top of page
RYZE Hoops Staff

GHSA Team preview: Newton Rams


Newton Rams

Head Coach: Charlemagne Gibbons

Region: 4-AAAAAAA

2020-2021 Record: 14-9

Key Players: Stephon Castle

Jakai Newton (Indiana Commit)

Qua Brown

Marcus Whitlock

Daniel Pounds

Miokaye Grant

Key Games: Nov. 13 – Concordia Lutheran (TX)

Nov. 20 – Norcross

Nov. 26-27 – Under Armour Hard in the Paint Classic

Nov. 30 – Archer

Dec. 10 – Greenforest

Dec. 11 – Pinson Valley (AL)

Dec. 31 – Big South Shootout

Jan. 6-8 – Sugar Bowl Classic

Jan. 14-15 – Hardwood Classic Showcase

Jan. 28 – Grayson

Feb. 5 - Grayson

Team Preview:


For the second time in recent memory, Newton has a very talented group of young players who have came up playing together. The Rams are led by a group of junior guards in Stephon Castle, Jakai Newton, Qua Brown, and Marcus Whitlock, who form one of the best backcourts in the Peach.


Castle, consensus top-30 player nationally in the 2023 class, is a do-it-all lead guard with great size at 6-foot-6 will be the primary playmaker for the Rams. He is as versatile as they come, checks a lot of boxes, and holds high major offers from ACC, SEC, and Big East programs. He is joined by fellow junior and recent Indiana commit Jakai Newton. Newton is a great scorer from the perimeter, brings loads of energy, and makes a ton of winning plays. The third player in the Rams talented 2023 guard group is Qua Brown, one of the state’s best athletes and most dynamic players. He is a true two- way player, capable of making electrifying plays and providing another scoring punch. The last of the group is Marcus Whitlock, who is a pure shot maker and scorer and always brings high energy and intensity. He is always capable of putting a big number in the score sheet, and is one of the best perimeter shooters in Georgia’s 2023 class.


The talent for the Rams does not apply to just the backcourt, however. The frontcourt might be the unit that defines how far this team will go this season. Senior transfer Daniel Pounds is one of the better frontcourt players in Georgia’s 2022 class. He is highly athletic and will provide a finishing presence in the paint and above the rim as well as high level rebounding and rim protection. Senior Miokaye Grant is the other big body in the frontcourt and will play a key role in providing toughness on the interior. At 6-foot-7, he is a great rebounder and efficient finisher in the paint.

Comments


bottom of page