Class AAAAAAA

1. Grayson
2. Wheeler
3. Hillgrove
4. McEachern
5. Peachtree Ridge
6. Pebblebrook
7. South Gwinnett
8. Cherokee
9. Dacula
10. Norcross

Class AAAAAA

1. Woodward Academy
2. Tri-Cities
3. Milton
4. Woodstock
5. Alexander
6. Newnan
7. Gainesville
8. Lassiter
9. Langston Hughes
10. Sequoyah

Class AAAAA

1. North Oconee
2. Jonesboro
3. Eastside
4. Dutchtown
5. St. Pius X
6. Tucker
7. Southwest DeKalb
8. Marist
9. Sprayberry
10. Ware County

Class AAAA

1. Douglass
2. Harlem
3. Salem
4. Peach County
5. Sandy Creek
6. Spalding
7. McDonough
8. Calhoun
9. Dougherty
10. Long County

Class AAA

1. KIPP Atlanta
2. Cross Creek
3. Butler
4. Carver-Columbus
5. Therrell
6. Redan
7. Cedar Grove
8. Burke County
9. Morgan County
10. Hart County

Class AA

1. Commerce
2. Model
3. Fitzgerald
4. East Laurens
5. Vidalia
6. Fannin County
7. Putnam County
8. Rabun County
9. Savannah
10. Heard County

Class A

1. Wilson Academy
2. Clinch County
3. Portal
4. Washington-Wilkes
5. Wheeler County
6. Macon County
7. BEST Academy
8. Greene County
9. Hancock Central
10. Chattahoochee County

Class 4A-2A Private

1. ELCA
2. Pace Academy
3. Darlington
4. Mt. Vernon
5. St. Francis
6. Holy Innocents’
7. Walker
8. North Cobb Christian
9. GAC
10. Lovett

It is finally here. Predetermined brackets have been long bemoaned by some of the top programs in the state. The PSR system is now in place to seed the top 32 teams that make the state tournament. Surely with up to 25+ game results expected to be input properly for each team prior to the state tournament brackets being determined there will be no issues, right? Of course not.

Class 7A

In what is always a hotly contested classification, No. 1 Grayson gets the slight advantage to top the polls coming off a 26-3 season which ended in the Elite Eight against Hillgrove, 63-61. The Rams are led by Preseason First Team All-State selections George Mason-commit 6-foot-6 MJ Curry and 6-foot-5 sophomore Austin Leonard along with North Cobb Christian transfer 6-foot-8 senior Xavier Butler a Third Teamer who averaged 18.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks per game last year.  6-foot-8 senior Byron Lee helps anchor the interior along with 6-foot-8 sophomore JaCori Thompson. The backcourt will feature 6-foot-2 junior Bleu Lewis along with new faces 6-foot-4 sophomore Jeremiah Anderson from Duluth who earned an offer from Bethune-Cookman over the summer and freshman Messiah Lancaster. In pursuit of a three-peat, No. 2 Wheeler will look much different this year after posting a 27-6 record, beating Pebblebrook 62-52 in the state championship. Preseason First Team All-State point guard Kevin Savage III is a Purdue-commit. His supporting cast has evolved with 6-foot-4 junior Shamar Madden expected to play a big role in his second season with the Wildcats. Four-star sophomore Cadien Hudson played with Wheeler at GBCA Live after starring as a freshman at Mt. Bethel, but was set to be ineligible and therefore left for Faith Family Academy, TX. The Wildcats did add other key pieces however in 6-foot-5 senior Tyce Curtis (Campbell), 6-foot-6 senior Caleb Wells (Lawrence Central, IN) who started his career at Seckinger and 6-foot-3 junior Shane Goines, who exploded last season at Mt. Paran to average 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals. The frontcourt will be interesting to track to see who emerges out of 6-foot-10 senior Zechariah Preston, 6-foot-7 senior CJ Tillis and 6-foot-8 sophomore Deuce Powell. No. 3 Hillgrove has been ascending each and every season, last year taking a trip to the Final Four where the Hawks were edged by Region 3 foe Pebblebrook 70-57, who they had beaten thrice before during their 23-8 campaign. 6-foot-7 senior Asa Montgomery has broken out as a national star, the five-star recruit pouring in 18.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. The First Team All-Stater is flanked by Preseason Second Teamer 6-foot-2 junior Bryson Jatta (15.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.9 spg) who has seen High Major programs start getting involved in his recruitment. Tampa-commit Landon Grundy rounds out the trio, a versatile 6-foot-4 two-way swingman that posted 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 5-foot-10 junior Jaden Johnson (4.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2 apg, 1.5 spg) is a sparkplug scorer. 6-foot-3 senior Omari Chaudhry is back in the GHSA after playing with OTE, his last run coming as a freshman with Osborne when he averaged 11.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Joining him is 6-foot senior JT Scott, a Mt. Paran transfer that contributed 16.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists a night. 6-foot-4 freshman Kshaun Daley could battle for minutes early on in his career due to his energy. No. 4 McEachern graduates three significant contributors from their 25-5 Final Four team that lost to Wheeler 56-52. 6-foot-4 Alabama-commit Chase Lumpkin is a First Team All-State scoring machine. 5-foot-11 senior Zach Graves is a physical bowling ball in the backcourt with big game experience. 6-foot-3 senior Zion Williams is a trustworthy guard while 6-foot-8 sophomore Alvin Pettway is one of the best young bigs in Georgia. Three transfers bolster the frontcourt with 6-foot-6 junior Abu Jallow (Kennesaw Mountain), 6-foot-5 sophomore Timothy Alexander (7.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg – Creekside) and 6-foot-6 junior Jamari Gatson (9.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.5 bpg – Excel Christian). The middle of the pack gets muddy with a group of teams looking to break into the title contending picture with No. 5 Peachtree Ridge a dangerous squad coming off an 18-12 Elite Eight run, losing 93-69 to McEachern. 5-foot-11 senior Tyler Barnes is a veteran scorer; a Preseason Third Team All-State selection. The sophomore class will be key between 6-foot-4 Journey Bowen and 5-foot-10 Devon Francis. Five transfers move in headlined by 6-foot-6 junior LJ Byrd on his third school, moving over from Norcross. 6-foot senior Savion Stewart was a Second Team All-Region pick at Greenforest averaging 7.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1 steal per game. 6-foot-6 senior Christian Verella is a high-energy forward from Duluth while 6-foot-9 junior Dau Yak is a towering figure from Genesis Christian Academy.  No. 6 Pebblebrook is the third team out of Region 3, chasing No. 3 Hillgrove and No. 4 McEachern. The Falcons took a run to the state title game as the three-seed last year, losing 62-52 to Wheeler to end the season 23-9. The Falcons graduate four starters with 6-foot-7 senior Anthony Moon the lone holdover. 6-foot-5 junior guard Jagger Whitty should play an elevated role this season. He will have new teammates around him in 6-foot-1 senior BJ Love (Kell), 6-foot-3 sophomore Ethan Moore (South Paulding) and 5-foot-11 senior Yahines Maxwell (South Cobb). No. 7 South Gwinnett had some ups and downs last year with a talented group predominantly freshmen, a high of beating Grayson 57-51 late in the season but a few tough losses sprinkled in as well. The Comets finished 19-10 and did a good job limiting any losing streaks but were upset in the First Round by North Gwinnett 51-46. 6-foot-5 sophomore JaCody Terry enters Year 2 as a Preseason Second Teamer surrounded by fellow 2029s 5-foot-10 Treu Taylor and 6-foot-6 Jacob Reid. 6-foot senior Chance Reynolds moves over from Columbia where he dished out 3 assists per game. 5-foot-9 freshman Kei-Sean Roberts is a well-respected youngster who could make an early impact. No. 8 Cherokee tallied a 19-9 record, out in the First Round with a tough 79-72 loss against Pebblebrook. The Warriors graduate All-Region performers Sean Hamilton and Hampton Cox but bring back Preseason Second Teamer 6-foot-4 Braylon Luster, a Mercer-commit looking to build off his 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game. 5-foot-11 senior Kingston Eleazer was Region 5 Honorable Mention last year. People are excited about 6-foot-4 junior Lucas Fainter taking a big step forward in the frontcourt while 6-foot-2 senior Zane Hereford and 5-foot-11 junior Korben Polk have had strong summers. The addition of 6-foot senior point guard D’Qori Abanikanda may be flying under the radar as one of the biggest moves of the offseason, a ball-on-a-string playmaker that averaged 14.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while at Osborne. No. 9 Dacula got off to a hot start last season and spent time in the Top 10, opening 16-1 before sputtering to 19-9, eliminated in the First Round at Lowndes 58-40. The Falcons graduate just one senior, the hard-playing guard-heavy group led by Preseason Third Team All-Stater 6-foot-3 junior Case Presley (20 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg). 5-foot-10 sophomore Dorian Douglas proved to be a maestro running the offense in Year 1, averaging 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 steals. 5-foot-11 junior Joshua Brown is a tough-nosed gritty guard with bounce while 6-foot-6 senior George Fajemirokun provides much needed size and length around the rim. High-energy guards 5-foot-9 junior Luke Anderson, 5-foot-9 sophomore Jerry Levine and 5-foot-9 junior Kamari Trotter are joined by high-upside freshman 6-foot-3 Omari Alleyne, whose older brother Nahiem (Mountain View) played at Virginia Tech, UConn and St. John’s. 6-foot-2 sophomore Damon Flint transfers in from Cedar Shoals, a natural wired-to-score guard with intriguing potential. No. 10 Norcross went just 11-17 last season, unable to capture any postseason magic as they were eliminated in the First Round by Grayson 81-49. The Blue Devils are a young team looking for an identity and consistent go-to guy as Josh Smith Jr. transferred out of state. 6-foot-4 sophomore Cruz Jackson is the team’s top returner after earning All-Defensive Team honors in Region 7 last year. 6-foot-3 senior Fulvio Dos Santos is a powerful downhill guard who should be among the team’s top scorers along with 6-foot-3 sophomore Duke Howell. The star of the show could eventually be 6-foot-4 freshman Shane Collins, originally a 2029 expected to end up at St. Francis before staying in middle school an extra year and now holding multiple Power 4 offers.

