Tag Archives: Transfers

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Transfers

Jalyn McCreary: The best player you WON’T be able to watch this year

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Here we go again.

After the emotion-filled Isaac Kellum saga at McIntosh last season, it seems like common sense is escaping the GHSA yet again. This time the situation revolves around 6-foot-6 sophomore Jalyn McCreary. Haven’t heard of him? You’re not the only one.

McCreary’s case is much different than Kellum’s from a year ago, but still the ruling is a bitter pill to swallow for those involved.

McCreary, who has lived in the Kennesaw Mountain zoning district since 2008, decided to attend Wheeler his freshman year. McCreary’s mother, Kristie Gordon, explained why in her hardship letter which is attached below.

“I am a Cobb County employee and my son began his freshman year at Wheeler High School on the school choice. I chose this method (school choice instead of employee choice) because I wanted the decision to send Jalyn to Wheeler to be only possible through the intervention of God. So when school choice opened I submitted an application just as any other Cobb County parent. The slots at Wheeler were limited and to our surprise Jalyn was selected to attend.”

Things went sour when McCreary was involved in an altercation involving two other students on January 26 in the school cafeteria.

“I received a phone call from Mr. Jones (Assistant Principal) and he described a fight and indicated that Jalyn had been involved. I was floored. Jalyn had never been in a fight and was still very new to the school. I asked him if he was okay and if I could speak to my son. At that time, I was placed on speaker phone and Jalyn described purchasing glasses from a student for twenty dollars and later being approached from behind by two boys he did not know while eating his lunch. His exact words were, ‘I was jumped momma.’”

Back Home

Gordon felt like the best decision was to withdraw Jalyn after weeks of back and forth with the school district and reenrolled him to Kennesaw Mountain in February where he finished out the school year.

McCreary, back to his normal routine with lifelong friends, got back to the basketball court this summer with the Mustangs before receiving the call that he was ineligible and his hardship was denied. The GHSA ruled that he cannot play varsity this year and must spend his season on the junior varsity, potentially stymieing his development.

Bad Optics

Both McCreary and Gordon would be the first to admit that attending Wheeler over Kennesaw Mountain was a poor choice, but the fact that he is ruled ineligible is not a good look for the GHSA.

With over 93 transfers collected for this upcoming season, it always seems that the GHSA puts the kibosh on the most logical movement.

  1. He still lives in the KMHS district
  2. His mother is a school counselor
  3. He withdrew after being the victim in a fracas
  4. He finished the 2015-16 school year at KMHS

It looks even worse that Wheeler has seven transfers in – from all over the country, some committing via YouTube – but when a player leaves the school, he isn’t cleared.

There needs to be a case by case basis where everything is taken into account.

The GHSA has become the Wild Wild West with player movement as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The fact that McCreary must sit out a year after emerging as a game-changing talent is a disappointing outcome for him, his family and Kennesaw Mountain.

Don’t Forget

Jalyn McCreary likely won’t play varsity basketball this year after Kennesaw Mountain, Gordon and everyone involved have exhausted all avenues of justice. McCreary isn’t the first and won’t be last student-athlete that gets the short end of the stick when it comes to GHSA rulings.

While it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel as far as eligibility goes, McCreary’s eye-opening play at the HoopSeen Fall Preview has opened doors for him moving forward. He landed a spot on the EYBL Southern Stampede’s 2019 team following the conclusion of the upcoming high school season.

In a matchup with one of the nation’s top ranked sophomores, Terry Armstrong (who moved into Wheeler from Michigan this summer), McCreary cemented his upside posting 23 points and nine rebounds. Whenever the lanky lefty is cleared to play, he will make an immediate statewide impact at Kennesaw Mountain and will become a name college coaches need to take notice of.

 

Hardship Letter sent to the GHSA:

May 18, 2016

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter of request for a hardship in order for my son, Jalyn McCreary, to be eligible to play varsity sports this upcoming 2016-17 school year at Kennesaw Mountain High School. Just to give you some history, I am a Cobb County employee and my son began his freshman year at Wheeler High School on the school choice. I chose this method (school choice instead of employee choice) because I wanted the decision to send Jalyn to Wheeler to be only possible through the intervention of God. So when school choice opened I submitted an application just as any other Cobb County parent. The slots at Wheeler were limited and to our surprise Jalyn was selected to attend. We were hesitant but as parents trusted that this must be what was intended for his future.

