Class AAAAAAA
1. Grayson
2. McEachern
3. Norcross
4. Pebblebrook
5. Berkmar
6. Wheeler
7. East Coweta
8. Milton
9. Newton
10. Lambert
Class AAAAAA
1. Tri-Cities
2. Tucker
3. South Cobb
4. Chattahoochee
5. Sequoyah
6. Langston Hughes
7. Alexander
8. Douglas County
9. Lanier
10. Allatoona
Class AAAAA
1. Dutchtown
2. Eagle’s Landing
3. Kell
4. Carrollton
5. Statesboro
6. Lithonia
7. Fayette County
8. Southwest DeKalb
9. Buford
10. Lithia Springs
Class AAAA
1. Woodward Academy
2. Denmark
3. Sandy Creek
4. Dougherty
5. Eastside
6. Baldwin
7. Americus-Sumter
8. Chapel Hill
9. Blessed Trinity
10. North Clayton
Class AAA
1. Pace Academy
2. Westside-Macon
3. Central-Macon
4. Dawson County
5. Franklin County
6. Hart County
7. Johnson-Savannah
8. Jefferson
9. Monroe
10. Windsor Forest
Class AA
1. Therrell
2. South Atlanta
3. Glenn Hills
4. Swainsboro
5. Vidalia
6. Spencer
7. Laney
8. Jeff Davis
9. Banks County
10. Woodville-Tompkins
Class A-Private
1. St. Francis
2. Walker
3. Greenforest
4. Trinity Christian
5. Holy Innocents’
6. Mt. Bethel
7. Mt. Pisgah
8. Wesleyan
9. ELCA
10. Christian Heritage
Class A-Public
1. Treutlen
2. Wilcox County
3. Calhoun County
4. Wilkinson County
5. Irwin County
6. Pelham
7. Clinch County
8. Lanier County
9. Macon County
10. Greene County
Class 7A
Growing the program each and every year with back-to-back Final Four appearances before losing in the Sweet 16 last season to Norcross 68-53, Coach Geoffrey Pierce and No. 1 Grayson have the most talented and deepest team the program has ever seen led by two Preseason All-State guards in Mississippi State-commit Deivon Smith (17.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2 spg, 2.1 bpg) and South Florida-commit Caleb Murphy (8.8 ppg, 1.6 apg) along with All-State Honorable Mention selection Winthrop-commit 6-foot-5 Toneari Lane (20 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The additions of Murphy (Norcross) and Lane (Shiloh) added to key returners 6-foot-7 junior Ian Schieffelin, 6-foot-7 junior Taje Kelly, 6-foot-6 senior Carlos Dixon and 6-foot-4 senior Josh Smith gives the Rams a battle-tested roster with size. If No. 2 McEachern’s haul of at least four known transfers gets green lit, the Indians will be back contending for another state and national title following their perfect 32-0 campaign. Three D-I signees have graduated but MaxPreps National Player of the Year Auburn-commit Sharife Cooper has returned for his final season and has attracted talent to join him in three-star 6-foot-11 senior Dylan Cardwell (Oak Hill Academy, VA), 6-foot-3 senior Mercer-commit Jovan Tucker (Cumberland Christian), 6-foot-5 junior Bobby Moore (North Cobb Christian) and three-star 6-foot-5 junior Randy Brady (Brentwood Academy, TN). Cardwell will need to get cleared to play however coming from Oak Hill Academy as the GHSA is trying to enforce a rule cracking down on prep school players entering the state. If Cardwell can’t get cleared in time, still expect McEachern to play at a breakneck pace with Cooper, who averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 assists and 4.1 steals. Junior Jens Rueckert, sophomore Christian Willis and sophomore Braden Sparks project to give McEachern more depth than a year ago. No. 3 Norcross got bit by the transfer bug, losing five-star Kentucky-commit Brandon Boston (Sierra Canyon, CA) and USF-commit Caleb Murphy (Grayson), but decided hit the transfer market and add prep schoolers four-star 6-foot-8 senior JT Thor (Huntington Prep, WV), 6-foot-8 sophomore Kok Yat (Huntington Prep, WV), 6-foot-8 senior four-star UGA-commit Josh Taylor (Greensboro Day, NC), 6-foot-6 Temple-commit Quincy Ademokoya (Dacula) and 5-foot-10 senior Wilford Campbell (Meadowcreek). Much like McEachern with Cardwell, Norcross may have some difficulties clearing their new prep school players before the season starts. If everyone gets approved, Norcross will have the longest and most versatile group in the state but as we’ve seen in years past, winning the offseason has not translated into winning the state title. Finding a true point guard to run the offense and handle against the state’s elite will be important if the Blue Devils are to end their title drought. 6-foot-3 junior guard Jaden Harris and 6-foot-3 senior Kevon Eskridge will bring experience to the backcourt, but both are more shot-first scorers than creators. No. 4 Pebblebrook has built around their 2021 nucleus of 6-foot-6 Jamall Clycle, 6-foot-7 Blake Hadley, 6-foot-7 Kaleb Washington, 6-foot-6 Tyler Shirley and 6-foot Danny Stubbs with sophomores Nile Hillmon and Andre Young in the mix as well. The Falcons should have some of the best cohesion in Class 7A as all but Hadley have been with the program since freshman year. The Falcons have a long and strong versatile frontline that will give teams problems. Stubbs is a bright young guard that has a sweet jumper but also understands how to get his teammates involved. The Falcons finished 20-10 last season, losing 75-60 at Meadowcreek in the Elite Eight. As their core enters their upperclassmen seasons, Pebblebrook is a legit threat to make it to Macon over the next two years. No. 5 Berkmar has benefited from the Team YRN program as four players move over to Lilburn. 6-foot-9 sophomore Malique Ewin (Rockdale County), 6-foot-3 sophomore Jermarhi Hill (Midfield, AL), 6-foot-5 junior Camden Blount (Nazareth, NY) and 6-foot-8 senior Jalen Deloach (Gray Collegiate, SC) all migrate over after travel ball season while 6-foot-5 Rhode Island-commit Elijah Wood hops down from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, MD. With a sudden influx of talent, Coach Greg Phillips will need to replicate the success he had a year ago with a starless group that grinded its way to a 19-9 season. From that tough-nosed team, key pieces 6-foot senior Julius Reynolds (4.4 apg) and 6-foot-5 Dara Olonade (8.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) return. No. 6 Wheeler adds four transfers from Game Elite to help reshape their roster following a 17-12 season with a 58-56 loss at Tift County in the Sweet 16. 6-foot-6 senior Sam Hines returns as the hard hat lunch pail guy that Coach Larry Thompson can rely upon when things get tight. Both 6-foot-4 junior Max Harris (11 ppg, 4 apg) and 6-foot-7 junior Ja’Heim Hudson (13 ppg, 8 rpg) transfer over from South Gwinnett. Hudson, a burgeoning D-I prospect, is a talented big that can score with both hands around the rim and protects the paint at a high level. 6-foot-2 junior AJ Burke (North Cobb) is a talented shooter while 5-foot-9 sophomore Juvon Gamory (Decatur) is a floor spacer and assist-man. 6-foot-6 junior Aaron Reddish, brother of Atlanta Hawk rookie Cam Reddish, has been said to have moved-in as well, coming from Pennsylvania. Wheeler boasts one of the most highly touted freshmen in the state in guard Isaiah Collier who already has offers from Tulane and Ole Miss. Expected to play extended roles their senior seasons, 5-foot-11 Nashay Kelly and 6-foot-4 Prince Davies will have a chance to make an impact. No. 7 East Coweta has the state’s most well-rounded scorer and best shooting guard in Kennesaw State-commit 6-foot-4 senior Chris Youngblood. Youngblood (16.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 spg) went on a tear this offseason has firmly cemented himself as one of the state’s elite, earning Preseason First Team All-State honors. He and fellow Kennesaw State-commit 6-foot-6 senior Brandon Stroud (16.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg, 1.1 bpg), a Preseason Second Teamer, have the New EC on the map and won’t be sneaking up on anybody anymore after they started the year 24-1 before injuries derailed their season and sent the Indians to three-straight losses to end the year. East Coweta won’t be as deep as last year as a large 2019 class has graduated but the addition of 6-foot-2 senior Keith Williams (11.