On April 2, I was a guest on 1440 WROK based out of Rockford, Ill. to discuss the move of Landers Nolley II back to Georgia after winning a state title at Curie HS in Chicago. Also brought to light is the overall movement of players in the offseason and the debacle that was the GHSA state championships in Macon.
DICK’s National Tournament: Miller Grove vs. Oak Hill Academy
No. 13 Miller Grove (31-2) vs. No. 3 Oak Hill (43-1)
If Miller Grove is the premier basketball program in the state of Georgia, a true dynasty, then what does that make Oak Hill Academy? Mouth of Wilson, Virginia has become the heart of high school basketball. The Mecca of hoops is led by historic head coach Steve Smith who now has a record of 1,024-65. Not bad. This is the next tall task that stands in the way of Miller Grove in the DICK’s National Tournament after the Wolverines stunned third-seed Findlay Prep 67-65 on an Aaron Augustin floater with seconds left.
For the first time ever the Wolverines are pegged as the “Cinderella” story, something the Peach State is certainly not used to hearing. They will try to take a second big bite out of the Big Apple but it won’t be easy. Oak Hill features seven 4-star recruits and two 5-stars with six players signed to D-I schools and a junior that has already committed to Creighton.
Luckily for the Wolverines, Harry Giles the nation’s No. 2 ranked recruit is still recovering from an injury that has caused him to miss his entire senior season but that hasn’t stopped the Warriors from running up a 43-1 mark.
Once again Miller Grove will be giving up size at every position. Lindell Wigginton (4-star) leads Oak Hill in scoring at 16.4 points per game as a 6-2 guard – the smallest player on the team. Mario Kegler (4-star Mississippi State) pours in 14.2 points, Ty-Shon Alexander (4-star Creighton) pitches in 13.8 while Braxton Key (4-star Alabama), Matt Coleman (5-star), Devontae Shuler (4-star) and Khadim Sy (3-star Virginia Tech) all score in double figures.
As solid as Oak Hill is up and down the roster, they can’t fall into a run-and-gun three-point shooting contest with the smaller Wolverines like Findlay Prep did. Miller Grove spread out the bigger Pilots and exploited their carelessness with the ball and lazy defensive rotations by getting two feet in the paint and dishing out to open shooters, or even tossing the ball over the zone on skip passes to the open man.
After being saddled with two quick fouls in the first quarter, Alterique Gilbert quickly put the Wolverines on his back and proved why he was a McDonald’s All-American scoring 20 points to go with his four assists. Colin Young netted 10 points and Raylon Richardson held his own before fouling out with 12 points and five rebounds. Tae Hardy provided a spark off the bench with eight points as well. Nearly half of Miller Grove’s 64 shots came from behind the arc as the Wolverines connected on 8-of-30 three-point attempts.
For once the Wolverines played the role of David to Findlay Prep’s Goliath. It wasn’t Augustin’s game-winning floater that was the stone cast by David, but it was the leadership and decision making of Head Coach Sharman White that proved to be the deathly difference. White outcoached Findlay Prep’s Andy Johnson who couldn’t figure out a way to get his 4 and 5-star players to focus on each possession, share the ball and play defense. He had to resort to playing a zone defense while Miller Grove comfortably settled for three-pointers, negating the Pilots’ size advantage. On the game winning final possession, the Red Sea parted for Augustin as he streaked to the cup.
Tonight on ESPN2 at 5 P.M., there will be no April Fools pranks pulled with Coach Steve Smith on the sidelines. The impeccable combination of great talent and great coaching is why Smith has won 94% of his games as coach of the Warriors.
The Wolverines will be up against it again but for some reason it’s tough to foresee Sharman White and Alterique Gilbert going quietly into the night as they play with house money.
DICK’s National Tournament: Miller Grove vs. Findlay Prep
No. 13 Miller Grove (30-2) vs. No. 5 Findlay Prep, NV (28-1)
Since Wheeler protested and broke the evil spell cast over high school basketball by the GHSA last year which prevented teams from playing in national tournaments at the conclusion of their GHSA sanctioned season, Class AAAAA state champion Miller Grove becomes the second Peach State team ever to play for the mythical national title.1 The Wolverines are no stranger to the big stage, winning seven state championships in the past eight years and becoming a staple on the national circuit. Miller Grove went 4-2 against out-of-state competition, their only losses coming to No. 7 Chaminade, Mo. 86-77 and Lone Peak, Ut. 73-71, both teams headlined by McDonald’s All-Americans and Duke signees Jayson Tatum and Frank Jackson, respectively.