However a very unfortunate incident took place in January that changed our outlook on everything. The incident occurred on January 26th in the school cafeteria.  I received a phone call from Mr. Jones (Assistant Principal) and he described a fight and indicated that Jalyn had been involved. I was floored. Jalyn had never been in a fight and was still very new to the school.  I asked him if he was okay and if I could speak to my son. At that time, I was placed on speaker phone and Jalyn described purchasing glasses from a student for twenty dollars and later being approached from behind by two boys he did not know while eating his lunch. His exact words were, “I was jumped momma.” My initial response was to scold Jalyn for being disobedient. We have a rule in our home that there is absolutely no buying or trading with students at school. This is a common thing but something we did not want Jalyn to participate in because of the potential to cause confusion. It was then that I asked Mr. Jones if this was true and he said “yes, that is pretty accurate”. I asked if I needed to leave work and pick up Jalyn and I was told because of his calm demeanor he could stay and finish the day. However from my knowledge the other students were required to leave because of their actions in initiating this event.  An hour later, I arrived to pick up Jalyn and he was leaving ISS. I approached the office and requested to see Mr. Jones. When he arrived I asked to view the video footage where my son was jumped. I was told that should not be a problem and that he would get back to me the following day. The next day, I was told I could not view the tape because of the rights of the other parents. I asked them to check with other parents and I was never contacted again about it until I reached out to higher authorities. I then requested to speak to Mr. Giles (school principal). I was later contacted by him and he begin to verbalize what he viewed on the tape. He said my son was seated and two gentlemen approached him. At this time, Jalyn was put in a headlock and glasses were ripped off of his face by an unknown student. Jalyn’s face was cut by this assault and his shirt was ripped. Understandably, he proceeded to stand up to defend himself. When he stood up, the second student shoved him to the ground from behind.

Ultimately, Jalyn was given the same consequences as the other students, I totally disagreed with this decision because he has attended Cobb County schools since 2nd grade and has never been suspended from school. Jalyn has always been described as the “gentle giant” by his teachers and is even still described as having a pretty impressive moral compass. He was a part of the Mustang Leadership Academy at Hayes Elementary and a part of the Amigos Leadership Academy at Pine Mountain Middle. For this reason, I was disappointed and decided to advocate for his reputation and most importantly his FUTURE. The outcome was grim and nothing changed as we approached day 6 of the suspension.

Following this event, I received contact from teachers and parents in the community expressing their regret that something like this happened to Jalyn. I notified the school about possible retaliation and accusations of gang affiliation too from individuals in the community. In the end, I was still denied the right to view the video of my son and the story changed from person to person each time it was recollected. There was very little consistency. However, the part that never wavered is that Jalyn was put in a headlock and violently shoved to the ground before he responded. In my opinion, this is a clear indicator of bullying and intimidation. As I described to administration, Jalyn is asthmatic and is medicated for this daily and if that headlock had gone wrong or been too long, we could be discussing much more than a fight.

Fearful of Jalyn being labeled, I continued to have email and phone communication with Mr. Ragsdale (CCSD Superintendent), Dr. Daniels (CCSD Assistant Superintendent), Dr. Giles, and Mr. Jones. I also refused to sign the write up of the disciplinary action because it indicated that Jalyn was involved in a fight. It never indicated that he was victim of a premeditated attack by these unknown students. I requested school mediation with the school counselor per my emails. I was told that boys will be boys and that we didn’t need to rehash something that the kids were already past. I was also told that none of this was an attempt to label my otherwise “good” student and that no one would look at Jalyn differently. Jalyn returned back to school for a little over a week with no issue and then we received a notification from the Cobb County Juvenile Courts. At this time, I felt the need to withdraw Jalyn from Wheeler and take him to his home school, Kennesaw Mountain. This decision was made because even through all of our communications, the school and CCSD in no way contacted me or revealed to me that they would be putting my son through this. They were very evasive about what occurred on that day and what would follow for my child. With our backs in a corner we hired an attorney and reported to court. At the court proceeding one of the other parents discussed watching the video footage with administration and clearly seeing that Jalyn was a victim. Her son even admitted to Jalyn paying for the glasses. At this time, the charges of affray and disruption of a public school were thrown out and the mom requested additional community service for her son and apologized profusely to Jalyn. The other student involved was given probation.

After hearing from her that the same administration that denied me seeing the footage sat down with her to view the footage, I knew I made the right choice by withdrawing him. Children die in schools all the time and I continuously expressed to all that I spoke to the need for my son to stand his ground and to be safe every day that he is outside of my care and protection. Sadly, the school policies are completely contradictory to the state law.

