Rock Solid in the South: New Rock Prep (2026-27) Player Profiles
New Rock Prep is a post-graduate basketball program based in Milledgeville, Georgia, about 100 miles southeast of Atlanta. It was founded 10 years ago by Anthony Ivory, who still runs it as athletic director and head coach. Since opening its doors, the program has given student-athletes a gap year between high school and college: a chance to sharpen their games, strengthen their academic standing, and get in front of college coaches.
The program's players live on campus at Georgia Military College. They practice, work out, play and take in-person classes at GMC.
Ivory is a Georgia native who holds a master's degree in education and has coaching experience in both basketball and football. The idea for New Rock took shape while he was working at Georgia Prep Sports Academy. "I have a passion for academics and athletics and I wanted to merge the two," Ivory said when the academy opened. That approach still shapes the program a decade later. Through partnerships with Athens Technical College and Georgia Piedmont College, New Rock players can earn college credit during their year in Milledgeville. Ivory's day-to-day approach rests on structure and on placement: "We want to find the best fit for our kids and have them in a position to get scholarships."
New Rock's focus this season is its Red team, the program's top unit, profiled below. The Wolverines play a demanding regional schedule against other post-grad programs from across the South and against college JV teams, giving players a steady diet of older, more physical competition. New Rock won the Big Shots National Championship tournament in 2023. During the season, New Rock competes for a seed in the Georgia Post Grad State Championship tournament (Feb. 27–March 1), and in March it takes part in the Phenom Prep/Post Grad National Tournament (March 15–17).
Below, we profile the New Rock Prep Red 2026-27 roster.
#00 Saquon Hutcherson (2027) 6'3, 180 lb wing - A stat stuffer, Hutcherson contributes to his team’s success in every phase of the game. He is a good defender and is great at getting downhill into the lane.
#1 Michael Greene (2027) 6'1, 165 lb shooting guard - A post-grad from Whitewater High (GA), Greene is a high-energy player who makes a big impact on the defensive end. He shoots better than 35 percent from three.
#3 Tye Miller (2027) 6'5, 160 lb small forward - A post-grad from Eastside High (GA), Miller is an active rebounder and rim protector. He uses his length to make an impact on the defensive end and has been efficient around the basket, shooting 45 percent from the field.
#4 Jaylen Gibbs (2027) 6'6, 170 lb small forward - A post-grad from Eagle’s Landing High (GA), Gibbs is a high-flying wing with college three-point range and the athleticism to get on top of the rim. He is also a strong rebounder.
#5 Tyhler Shields (2027) 5'9, 150 lb point guard - A post-grad from Paulding County (GA), Shields is a two-way floor general and one of the team's top scorers, and he is often the team leader in assists and steals. He shoots 50 percent from the field and can knock down the three.
#12 Jaylon Johnson (2027) 6'0, 170 lb guard - A post-grad from Howard High (GA), Johnson is a heady playmaker who is among the team leaders in assists. He disrupts passing lanes and is one of the squad's top defenders at forcing steals. Offensively, he takes good shots and can step out and hit from three.
#13 Ja’Markus Thomas (2027) 6'0, 170 lb guard - A post-grad from Jasper County High (GA), Thomas is a disruptive defender who is often the team leader in steals. Offensively, he attacks the basket, gets to the free-throw line at a high rate and can step out and hit the three. He also does his work on the defensive glass.
#14 Skylar Francois (2027) 6'4, 170 lb small forward - A post-grad from Lake Brantley High (FL), Francois is one of the team's top scorers. He has deep range, shooting better than 40 percent from three.
#15 Zaiden Benjamin (2027) 6'6, 170 lb small forward - A post-grad from Chamblee High (GA), Benjamin is one of the team's top scorers and rebounders and its leading shot blocker. He has been efficient, shooting 55 percent from the field, and can also step out and hit the three. He is often the team leader on the glass and in blocks.
#23 Ezekiel Owivry (2027) 6'7, 235 lb forward - Owivry has good feet and a soft touch around the rim. He is a good post defender and rebounds at a high level.
#24 Avohn Florence (2027) 6'6, 195 lb small forward - A post-grad from Sandy Creek High (GA), Florence is one of the team's leading scorers and also contributes on the glass and in the passing lanes. He has great hands around the basket and can score at all three levels, knocking down 44 percent from three with a 65 percent true-shooting percentage. He is often the team leader in scoring and rebounding.
#34 Kaleb Yates (2027) 6'6, 260 lb center - A post-grad from Paulding County High (GA), Yates is a high-IQ player and a coach on the floor who does all the little things that get a team going. He sets the example by routinely drawing charges and winning 50-50 balls. He also rebounds, moves the ball well for a big man and is sometimes the team leader in steals.
The New Rock teams' 2026-27 game schedule and results can be found on the GameChanger App