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.2 spg) from Sandy Creek should help out greatly. No. 8 Milton might be a year or two away from competing for a state title, but the program is on the climb behind Coach Allen Whitehart’s young core. Preseason Second Team All-State 6-foot-2 sophomore Bruce Thornton Jr. is the best 2022 point guard in Georgia and proved it time and time again over the summer, racking up the stats and the wins to solidify it. Thornton has strong running mates in 6-foot-3 senior Evan Hurst, who has received D-I interest, and 6-foot-1 sophomore Devin Farrell (Holy Innocents’). 6-foot-7 junior Austin Weiner is one of the strongest players in Georgia and can clear out space on the low block. The X-Factor for the Eagles will be 6-foot freshman Kanaan Carlyle, who already has offers from Florida, Tulane, Auburn and Clemson. No. 9 Newton has large shoes to fill following their 22-8 Sweet 16 season as Coach Rick Rasmussen has left along with Tre Clark (VCU) and Armani Harris (Kennesaw State). Charlemagne Gibbons takes over the program and quickly added Georgia Southern-commit Caleb Byrd from Rome where he averaged 34 points per game as a junior. Byrd will slot in next to sophomore guard TJ Clark and 6-foot-1 senior Shawn Smith, who had a strong offseason. No. 10 Lambert returns an experienced group led by 6-foot-9 Ohio-commit Colin Granger and 6-foot-7 Samford-commit Luke Champion. The inside-out duo also has 6-foot-1 senior Braxton Beaty, a combo guard with a Navy offer, to help balance the attack. 6-foot-5 junior Jackson Greene could see a major boost in his role. Senior Will Baker will be relied upon to handle the ball now that All-Stater Mitch Ganote is at Southwest Missouri Baptist.
Class 6A
Defending state champion No. 1 Tri-Cities will have plenty competition in a deep classification and playing in Region 5 doesn’t make things any easier. The Bulldogs will need to replace hero Da’Marcus Johnson (Morehouse) who hit the dramatic state championship winning three at the buzzer to beat Tucker 46-43 along with Region Player of the Year Titus Hunter and 6-foot-7 Alex Bean (Life). Preseason First Team All-State guard Peyton Daniels enters his junior season after a breakout second year. 6-foot-4 senior Demetrius Rives is an elite slasher while 6-foot-6 junior Eli’sha King and 6-foot-2 junior Davon Cottle should see more scoring opportunities. The addition of 6-foot-6 junior Julius Lymon (South Atlanta) gives Coach Omari Forts a physical athletic rebounder inside. No. 2 Tucker looked like they were on the verge of capturing state title No. 3 before Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot-6 guard Jermontae Hill (14.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.3 bpg) fouled out and the offense came to a screeching halt. The Tigers are locked and loaded again, this time with Preseason Second Team All-State 6-foot-5 senior Terrence Edwards moving over after wasting a year of eligibility when he couldn’t get cleared to play at Southwest DeKalb last season. Edwards will quickly remind the GHSA how impactful of a player he is with his ability to play multiple positions and both score and defend at a high level. Sophomore guard Raylon Barrion returns after averaging 6.9 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals as one of Georgia’s more productive freshmen. 6-foot-6 junior David Giddens (4.9 ppg) and senior Dylan Pritchett (4.2 ppg) will provide inside-out offense. No. 3 South Cobb finished 20-7 with a 77-71 Sweet 16 loss to Alexander after the Eagles won Region 6. Class 6A Freshman of the Year Zocko Littleton has collected High Major offers heading into this sophomore season and is a Preseason Second Team All-State selection. The elite shooter has help in juniors Basit and Baqi Lackey along with junior Jermaine Fahie. The Eagles made a splash this offseason with the addition of bouncy 6-foot-6 senior Emon Washington (Yazoo County, MS), 6-foot-1 sophomore Jameel Rideout (Duluth) and 5-foot-11 junior Travis Burrus (Marietta) who moved less than a month before the season started. South Cobb is ready to compete for a title and will be in contention for years to come. No. 4 Chattahoochee caught fire in the middle of the season and racked up a 23-7 record powered by a 13-game winning streak. The Cougars eventually lost in Round 2 to Tri-Cities 75-64 but now have playoff experience on a roster that returns its starting backcourt, highlighted by Preseason First Team All-State scoring dynamo 5-foot-9 junior AJ White and Second Teamer 6-foot-6 Rice-commit Cameron Sheffield. 6-foot senior Franklin Bailey emerged last year as arguably Georgia’s best shooter. The Cougars can tend to fall in love with the three-point shot and be too reliant on jumpers. The graduation of double-double machine Grant Van Beveren is a massive blow and further eliminates any offensive diversity. 6-foot-7 senior David McDaniel will be asked to fill the void left behind by Van Beveren, but he is nowhere near as polished offensively as Van Beveren was. The Cougars suffered from a short bench last season. Depth will be important if Chattahoochee is to take a deep run at state. No. 5 Sequoyah doesn’t get the transfers like the rest of the top dogs in the classification do, but the homegrown Chiefs have now come to fruition with a senior class that started out winning just 3 games. Sequoyah has increased their win total each season since Allen Carden took over the job and will now try to improve upon last year’s 22-8 mark with a 74-62 Sweet 16 loss to Douglas County. Sequoyah held their own in Region 6, going 12-4 and will challenge South Cobb for the No. 1 seed now that Sprayberry has fallen back to the pack. Preseason All-State Second Teamer 6-foot-2 Jacksen Greco is a Mercer-commit and coming off a junior campaign in which he was named Region Player of the Year after averaging 19.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. Senior running mates Myles McGee (15.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.9 spg) and Donovan Shipp (14.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.3 spg) play at a frantic pace that overwhelms opponents. 6-foot-4 junior Ayden Watson (8.1 ppg, 5 rebounds) provides athleticism inside while lanky 6-foot-5 senior Dashaun Robinson (5.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.3 bpg) has improved by leaps and bounds every season and could have a breakout year in the paint. 6-foot-2 sophomore Dylan Wolle and 6-foot-4 senior Arthur Parker are both dangerous deep threats. Sequoyah should have great experience heading into the postseason with their battles against South Cobb, which will prove to be litmus tests for how deep this senior-laden group can go. No. 6 Langston Hughes got hot at the right time and started to play their best basketball in the second half of the season but the Panthers were denied a three-peat as they fell at Gainesville 73-69 in the opening round of the state playoffs, ending their season at 16-13. Preseason First Team All-State shooting guard PJ Carter returns after pouring in 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The graduation of Tyrel Morgan (19.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) hurts, but the Panthers have added 6-foot-3 senior Chris-Anthony Ford (11.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) from Southwest Atlanta Christian and Kennesaw State-commit 6-foot-3 senior guard Kasen Jennings from The Heritage School. Coach Rory Welsh will rely on veterans inside in 6-foot-5 senior Josh Butts (5.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 6-foot-7 junior Justin Hall (3.