When I asked what Jalyn could have done differently, I was told he could have went and found a staff member to assist. I guess they were referring to the same staff members who were supervising this cafeteria when my son’s health and safety was initially put in danger. At this point other than loving the opportunity to participate in a basketball program with his AAU teammates there was nothing good I could attribute to his attendance at Wheeler. The most unfortunate thing is that Jalyn enjoyed playing on the freshman team there and had great stats on his first season of high school basketball. Another unfortunate thing is that because of the transition at the time he transitioned, Jalyn will now be required to attend summer school in order to have sophomore status next year.

Since enrolling at Kennesaw Mountain in February, Jalyn has made much better grades and adjusted well. I am sure the reason for this is that he has known most of the students since 2nd grade. The final step in putting this behind us would be for this hardship to be granted in order for him to go on as planned in the world of basketball.

Jalyn was not at all recruited by Kennesaw but has played basketball since he was 5 years old and it is a major part of our lives. Although, the fight was unfortunate we have reflected back on it with a different perspective. We feel that Jalyn needed to learn a lesson of resilience and overcoming adversity and he has done just that.  Due to the fact that we have lived at the same address for several years and he has been a part of this community for so long, we are hopeful that he will be approved to play this next season and not have to suffer through another consequence for something out of his control. However we are prepared to find the “teachable moment” in this process as well, and if not in our favor we are still appreciative of the opportunity to share our story and be given consideration. Jalyn will not give up but continue with relentless tenacity to achieve his goals no matter the outcome.

            My Sincere Thanks,

                        Kristie Gordon

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Transfers

2016-17 GHSA Basketball Transfer List

Here is a rundown of some transfers I have heard through the grapevine and a summary of what the additions mean. If you know of anymore or any that are incorrect, please shoot me a tweet @KyleSandy355, leave a comment or email [email protected]

Thanks!

Class AAAAAAA

JR Dylin Hardeman – 6’3” 170 lbs – (St. Francis to Woodstock)
SR Brian Coffey Jr. – 6’1” 170 lbs – (GAC to Shiloh)
SR Brandon Blair – 6’0″ 165 lbs – (Duluth to Shiloh)
JR Joseph Toppin – 6’6” 190 lbs – (Meadowcreek to Norcross)
SR Jordan Ferguson – 6’2″ 248 lbs – (St. Francis to Norcross)
SR Jordan Usher – 6’6” 205 lbs – (Sequoyah to Wheeler)
JR EJ Montgomery – 6’9” 210 lbs – (Montverde, FL to Wheeler)
SO Terry Armstrong – 6’6” 180 lbs – (Carman-Ainsworth, MI to Wheeler)
JR Brandon Younger – 6’6” 175 lbs – (Mt. Pisgah to Wheeler)
JR Austin Johnson – 6’8” 210 lbs – (McEachern to Wheeler)
SR Jordan Tucker – 6’7″ 207 lbs – (Archbishop Stepinac, NY to Wheeler)
SO Isaac Martin – 6’5” 185 lbs – (McEachern to Wheeler)
JR Dontarius Carter – 6’4” 195 lbs – (Cherokee to Kennesaw Mountain)
JR Drue Drinnon – 6’0” 170 lbs – (East Jackson to Pebblebrook)
SO Jared Jones – 6’9” 230 lbs – (Potter’s House, FL to Pebblebrook)
SR Elias Harden – 6’6” 180 lbs – (Sandy Creek to Pebblebrook)
SO Messiah Thompson – 5’8 147 lbs (North Atlanta to Pebblebrook)
JR Julian Larrieu – 5’9” 155 lbs – (Dacula to Collins Hill)
SR JaQuan Morris – 6’2” 170 lbs – (Central Gwinnett to Collins Hill)
JR Caleb Holifield – 6’3” 185 lbs – (Pace Academy to Peachtree Ridge)
JR Travis Anderson – 6’0” 170 lbs – (East Jackson to Grayson)
SR Aaron Rowe – 6’2” 165 lbs – (Parkview to Grayson)
SO Reco Hallmon – 6’1″ 160 lbs – (East Jackson to Grayson)
SR Gerald Buncum – 6’6″ 180 lbs – (Jack Britt, NC to Grayson)
SR Isaiah Miller – 6’0” 165 lbs – (Eastside to Newton)
JR Amari Kelly – 6’7” 243 lbs – (Brookwood to Meadowcreek)
JR Cory Hightower – 6’7″ 175 lbs – (Brookwood to Meadowcreek)
SO Jamir Chaplin – 6’4″ 170 lbs – (Stephenson to Meadowcreek)
JR Daylan Smith – 6’0″ 165 lbs – (Centennial to Duluth)
SR Jaylen Morgan – 6’4″ 170 lbs – (East Jackson to Central Gwinnett)
SR Cameron Starkes – 5’11” 150 lbs – (Druid Hills to Lakeside-DeKalb)
SO Jalyn McCreary – 6’6″ 180 lbs – (Wheeler to Kennesaw Mountain)
FR Christian Wright – 6’3″ 170 lbs – (Holy Spirit Prep to Milton)
JR Ulyric Wright – 6’2″ 170 lbs – (Texas to Milton)

