Jazmin Maddox

Maddox is fast. She is long, extremely athletic and can get from one end of the floor to the other in a hurry. But what caught my attention most was how naturally she looks for her shot.

She is a shooter, and you can tell. Give her space and she's prepared to let it go. She can score from different areas of the floor, and her release comes quickly enough that a defender doesn't have much time to recover. Blink at the wrong moment, and the shot may already be on its way.

But Maddox isn't simply a spot-up shooter. She can bring the ball up the floor when Newton needs her to, attack in transition and use her length and athleticism to create advantages. That versatility is part of what makes the Class of 2028 guard so intriguing.

The numbers support what you see. During her sophomore season at Newton, Maddox scored 200 points in 24 games, averaging 8.3 points per game while shooting 40% from the field, 33% from three and 72% from the free-throw line. She connected on 31 three-pointers, showing that perimeter shooting is already a significant part of her offensive game.

Her role at Newton also requires context. Maddox transferred after establishing herself as a major scorer at Jasper County, then joined a much deeper roster where she wasn't required to carry the offense every night. Learning to remain productive within a talented team is another part of player development.

And the recruiting attention is already coming. Maddox has collected Division I offers that include Wake Forest, Mercer, Tulsa and Memphis, along with programs such as George Mason, South Carolina State, Dayton, Furman and East Carolina.

Prep Girls Hoops currently ranks Maddox No. 5 in Georgia's Class of 2028 and lists her as a 5-foot-9 combo guard. Their evaluators have also highlighted many of the same things that stood out when I watched her: her athleticism, length, ability to run the floor and ability to score at all three levels.

At Hoops 4 Hunger last season, Maddox gave another glimpse of her scoring ceiling, putting up a game-high 22 points against St. Francis. Evaluators noted the confidence she was playing with and how well her jumper was working.

After seeing her myself this fall, I understand the attention. Maddox has the physical tools. She has the shooting ability. She can play in transition, handle the basketball when necessary and fit alongside other talented players.

And she still has two full high school seasons ahead of her. If she continues developing and playing with the confidence I saw against McEachern, it would not be surprising to see her recruiting profile continue to expand with additional high-major Division I opportunities.

Newton also looks dangerous. With the amount of talent on that roster, defending one player isn't going to be enough. And Maddox gives them another weapon capable of changing a game quickly.