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg). Sophomore point guard Kobe Davis (6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg) enters his second season and has improved greatly over the summer. 6-foot-4 sophomore wing Elijah Walden has an impressive frame and should see big minutes in Year 2. With the amount of talent they had, No. 7 Alexander’s 22-9 season and Elite Eight loss to Heritage-Conyers 72-69 still feels like a disappointment. While they don’t have as much star-power as last year’s group, the Cougars are still a force to be reckon with in Region 5. Senior point guard Jaylon Brown (11.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 6.1 apg, 2.6 spg), senior wing Austin Slate (5 ppg) and 6-foot-7 senior Bryce Robinson (4.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1 bpg) are part of the core that returns with the most experience. Brown has improved his offense over the years and will be asked to be even more assertive hunting his offense his senior season. Robinson will see the biggest jump in production now getting starting minutes since Brady Spence’s departure for The Citadel. Robinson is a stronger low block scorer but not as dominant of a rim protector. 6-foot-2 senior Marvin McGhee (Mays) and 6-foot-2 junior Xavier Thornton (Westside, SC) will help out tremendously. The fourth team from Region 5 to crack the Top 10 is No. 8 Douglas County. The Tigers went a surprising 21-10 after starting the season 0-2 with a 60-point loss to Pebblebrook. The Tigers were able to march into the Elite Eight before losing 60-59 at Brunswick. Douglas County is set to return three of their top six in juniors 6-foot Jermichael Mahorn (9.1 ppg), 6-foot-4 Omarion Smith (8.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.2 bpg) and 6-foot-1 Omari Fonteno (5.1 ppg). The move-in of 6-foot-4 junior wing Jaylen Jackson from Westlake changes to complexion of the team for the next two years. Jackson was one of Georgia biggest stock risers over the summer, transforming from unknown to human highlight reel as one of the state’s bounciest forwards. Jackson can score the ball at all three levels and is starting to draw D-I interest. No. 9 Lanier finished with a thud last season going 17-10 losing their final four games of the season. 6-foot-4 senior point guard Sion James (14.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.3 apg) is a Tulane-commit that powers the Longhorns. 6-foot-6 junior Ryan Johnson is a stretch big with upside. Three Mill Creek transfers spill into Lanier to give Coach Branden Mayweather a deeper rotation in juniors 5-foot-10 Andrew McConnell (6.5 ppg), 6-foot-4 Makai Vassell and 5-foot-11 Iajah Phillips. No. 10 Allatoona couldn’t handle their business when they needed to most, going 18-8 and 11-5 in Region 6 but missing the playoffs after an upset loss to Creekview, 71-61. A new era of Buccaneer basketball is starting with Markus Hood holdovers Devan Dixon, Jeremiah Sanabria and Terrell Ard – three extremely important pieces – graduating. The 2021 class of Allatoona is no longer the future but the present. 5-foot-11 Isaiah Logan, 6-foot-3 Kevin Taylor, 6-foot-4 Cameron Baldwin and 6-foot-5 Marshall Willingham are the core of a team that played exceptionally well over the offseason at the CTC Fall League. The Bucs know how to play together and are an unselfish group. Senior 5-foot-11 guard RJ Shaw rounds out the attack. The Buccaneers might lack a true star player, but if one of the four 2021’s can take their game to the next level, Allatoona will be a scary team to compete with next year.
Class 5A
Class 5A feels a little uncertain and a lot wide open after graduation and transfers have hit last year’s top teams hard. There will be plenty movement in the Top 10 throughout the year. Opening up atop the heap will be No. 1 Dutchtown, who put together a 21-0 summer league schedule under first-year Head Coach Jordan Griffin. The Bulldogs were just 16-15 and 6-8 in Region 4 but for the second straight season, got hot at the right time and found a way into the Elite Eight were they were eliminated by eventual state champ Buford 69-35. Seniors will lead the way headlined by 6-foot-8 ETSU-commit Cam Bryant (9.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Starr’s Mill move-in 6-foot-5 Jamaine Mann (16.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 bpg), a Gardner-Webb-commit; both Preseason All-State selections. 5-foot-11 Kam Hobbs (12.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.3 spg) and 6-foot-3 Isaiah Placide (10 ppg, 3.1 rpg) bring back major experience for their final season while 6-foot junior Cameron Callahan is a talented scorer in his own right. Hot on Dutchtown’s tracks is region rival No. 2 Eagle’s Landing. The Eagles have had great success in the regular season with loaded rosters over the past four seasons going 90-24, but have flopped in the playoffs every year, unable to make it to the Elite Eight under Coach Elliott Montgomery, last year losing to Fayette County 68-54 in the Sweet 16 after leading 33-26 at the half. Eagle’s Landing will try to get over the hump behind D-I commits 6-foot-5 wing Keith Lamar (Stetson) and 6-foot-3 guard Kirshon Thrash (Presbyterian). 6-foot-2 freshman David Thomas will make an immediate impact after averaging double-digits and being named GICAA All-State at New Creation Christian. No. 3 Kell will try to replicate last year’s 25-6 season that came out of nowhere, improving from 13-13 the year before. 6-foot-2 sophomore Scoota Henderson put the Longhorns on the map, winning Class 5A Freshman of the Year and being named Preseason First Team All-State as a five-star prospect. Kell won’t be as deep as last season’s Elite Eight team that lost 77-73 to Fayette County. Key returners include seniors 6-foot-6 Isaiah Dubose, 6-foot-3 Xavier Presley and 6-foot-4 Ty Clark along with 5-foot-11 junior Najhae Colon. Nipping at Kell is Region 7 foe No. 4 Carrollton. The Trojans split with Kell, losing 80-75 on the road before winning 80-70, Kell’s only region loss. Carrollton posted an 18-11 record with a 63-50 loss at Southwest DeKalb in the Sweet 16. The Trojans have the best one-two punch in the region behind 6-foot-6 UNCW-commit Melvin Edwards and 6-foot-2 senior Marcellious Lockett. Finding consistent help behind Edwards and Lockett will determine Carrollton’s success. Everyone returns from No. 5 Statesboro’s 20-8 season which ended in the first round against Starr’s Mill 48-47. 6-foot-3 senior Zarion Griffin (17.9 ppg), 6-foot-7 senior Devin Mikell (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and 6-foot-3 sophomore Timothy Taylor (11 ppg) pace the offense. 6-foot-5 freshman post Leslie Black looks like a game-changer with his ability to score around the rim. No. 6 Lithonia went 22-10, losing 69-62 in overtime to Fayette County in the Final 4. The Bulldogs lose a lot of fire power in N’Kyzie Hawkins (11.7 ppg), Brison Rockcliffe (8.6 ppg) and most importantly, 6-foot-7 rim protector Justin Myles (11.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.9 bpg). Myles will be the toughest to replace for Coach Wallace Corker’s guard-heavy lineup. Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot-2 point guard Eric Gaines (16.