Class AAAAAA

JR Landers Nolley II – 6’6” 205 lbs – (Curie, IL to Langston Hughes)
SO Jeremiah Sanabria – 6’5” 170 lbs – (Columbus to Allatoona)
SR Ellis Merriweather – 6’2” 200 lbs – (King’s Ridge to Alpharetta)
SO Brandon Barron – 5’10” 165 lbs – (Westlake to Alpharetta)
JR Justin Brown – 6’1” 165 lbs – (Milton to Northview)
JR Andrew Stimpson – 6’1” 165 lbs – (Etowah to North Atlanta)
SR Ma’Kel Wallace – 6’0” 170 lbs – (Veterans to Houston County)
SR Joshua Cammon – 6’3” 195 lbs – (Eastside to Tucker)
JR Jon Young – 6’4” 175 lbs – (Westlake to New Manchester)
JR Tyson Jackson – 6’7” 190 lbs – (Whitefield Academy to Creekside)
JR Jarrel Rosser – 6’6” 180 lbs – (Newnan to Gainesville)
JR Jarred Rosser – 6’6” 180 lbs – (Newnan to Gainesville)
JR KaJuan Hale – 5’11” 160 lbs – (Austin-East, TN to Gainesville)
FR Knowledge Ruben – 6’5” 210 lbs – (Texas to South Paulding)
SR Jaylon Terrell – 6’3″ 180 lbs – (Lovejoy to Jonesboro)
SR DL Hall – 6’2″ 170 lbs – (Houston County to Valdosta)
JR Dequavious Bell  – 6’1″ 160 lbs – (Whitefield Academy to New Manchester)
SO Joesph Jones – 5’7″ 150 lbs – (Maplewood-Richmond Heights, MO to Northview)
SR Clayvon Croom – 6’4″ 200 lbs – (McEachern to Mays)

Class AAAAA

JR David Viti – 6’5” 195 lbs – (Lambert to Buford)
SO Donell Nixon II – 5’8″ 150 lbs – (Mountain View to Buford)
SO Marcus Watson – 6’6” 210 lbs – (West Forsyth, NC to Buford)
SO Karston Miller – 6’1” 170 lbs – (North Gwinnett to Buford)
JR Will Richter – 6’2” 160 lbs – (St. Francis to Johnson-Gainesville)
JR Jermon Clark – 6’6” 220 lbs – (Arabia Mountain to Miller Grove)
SR Mohammed Abubukar – 6’8” 225 lbs – (Hamilton Heights, TN to Eagle’s Landing)
JR Brandon Thomas – 6’3” 170 lbs – (Locust Grove to Eagle’s Landing)
SR Kenton Eskridge – 6’2” 195 lbs – (Tucker to Columbia)
SR Reyhan Cobb – 6’7” 190 lbs – (Pius XI, WI to Columbia)
FR Joshua Taylor – 6’6″ 175 lbs – (Holy Spirit Prep to Columbia)
JR Champ Dawson – 6’2” 180 lbs – (First Presbyterian Day to Warner Robins)

Class AAAA

JR Kennedy Willis – 6’7” 190 lbs – (Therrell to St. Pius)
JR Troy Stephens – 6’1” 160 lbs – (GAC to St. Pius)
SR Eric Williams – 6’3” 180 lbs – (Fayette County to Sandy Creek)
SR Khalid Wilkins – 6’0” 175 lbs – (Mt. Vernon Presbyterian to Sandy Creek)
JR Lincoln Smith – 6’4″ 175 lbs – (Columbus to Shaw)
SR Avery Showell – 6’2” 195 lbs – (St. Francis to Cartersville)