The Wolverines have an ace up their sleeve as they meet Findlay Prep, the three-time DICK’s National Champion hailing from Nevada. Alterique Gilbert keys the Miller Grove attack. The UConn signee racked up the awards this year being named Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Georgia while garnering a Sandy’s Spiel First-Team All-State selection. Gilbert was a stat-sheet stuffer averaging 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 4.1 steals his senior season. Findlay Prep Head Coach Andy Johnson is well aware of Gilbert’s explosiveness and will counter with a slew of D-I guards that will try to slow down the Wolverines’ catalyst. Skylar Mays (4-star LSU) and Carlos Johnson (2-star UNLV) will try to use their size against Gilbert if they get matched up. Gilbert stands 5-11 while Mays and Johnson are a pair of physical 6-4 guards.
Luckily for Miller Grove, they are more than just a one man team. Aaron Augustin averaged 9.9 points and 8.0 assists as the team’s lead guard when the ball wasn’t in Gilbert’s hands. The ETSU de-commit is still deciding on where he will play next year. Augustin’s strong build allows him to rush past defenders and make plays in the lane whether he is kicking out to the corners to deadly shooters Tae Hardy and Colin Young, or finishing at the rim. Everyone Coach Sharman White puts on the floor can spread out the defense and cause matchup problems for the bigger Pilots.
Findlay Prep will have just that however: a massive size advantage. In the state championship Allatoona exploited its size inside with Randy Legros, a raw 6-7 big man, who scored eight points in their 50-48 loss. The Pilots’ post players and much bigger and much more polished with six players standing over 6-7. Tristan Clark (4-star Baylor), PJ Washington (5-star) and O’Shae Brissett (4-star) lead the charge for the basketball power plant.
Washington, a junior, averages 16.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Both Brissett and Clark average close to 10 points while it is point guard Markus Howard (4-star) who leads the team in scoring at 18.6 per. Findlay averages 99.9 points per game, but the competition does have the right to be put into question playing “Academies” such as Planet Athlete, Impact and Elite One, teams the Pilots beat up on a combined 12 times according to MaxPreps, winning by an average of 56.5 points. Findlay’s lone loss came to Bishop Gorman, Nv. 77-71, a team that GHSA Class AAAA runner up Jonesboro defeated 65-64 at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic.
On paper it seems like Findlay Prep is the heavy favorite, but if you delve deeper into the numbers Miller Grove has a puncher’s chance. UAB football signee 6-6 Raylon Richardson must play better than he did against Allatoona (5 points, 3 rebounds) and more like he did against Wofford signee Dishon Lowery and Chase Walter of McIntosh when he posted 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks as an X-factor in Miller Grove’s semifinal rout.
The one advantage the Wolverines have that can’t be disputed will be on the bench in the form of Coach White. White has coached in the USA Basketball program and is a master in-game decision maker. He will put his pack of Wolverines in the best spot to succeed as they look to make history for the state of Georgia in their march to the DICK’s National Championship.
1 MaxPreps Xcellent 25 and USA Today Super 25 [rankings used for tournament] No. 1 Chino Hills & No. 4 St. Anthony, both undefeated, are ineligible to participate in the tournament due to state rules like the GHSA had in place for years.
Where Are They Now? (Final 2015-16)
A FINAL check up on how some of last season’s top GHSA players faired as freshmen at their respective D-1 schools:
Class AAAAAA
Jaylen Brown (Wheeler to Cal)
14.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 43.1 FG%
Shembari Phillips (Wheeler to Tennessee)
5.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Derek Ogbeide (Pebblebrook to UGA)
4.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg
Ty Hudson (Pebblebrook to Clemson)
2.4 ppg
Trhae Mitchell (Pebblebrook to South Alabama)
N/A
Bryce Brown (Tucker to Auburn)
10.1 ppg, 33.9 FG%
Devontae Cacok (Alpharetta to UNC-Wilmington)
3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 65.2 FG%
Marcus Sheffield (Chattahoochee to Stanford)
6.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 38.9 FG%
Ricky Madison (Norcross to High Point)
4.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
K’Ja Johnson (Douglas County to Florida A&M)
7.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg
Class AAAAA
Lamont West (Miller Grove to West Virginia)
N/A
Class AAAA
Tracy Hector (Jonesboro to Kennesaw State)
1.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 apg
Austin Donaldson (Jonesboro to Georgia State)
2.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg
Malik Benlevi (Jenkins to Georgia State)
1.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg
Montae Glenn (Carrollton to Georgia Southern)
4.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 59% FG
Ty Cockfield (Johnson-Gainesville to Stetson)
7.1 ppg, 0.9 apg, 1.9 rpg – TRANSFERRED TO GA HIGHLANDS
Class AAA
Tookie Brown (Morgan County to Georgia Southern)
17.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.6 spg
Austin Venable (Banks County to Presbyterian)
3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 51.6% FG
Antwan Maxwell (Johnson-Savannah to Charleston Southern)
N/A
Class AA
Reggie Reid (Harlem to FGCU)
3.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 0.7 spg, 36.2% FG
Trevon Scott (McIntosh County Academy to Cincinnati)
N/A
Eric Jamison (GAC to Gardner-Webb)
N/A
Class A
Malik Beasley (St. Francis to FSU)
15.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 47.1 FG%, 38.7 3PT% – DECLARED FOR NBA DRAFT
Kaiser Gates (St. Francis to Xavier)
3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Josh Coleman (St. Francis to Coastal Carolina)
30 minutes
‘Turtle’ Jackson (Athens Christian to UGA)
1.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.6 apg
Justin Ravenel (Greenforest to Florida A&M)
8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Courtney Alexander (Whitefield Academy to Tennessee Tech)
1.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 51.2 FG%
Trey Kalina (North Cobb Christian to UTC)
N/A
Photo by Don Juan Moore
Top Boys Basketball Coaching Openings
Griffin (7-18)
Key Pieces: JR – C – 7’0 Tyshaun Crawford 9.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.0 bpg
Outlook: The Bears were stuck in the difficult R4-AAAA with the likes of Jonesboro, Walnut Grove and Eagle’s Landing. A change of scenery in Region 5-AAAAA should help Griffin be much more competitive with a blossoming big man in the middle.