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.1 bpg) makes the Bulldogs go. He will have a heavy scoring burden to carry this season. Senior Zephaniah Corker (5.6 ppg) will help space the floor as a 45% three-point shooter (33-74). The addition of 5-foot-6 senior Javontae Jackson (Chapel Hill) will help big time. The little man is a blur with the ball and a pesky on-ball defender. He should take some of the ball-handling duties off Gaines and be able to help offensively. Lithonia will have to play fast with their undersized lineup and turn people over on defense. No. 7 Fayette County lost 76-69 in the state championship to Buford, putting a close to a great 26-6 season. Three starters graduate while Will Richard transfers to Woodward Academy, leaving leading scorer 6-foot senior JeKobe Coleman (14.6 ppg) as the only returning starter. Coleman is among Georgia’s best three-point shooters, hitting 100-242 (41%) last season. It will be tough to recreate the same success as defenses will be keying in on slowing him down and forcing him to score off the dribble more. Fayette County will try to replicate their free-flowing offense with guards ready to take on a bigger role. 6-foot-2 senior Kingston Calhoun (4.4 ppg), 6-foot-4 junior Terry Brown (3.8 ppg) and 6-foot-5 senior forward Ike Morah will be key cogs for Coach Andre Flynn. No. 8 Southwest DeKalb had all the pieces to win a state title last year, even without two big transfers ever being cleared to play. The Panthers fell in the Final Four to Buford 59-50 and instead of running it back one more time, UGA-commit KD Johnson decided to transfer to Hargrave Military, VA in the offseason, breaking up a dynamic duo with 6-foot-6 senior Eugene Brown III (Ohio State). Brown, who had a gruesome leg injury last season, is back healthy and will be the undoubted go-to scorer. Senior Jarrett Walton looks like second in command, coming off a season in which he averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals. The development of 6-foot-10 senior Mohamad Diallo and 6-foot-7 junior Kusamae Draper will be important in balancing Southwest DeKalb’s identity. No. 9 Buford won their second title in three years but a massive 11-man senior class graduates, leaving 6-foot-3 senior Caleb Williams as the lone returner with any varsity experience. It’s hard to project how good Buford will be with such a young roster. Coach Eddie Martin has talent however with his inexperienced group. 5-foot-10 freshman Malachi Brown already has an offer from Lamar while freshman London Williams is a physical 6-foot-5. 5-foot-10 sophomore Caleb Blackwell and 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Jaylon Taylor look like two of Buford’s top scoring options. 6-foot-11 senior James Munlyn has transferred in from North Gwinnett to clog the paint. No. 10 Lithia Springs rounds out the Top 10 after going 17-10 with an 84-73 loss to Kell in the first round. The senior duo of 6-foot-1 Anthony Hardy and 6-foot Antonio Lewis is one of the most potent tandems the state has to offer. Averaging well over 20 points per game, Hardy scores at all three levels, especially as a slasher. Lewis has limitless range and is an above average athlete. The addition of 6-foot-7 senior post Kedric Barrett from Lambert gives the Lions a physical low block presence that can score and plays with mean streak.
Class 4A
Out of all the classifications, No. 1 Woodward Academy looks like one of the strongest favorites to win a state title. The War Eagles got close a year ago finishing 22-9 with a 58-50 loss to eventual champion Carver-Columbus in the Final Four. Four starters return headlined by five-star UNC-commit 7-footer Walker Kessler (21 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1 spg, 6.4 bpg). The dominating big man has put Woodward Academy on the map and has helped fellow seniors 6-foot-4 Jacorrei Turner (12.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 5-foot-10 Michael Whitmore (8.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.6 spg) and 6-foot-4 Will Demorest (7.6 ppg) mature in the spotlight. Already a solid supporting cast that has grown around Kessler, Woodward Academy added two future D-I players to the mix in 6-foot-4 junior Will Richard (9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) from Fayette County and 6-foot-3 Davidson-commit Emory Lanier (Webb, TN). In just their second year of existence, No. 2 Denmark finds themselves clawing at the top spot in the state after going 24-7 with a loss to Woodward Academy in the Elite Eight 58-50. The entire roster returns led by First Team All-State junior point guard Sutton Smith and rim-wrecking 6-foot-6 senior forward Adonnis Easton-Tolbert. 6-foot-5 senior Ze’Vian Capers is an athletic wide receiver while 6-foot-3 sophomore Maksim Vinogradov is a strong forward. The addition of 6-foot-4 sophomore wing Robert Cowherd (Holy Spirit Prep) helps take Denmark to the next level. Cowherd already holds an offer from UGA. No. 3 Sandy Creek is still hunting for its first state title as the TJ Bickerstaff era came close, but could not deliver the hardware. Coming off a 27-4 season, the focus now turns to 6-foot-9 junior Jabari Smith, who blew up over the offseason during his time with Team USA. Smith averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 2 blocks last season while earning Class 4A Most Improved Player. Smith is the only player in Class 4A that can match Walker Kessler’s length and by the time he is a senior, Smith likely will be considered Georgia’s No. 1 prospect. Surrounding Smith is 6-foot-5 junior Deshon Proctor (7 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1 bpg) and senior guards Matt Williams and Immanuel Alexander. 5-foot-9 senior Daryl Rice (6.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.9 apg) has moved-in from Starr’s Mill to help provide leadership and scoring. Region 1 sent Carver-Columbus and Americus-Sumter to the title game a year ago. This season it looks like No. 4 Dougherty may be able to slide over into the driver’s seat. The Trojans finished 21-9 with a loss at Thomson in the Sweet 16, 73-65 after upsetting Henry County (McDonough) 85-64 on the road. 6-foot-2 senior Roderick Jones (16.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.9 spg) is a Preseason All-State Second Teamer. 6-foot-4 senior forward William Riggins is expected back after averaging 11.8 points and 7 rebounds. Developing a reliable third option will be important for the Trojans. No. 5 Eastside finished 15-10 without a playoff appearance in Region 4. Coach Michael Gerald assumes head coaching duties after the passing of Brent Wren and inherits one Georgia’s best young trios east of Atlanta in All-Region 6-foot-2 junior guard Myles Rice, four-star 6-foot-8 sophomore Chauncey Wiggins and 6-foot-7 sophomore Miokaye Grant. Rice is a tough guard that’s wired to score, Wiggins one of the best long-term prospects in Georgia with offers already from UGA, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, and Grant a bouncy shot-blocker with a high motor. Anthony Webb replaces Buck Harris as head coach of No. 6 Baldwin. The Braves went 16-11 with a shocking first round loss to Howard in overtime 69-66. 6-foot-1 junior William Freeman (11.6 ppg) and 6-foot-2 junior Jermyus Simmons (8.8 ppg, 4 rpg) will be asked to carry the load after a large senior class graduates. No. 7 Americus-Sumter did the unthinkable last year, taking the most difficult road to the state championship game imaginable, beating Salem 72-50 before dethroning two-time state champ Upson-Lee at the Castle 59-53 outscoring the Knights 21-6 in the fourth, then drilling St. Pius X at the X-Dome 63-46 and beating Sandy Creek 63-56 before losing to Carver-Columbus 58-55 in the title game. Coach Johnny Genwright slides over a chair to now lead the program. The Panthers get hit hard by graduation but their second and fourth leading scorers are set to return in Preseason Second Team All-State 6-foot-1 senior Trae Brown (13 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.5 spg) and 6-foot-2 senior Que Willoughby (6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2 spg). Region 1 could be wide open after each team has lost key players from the 2019 class leaving some uncertainty on everyone’s roster. No. 8 Chapel Hill got off to a fast start last season and cracked the Top 10 before Ken Austin was removed as coach and things hit the fan, finishing 11-13 without a state tournament berth. The Panthers silently had a very talented roster and still do even though they lost some huge names from their 2022 class and senior Javonte Jackson left for Lithonia. The Bell brothers will run the show for Coach Rodney Latham, who enters Year 1 after leaving Stockbridge. Preseason Second Team All-State selection 6-foot-1 junior Micah Bell is a freak athlete that is a bucket getter. 