Class 6A

Due to graduation but more so transfer, the talent on the roster isn’t quite what is was last season but No. 1 Woodward Academy has more than enough to atone for last year’s 81-67 loss to Alexander in the state title game, finishing 25-7. 6-foot-10 five-star forward Bentley Lusakueno left for IMG Academy, FL after GBCA Live but the Hayes brothers are still intact, the Preseason First Teamers featuring 6-foot-6 Georgia-commit Jarvis (17.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 spg) and 6-foot-5 junior Myles (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.4 bpg). The third prong of the attack is 6-foot-4 Kennesaw State-commit Bradyn Elder, a Third Team pick coming off a season in which he averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals. A significant drop off in production follows with no returners averaging even three points per game with 6-foot-10 senior Junior Phillips (2 ppg, 1.8 rpg) likely seeing an increased role. Following Woodward Academy in Region 3 is No. 2 Tri-Cities who went 17-14, managing a Final Four run, losing to eventual champion Alexander 85-76. The Bulldogs lose some major talent, options 2-6 headlined by Jalan Wingfield (Florida International), but star guard Tre Keith, a 6-foot-2 Boston College-commit, enters the season as a First Team All-State selection after dumping in 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals a night. His supporting cast is vastly changed with 6-foot junior Korbin Wilburg (3.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.1 apg) and 6-foot-10 junior Kamari Grier (2.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg) top returners, Grier an emerging prospect landing offers from Clark Atlanta and Wichita State this summer. The transfer market affords the Bulldogs 6-foot senior Dominic Jimenez, an All-Region guard from Banneker, along with 6-foot-6 senior Khambrel Humes (CP Next Level Academy) and 6-foot-7 sophomore Amer’jay Hunter (Alexander). No. 3 Milton debuts in the top three after a 21-7 season with a First Round exit at Decatur, 68-64 in overtime. The Eagles were set to return nearly their entire roster after graduating one senior, but First Team All-State forward 6-foot-8 Solomon Bratton, a UIC-commit, transferred to Masters Academy, MA at the conclusion of the Sandy’s Spiel Fall League, an enormous blow. The Eagles will now be almost exclusively guards, a high IQ group that moves the ball around for open threes and backdoor cuts. 6-foot-3 senior Jackson Harrison is a Preseason Third Teamer who is committed to Charleston Southern after averaging 16.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 44% from three. 6-foot-3 senior Tate Golden is another big guard with an array of skills who is committed to North Georgia. 6-foot-3 junior Pierce Strom is a lethal three-point shooter while 6-foot-1 junior Mason Pridgett is an emerging playmaker. Inside, 6-foot-4 senior Ty Nealis figures to play an elevated role as the biggest player on the roster. 6-foot-2 sophomore Puffy Walker moves in from Wheeler. No. 4 Woodstock ran up a 25-4 record, unable to capture a region championship but able to advance to the Sweet 16 where they fell at Langston Hughes 74-58. The rest of the state is finally a believer in Preseason All-State First Teamer 5-foot-11 junior Jahmar Maurice who has seen multiple D-I offers roll in after averaging 24.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.2 steals per game. The star guard has a new running mate in the backcourt after the Wolverines graduate second leading scorer Camden Smith, bringing over 6-foot-2 senior Ace Graham from Carvers Bay, SC where he piled in 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3 steals per game. He joins holdovers 6-foot-7 senior Josh Schulze (10.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 1 apg, 2.1 bpg), 6-foot-3 senior Trumane Watkins (6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.3 spg) and 6-foot-5 sophomore JoJo Mighty (3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg). No. 5 Alexander are the defending champs after rolling to 30-2 with a blowout in the second half of Woodward Academy in the title game 81-67. The Cougars lose an unprecedented nine of their top 10 players including graduating their top five scorers. Alexander has a loaded 2029 class with size and athleticism, teeming with potential but it will be 6-foot-3 junior Donovin Martin the unquestioned leader, a Preseason Second Team All-State pick who averaged 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.1 steals per game last season. 6-foot-2 Jake Roberts (1.5 ppg) is a rare senior on the roster with some experience. Sophomores 6-foot-6 KJ Reed (1.4 ppg), 6-foot-6 Chauncey Young (1.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg), 6-foot-9 Derek Williams and 6-foot-2 TJ Pigott represent an exciting yet inexperienced core. No. 6 Newnan is the third team out of Region 3 in the Top 10. The Cougars enjoyed a breakout season last year at 24-5 but were upset in the First Round at home by Kennesaw Mountain 56-55. Four of their top five producers are expected back headlined by Preseason Second Team All-State pick 6-foot-4 senior Jaylin Brown (19.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.5 spg). The explosive big guard is flanked by fellow seniors 6-foot-1 Eric Coleman (14.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.3 spg), 5-foot-10 Jaylen Britt (9.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg) and 6-foot Jaxson Dragg (8.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.9 spg). 6-foot-6 senior Quentin Hand moves in from Banneker while 5-foot-10 junior Javian Cameron slides over from Northgate. No. 7 Gainesville finished 30-1, losing in the Final Four in the wanning seconds to Woodward Academy 62-61 to spoil a bid at a dream season. Big Red landed 6-foot-6 sophomore MaKari Townsend, a Preseason Second Teamer after averaging 14.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1 block per game at The Heritage School. 5-foot-8 sophomore Carter Gates (7.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.4 spg) also makes the short 90-mile transfer over from Heritage. 5-foot-8 senior Masai Knight moved in from Brookwood, an All-Region playmaker who came after GBCA Live. 6-foot-8 senior Ash Vollrath could see substantial playing time inside while the youth movement of freshmen 6-foot-6 Roman Sears and 6-foot-2 Sean Cooley should vie for playing time along with 6-foot-5 sophomore Jaxton Trammell. No. 8 Lassiter captured the Region 6 title last year, amassing a 25-4 record with a Sweet 16 loss at home against Dutchtown 58-43. The Trojans return a sturdy core anchored by 6-foot-5 senior swingman Preston Liston. 6-foot-2 senior Dalton Price is an athletic lefty with a downhill scoring approach. 6-foot-4 senior Brady McGee is a lengthy floor spacer and 6-foot-8 junior Frank Jamieson has grown man strength in the paint with a developing offensive arsenal. No. 9 Langston Hughes marks the fourth team from Region 3 in the poll. The Panthers finished 20-7, bounced in the Elite Eight by Tri-Cities 76-63. Langston Hughes graduates their top three players and got bit by the transfer bug after GBCA Live losing freak athlete David Whitaker and brother Dominion to Iowa United Prep, IA but backcourt additions seniors 5-foot-10 Khalid Jones (8.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1 spg – Tri-Cities) and 5-foot-11 JoJo Foster (Douglass) looked extremely comfortable running the show over the summer. They blend with senior big men 6-foot-6 Jason Hill and 6-foot-5 Chase Brewington with 6-foot-7 junior Noah Brewington another intimidating athlete once he gets off the gridiron. No. 10 Sequoyah squeezes into the final spot in the poll which could be a revolving door throughout the season. The Chiefs are the third team out of Region 6, coming off a 15-12 season in which they missed the postseason. 6-foot junior Donovan DeGourville is a Preseason Third Team All-State member, a burgeoning prospect who averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game as a sophomore. The supporting cast will see players in much different roles especially 6-foot-2 junior William LaBarbera who has blossomed into a consistent knockdown shooter. 5-foot-11 sophomore Chase Pickens is a quick pass-first distributor while 5-foot-10 senior Braden Smith has the savvy to do both. The Chiefs are small but they play extremely hard and well together, a team whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Class 5A