Class AAA

SR Trey Foster – 6’2” 176 lbs – (Rutland to Westside-Macon)
SR Jaylyne Brown – 5’9” 160 lbs – (Rutland to Westside-Macon)
SR Kentrevious Jones – 6’11” 285 lbs – (Central-Macon to Westside-Macon)
JR Kylan Hill – 6’3” 180 lbs – (Jones County to Central-Macon)
SR Dalton Smith – 5’11” 180 lbs – (Rogers, AR to Bremen)
JR Brice Paster – 6’2″ 193 lbs – (Lamar County to Peach County)
SO Tyrin Lawrence – 6’3″ 170 lbs – (Monticello to Morgan County)
SR Perrell Brisbane – 6’2″ 175 lbs – (Long County to Pierce County)
JR Jace Bonds – 6’1″ 165 lbs – (Oconee County to East Jackson)
SR Myles Walker – 6’3″ 180 lbs – (Windsor Forest to Jenkins)

Class AA

SR Christian Robinson – 5’10” 185 lbs – (Westside-Augusta to Butler)
SR Javier Flohr – 5’11” 160 lbs – (Grovetown to Harlem)
SR Laberton Sims Jr. – 6’4” 180 lbs – (Tift County to Toombs County)
FR Julius Sims – 6’1” 160 lbs – (Tift County to Toombs County)

Class A

SR Mo Merritt – 6’7” 195 lbs – (Sprayberry to North Cobb Christian)
JR Trent Bowdre – 5’10” 140 lbs – (Grovetown to Aquinas)
JR Dajuan Hill – 6’5” 190 lbs – (Cross Creek to Aquinas)
JR Jelani Shakir – 5’10” 170 lbs – (Harker Heights, TX to Aquinas)
SO Koby Isaac – 6’2” 170 lbs – (Norcross to Southwest Atlanta Christian)
SR David Quimby – 6’3″ 190 lbs – (Dougherty to Greenforest)
SR Cameron Evans – 6’6″ 215 lbs – (Chattooga to Darlington)
JR Oliver Oden – 6’3″ 175 lbs – (North Atlanta Christian Flight to Mt. Vernon Presbyterian)
JR Ward Phillips – 6’1″ 170 lbs – (North Atlanta Christian Flight to Mt. Vernon Presbyterian)
JR Corey Myart – 6’7″ 195 lbs – (Duluth to Mt. Vernon Presbyterian)

Out-of-GHSA

SR Nick Hargrove – 6’0” 172 lbs – (Southwest-Macon to New Rock Prep)
SR JJ Smith – 6’4” 190 lbs – (Pebblebrook to North Carolina)
SR Jaylin Wimberly – 6’3” 165 lbs – (Lee County to Terrell Academy)
JR Gabe Bryant – 6’8” 210 lbs – (Dawson County to Dorman, SC)
SR Zach Butler – 6’5″ 180 lbs – (Norcross to Dorman, SC)
JR Juwan White – 6’0” 180 lbs – (Dacula to Norman North, OK)
SR Tajah Fraley – 6’3″ 180 lbs – (Shiloh to 22ft Academy, SC)
JR Tolu Jacobs – 7’0″ 275 lbs – (King’s Ridge to California)
SR Michael Durr – 6’9″ 220 lbs – (Jonesboro to Oldsmar Christian, FL)
SO Elias King – 6’6″ 185 lbs – (Shiloh to Huntington Prep, WV)
SO Jaykwon Walton – 6’4″ 165 lbs – (Northside-Columbus to Carver-Montgomery, AL)

Class AAAAAAA

Last season Region 3-AAAAAA ruled supreme as Westlake defeated Pebblebrook in the state championship game. Westlake transformed itself from a 13-15 team into a 27-4 powerhouse thanks to the transfer circuit. This season, Region 2-AAAAAAA is loaded as the arms race has begun between Pebblebrook and Wheeler.

Pebblebrook and Wheeler have been among the busiest teams this offseason trying to catch up to Westlake. Pebblebrook has landed consensus High Major D-I talents in Drue Drinnon, Jared Jones and Elias Harden (Xavier) to surround superstar Collin Sexton.

Drinnon is as experienced of a junior as they come, posting big numbers since his freshman year at East Jackson. The point guard will now be asked to distribute the ball to the weapons around him. Drinnon was named Sandy’s Spiel Class AAA Best Scorer and was a First Team All-State selection after averaging 21.3 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

Jones comes from Potter’s House, FL and is a handful inside. Jones can score with his back to the basket and rebounds well in traffic. He has the ability to step out to the three-point land and can help stretch the defense to allow Pebblebrook’s guards slashing lanes. Add Harden from Sandy Creek, and the Falcons have another long wing at 6-foot-6 that can stroke it from deep and also attack the basket. Harden was a Sandy’s Spiel Class AAAA All-State Second Teamer after averaging 20.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.