6-foot-1 senior guard Mike Bell is strong and does a little bit of everything. 6-foot-5 junior KJ Doucet is a dangerous slasher from the perimeter. No. 9 Blessed Trinity cracks the Top 10 behind electric junior point guard Jax Bouknight. The 6-foot blur is hard to stay in front of and is the engine for Coach Patrick Hughes. The Titans graduate just three from last year’s 20-10 team that lost 69-53 to Sandy Creek in the Sweet 16. Blessed Trinity will need to replace the leadership and scoring of Andy Swade and Jack Stephans. A 7-19 season won’t be acceptable for No. 10 North Clayton. 6-foot-8 senior wing Xavier Valley is a Preseason First Team All-State pick after averaging 14.9 points per game. 6-foot-3 senior Jermaine Lattimore (11.4 ppg) is a lethal three-point specialist while tough-nosed 5-foot-9 junior point guard Derrius Martin (9.5 ppg) plays with pace and poise. 6-foot-6 senior Onuma Dieke (6.2 ppg) is a wide receiver for the football team and an exceptional rebounder and energy giver on the hardwood.
Class 3A
A healthy Cole Middleton and the addition of four-star wing Matt Cleveland makes No. 1 Pace Academy the early team to beat in Class 3A. The 6-foot-6 junior Middleton (11.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg) and 6-foot-6 junior Cleveland are both Preseason First Team All-State selections. Pace Academy was eliminated by Hart County 54-50 in the first round of state as Middleton watched from the sideline with a foot injury that decayed his sophomore season. Cleveland is a do-everything star that moves in from Cambridge and joins 6-foot-3 junior guard Madison Durr (10.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.7 spg) in the backcourt with senior Reign Watkins (10 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.2 spg). Junior Josh Mininberg (6.3 ppg, 3.3 apg), sophomore Josh Reed (4.1 ppg) and junior Justin Johnson (3.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) compose of a young but seasoned rotation. No. 2 Westside-Macon will be competing with Pace Academy over the next two seasons with a dynamic 2021 duo of their own in Preseason All-State First Teamers 6-foot-5 Kowacie Reeves Jr. (18.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg) and 6-foot-3 Javian Mosley (18.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2 spg). The two helped the Seminoles to a 23-7 mark with a 67-53 Sweet 16 loss at Windsor Forest. A third scoring option will need to replace graduated Desmon Foston (15.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 6.4 apg). Region 4 rival and reigning region champs No. 3 Central-Macon open right behind Westside. The Chargers beat Westside two out of three meetings including an 84-79 triple overtime win in the region title game. Defending Region Player of the Year 6-foot-6 junior Quay Primas anchors the Chargers inside. Seniors Antonio Card and Harold Thompkins return as All-Region picks. Central-Macon finished 22-6 but were upset by At-Large big Franklin County in the first round of state 45-43. No. 4 Dawson County put together a historical season, winning the Region 7 championship and making it to the Final Four where they lost to Hart County 71-56. Only three seniors graduate but one was All-State forward Luke Chism (Georgia College). Coach Eric Herrick acquires a senior-laden group in his first year on the job after leading the North Forsyth girls. Preseason Second Team All-State senior guard Jasper Gibson (Emmanuel College) will power the offense with help from 6-foot-5 senior Eli Burruss, 6-foot-1 senior Campbell Reed and 5-foot-10 senior Tate Adkins. No. 5 Franklin County emerged in the postseason after they nearly didn’t make it. The Lions were blown out by Monroe Area 69-48 in the region tournament before playing the waiting game to see if they were selected as an At-Large bid to make the tournament. Sitting at just 13-13 out of a powerful Region 8, the Lions got the nod and quickly wrecked everyone’s bracket with thrilling wins at Central-Macon 45-43 and at Beach 62-57 before coming up short at Dawson County 60-58. All of Coach Jason Shaver’s key contributors from his 15-14 Elite Eight team are back except for guards Malique Combs and JJ Blackwell. 6-foot senior Titus Brown has blossomed into a Preseason Second Team All-State selection while teammate 6-foot-1 senior Micah Roebuck is just as tough, as the two take turns scoring the ball. 5-foot-11 senior Titlan Wells brings athleticism and scrappiness while 6-foot-5 senior Carter Alexander plays above the rim and 6-foot-3 sophomore Keylan Rutledge is a strong forward with nimble feet. With defending state champion Morgan County graduating seven seniors including their top four players it looks like the rest of Region 8’s window to win a region title is open right now. No. 6 Hart County is another one of Region 8’s front-runners, coming off a 24-8 season in which Coach Harry Marsh led the Bulldogs to a State Runner-Up finish, losing to Morgan County 68-54. The Bulldogs came up clutch, pulling their first three games out of the fire by winning at Pace academy 54-50, at North Murray in overtime 56-54 and edging Johnson-Savannah 67-63. Five seniors graduate including four starters but big shot maker 6-foot-3 junior Shone Webb is back after making a name for himself in the postseason. The long-armed wing is a defensive stopper with a knack for hitting clutch shots. He will be joined by 6-foot senior Demetrius Glenn who transfers back to Hartwell after spending time as a sharpshooter at Cedar Shoals. Glenn’s floor spacing ability will help tremendously as it will give high profile freshman 6-foot-7 Tahj Johnson more space to work inside. Johnson has garnered rave reviews over the offseason and gives Hart County a mismatch problem. Ready to see bigger minutes alongside the new faces are 6-foot-2 sophomore JC Curry and 6-foot-4 senior Quay Randolph. No. 7 Johnson-Savannah has been a revolving door for players and coaches with no shortage of drama over the past few seasons. “Retired” after the 2017-18 season, legendary Head Coach Utaff Gordon had to return to the sidelines for the postseason after Rico Campbell won Region Coach of the Year and left the program. High-scoring senior guard Shamar Jones also left the program in the middle of the season but Johnson-Savannah still finished 21-8 even though they sank to the three-seed and lost in the Elite Eight. Always a combustible situation when star players transfer onto a team, the Atomsmashers hope for a smoother season and will look to 6-foot-1 junior Emondre Bowles (17.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.4 spg) to lead by example. Elon-commit 6-foot-7 Brandon Harris has transferred to River Ridge but 6-foot senior Derek Edwards has moved-in from Islands where he averaged 21.5 points per game. The third team from Region 8 to crowd the poll is No. 8 Jefferson. The Dragons went 17-11 but lost to Westminster in the opening round of the state tournament after capturing a two-seed. Only two seniors graduate but athletic wing Donsha Gaither transferred to Gainesville. Coach Kevin Morris still has his workhorse inside in 6-foot-9 senior Jacob Radaker, a Navy-commit. The skilled big man has good footwork inside but can also knock down the open three. He will be joined by brothers Daniel and Owen Parker, a pair of 6-foot-2 senior guards. 