty Jones is a legit baller for the Panthers as evidenced by his 13.4 ppg and almost 4-assists-per-game average for a state tournament Lakeside squad last season. This year, he’ll have a bit more scoring responsibility, perhaps, as Bryce Reynierson — the team’s leading scorer last season — is now at Augusta Christian and fellow double-figures scorer Justin Barnes has graduated. Look for Jones and Lakeside basketball to perhaps be a bit shorthanded though, at least in the early part of the season, if Jones — who’s also a quarterback for the football team — can make a deep run in the Class AAAAA playoffs.
Derrick Shine, Soph., Cross Creek
Derrick’s first game as a varsity player came last year in the first game of the season against Grovetown. Coming off the bench, Shine had 10 points in a win against the Warriors. But more than that, he looked savvy, making great passes and playing solid defense. He was the third leading scorer on Cross Creek with 14 points as the Razorbacks trounced Lakeside 91-51. Shine has the tools, disposition and budding IQ of a true point guard. And with a strong offseason and one year of serious varsity experience under his belt, don’t be surprised to see the 5-foot-11 Shine to take a major next step on the court. With other players like Priester, Maddox and the emergence of Ty’Jai Heard, Shine is part of a solid nucleus that should extend coach Kelly’s dominance through the Cross Creek program.
Kwamane Bridges, Jr., Butler
In Sandy’s Spiel rankings, and in other places where Georgia high school basketball rankings are provided, Butler is a consensus top-five team in Class AA. Kyle Sandy has them ranked preseason No. 3. Many believe that the Bulldogs are an odds-on favorite to make their way to a Class AA state championship game, especially now that cross-town rival Westside has moved up to Class AAA. If Butler ends up being as good as many believe they can be, the 6-foot-3 Bridges will be a big reason for that. Bridges and Scurry combine to make up one of Class AA’s most potentially lethal backcourt. He was the Bulldogs’ second leading scorer during Butler’s Class AA Final Four season last year. He brings his 13.2 points and 5 rebounds per game back and will likely have an even greater role in Butler’s offense.
