Blue Collar Gem
Welcome to our Blue Collar Gem feature! Each week, we showcase outstanding athletes who have demonstrated the true meaning of being a Blue Collar Gem. These players contribute significantly to their team's success through skills such as rebounding, defense, passing, and leadership, even if they may not be the primary scorers. They are valued for their ability to impact the game in multiple ways beyond just scoring.
How It Works:
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Nomination Period: At the beginning of each week, we open the floor for nominations. Coaches, teammates, fans, and sports enthusiasts can nominate deserving players who have shone in recent competitions or demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship.
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Voting: Once the nominations are in, it's time for the community to vote! Visit my Twitter (X) and cast your vote for the player you believe deserves to be crowned Blue Collar Gem. Spread the word on social media to rally support for your favorite athlete.
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Winner Announcement: At the end of the week, the votes are tallied, and the winner is announced. The chosen player receives recognition, a featured story on our website, and, of course, the title of Blue Collar Gem!
All Blue Collar Gem vote polls will be pinned to my Twitter(X)
Nominate a Blue Collar Gem below.




Miles Alexander
@MilesA_2028
Class of 2028
Cannon County HS, TN
The Prodigy Miles Alexander put on a calm, controlled clinic in a slower-paced game that demanded patience, feel, and IQ. He dissected the defense with fast reads, used his three-level scoring to punish space when it appeared, and delivered dazzling dimes that kept teammates a step ahead. His court vision showed up possession after possession, and when the ball wasn’t in his hands, he stayed locked in defensively, sliding, anticipating, and disrupting rhythm. Myles finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
https://x.com/MilesA_2028/status/2000002353110360187?s=20
Payton Harrison
@PHarrison2026
6ft, Class of 2026
Klein Collins HS, TX
Peyton finished with 25 points, 6 assists, and 4 made threes, but the impact went deeper than the numbers. The scoring came in waves. Deep shots that stretched the defense. Timely drives that punished closeouts. Calm reads that turned pressure into clean looks for teammates. He dictated tempo, slowed the game when it needed control, and sped it up when momentum was ready to flip.
Defensively, he was just as loud. Cutting off lanes, disrupting rhythm, and making every touch uncomfortable. This was a complete two-way takeover. Buckets, playmaking, lockdown pressure, and total command of the floor from start to finish.
Ghaven Mittal
@GhavenMittal27
6'5, Class of 2027
Concordia Lutheran HS, TX
Ghaven came out against Marlin HS and flat out owned the flow from the opening tip. The guard /forward hybrid was everywhere and doing everything. He had 18 points by stretching the floor with 4 threes , 6 rebounds. 5 assists and 4 blocks. But how he got them is what made this performance hit different. Ghaven attacked the glass with purpose, turning rebounds into instant pressure. He created easy looks for teammates by drawing help and delivering on time passes. On the defensive end he erased shots at the rim, disrupted driving lanes, and made Marlin think twice about every paint touch.
Ghaven dictated pace, applied pressure without forcing it, and played with a calm confidence that shifted momentum every time the game felt ready to swing. Every possession had intent. Every action mattered. This was complete winning basketball from a player who understands how to impact the game in more ways than the box score can capture.
Nick Dressick
@NickDressick
6’2 , 178 lbs, Class of 2026
Bishop McCort HS, PA
Nick delivered a team first clinic in a huge conference battle against Forest Hills, impacting the game everywhere it mattered and setting the tone with his effort and versatility. He finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 9 deflections, and shot 45%, doing it all by scoring within the flow, making teammates better, battling on the boards, and wreaking havoc defensively for a complete, winning performance.
https://x.com/LTGameRecruits/status/1999901883620892822?s=20
Conner Morguson
@ConnerMorguson
6'1, Class of 2028
Powell ounty HS, KY
Conor put on a full-blown show for Powell County, and it didn’t take long to see who was in control. The 4-star fearless sniper carved up Bluegrass United with a deep bag, high IQ reads, and elite court vision that kept the defense guessing every trip.