5-foot-5 junior Kam Robinson is a speed merchant with the ball in his hands while junior Spencer Darby is a dangerous three-point shooter. Forced to forfeit all their wins except their final of the season, No. 9 Monroe has stability and accountability on the sidelines in Michael Hoffpauir who comes over after leading Americus-Sumter to a state championship appearance. The Golden Tornadoes have talent led by Preseason All-State Second Teamer 6-foot-4 Marius Ellis (13.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Class 3A Freshman of the Year Domonik Henderson (9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 3 spg, 1.3 bpg). Ellis is a freak athlete and walking highlight film while Henderson projects to be an elite defender with a non-stop motor and lightning quick hands. 5-foot-8 senior Kareem Nixon (6.2 ppg, 3.9 apg) returns after being named First Team All-Region 1, as does 5-foot-10 senior Kei’Chawn Hayes who was voted Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year. 6-foot-8 senior Quadree Watts moved to Minnesota Prep late in the Summer. No. 10 Windsor Forest compiled a 25-6 record and proved they were for real in the state tournament, beating Westside-Macon 67-53 and Cedar Grove 55-54 in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight before falling to Morgan County 82-63 in the Final Four. All-State guard Zim Fields (Lenior-Rhyne) must be replaced but 5-foot-10 junior Shamar Norman has plenty experience scoring the ball at a high level. The dynamo three-point shooter hit 67-166 (40%) on his way to averaging 16.1 points per game. 6-foot-5 senior Jaquan Kearse (9.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg) and 6-foot Lawrence Simmons (6.8 ppg) return as Windsor Forest’s most experienced options other than Norman.
Class 2A
No. 1 Therrell’s brutal non-region schedule prepped the young Panthers for a state title run and it paid off as they found ways time and time again to win close games. At 27-8, Therrell played one of the state’s toughest schedules and ended up beating Vidalia 51-49 for the state championship after rallying past Elbert County in the Final Four 57-47. Unheralded 2019 guard Zyquan Morton saved the season with his three-point shooting, scoring 19 in the championship to help balance Therrell’s once one-dimensional offense. Eddie Johnson will need to find another shooter this season or the Panthers may face the same issue. Either way, even if they can’t shoot from the outside as well as other teams, the Panthers will bludgeon teams to death with the combination of First Team All-State 6-foot-5 junior forward Robbie Armbrester (18 ppg, 15 rpg) and 6-foot-4 senior Cameron Fortson. 6-foot-4 senior wing Ra’Sean Frederick earned a Temple offer in the offseason while senior point guard Roman Son is the straw the stirs the drink with his vocal leadership, on-ball defense and lightning quick ball handling. Region 6 rival No. 2 South Atlanta actually took two of three from Therrell including the region championship 61-58. 6-foot-3 senior Ja’Quavian Florence averaged 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a First Team All-State guard. Florence scores at all three levels and has a High Major skillset. Five seniors graduate from last year’s 25-6 team that lost 46-43 to Vidalia in the Elite Eight, meaning Florence will have more scoring and more leadership pressure, especially since 6-foot-6 junior Julius Lymon left for Tri-Cities. 6-foot-4 senior Tyrese Thomas and junkyard dog 5-foot-11 sophomore John Lawton will need to take big steps this season. William Cunningham takes over at No. 3 Glenn Hills following a 21-6 season in which the Spartans lost to Early County 77-69 in the opening round of the state playoffs after slipping all the way to the four-seed out of Region 4. The Spartans have two big time players in Preseason All-State seniors 6-foot-5 John Whitehead (19.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and 6-foot-6 Emmanuel Jones (19.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg). The glaring issue however has been their guard play, struggling to beat aggressive teams like Laney who swept them last season and Early County. 6-foot-3 senior Lazarius Marshall (3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3 apg) and 6-foot senior Naquan Pernell (6.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg), an All-Region selection, will need to step up in their respective roles. No. 4 Swainsboro flopped last year, battling injuries and never being able to get in a groove. They finished 14-12 out of Region 2 and missed the playoffs. Now that Woodville-Tompkins has graduated a chunk of their starting lineup, other teams in the region now have a chance to regain their footing. Three out of Swainsboro’s top four leading scorers are expected to return led by All-Region Second Teamers 5-foot-8 senior Artis Kingsberry (13.6 ppg, 2 spg) and 6-foot-4 junior Fredrick Seabrough (8 ppg, 7.1 rpg). 6-foot-4 junior Cedrick Seabrough (11 ppg, 6.5 rpg) is back as well. New to the mix is First Team All-Region performer 6-foot-1 senior Immanuel Hackett who transfers over from region foe Metter after posting a team-best 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The second Region 2 team to enter the poll is No. 5 Vidalia. The State Runner-Up finished 27-5, losing 51-49 to Therrell. The Indians hunkered down in the playoffs, allowing just 46 points per game and 43 points during the regular season. The starless Indians lose seven very important seniors but Coach Tommy Dalley’s tradition of winning will continue behind the 2020 class led by 6-foot-4 Xavier McClendon, 5-foot-7 Mark Wardlaw, 6-foot-4 Anthony Murphy and 5-foot-7 Adam McCloud. No. 6 Spencer has slowly been transforming into a West Georgia power but the Green Waves need some more postseason success to get the respect they deserve. Spencer finished 23-5 last season but inexplicably was upset by 14-12 Bremen in the Region 5 Championship, 53-51. The high scoring Green Waves (73.8 ppg) rebounded with a 69-52 win over Union County but lost at South Atlanta in the Sweet 16, 81-71. Spencer returns Preseason All-State 6-foot-2 junior guard Jaylin Sellers, who earned an offer from Troy in October to lead the way. Sellers, a potent scorer, teams up with 6-foot junior Jaquez Holt to pace the backcourt. 6-foot-2 senior Malachi Morris is the third-head of the attack. No. 7 Laney is in a good position after a 23-9 Final Four season ended against Vidalia 53-44. The Wildcats graduate their No. 1, 2 and 4 leading scorers but return 6-foot-6 junior Matt Jones (5.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) after he got sucked into the Team YRN funnel and spent his offseason playing at Berkmar before coming home to Augusta. Jones got plenty of great experience in Metro Atlanta and will need to bring back a big-time performance at Laney. He will be joined by 6-foot-1 senior Johnathan Taylor who returns to Laney jumping off the sinking ship known as Aquinas. The Wildcats should also see 6-foot-1 junior Dajaun Collins back as their leading scorer after averaging 10.1 points while 6-foot-1 junior Jordan Stringer (5.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.9 apg) brings some toughness. The Wildcats have had Glenn Hill’s number when it matters most so don’t be surprised to see Laney win their seventh region title in a row. Class 2A’s most dominant player has something to prove after a young No. 8 Jeff Davis team missed out on the playoffs at 16-10. The Yellowjackets mark the third team from Region 2 to open in the top 10. Reigning Class 2A Player of the Year 6-foot-6 Murray State-commit Ja’Queze Kirby is Georgia’s most fun player to watch. Kirby averaged 22.8 points, 16 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.9 blocks as an unselfish star that makes everyone around him better. His young teammates are undersized but now have experience. 