No. 1 North Oconee failed to three-peat as state champs, instead falling in the Elite Eight at eventual champion St. Pius X 72-64, closing 26-4. The Titans enter the season anchored by the Wise brothers, a pair of Preseason First Team All-State selections between senior 6-foot-4 Georgia-commit Justin and 6-foot-3 sophomore Brayden who exploded over the offseason to nab multiple High Major offers. New faces will see big minutes with seniors 6-foot-2 Tyler Blouin and 6-foot-7 William Patterson expected to play key roles along with 6-foot-4 junior Collin White. No. 2 Jonesboro posted a 23-8 record but couldn’t play boogeyman to St. Pius X again, this time eliminated in the Final Four 79-63 after beating the Golden Lions in their previous four postseason meetings. The junior class is the lifeblood for the Cardinals featuring 6-foot-1 Calvin Goss (16.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.3 apg), a Preseason All-State First Teamer and 6-foot-10 Tenaje Freeman (5.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.5 bpg), a Third Teamer who broke out during GBCA Live to vacuum up numerous D-I offers. 6-foot-5 Jadarius Slaton (7.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.5 apg) is a dynamic wildcard who can impact games on both sides of the ball. 6-foot-8 sophomore Symeon Watson (7.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.1 apg) is a high-level shooter who will be leaned on more consistently in Year 2. 6-foot-3 junior Musiq Webb (Langston Hughes) and 5-foot-10 sophomore Wayne Al-ayyah (8.5 ppg – Maynard Jackson) move in to join 6-foot-5 senior Ashton Miller and 6-foot-4 junior Robert Carter as rotational pieces. No. 3 Eastside finished with a 21-9 record, losing in overtime in the Sweet 16 at Pace Academy 57-55. Five seniors are gone but an experienced core returns powered by 6-foot-6 senior Christian Gatewood, a Preseason Second Team All-State selection heading to North Georgia. The double-double machine has sharp guard play on the perimeter between 5-foot-11 senior Jevon Sullivan and 6-foot-1 junior Roman Sullivan.  6-foot-1 senior Iverson Freeman has experience as well.  The third straight team out of Region 4 to be ranked is No. 4 Dutchtown. The Bulldogs graduate seven seniors from last year’s 24-7 group that lost in the Class 5A Elite Eight to Gainesville 61-47. Dutchtown drops down a classification and boasts two key acquisitions, Preseason First Team All-Stater 6-foot-7 junior Laron Mack Jr. (Riviera Prep, FL) and 6-foot-1 junior AJ Doyley (Milton). 6-foot-2 junior Isaiah Dorsainvil returns as a lengthy sharpshooter while 6-foot-7 senior Bryce Celestine is a blossoming big with springy bounce, starting to draw serious college recruitment. Defending state champion No. 5 St. Pius X has the longest active winning streak in Georgia after hanging a perfect 33-0 record, holding off Pace Academy 54-51 in the title game. Clemson-signee Harris Reynolds, has graduated as has Columbus State-signee D’Marley Elliott but 5-foot-11 senior Max Etienne, a Preseason Second Teamer, emerged as a go-to guy over the summer upping his scoring average to 22.3 points per game during GBCA Live after posting 9.3 points, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals last season, successfully parlaying his play into a North Georgia commitment. Seniors 6-foot Shaw Tomlinson and 6-foot-3 Zach Yimtatu will play big roles offensively while 5-foot-9 junior Jackson Rusnak figures to be an important piece as a playmaking facilitator. No. 6 Tucker is under new leadership with former Tiger Cameron Tatum sliding over a chair to take over for James Hartry who led the program for 26 seasons. Tucker finished 21-9 last year with a 58-56 loss in the Sweet 16 at Cambridge. Four critical seniors are gone, leaving the keys for Preseason Second Teamer 6-foot sophomore Vance Wilder Jr. and Third Teamer 6-foot-1 junior Sterling Pritchett (14.5 ppg, 2.1 spg) to take over. The Tigers come at you in waves with hustle and unselfish play. 6-foot-6 senior Kelan Smith has the physical gifts to raise his stock in a major way his final season, earning his first offer in March from Columbia State. Following Tucker in Region 5 is rival No. 7 Southwest DeKalb who went 23-7, losing in the Elite Eight to Pace Academy 53-45. 1,000-point scorer 6-foot-3 Jackson Ushery (16.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.4 spg) returns for his senior season, a Preseason Second Team All-State selection who is starting to pop up on D-I radars. 6-foot-3 senior Jourden Smoak (7.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is a tough-nosed two-way wing joined by 6-foot-3 senior Nazir Mergan (4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg). The addition of 6-foot-4 senior Eric Thornton from Woodland-Stockbridge is a significant one, the high-energy swingman a Second Team All-State pick after posting 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. No. 8 Marist graduates two of their top three players from last year’s 18-11 team that lost 76-69 in overtime in the First Round at Jonesboro. 6-foot junior point guard Bobby Harpring comes off a Second Team All-Region season and should be the team’s top scoring option. 6-foot-3 senior Engin McCarthy and 6-foot-4 junior Brandon Connor are versatile pieces along the perimeter with their three-point shooting touch. No. 9 Sprayberry is the third team out of Region 6 to crack the Top 10 following St. Pius X and Marist. The Yellow Jackets drop down a classification after posting a 20-10 mark, losing in the Sweet 16 at eventual champion Alexander 78-63. Sprayberry brings back two of their top three including 6-foot-1 senior Abel Trotman, a Preseason Third Team All-State selection and 6-foot-4 senior Garrett Lynch who holds a LaGrange offer and is quietly creeping up recruiting boards. Rounding out the poll is No. 10 Ware County. The Gators ran up a 26-4 record before losing 62-31 at Jonesboro in the Elite Eight. Only one senior graduates as the balanced nucleus of Preseason Third Teamer 5-foot-8 senior Davion Jones, 6-foot-2 senior Isaiah White, 6-foot-7 senior Elan Jones and 6-foot-1 junior Moo Moo McKoy is expected back in addition to Atkinson County transfer, 6-foot-3 senior Hayden Powell who was a First Team All-Region pick at his former school.