Athens Academy (8-17)
Key Pieces: JR – F – 6’2 – Jacob Hudson 15.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.1 apg
FR – G – 5’8 – Payton Bowles IV 7.2 ppg
Outlook: Athens Academy will once again be in Region 8-A, a cluster that looks wide open behind Lakeview Academy. Jacob Hudson is slated to return for his senior season and gives whoever is head coach, a true go-to guy. Payton Bowles IV came on strong late in the year but must cut down on his turnovers in year two.
South Gwinnett (5-20)
Key Pieces: JR – F – 6’4 – D’onte Torrence
SO – G – 6’1 – Gimal Evans
JR – G – 6’2 – Angelo Taylor
Outlook: There will never be a shortage of talent in Gwinnett County. That’s the good thing. The bad thing is that there will never be a shortage of talent trading hands. The Comets are going to be stuck in the brutal Region 8-AAAAAAA with Newton, Shiloh and Grayson. Only three seniors graduate off last year’s 5-win team. Next year’s team will be loaded with seniors and juniors.
Lakeside-Evans (11-13)
Key Pieces: JR – PF – Deon Berrien 14.8 ppg, 13 rpg, 1.5 bpg
FR – G – Kalen Williams 13.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg
JR – F – Kre’Sean Hall 11.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Outlook: The Lakeside-Evans job is one of the best available in terms of talent on the roster and an ability to turn things around quickly. The Panthers are in Region 3-AAAAAA with Heritage-Conyers as the heavy favorite. Kalen Williams is a sweet shooting guard with big potential to become one of the best players the school has seen in years. Deon Berrien is a force inside and Kre’Sean Hall is a nice compliment as well.
Grovetown (11-13)
Key Pieces: SO – G – Eric Graham 14.8 ppg, 1.5 spg
SO – PG – Chance Fugghett 7.4 ppg
Outlook: Leading scorer Shamar Barrett is graduating but the Warriors should still have a nice youthful backcourt in Region 3-AAAAAA. Eric Graham and Chance Fugghett both have opportunities to improve over the next two years. Seven sophomores are set to return while two juniors will play their final season in 2016-17.
Dutchtown (11-15)
Key Pieces: JR – G – 6’2 – Bryce Parks 11.1 ppg
Outlook: Bryce Parks will need a big senior season to help the Bulldogs in Region 4-AAAAA. If Dutchtown can put some talent around him, the Dogs could be a competitive bunch. Playing in Region 4-AAAA last year should prepare them. Seven seniors will graduate meaning Parks and others will have a greater role.
Duluth (16-10)
Key Pieces: JR – G – 6’0 – Brandon Blair
JR – F – 6’5 – Jalen Hodges
SO – G – 6’2 – Will Huzzie
SO – G – 6’0 – Adam Flagler
FR – C – 6’10 – Alex Powell
Outlook: If the pieces remain intact, the Duluth job is hands down the best on the market in terms of talent and program history. A strong potential starting five is already in line with key pieces set to return. Alex Powell altered countless shots as a freshman and if he can put on weight, he could be a force inside with his advanced skillset offensively. Adam Flagler and Jalen Hodges are two veterans that can ease the transition under a new head coach.
Dawson County (13-13)
Key Pieces: SO – C – 6’8 – Gabe Bryant
SO – G – 6’1 – Cullen Reed
SO – G – 5’9 – Jeremiah Crumley
Outlook: Dawson County could be on the verge of something with everyone returning. Eight sophomores littered the roster headlined by big man Gabe Bryant who will be a D-I big man as he continues to grow his game. If Bryant and the rest of the core remains in place, the Tigers could have some bite in Region 7-AAA.