6-foot-1 sophomore CJ Parker is like a little brother to Kirby and is always learning from the star. Parker has a quick trigger and a scoring touch, averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals as a freshman. The future 1,000-point scorer should see major upticks this year. 5-foot-11 senior Ti King (8.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and 5-foot-8 sophomore Brantavious Swain (5.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg) give Coach Bo Boatright some experience. No. 9 Banks County posted their first double-digit loss season since 2013-14 at 19-10. The Leopards lost 86-83 to Callaway in the opening round of state, but by no fault of 6-foot-5 senior Carl Cleveland, who posted 55 points and 14 rebounds. Cleveland will once again be the focal point of the offense after averaging 28.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks with 19 double-doubles as a junior. He will be joined by junior sharpshooter 6-foot-2 Pierce Martin and 6-foot-7 junior Dakota Orr. With Elbert County graduating eight seniors, Banks County returns as the heavy favorite to win Region 8. No. 10 Woodville-Tompkins seemed like a shoo-in to at the very least play for a state championship, but the Wolverines’ dream season came to a shocking end at the Inferno after losing a coin flip and having to travel nearly four hours to play Elbert County, losing 63-52 and finishing the season 29-1. Five extremely important seniors graduate, leaving 6-foot-7 senior Bernard Pelote as the lone returning starter. Class 2A Freshman of the Year Alfred Coaxum is also gone. Pelote will have to shoulder a heavy load and prove he can carry a team as schools of all levels will be watching intently. 6-foot-2 wing Omar Starr will slide in as an important glue guy for Coach Lenny Williams. Young players along with 5-foot-9 senior Dior Dear will have to improve day by day for the Wolverines to break through in Region 2 and get back into the postseason.
Class A-Private
Class A-Private has proven to be a carousel of teams entering and exiting the Top 10. There might be a little more stability this season but still expect plenty of teams to have an opportunity of earning a state ranking. No. 1 St. Francis finally got their first state title during the Dwon Odom-era, beating ELCA 73-69 to finish the season 28-4. The Knights return everyone except three-point shooter CJ Riley (12.2 ppg). Odom, a Xavier-commit and First Team All-State point guard, averaged 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.4 steals as a junior. 6-foot-3 senior Chase Ellis (14.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.3 apg) and budding star Preseason Second Team All-State 6-foot-6 junior wing Jusaun Holt (10.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 bpg) balance the offense. 6-foot sophomore Jordan Brown (8.3 ppg) has a knack for scoring while 6-foot-1 sophomore Seth Hubbard (4.8 ppg) is a dangerous three-point shooter. 6-foot-7 junior Kai Simmons’ development will be interesting to track. Powered by Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot-5 senior wing Chandler Baker (19.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg), No. 2 Walker looks on paper as if they are ready to contend for a title. The Wolverines finished 20-9, losing in the Sweet 16 to Riverside Military 64-63 after failing to make free throws down the stretch. The Wolverines held their own throughout the season against St. Francis and Mt. Bethel, the two powers in Region 6 losing to St. Francis 57-55, 82-73 and 77-66 while faltering against Mt. Bethel 75-62 and 54-44. The Wolverines return their top four scorers – all seniors – led by the aforementioned Baker. 6-foot-7 Burke Chebuhar (14.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.1 bpg), 5-foot-11 Chris Newell (11.8 ppg) and 5-foot-5 Omar Cooper (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 6.5 apg, 2 spg) balance the offense while lanky 6-foot-4 wing Matthew Brown has transferred in from Duluth to give Coach Bryce Brickhouse another strong option on the perimeter. No. 3 Greenforest continues to funnel in international players. The Eagles went 21-7 last year but were beat by Mt. Bethel in the Elite Eight 52-46. Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot-6 guard Lamar Oden is a Drexel-commit. 6-foot-10 stretch big Christian Fussell committed to Middle Tennessee State after a big offseason put him on the map. 6-foot-8 Achor Achor and 6-foot-4 RJ Noord have transferred out but the Eagles have added 6-foot-11 freshman Gai Chol, who already has offers from St. Johns and Tulane. Other freshmen include 6-foot-11 Dhiaukuei Dut and 7-foot-2 Madel Deng. The Eagles have redundancy at the center position which will hurt against teams with strong guards. 5-foot-7 junior Khi Cook will have to play facilitator after Kedrick Green flirted with Greenforest but decided upon Core4. No. 4 Trinity Christian fizzled out in their first year in the GHSA, going 11-15 and just 5-6 in Region 5. The Lions lost 47-46 in the first round of the state playoffs to Wesleyan. Trinity Christian should be much improved around senior forwards 6-foot-7 Giancarlo Bastianoni and Preseason All-State Second Teamer 6-foot-5 Brady Burnett. Much like how Greenforest pounds Africa for size, Trinity Christian’s pipeline is in the Dominican Republic as 6-foot-4 junior Isaac Brito and 6-foot-3 senior Raul Arias move in to play for Coach Will De La Cruz. Brito and Arias project to be immediate impact players with their size and versatility at the guard spot – something which was lacking a year ago. No. 5 Holy Innocents’ was one of the biggest jobs available in Georgia this offseason. Former state championship winning Head Coach Cabral Huff landed the job after spending time at Duluth. Huff has a tough D-I backcourt in Preseason All-State juniors 6-foot-5 Chance Moore (20.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1 spg, 1.4 bpg) and 6-foot-2 Garrison Powell (11.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg). The Golden Bears went 17-12 but lost in the Sweet 16 to Mt. Bethel 72-53 as the young team struggled against experience at times throughout the year. 5-foot-9 junior Justin Wilson (6.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4 apg, 1.9 spg) and 6-foot-4 junior Landon Kardian (5 ppg, 4 rpg) will play big roles for the undersized Golden Bears. No. 6 Mt. Bethel’s veteran group performed well in the GHSA, going 24-8. The Eagles went 1-3 against eventual champion St. Francis, as the Knights ended their season in the Final Four 65-63. Coleman Boyd (Georgia Tech), Stanley Eze (Francis Marion) and Mason Venable graduate, but All-State 6-foot-8 center Jordan Meka is back for his final season before shipping off to Georgia Tech. The outside offense will need to come from 5-foot-9 junior Jayce Harrison, 6-foot-3 junior Alex Langford and 6-foot-4 wing James Watts-Abrams. The Eagles should still be extremely competitive with their core and Coach Cal Boyd. No. 7 Mt. Pisgah begins a new era under Head Coach Matt Hixenbaugh. The Patriots finished 17-13 out of Region 6 and earned a 15-seed and made it to the Sweet 16 before falling 69-59 to ELCA. Mt. Pisgah had some major ups and downs, the sign of a young team. All-State guard Quinn Richey (18.1 ppg) is now at James Madison but the 2021 class led by 6-foot-3 JoJo Peterson (5.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.5 apg) looks ready to erupt. Peterson, a smooth do-it-all guard, should be in the running for Class A-Private’s Most Improved player. He will team up with 6-foot-7 Nate Gordon (8.