Class 4A

No. 1 Douglass debuts atop the poll in a competitive classification that could see numerous teams vie for the state title. The Astros took a trip to the Final Four last year, closing the season 22-9 with a 63-50 loss to Harlem. Preseason First Team All-State guard 6-foot-6 senior Malachi Edgell returns after averaging 14.2 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals. 5-foot-9 senior Promise Palmer chipped in 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2 steals. 6-foot senior D’Marcus Smith (0.6 ppg) had some bright moments as a double-digit scorer during GBCA Live and could be a sneaky important piece. Three transfers launch the Astros into a different galaxy if they all contribute at a high level as 6-foot-6 senior Jaquavius Cox (12.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.2 spg – North Clayton), 6-foot-5 sophomore Jaiden Williams (Savannah) and 6-foot-5 junior Grant Bonner (Mays) all move in, giving the Astros size and athleticism in the frontcourt. No. 2 Harlem lost in the state championship game to Cross Creek 56-51, finishing the season 23-10 as the 17-seed heading into the tournament. The Bulldogs had a seemingly turbulent offseason with Gabe Williams thought to be transferring back to Harlem from The Potter’s House, FL but ultimately ending up at Massanutten Academy, VA. The biggest blow however was losing Ty Shine (19.8 ppg) to Fox Creek, SC. Lucky for Harlem, the team’s undoubted best player is back in Jacksonville State-commit 6-foot-2 senior AJ Williams, a First Team All-State guard who averaged 20.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals and nearly won the state title himself after Shine went down with an early injury, pouring in 28 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. 6-foot-5 junior Christiaan Gandy came on strong down the stretch last season and looks to be second in command this year after averaging 5.1 points and 4.5 rebounds including 12 points and 5 rebounds in the championship. The trio of 6-foot junior Justin Beckham (4.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg), 5-foot-8 senior Dai’John Sanders (4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and 6-foot senior Darrien Hatcher (3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 spg) seems like they will be asked to step up in support of Williams. No. 3 Salem comes up a classification after a 17-13 showing in Class 2A, losing in the Sweet 16 at Butler 65-56. The Seminoles have serious momentum heading into the year behind Preseason First Team All-State senior point guard 5-foot-10 Armond Smith and Second Teamer 6-foot-6 junior Anwar Molette who holds multiple High Major offers. Don’t sleep on 6-foot-4 senior Nathaniel Edwards, a Second Team All-Region pick last year who consistently scores in double figures along the perimeter with his jumper. 5-foot-10 sophomore Raylon May is a solid young guard and 6-foot-6 junior Joseph Griffin is an effective bruiser down low. The Seminoles are in a loaded Region 5 which houses No. 1 Douglass along with Private No. 2 Pace Academy, No. 9 GAC and extremely dangerous Westminster. No. 4 Peach County did not make the postseason last year at 10-16. Everyone is back except for one senior. Three transfers move in and if they are all eligible, it’s hard to argue that anyone else in the classification has more talent. 6-foot-10 freshman Josh Sanders moves in from Central Fellowship Christian, originally a 2029 that was set to play at Houston County before “reclassing” and repeating eighth grade in the GIAA. Power 4 programs have already offered the dynamic lefty who flashed his five-star ceiling at GBCA Live averaging 7 points across eight games. The Preseason Second Team All-State selection is joined by 6-foot-5 sophomore Shaheem Barbosa who also moves in from Central Fellowship Christian. 6-foot-3 sophomore Zaiden Nelson played at Central Fellowship Christian back in the day before transferring to Hebron Christian last year where he averaged 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game, is also in as a Preseason First Team All-State selection. The triumvirate joins a core which features Georgia College-commit 6-foot-8 Rowan Woodrich, a Preseason Second Team All-Stater who was named Class 3A Most Improved last year after upping his output from 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game to 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.6 blocks. Juniors 6-foot Jamar Johnson (11.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.8 spg) and 5-foot-10 Javon Mike (9.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.8 spg) are also back to form a formidable top six rotation. No. 5 Sandy Creek trailed at the half in the First Round to 32-seed Monroe Area before racing past 70-55 but the Patriots’ quest for a four-peat was extinguished in the Sweet 16 by Harlem 42-41, closing the season 26-3. Sandy Creek graduates their top three contributors from a season ago but have a now-healthy 6-foot senior Braylon Robinson ready to cement himself as one of the top players in the classification, entering the year as a First Team All-State pick. Seniors 5-foot-9 Quentin Clopton and 6-foot-5 Trey Carmichael join him along with 6-foot sophomore Dylan Johnson. 6-foot-2 junior Shane Senior (5.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.1 apg) is on his third school, back in Fayette County moving from The Heritage School after starting his career at McIntosh playing alongside Carmichael. No. 6 Spalding graduates their top scorer along with options four and six from a squad that went 22-7, bounced in the First Round by Harlem 70-56. The Jaguars have firepower between Preseason Second Team All-State senior guards 6-foot-3 Keelan Day (15.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2 spg) and 6-foot-1 Quadarious Clemons, now eligible after stops at KIPP Atlanta and Griffin. The Jaguars can really space the floor between Day and sharpshooter 6-foot-3 senior Willie Hightower (10.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg). No. 7 McDonough has quietly amassed a bevy of talent after a playoff-less 13-14 season. 6-foot-5 junior Khaleb Young (10.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.6 apg) is a trendy shooter with a rising stock joining seniors 6-foot-1 Ken’ten Williams (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and 5-foot-11 Elijah Drummond (5.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.1 spg). Two transfers bolster the frontcourt led by 6-foot-7 senior Jaydin Brown, a Preseason Third Team All-State pick returning to McDonough after a brief stint at Tri-Cities where he averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. 6-foot-6 junior Austin Dennard moves from Garfield, WA. No. 8 Calhoun amassed a 23-3 record but fell in the Elite Eight to East Hall 67-52 at home. The Yellow Jackets lose scoring options two through four but have Preseason Third Team All-State guard 6-foot-1 Trace Hawkins back for his junior season, the Clemson quarterback-commit coming off a season in which he averaged 15 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Seniors 6-foot-1 Richard Clavino (5.7 ppg) and 6-foot-4 Parks Layson (5.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.3 bpg) are trustworthy role players. The junior class holds the key to Calhoun’s upside as 6-foot-3 Case Shropshire had an explosive GBCA Live averaging 20 points per game after tallying 3.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game as a sophomore during the regular season. 6-foot-3 Blaine Groce flashed signs of being able to make a difference this season with his shot-making and mature floor game. No. 9 Dougherty took a trip the Elite Eight at just 15-14, losing 70-47 to Douglass. The Trojans are set to return nearly their entire roster with their fourth leading scorer the only rotational piece graduating. 5-foot-9 junior Marcus Heath is Preseason Third Team All-State selection after leading Dougherty with 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. 6-foot-4 junior Mikel Roberts (10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1 spg, 1.2 bpg) and 6-foot-2 senior David Burgess (8.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2 apg, 1.4 spg) round out the top three. No. 10 Long County fell in the Sweet 16 at home to Troup County 73-66, finishing the season 23-7. The Blue Tide graduate a ton of blue-collar players that helped lead by example, but top scorer 6-foot-4 senior Jy’Son Mallard is back, entering the year as a Preseason Third Teamer following a junior season which netted him Region 3 Co-Offensive Player of the Year for averaging 14.4 points, 4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals. 6-foot-1 senior Kelvin Hayes Jr. posted 6.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.2 steals. An offseason injury to 6-foot-5 sophomore Braylen Hampton is a major blow but the Tide see 5-foot-10 junior Jaylan Knight wash ashore from Tucson, AZ where he piled in 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, expected to make a major impact.