Wheeler counters with hot prospects as well in EJ Montgomery and Jordan Usher.  Montgomery is heralded as a five-star power forward by 247Sports. He fills the role left behind by Romello White, who is now at Arizona State after decommitting from Georgia Tech. In a further effort to revamp the frontcourt, Usher joins from Sequoyah where he will see a massive step up in competition night in and night out, but brings an undeniable athleticism to the wing and can attack the basket, especially in the open floor. At Sequoyah, Usher averaged 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks his junior season.

The Wildcats didn’t stop there. Though they struck out in landing Zion Williamson (for now), Wheeler did add Terry Armstrong and Brandon Younger. Armstrong comes over as the No. 1 ranked player in Michigan in the Class of 2019. The long and athletic wing should thrive with the amount of talent surrounding him. Younger is young and lean like Armstrong. He averaged over 11 points per game as a sophomore at Mt. Pisgah but much like Usher, sees a major increase in competition during the regular season.

Austin Johnson moves in as the most unheard of out of the group, but the long-armed big man can block shots and also score with both hands around the hoop. He played with 16U Game Elite Orange and could be a solid rotational piece with some upside moving forward. Isaac Martin also joins the party as Wheeler’s embarrassment of riches continues to pile up. The 6-foot-5 guard played a big role with McEachern last season as a freshman. He is a good distance shooter which will help spread the floor.

On August 24, Jordan Tucker became lucky No. 7 in the Wheeler recruiting class as he took to Twitter to announce his commitment. Tucker can score inside and outside and does everything you want from an aggressive wing. He averaged 17.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks as a junior. He sank 51 threes at a 35% clip and got to the line 214 times where he converted 72%. Earlier in the day, Tucker was ranked No. 39 in ESPN’s Top 100.

North Florida-commit Brian Coffey Jr. makes the move to Shiloh after leaving GAC mid-season. Coffey will step in to fill the void left by Perry Battle at point guard. Coffey can score the ball but is best at setting his teammates up.  Also joining Coffey is Brandon Blair, a 6-foot senior guard that brings quickness to the Shiloh backcourt. At Duluth he averaged over nine points and three assists per game.

Grayson hopes the second time is a charm as D-I prospect Travis Anderson is back playing with the Rams in the offseason. After starting at Holy Innocents’, Anderson played with Grayson last offseason into the fall before jettisoning at the last moment to go play at East Jackson. Anderson, who averaged 18 points per game, is back in Gwinnett County and will provide a major boost in the Grayson backcourt after the graduation of Alphonso Willis and Austin Dukes.  Anderson’s experience could be invaluable for a young guard rotation consisting of freshman Deivon Smith and sophomore Justin Fleming.

Joseph Toppin joins the Norcross Blue Devils across the county after leaving Meadowcreek. Toppin is a long and raw athlete that has a chance to polish his game his final two seasons at Norcross. He has put in a lot of work over the summer and should be an integral piece moving forward for Coach Jesse McMillan. The emerging standout has garnered D-I offers from a handful of SEC schools and has a chance to cement himself as a top junior now that he’s in the spotlight at Norcross.

Woodstock clinched a state playoff berth for the first time in school history – 20 years – last season and looks to continue building. Dylin Hardeman makes the move from St. Francis back to Woodstock and will have an opportunity to take the scoring burden off Tyreke Johnson’s shoulders. Hardeman is coming off a strong summer season with 16U Team Atlanta where he was counted on being a top backcourt option. The 6-foot-3 guard should pair up with Johnson to form one of the best backcourts in Cherokee County with their diverse ways of scoring the ball.

Caleb Holifield brings over a deft touch from beyond the three-point line to Peachtree Ridge. Holifield played at Pace Academy last season but lost eligibility coming down the stretch. He gets a new lease on life his junior season and should bring a nice scoring punch to the Lions backcourt.

First rumored to head to Jonesboro, Isaiah Miller instead lands at Newton where the Rams backcourt is now as good as anyone’s in the state. The unapologetic pure bucket-getting senior is starting to heat his recruitment up heading into his final season. Miller was among the state’s top scorers last year, pouring in 25.3 points per game while adding 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.3 steals and 1 block. Couple him with Ashton Hagans and JD Notae, and the Rams have a dynamic backcourt that should overpower teams at times if Miller can fit into Coach Rick Rasmussen’s system.