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.9 bpg) and 6-foot-1 three-point threat Chase Tucker (8.4 ppg). Senior Chandler Minton (7.4 ppg) will play a big role as well. No. 8 Wesleyan put together a 19-8 record and 7-1 sub-region record in Region 5. The Wolves lost at Christian Heritage 58-45 in the Sweet 16, a sour ending to a great season. Coach Adam Griffin might get off to a slow start due to missing some football players but at full strength, the Wolves have a strong backcourt consisting of 5-foot-11 senior Micah Smith (13.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg) and 6-foot-3 junior Jalen Fulwood (12.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.2 spg). 6-foot-3 sophomore Druw Jones and 6-foot-3 junior Beau Brown could see increased roles. No. 9 ELCA will look completely different from last year’s 22-9 State Runner-Up team, graduating their entire starting five. Left to pick up the pieces is 6-foot-7 senior Jordan Smalls (4.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Smalls has always had the tools of becoming a strong varsity contributor and will now be thrust into the spotlight. His development over the offseason garnered him an offer from Rider. 6-foot-9 senior Izzy Momodu (3 ppg, 2.4 rpg) saw the floor sparingly but has improved immensely, getting more comfortable with the pace of play. Momodu has a subtle well-balanced skill set which includes good floor vision and the ability to hit the three. Momodu just needs more reps and polish, but in a year or two, could become a very good college player with a high ceiling. 6-foot-2 sophomore guard AJ Flagg (3.8 ppg) has a great frame and could be one of ELCA’s next top guards in due time. No. 10 Christian Heritage has proven time and time again to be able to rise to the occasion no matter who is on the roster. Expected to take a major step back without 6-foot-7 All-State forward Christian Koneman (Georgia College) a year ago, instead the Lions marched to a 22-6 record and took a trip to their first ever Final Four, losing 60-44 to ELCA. Coach Tyler Watkins loses seven more key seniors headlined by AJ Kent and Zach Gentry but physical 6-foot-5 junior Evan Lester returns along with senior guard Drew Clements (18 ppg, 6 apg, 4 spg), a First Team All-Region 6A selection.
Class A-Public
Still on the hunt for their first ever title, No. 1 Treutlen is getting dangerously close. The Vikings finished 30-2 last year, losing to Calhoun County 79-72 in the regular season and then 69-67 in the state championship at the buzzer in heartbreaking fashion. 6-foot-6 All-State forward Arkavias Lovett has graduated, but three of the five starters are back to finish the quest. First Team Preseason All-State senior guard Kamron Jordan returns along with seniors Kasabian Mitchell and Dorian Burns. New to the mix is 6-foot-3 senior guard Chris Floyd, who comes over from Dublin after being a First Team All-Region 3-AA selection. The addition of Floyd bumps the Vikings up to No. 1 to open the year. 22-4 with only one suspect loss to 16-11 Class 3A Worth County, No. 2 Wilcox County returns their entire roster from their Elite Eight team which lost 80-74 to Irwin County. The Patriots come out of a tough Region 2 led by Preseason First Team All-State 6-foot senior four-star inside linebacker Desmond Tisdol (18.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.5 bpg). Seniors Jordan Brown (16.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.5 spg), Keyshawn Howard (12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.6 spg) and Demetric Young (9.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.9 spg) round out the attack. Name the two teams that went undefeated in the GHSA last year? Everyone knows McEachern but outside of Georgia, no one realizes that No. 3 Calhoun County put together an equally magical season as Preseason All-State 6-foot-2 junior guard Tykevious Curry raced down the floor to find Quanderious Powell at the buzzer for the championship winning layup, 69-67. Curry and Preseason All-State Second Teamer senior Jahmad Wiley return to the backcourt but everything else is gone from Coach Marcus Shaw’s team. The tandem should be good enough to keep the Cougars in the Top 10, especially in Region 1, but a repeat will be a tall task. No. 4 Wilkinson County rose from the dead after a 2-8 start facing tough non-region competition to win 16-straight games, winning the Region 7 title before falling to Calhoun County 46-42 in the Final Four. Class A-Public Player of the Year Jalen Lamar (Morehouse) has graduated, but little brother Christian enters the season as a Preseason Second Team All-Stater. Back with Lamar is 6-foot-2 senior guard Jacob Crockett, a sky-walker that lives above the rim. 6-foot-2 senior Javis Boyd brings back some experience as well. Wilkinson County might be a little down on paper, but so are GMC, Greene County and Hancock Central, their main region competition. No. 5 Irwin County is the second team from Region 2 in the poll. The Indians exploded on the scene, improving from 14-12 to 23-6 with a region championship and Final Four berth, losing 74-72 to Treutlen. Only three graduate from Coach Steven Green’s team but one is Region 1 Player of the Year Javon Stanley. Preseason Second Team All-State pick Jamorri Colson will be relied upon to carry the offense his senior year. Junior Gabriel Benyard returns after being named Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year while Garland Benyard was a First Team All-Region pick. No. 6 Pelham posted a 23-6 record with a trip to the Elite Eight where Calhoun County stopped the fun with a 70-53 final. The Hornets have three key seniors back in Darrell Starlings (11 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.8 spg), Jordan Bennett (10.6 ppg) and quarterback Kendrick Patterson (10.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg). Someone will need to replace the energy and size left behind by Ke’Monterious Byrd (14.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg). No. 7 Clinch County marks the third team from Region 2. At 18-9, the Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 before being eliminated by Wilkinson County 74-51. Preseason All-State Second Teamer Jeremiah Johnson is a three-star 6-foot-7 tight end that averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Junior Jeremiah Williams (7.4 ppg) and senior Braylon Kinlaw (9.6 ppg, 5 rpg) will be important members of the supporting cast. No. 8 Lanier County had promise last year in Region 2, going 19-7 and 14-2 in region play but 6-foot-8 senior Amaree McGriff transferred to The Rock School, FL in the middle of the season and the Bulldogs lost in the first round of state to Dooly County 49-47. Tyquan Baker (18.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg) graduates but McGriff has moved back to Lakeland for his final season. 6-foot-4 sophomore EJ Brown won Region 2 Freshman of the Year after averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Seniors CJ Johnson (6.5 ppg, 3.6 spg) and 6-foot-5 Kyle Brockington (5.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) should help out. No. 9 Macon County went 18-8 and lost to Wilcox County 81-73 in the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs bring back senior leadership in 5-foot-11 Lakeviyon Walker (18.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and 6-foot-3 Shomari Gaines (13.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.9 spg). No. 10 Greene County took a trip to the Sweet 16 where they lost to Irwin County 80-72. Coach Gregory Freeman guided the Tigers to a 21-7 season but lose C’darius Kelley and 6-foot-7 Justin Mallory. Preseason First Team All-State guard 5-foot-9 DJ Wright is back for his final season. Wright will need to make his teammates around him better if the Tigers want to make noise in the state tournament. Teams will be focused on slowing down the diminutive guard with D-I interest.