Class 3A

No. 1 KIPP Atlanta looked dominant over the offseason attempting to build off of last year’s 24-6 finish which ended in the Final Four with a 50-41 loss to Butler. The Warriors feature one of the top stock risers in the southeast in 6-foot-4 senior Akil Robinson, a Preseason First Team All-State guard who averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals before exploding during GBCA Live to earn multiple D-I offers. He is joined by 6-foot-8 senior Galen Roberts, a Second Team pick that posted 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. 6-foot-1 sophomore Chase Wilson (7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.6 spg) lands on Preseason Third Team All-State. 6-foot-3 junior Jaylen Dismuke and 5-foot-10 junior Brandyn Harris will have opportunities to make significant impacts while 6-foot-8 senior Jaquavion Gilmore is an intimidating enforcer who transfers in from Bible Baptist Christian where he dominated averaging 24.3 points, 18.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal and 5.4 blocks per game. No. 2 Cross Creek drops down a class after capturing the Class 3A State Championship 56-51 over region foe Harlem, finishing the season 27-5. The Razorbacks see a change in leadership as assistant Ezzard Horn takes over for three-time title winner Lawrence Kelly who assumes the position as Richmond County Athletic Director. Reigning Class 3A Player of the Year 6-foot-6 Frashad Tisby is back for his senior season, the Preseason First Team All-State swingman a South Carolina-commit. Joining him for a title defense are Third Teamer 5-foot-11 senior Derrick Shine and 6-foot-7 senior AJ Luke. New to the team is 6-foot-6 senior Kaleb Broadwater, an athletic forward from North Augusta, SC. No. 3 Butler follows Cross Creek in Region 4 coming off a 25-5 season which resulted in a 53-52 overtime loss to Morgan County in the Class 2A State Championship. Presbyterian-commit 6-foot-3 senior De’Cori Fleming (14.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.6 bpg) is a do-everything Preseason First Team All-State guard. Seniors 6-foot-6 Jamil Walker (7.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg) and 6-foot-3 Lajerry Wright (4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), a Final Four hero who had a career-high 17 points against KIPP Atlanta, return to round out the core along with 6-foot-2 Devin Strowbridge (3 ppg, 1.1 rpg). Newcomer 6-foot freshman Kingsley Shine figures to play a prominent role in the backcourt as both a facilitator and scorer. No. 4 Carver-Columbus ran up a 24-4 record but lost in the Sweet 16 as the one-seed to Therrell 65-55. The Tigers graduate Tobiaz Tolbert (Kennesaw State) but the majority of the roster returns paced by Preseason Second Team All-State guard 6-foot-2 TJ Woodson (17 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.9 spg). Carver-Columbus has athletes all over with 5-foot-7 senior Quadir Truesdale (14.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.5 spg) and breakout candidates 6-foot-6 sophomore Tyler Mathews (6.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.6 bpg) and 6-foot-5 junior Jaylin Jacobs (3.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg) anchoring the press. 5-foot-9 senior Ja’Kobe Knight moves in from Spencer where he averaged 4.6 points per game and is expected to be only the second senior on the roster. No. 5 Therrell trails behind No. 1 KIPP Atlanta in an extremely tough Region 3 which also features Private No. 6 Holy Innocents’, No. 8 North Cobb Christian and No. 10 Lovett. The Panthers finished 18-13 last year with a run to the Final Four, edged by eventual champion Morgan County 69-62. 6-foot-6 senior MJ McWhorter is a First Team All-State pick, a double-double machine that averaged 17.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He loses important guard play around him as scoring options two through four graduate. 6-foot-1 Junior Dexter Lyons (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 spg) and 5-foot-9 senior Antwon Young (5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg) could see elevated roles while 6-foot-4 senior Papa Mbaye (2.7 ppg, 3 rpg) and 5-foot-7 junior Adam Johnson had nice showings at GBCA Live. No. 6 Redan rode Class 2A Freshman of the Year, Best Scorer and Best Shooter 6-foot-3 Amare Medhin (21.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.3 spg) to a 20-9 record, eliminated in the First Round by Therrell 57-52. 5-foot-8 junior Ke’shawn Briggs (9.5 ppg, 2 apg, 1.3 spg), 6-foot-3 sophomore Tae Mcallum (5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1 apg, 1.4 spg) and 6-foot-4 junior Nathaniel Perry are joined by Towers transfer 6-foot senior Mekyrius Miller who netted 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. No. 7 Cedar Grove is right behind Redan in Region 6. The Saints were never able to capture a state title with their star-studded 2026 class, closing the era 22-7 with a 63-57 loss to Douglass in the Class 3A Sweet 16. 5-foot-11 freshman Daemeon Holmes might not end up at Tennessee or UCLA, but the Preseason Second Team All-State guard is a dynamic gamechanger with his feel and scoring touch, lighting up GBCA Live to average 19.3 points per game on blistering 54% shooting from beyond the arc. Holmes joins an experienced cast that features seniors 6-foot Kevin Rogers (10.9 ppg) and 6-foot-3 Jaimarion Mathis (10.3 ppg) along with 6-foot-4 junior Dakota Freeman (4.9 ppg). No. 8 Burke County marks the third team out of Region 4 to debut in the poll stuck behind juggernauts Cross Creek and Butler. The Bears went 16-8, beat by Columbia in the Sweet 16, 75-57. Burke County has a stalwart in 6-foot-2 junior De’Quayvian Lovette, a Preseason Second Team selection that poured in 21 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a sophomore. With playmaker La’Quinton Morgan now at Georgia Southern (NAIA), 5-foot-10 junior Braylen Bellamy (3.5 ppg, 2.5 apg) looks like a breakout candidate in the backcourt as an aggressive downhill creator. 6-foot-4 senior TK Reeves (6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and 5-foot-10 junior Marquez Sims (4.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.2 spg) are reliable contributors, Reeves a 260-pound enforcer in the paint. No. 9 Morgan County scratched their way to the state championship, surviving Butler 53-52 in overtime to close the dream season 26-6. The Bulldogs graduate star guard Zeki Locus (Piedmont) along with two other starters. 6-foot-2 sophomore Trey Carter enters Year 2 as a Third Team All-State pick. A blend of veterans will be invaluable with seniors 5-foot-10 King Hardy, 6-foot-2 SJ Odoms and 6-foot-7 late bloomer Gavin Williams. The junior class has 6-foot-3 Garrett Ward, a returning starter and 5-foot-11 Dreylon Brown as experienced members. 6-foot-2 sophomore Camron Benford is back at Morgan County after watching his hometown team win the state title while stuck on the depth chart Gainesville. No. 10 Hart County follows behind Morgan County in Region 8 to round out the Top 10. The Bulldogs went just 16-15 last year but took a run to the Elite Eight, eliminated by Therrell 69-61. Star guard 5-foot-11 Kurston Curry, a 1,000-point scorer and Preseason Third Team All-Stater, is back for his senior season. 5-foot-10 senior Xavier Allen and Rockmart transfer 6-foot-2 sophomore Tucker Parson who routinely scored 20 points a night, will be relied upon to take some of the scoring burden off of Curry.