JaQuan Morris exploded this summer as a name to keep an ear out for. Morris was consistently seen pouring in 20+ points on a regular basis at HoopSeen tournaments. The 6-foot-2 guard blows by defenders with his quickness and ability to finish at the rim. He’s also shown he can bang home threes in bunches as a deadly shooter. Morris averaged 11.6 points per game at Central Gwinnett last season and after his meteoric rise with 17U God’s Property, he should raise his output his senior season back at Collins Hill, where he played his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Meadowcreek receives a boost in the form of 6-foot-7 junior Amari Kelly. He averaged 6.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game with Brookwood and is continuing to learn the game and improve his skillset. Kelly has a chance to be a key cog in the Mustangs’ attempt at a turnaround.

Class AAAAAA

A year after being bitten by the transfer bug, Langston Hughes gets a talented player back in Landers Nolley II. Nolley started his high school career at Lovejoy then transferred to Curie, IL where he won a state title before coming back to the Peach State this year. The 6-foot-5 guard will get a chance to play with the ball in his hands and off the ball as well with Khalil Cuffee and Derrick Cook both versatile players on the perimeter. Nolley has a dangerous three-point shot but is also a tough cover when driving the lane and creating for his teammates.

Navy football commit Ellis Merriweather brings his scoring prowess on the hardwood to Alpharetta. Merriweather is a rock solid guard that can fill up the cup. The addition of Merriweather along with first-year head coach Jason Dasigner to the Raider program could prove beneficial right away. A nice group of seniors return to a new wide open region that doesn’t have a clear cut favorite, giving the Raiders as good a chance as anybody to return to the postseason for a sixth straight season.

Northview gets a massive shot in the arm with Justin Brown returning home after spending his sophomore season at Milton. Brown averaged 15.1 points per game as a freshman at Northview and took a backseat at Milton trying to get D-I teammates Alex O’Connell, Chris Lewis and Kyrin Galloway their shots. At Northview, Brown should instantly go back to being the No. 1 option on offense.

Ma’Kel Wallace is set to play at Houston County this season after transferring last year but being ruled ineligible to play. He will be an instant difference maker his senior season with the Bears as a reliable guard that can get his own shot off. If Houston County is going to make a trip back to the postseason, Wallace must provide leadership and accountability as one of Coach Stephen Walls’ top guard.

Tucker loses leading scorer Kenton Eskridge to Columbia but replaces him with Eastside’s Joshua Cammon. Cammon was a team captain on the Eagles’ 20-win team last season and averaged 13.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game. He was overshadowed by 25-point-per-game scorer Isaiah Miller but Cammon can play. The muscular athlete has tight handles in traffic and can create his own shot. He was a streaky three-point shooter, hitting three or more in seven games and taking 187 on the year, but only connected at a 27% rate. Nonetheless, Cammon should step in and instantly be one of Tucker’s leading scorers, soothing the loss of Eskridge.

Creekside lands a big piece in 6-foot-7 junior Tyson Jackson. The long and lanky forward averaged 7 points and 6.4 rebounds while blocking 1.3 shots per game and showed flashes of his upside throughout the season. At Creekside he should see a few more touches offensively and will be asked to anchor the paint with his shot blocking in an increasingly difficult region.

Gainesville wasn’t going to have much of a drop off from last year’s 21-6 team and now with the addition of twins Jarred and Jarrel Rosser, the Red Elephants look like an early favorite to make a deep run into the state playoffs. The 6-foot-6 juniors are extremely versatile with the ability to score in and out. Adding them to Gainesville’s already free flowing offense makes the Elephants look positionless at times on the floor with each player able to play multiple positions. The Rosser twins can help the most on the glass, easing the rebounding burden that Bailey Minor and KJ Buffen shoulder.

Knowledge Ruben moves from Texas to join his older brother Jordan at South Paulding. At 6-foot-5 with plenty of meat on him, the rising freshman holds promising in the paint. Already known for his strong rebounding, if he continues to grow and polishes his game, he could bring some similar traits to the table that all-time leading rebounder Anthony Brown, who graduated in 2016, put to use.

North Atlanta fell on hard times last year, but the addition of Andrew Stimpson could help build a solid backcourt as he teams up with rising sophomore point guard, Messiah Thompson.

Jaylon Terrell, an explosive guard, moves from Lovejoy to new region foe Jonesboro.  He gets to team up with five-star guard MJ Walker and one of the best coaches in the state, Dan Maehlman. At 6-foot-3, Terrell brings with him a high motor and tenacity that should fit in well with the Cardinals. He holds an offer from Navy.