Conor's 19 points came within the flow, but the 11 assists told the real story. He scored it on all three levels, drew help, and punished every rotation by setting teammates up for easy buckets. Calm, versatile, and athletic, he dictated the pace from start to finish as Powell County cruised to a dominant 100–59 win.
Grayson Scragg
@GraysonScragg
6’1, 185lbs, Class of 2026
Donelson Christian Academy, TN
Grayson came out with that fire last week and delivered the kind of performance that sets the tone for his season. He played with a fierce motor, attacked every possession, and showed that smooth scoring touch that makes him so dangerous when he gets rolling. The energy was nonstop, the confidence was real, and the impact was undeniable.
He finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, earning every one of them through toughness, control, and pure feel. Grayson bullied his way to the rim, knocked down shots in rhythm, battled on the boards, and created for teammates when defenders collapsed. This was a full display of that dog coaches love and that smooth operator style that makes him fierce. A strong win, and Grayson was right at the heart of it.
https://x.com/GraysonScragg/status/1997703983465697609?s=20
Walker Redding
@WalkerRedding1
6'7, Class of 2027
Cookville HS, TN
Walker came through with two big-time games that pushed Cookeville to a pair of huge wins, showing why he’s becoming a true stat sheet stuffer for this group.
In the 53-49 win over Stewarts Creek, he delivered 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, making timely plays, battling on the glass, and giving his team steady production on both ends.
He followed it up with an even stronger night against Knox Catholic, with 20 points on a perfect 8/8 at the line, adding 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in a 64-54 OT victory.
Two games, two wins, and Walker’s fingerprints were all over both, with scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and delivering when Cookeville needed it most.
https://x.com/WalkerRedding1/status/1997521215691563232?s=20
Hunter HaHabitz
@Habitzhunter13
6ft, 170lbs, Class of 2026
Bullock Creek HS, MI
Hunter delivered the kind of performance that lets everyone know he plans to make noise this season. He played with electric two way fire, mixing a smooth shooting touch with a fierce defensive motor that never let Farwell breathe. From the jump he spaced the floor, knocked down shots in rhythm, and attacked openings with confidence, then turned around and disrupted everything on the other end with active hands and relentless effort.
He finished with 19 points, went 5/9 from three, added 5 steals and deflections, and pulled down 3 rebounds in a dominant 77-43 win. Every number came from impact plays. The threes were pure, the defensive havoc shifted momentum, and the overall energy he brought lifted his entire team. Hunter showed he’s not just ready for a big season, he’s ready to take over games on both ends.
https://x.com/Habitzhunter13/status/1996709885249990701?s=20
Charlie Church
@13CharlieChurch
6'2, Class of 2026
The Village School, TX
Charlie came out firing and never cooled off, torching the nets with a shooting clinic that lit up the gym. The crafty guard found his rhythm early, sliding into space, letting it fly with confidence, and punishing PSAT every time they gave him even a sliver of daylight. Once he felt that burn from deep, the floor opened wide and Charlie went to work, mixing in smart drives, active defense, and constant movement that kept The Village humming.
He finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals, and every stat told the story of a guard locked into full control of the moment. Six made threes came from pure feel, fearless shot making, and the ability to rise up even with pressure in his face. His rebounds came from hustle, and his steals came from sharp instincts that flipped possessions in an instant. Charlie delivered a complete two-way performance, but his three point eruption stole the show, proving he’s quickly becoming one of the most dangerous perimeter threats in his class.
Ryder Akins
@RyderAkins12
6’4”, 193lbs, Class of 2028
GRC HS, KY
yder delivered a fierce, high-impact performance in GRC’s win over Campbell County, showing exactly why he’s one of the most explosive young guards in the state. His energy and IQ took over early as he attacked off the bounce, heated up from all three levels, and made tough shots look routine.
He finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals because he was everywhere. Ryder scored in rhythm, missed it up on the boards, created easy buckets with sharp vision, and turned defensive reads into steals that shifted momentum. He set the tone on both ends and powered GRC with a complete two-way performance built on fire, feel, and nonstop activity.