Class 2A

Class 2A is wide open, up for grabs. The most experienced team in the field is No. 1 Commerce who posted a 23-7 record with a 59-49 Elite Eight loss at Vidalia. The Tigers graduate just one senior, their fifth leading scorer. Commerce has a pair of Preseason All-State senior guards in First Teamer 6-foot-1 Essien Lockleer (14.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 3.1 spg) and Second Teamer 6-foot Maki Mitchell (14.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 spg). The hard-playing core full of footballers also features 6-foot-2 junior Bryson Parks (9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.3 spg), 5-foot-10 senior Ty Sorrells (8.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.8 spg) and 6-foot-4 senior Zavion Smith (3.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1 bpg). The Tigers lack impactful size, but their pressure defense and three-point shooting can wear down bigger opponents. No. 2 Model tallied a 22-5 mark, defeated in the Elite Eight in overtime at Southwest-Macon 62-60. The Blue Devils return their explosive backcourt tandem of Preseason First Team All-State point guard 6-foot-1 senior Bryson Denson and Second Teamer 6-foot-2 junior Chadon Woodley. 6-foot-3 junior Tyler Harrell is an effective strong-bodied post while midseason Darlington transfer 6-foot-5 sophomore Mitchell Raughton is a potential X-Factor if he reaches his ceiling. No. 3 Fitzgerald burst onto the scene with a 25-5 record and was on the verge of punching their ticket to the state title game before being victimized by a Huey Blalock triple-double to fall to the eventual state champs Rabun County 70-59 in the Final Four. The Purple Hurricanes lose a lot, graduating four of their top six producers. Leading scorer 6-foot-2 sophomore Darryon Devine is a Preseason First Team All-State honoree after pouring in 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. 6-foot senior Javeon Vickers chipped in 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. 6-foot-3 junior Kenzion Harrell could be a big addition, a Second Team All-Region selection while at Atkinson County. No. 4 East Laurens fell in the Sweet 16 at Southwest-Macon 70-58, finishing the season 21-7. The Falcons are expected to return six of their top seven players including their top five scorers. 5-foot-10 senior Skyler Snead is a Preseason Third Team All-State selection after averaging 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Fellow senior 5-foot-10 Jeremiah Rozier contributed 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals. The junior class is headlined by 6-foot Major Floyd (11.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg), 6-foot-3 Zion Dixon (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.1 apg) and 6-foot-3 Bryson Hazley (7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1 apg). Right behind East Laurens in Region 2 is No. 5 Vidalia who graduates star Rashad Brown (Brewton-Parker) from a team that went 26-3, bounced in the Final Four by Southwest-Macon 62-51. The Indians will be paced by First Team All-Region pick 5-foot-9 junior Brycen Burns and Second Teamer 6-foot-3 senior Bernard Brewton. No. 6 Fannin County totaled a 25-5 record with a 76-42 loss in the Elite Eight at Rabun County. 6-foot-7 senior Kolton Kaylor is a Preseason First Team All-State pick and the top overall college prospect in the classification with multiple D-I offers. Keeping the lefty healthy will be imperative as he finished last season with a bum ankle. The Rebels have serious size between he and 6-foot-6 senior Keaton Watkins, a Third Team All-State nod. Outside of those two however, experience is light with Fannin County graduating three senior guards, now in dire need of establishing their backcourt in order to get the ball two their advantageous frontcourt members. No. 7 Putnam County finished 23-8 with an 81-72 loss to Fitzgerald in the Elite Eight. The War Eagles graduate four seniors including their top two scorers. With that said, there is serious optimism around the newfound go-to guys in seniors 6-foot-3 Jaylen Nelson (10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 spg) and 6-foot-4 Jeremy Banks (10.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.4 spg) a pair of Preseason Second Team All-State guards. It will be interesting to see if Putnam County will be as deep as years past when it comes to scoring the ball as the third top returning scorer 6-foot-3 senior Jaden Payne averaged just 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as last year the War Eagles saw five players average over eight points per game. 6-foot senior Rydrell Lundy is a transfer from Morgan County with a Tennessee Wesleyan offer in hand. No. 8 Rabun County are the defending champs after a 30-2 season was culminated with a 52-43 win over Southwest-Macon on the Patriots’ home soil. The Wildcats will be infinitely different with the best player in school history and Class A D-I Player of the Year Huey Blalock (19.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9.5 apg, 1.9 spg – Navy) along with Hayes Free (18.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg – Young Harris) gone. 6-foot-4 sophomore Trace Adcock is a Preseason First Team All-State pick after dumping in 15.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 50% from three with 127 long distance makes. Defenses will be sure to key in on him exclusively this season making the growth of seniors 6-foot-1 Reed Burrell (6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1 spg) and 6-foot Landan Bedingfield (3.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) along with 6-foot-1 sophomore Cord Burrell (3.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg) highly important. No. 9 Savannah is up a classification after an 18-12 Sweet 16 season in Class A D-II, defeated by Turner County 60-56. Two of the Blue Jackets top three players are expected back between 6-foot-4 senior Martaiveis Rice and 6-foot-2 junior Renard Jackson. No. 10 Heard County rounds out the Top 10. The Braves went 17-10 with a Sweet 16 appearance, smoked at Rabun County 84-52. A balanced cast features juniors 6-foot-2 TJ Reives (7.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and 6-foot-5 Jakari Andrews, a Preseason Third Team All-State post that averaged 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds. The senior class will be led by 5-foot-10 Armari Emory (6.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.6 spg).

