2024 8th Grade GA Future Stars: Athlete Selection Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Events like the Future Stars Game are valuable for so many reasons--for example, finding out where prospects kind of fit. In the article below, we'll look at kids I deem as "Athletes" on this 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars roster, because they can play a number of different positions on the field. In some instances, some of thesr prospects play one position for their middle school and a completely different position on their travel, or tournament, team(s). Let's take a look!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["873304"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Simply put: [player_tooltip player_id='873304' first='Gavin' last='Kinchen'] is one of the most dynamic 2028 prospects in the state of Georgia and can play any skill position on the field. With his selection to the 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars this year, he completed the trifecta and has been selected every year of his middle school football career. This past season at Stephenson Middle School in DeKalb County, Kinchen was one of only a handful of prospects to be named All-Region on both offense (quarterback) and defense (safety). Even with those honors, I see Kinchen as more of a wide receiver than anything else. He was clocked at a 4.75 in the forty during tryouts, which was tied for the third-fastest time, at that point in the tryout process.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1235279"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Smith is a nice chess piece for the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars to have, because he can play a ton of positions on the field. The Pine Hill Middle Schooler is billed at 5-foot-6 and 175-pounds and looks like he's carved out of rock, with a ton of muscle mass. Offensively he can take handoffs out of the backfield or line up in the slot as a receiver. Defensively, he hits like a linebacker and can play any of the three. Additionally, he has the speed and quickness to play a strong safety down in the boxu002du002dor even some corner if needed. He was clocked at a 4.99 in the forty during the Augusta tryout and is a lethal kick/punt returner as well. In fact, in the CSRA All-Star Game this past December, he returned the opening kick off for a touchdown before winning Offensive Player of the Game honors.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1239693"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"His performance at last spring's Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in Georgia, put Ward on my radar. He followed it up by being a key contributor on the Georgia Middle School Athletic Association (GMSAA) 8th grade championship-winning North Cobb team this past season season. His frame lends itself to any number of positions on the field, making him an obvious choice as an Athlete for the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team. At the West Atlanta tryout in early March, he was clocked at a 4.69 in the forty, which was the fastest time of any position, at any tryout, up until that point of tryouts. He played running back, defensive end, outside linebacker this year but is also coming off an injury that caused him to miss four months. However, he's back and fully cleared and is on pace to be be running around a 11.5 in the 100M by the end of track season. He'll be a scary sight come mid-June.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6616bf34edc1d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Projected Athletes/Multi-Position Prospects</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='950779' first='Charvaurs' last='Blanks']</strong> - Was selected to return to the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team, after previously making the 2022 6th Grade Georgia Future Stars team. He's a good-looking wide receiver/defensive back/athlete type of kid at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. At the Crisp County tryout, he was clocked at a 4.79 in the forty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231739' first='Devion' last='Clark']</strong> - Hailing from Richmond Hill Middle School in Savannah, Clark can play both running back and corner back at a high level. He's a muscular kid at 5-foot-7 and 160-pounds, who can get to full speed quickly. Regardless of what side of the ball he sees the most time at, the two-sport athlete has all the ball skills necessary to make a play any time the rock is in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='891642' first='Zion' last='Ellison']</strong> - After doing some positive things last year as a defensive back for the 7th Grade Georgia Future Stars team, he returns to the program this year as an 8th grader. Defensive Back still seems like the most logical projection for him, but between physical growth and hard work--he looks closer to being a substantial running back. Ellison has tacked on three inches and considerable muscle mass given his smaller frame, now up to 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds. The Fort Valley Middle School product was also clocked at a 4.99 in the forty at his tryout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231825' first='Grayson' last='Fellabaum']</strong> - Coming out of the Milton feeder program, Fellabaum originally stood out to me on film while watching another player. He then came to the Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in Georgia this past January and I took even more notice. At 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, he's put together pretty well and checks a ton of boxes on the football field. Whether it be wide receiver, tight end, safety, outside linebacker--whatever position, this roster is significantly better with him on it, than without.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240659' first='Jontrez' last='Woodard'] </strong>- The only reason I don't have Woodard listed above with a picture is because I'm yet to see him play in person. However, by all accounts this kid is going to be something special to watch. Woodard was the MVP of the Crisp County tryout, where he was clocked at a 4.85 in the forty. Georgia Future Stars Director Valister Wilson said of Woodard, <em>"The kid could play a multitude of positions. He has the agility and concentration to be an elite receiver, or on defense as an All-American type of safety or outside linebacker."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->