Class 1A

Class 1A will be interesting to watch unfold as the addition of No. 1 Wilson Academy muddies up the picture. It is the first season the Warriors will be in the GHSA after playing Freelance last year. Where things get confusing is Wilson Academy had two separate teams last year, one being a “national” team and the other a “regional” team. Depending on who is eligible, if the Warriors have access to their full roster, they are unlike any other team in Class 1A, a team with a pipeline to international players in a broad sense similar to Greenforest who is at least a private school. With all the confusion, it’s difficult to tell which Wilson Academy team will take the floor in Region 5 against tiny public schools in one-school counties whereas Wilson Academy is based out of Conyers. MaxPreps shows the Warriors with a 7-10 record, but it’s difficult to put much stock into that. Instead, if Wilson Academy suits up most of the roster from their 4-0 team from the GBCA Live Southeast Regional, then the rest of the classification is in trouble as the Warriors scored wins over Private No. 10 Lovett 67-54 and Class 4A No. 5 Sandy Creek 43-30. Two stars from that roster for sure won’t be with the Warriors this season however as Culen Browne transferred to ELCA while Kerrington Moore is attempting to reclass after starring at McDonough and will be at Rise Academy. Names to focus on for Wilson Academy will be 6-foot-6 senior Taye Alabi, 6-foot-7 junior Jordi Musafiri, 6-foot-7 sophomore Quintavious Calhoun and 6-foot-11 freshman Emmanuel Ouedraogo. 6-foot-1 junior Caden Easter transfers in from Arabia Mountain where he averaged 2.3 points per game. No. 2 Clinch County won the state title last year 63-43 over Portal to finish the season 29-3. The Panthers are loaded with football-first athletes but if they all return to the hardwood, Clinch County is in a strong position to repeat as all their starters should be back with just one senior graduating. 6-foot-1 junior Traviian Miller is a Preseason First Team All-State selection after pouring in 25 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in the title game. Second Teamers 6-foot-1 senior Kamarion Johnson (Florida football) and 6-foot-1 senior JaKyri Posley scored 15 apiece in the championship. 6-foot seniors Kyiis Mingo and Shane Burns round out the starting five. No. 3 Portal took a run to the title game, falling to Clinch County by 20 to close the year 26-6. The Panthers have nearly their entire team back including four of their top five contributors headlined by Preseason First Team All-Stater 6-foot-3 senior David Thomas (16.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg). 5-foot-10 junior CJ Harden (11.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.8 spg), 6-foot-3 senior Joshua Coleman (10.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1 apg) and 6-foot-1 senior KJ Hunter (7.4 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 spg) round out the nucleus. No. 4 Washington-Wilkes is on the rise, much like the girls program. The Tigers roared their way to an 18-9 mark with a 60-48 loss to Portal in the Final Four. The Region 8 champs return their top three led by Preseason Second Team All-State selections juniors 6-foot-6 Aaydan Wayman (12.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.8 bpg) and 5-foot-9 KJ Wylie (12.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 spg). 6-foot guard and quarterback on the football team Mayson Mingle was named Class A D-II Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.4 points, 5 rebounds and 3.2 steals. No. 5 Wheeler County came out of one of the weakest regions in the state, Region 4 whose three other teams made the tournament with a combined record of 32-43, but that didn’t deter the legitimacy of the Bulldogs as they rolled onto the Elite Eight finishing with a 21-5 mark, defeated by eventual champs Clinch County 65-59. The entire roster is expected to return for Wheeler County anchored by Preseason First Team All-State jack-of-all-trades 6-foot-5 senior Michael Wright who poured in 17.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and continued to raise his stock over the offseason earning offers from South Georgia Tech and Dyersburg State. He is supported by 6-foot-3 senior Tyree Travis (13.4 ppg, 8 rpg, 1 apg, 2.4 spg, 1.1 bpg) and 6-foot-2 junior Jeric Peeples (5.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg). The Bulldogs will be in pursuit of another Region 4 title, now contending with Turner County who just misses the Top 10 coming off a quarterfinal appearance at 25-5 but graduating their top three players. No. 6 Macon County finished 17-10, eliminated in Round One by Turner County 52-49. The Bulldogs have their top five expected back paced by Preseason Third Team All-State 6-foot-1 senior Quentrelle Perkins who put up 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals. 5-foot-10 junior Tarigee Collier (10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg) and 6-foot senior Lavoris Smith (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3 apg, 2.6 spg) balance the Dogs. No. 7 BEST Academy sinks a class after a 12-16 showing in Class A D-I, defeated 75-50 by Putnam County in the First Round. 6-foot-3 senior scoring machine Xion Evans is a First Team All-State honoree after dumping in 22 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The senior class is slated to also boast 6-foot-6 Joaquin Weaver (9.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg) and 5-foot-11 Ja’Kori Rogers (6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.1 spg). Sophomores 5-foot-9 Denney Stomer (6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg) and 6-foot-4 Dylan Jackson (0.9 ppg) figure to play important roles after strong showings at GBCA Live. The Eagles will likely battle for the Region 7 title with Elite Scholars Academy who is outside the rankings but returns their entire roster from last year’s 21-8 Sweet 16 team. No. 8 Greene County only had their full roster for just eight games and had numerous late game heartbreaks during their tumultuous 8-21 season, losing five games by four points or less, summed up by a three-pointer with less than five seconds left by Mitchell County to lose in the First Round 56-55. The Tigers have reason for optimism however as their top three players return led by seniors Preseason Third Team All-Stater 6-foot-2 Braylen Hurt (14.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.2 apg) and 6-foot-5 Ge’Corey Brown (15.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.4 apg). Coach’s son 6-foot-2 Ethan Wright tallied 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game as a freshman. No. 9 Hancock Central finished 19-7 with a First-Round exit at the hands of Savannah 66-64. The Bulldogs are powered by Preseason Second Team All-State guard 6-foot-1 senior Josiah Ingram (18.3 ppg) and 5-foot-10 junior Najee Reynolds (14 ppg) who lands on the Third Team. 5-foot-11 junior Bryston Reynolds chipped in 5.1 points a night. No. 10 Chattahoochee County pieced together a 29-2 mark but lost in the Final Four to Clinch County 53-44. Class A D-II Player of the Year Champ Simpson (21.5 ppg – Southeast Missouri State) is an enormous loss, leaving a lot of responsibility on Preseason First Team All-State 5-foot-11 junior A’Nyzhon Purnell who tallied 15.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.4 steals a night. Seniors 6-foot Marcus Irby (6.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.5 spg) and 5-foot-11 Julius Harris (5.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2 apg, 1.1 spg) will have to step up in a major way to keep the Panthers in the Top 10.

Class 4A-2A Private

No. 1 ELCA has the most impressive starting five in the state anchored by 6-foot-7 senior AJ Williams who classed up to 2027 after leading the Chargers to a 19-12 record in Class 4A, defeated in the Sweet 16 by Southwest DeKalb 67-36. The five-star top ranked player in the nation is a First Team All-State selection upon averaging 31.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.9 blocks as Georgia’s most unstoppable force. 6-foot-10 senior Jamil Robinson is a late bloomer who committed to North Carolina State over the offseason after appearing in just the final six games of the season last year, coming back from a foot injury to average 3.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.3 blocks. Joining the tandem in the starting five are impact transfers 6-foot-4 junior Culen Browne, a Preseason Second Team selection from Wilson Academy ranked as a four-star prospect and 6-foot-10 junior Peter Julius, a Preseason First Teamer in from Mt. Bethel with a four-star ranking and a plethora of High Major offers. Returning role players feature 6-foot-3 junior Khristian Brittian (9.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 apg), 6-foot-2 junior Zeven Bailey (4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.2 apg) and 6-foot senior Mark Miller (3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg). No. 2 Pace Academy lost in the Class 4A State Championship to undefeated St. Pius X, 54-51 to end the season 24-8. The Knights follow ELCA into the private division but lose five of their top six scorers with Preseason Third Team All-State swingman 6-foot-6 Gavin Fountain, a Mercer-commit, set to lead the way after averaging 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists. 6-foot-3 junior Jaden McCullough moves in from Holy Innocents’ and is a First Teamer after powering the Golden Bears with 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. 6-foot-7 senior Henry Dickert is on his way to Princeton and should play a big role in Year 4 after chipping in 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. The duo of 6-foot-2 senior Jeffrey Stephens (0.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and 6-foot-3 sophomore Jace Dunn (0.8 ppg) seem to be in line for bigger minutes after Brielen Craft transferred to Monarch Academy, KS. 6-foot-4 sophomore Amir Cuyler moves in from Riverwood where he posted 3.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. No. 3 Darlington are the defending state champs after beating Holy Innocents’ 53-50 as Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot senior DJ Hall nearly beat the Golden Bears by himself with a historic 30-point, 6-rebound, 7-assist, 2-steal performance on 9-17 shooting. The Tigers graduate three seniors from their 30-2 team but return 6-foot-2 senior sharpshooter Jordan Wilkerson and burgeoning post presence 6-foot-9 sophomore Joseph Ogunyemi. Veteran role players seniors 6-foot-1 Nate Pitts, 6-foot Grant Molnar and 6-foot-3 Trey Moore are trustworthy competitors while 6-foot-4 sophomore Ethan Hight is a potential long-term X-Factor. No. 4 Mt. Vernon went 28-4, dumped in the Final Four by Darlington 57-48 after beating the Tigers earlier in the season. A strong senior class is headlined by 6-foot-7 West Georgia-commit Noah Brady. 6-foot-5 Quint McGrath, 6-foot-2 JJ Page and 5-foot-10 Chase Daniels round out a solid backcourt. 5-foot-5 sophomore Jamaal Oliver Jr. is a sparkplug while 6-foot-2 junior Jeremiah Galloway is another Centennial transfer who finds his way to Mt. Vernon. No. 5 St. Francis hired Joab Jerome from The Heritage School after the Knights went 18-11 with a Sweet 16 exit against Darlington, 69-46. St. Francis has serious talent between Preseason Second Team All-State 6-foot-6 junior Landon Evans and Third Teamer 6-foot-6 senior Jaylen Samuel, two dynamic multifaceted swingmen that attack inside and out. Guard play will be important for the Knights as seniors 5-foot-11 Jaden Smith and 6-foot Kemahri Wright look prepped to help organize the offense. A monster addition to the frontcourt is 6-foot-6 freshman Alex Mufu who follows Coach Jerome to St. Francis after posting 12.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game as an eighth grader playing varsity at Heritage. No. 6 Holy Innocents’ lost to Darlington in the state title game 53-50, finishing the year 26-4. The Golden Bears lose their top four scorers, meaning the team will look different and could have early growing pains adjusting to new roles. The top returning leading scorer is 6-foot-3 sophomore King Araujo (5.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.2 apg). 6-foot-8 junior Colt Witzigreuter had some huge games at GBCA Live, looking like an early candidate for Most Improved after averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds as a sophomore. 5-foot-9 senior Sean Smith (2.1 ppg) will be leaned on to provide some veteran leadership in a young backcourt which is led by Preseason Second Team All-Stater 6-foot-1 freshman Deuce Grayson who holds numerous High Major offers already. 6-foot-4 junior Jason Beck transfers in from Fulton Science Academy where he tallied 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. No. 7 Walker recorded a 25-6 mark with a Final Four loss to Holy Innocents’ 63-47. Scoring options two through four are gone. 6-foot junior KD Hernandez (17.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.4 spg) is a Preseason First Team All-State pick. Seniors 5-foot-10 Sean Nalls (9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.3 spg) and 6-foot-1 Christian Barjon (4.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.8 spg) will be relied upon heavily. 6-foot-7 sophomore Ebenezer Essien is a new face with the program, as is 6-foot-1 sophomore Peyton Easley who is now on school five, bouncing from Mt. Paran to North Cobb Christian to North Cobb to Marietta this summer before ending at Walker. 6-foot-3 senior Julian Edney is another transfer, coming over from Fulton Science Academy where he posted 19.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game. No. 8 North Cobb Christian had a 26-4 season come to an end in the Elite Eight, defeated by Walker 64-44. Leading scorer and rebounder 6-foot-8 Xavier Butler left for Grayson over the offseason. The senior class is highly experienced led by Preseason Third Team All-State 6-foot-5 Alabama Huntsville-commit Isaiah Chandler (15 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.4 bpg) and 5-foot-10 Montevallo-commit Grant Robich (16.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 7.5 apg, 3 spg). 6-foot-1 Jordan Wiseman (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg) and 6-foot Jason Smith (6.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 spg) round out the returning senior class. 6-foot-3 senior Amari Smallwood moves in from Allatoona. 6-foot-5 junior Tyson Matta is a breakout candidate after averaging 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 steals. 6-foot-7 junior Aaden Foster-Curry moves in from Paulding County and could be a useful piece if ruled eligible. No. 9 GAC is loaded with seniors and graduates only their second leading scorer from a 17-12 group that lost 51-47 in the Sweet 16 to Calvary Day. 6-foot-8 junior Baer Bailey is a Preseason Second Team All-State selection after collecting 16 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. A robust senior class features 5-foot-9 Adrian Hughes (7.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.6 spg), 6-foot-3 DJ Newman (6.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Alabama football-commit 6-foot-5 Tyler Younger (6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 spg) if he decides to play, 6-foot-2 Christian Wofford (6.4 ppg), 6-foot-4 KJ Braswell (3.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1 spg) and 6-foot-7 Zach Waters (3.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg). No. 10 Lovett finished 16-14, beat in the Sweet 16 by North Cobb Christian 78-64. 5-foot-11 senior Cameron Cannon is a scoring machine that put up 20.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game while 6-foot-6 senior Daniel Gadsden is a versatile mismatch who chipped in 9.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals.  6-foot sophomore Phillip Claybrooks picked up a Stetson offer over the summer after adding 9.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals in Year 1. 6-foot sophomore Benny Crane is another talented youngster looking to build off his 5.9 points and 1.7 rebounds a night. 6-foot-8 junior Leyton Collins (4.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1 bpg) is a standout lacrosse athlete committed to Denver who may return to the hardwood.