Class AAAAA

Coach Eddie Martin has wasted no time in attracting talent to Buford. With a sparkling new gym set to open up, the Wolves are starting to become a destination. Four new players have made the leap to come play for the state champion head coach. The Wolves add size in the frontcourt with David Viti and Marcus Watson while Karston Miller and Donell Nixon II provide three-point shooting and guard play. Both Viti and Watson are physical presences inside with the ability to play outside as well. Watson has spent his summer attacking from the wing with 15U Team CP3. Nixon as a freshman paced Mountain View averaging 12.4 points per game while draining 69 threes at a 45% clip. Smith is a young guard that contributed 7.9 points per game at North Gwinnett.

Another multi-state championship winning coach is back on the sidelines in the form of Dr. Phil McCrary. The five-time state champ looks to turn around a Columbia program that sunk to 14-13 last year. Outside of Miller Grove’s run of six-straight state championships, Columbia is the last team to three-peat back in 2010-12 under the guidance of McCrary. The excitement of a living legend back on the bench has prompted talent from around the area to flock to Columbia.

Kenton Eskridge leaves behind Coach James Hartry after leading the Tucker Tigers in scoring as a junior. Eskridge is a stout guard that uses his body when attacking the rim. He joins a Columbia roster that already has length throughout. A key piece to that length is the return of Reyhan Cobb. The 6-foot-7 senior played at Columbia as a sophomore and blocked 1.4 shots per game before transferring to Wisconsin where he averaged 10.7 points as a junior. The shot altering forward is athletic and will run the floor on fastbreaks for dunks.

Mohammed Abubukar could be a game-changing post player for Eagle’s Landing after transferring in from Hamilton Heights, TN. At 6-foot-8, Abubukar is a strong workhorse on the low block. He will anchor an Eagles frontline that lacked in post production. Abubukar seems confident with his back to the basket and can spin hard into the lane to set up a baby hook. Keep an eye on his senior season. Joining Abubukar is potent junior wing Brandon Thomas. The 6-foot-3 scorer has D-I interest after pouring in over 18 points per game and shooting over 40% from three with Locust Grove.

Miller Grove adds frontcourt depth with Jermon Clark entering the fold. The 6-foot-6 shot blocker averaged 5.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a sophomore at Arabia Mountain. He will fight for playing time between Tworn Seals and Kevin Paige.

Johnson-Gainesville continues its rebuild and adds Will Richter as a piece to the future. The junior guard is a St. Francis transfer that will be inserted into the Knights starting lineup right away. His ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting and his experience playing with St. Francis and the Georgia Stars bodes well for Coach Tim Slater. If Richter can get stronger and polish his dribble-drive game, he could put together a nice career in Hall County.

Champ Dawson might not be known outside of the Middle Georgia area yet, but the rising junior guard and son of a coach has high-IQ and the smooth skills to make an impact in the already young and talented Warner Robins backcourt that is now ready to step out of the shadows cast by its graduating class. Dawson led First Presbyterian Day in scoring at 10.8 points. The son of current Central Georgia Tech head coach Reco Dawson, has a soft pull-up in the lane and can find ways to get to the basket. Dawson is a willing passer as well that shouldn’t have a problem taking a backseat to get his teammates involved.

Class AAAA

St. Pius adds Kennedy Willis and Troy Stephens. Willis comes in from Therrell and brings with him length and size at 6-foot-7. He hasn’t reached his potential yet but has a nice skillset and the ability to play multiple positions. Stephens is an athletic ball handler that has a chance to earn minutes in the backcourt alongside the Gonzalo brothers and Everett Lane.

Sandy Creek loses Elias Harden to Pebblebrook, but sees Khalid Wilkins and Eric Williams move in. Wilkins, a 6-foot guard from Mt. Vernon Presbyterian, led the Mustangs in scoring last year while Williams, 6-foot-3, averaged 5.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists at Fayette County.

The addition of Lincoln Smith to Shaw not only helps the Raiders but hurts region rival Columbus where he comes from. The 6-foot-4 wing led the Blue Devils in rebounding and narrowly in scoring, posting 11.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and adding 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks . With a strong senior class graduating, Smith will step in right away and give Coach Terry White a viable option to slide in and continue to power Shaw’s recent turnaround.

Avery Showell brings athleticism, toughness and experience to Cartersville after averaging 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals with St. Francis his junior season. The Wake Forest football-commit fits the Purple Hurricane mold of being a two-sport star. He should see plenty of playing time and plenty of opportunities to help out an already talented Cartersville backcourt.

Class AAA

The addition of Trey Foster bolsters the lineup around superstar Khavon Moore. Foster averaged 15 points, 8 assists and 3 steals per game as one of Middle Georgia’s toughest guards. The hard-nosed perimeter defender can push the pace and get teammates involved. Following him is teammate Jaylyne Brown, an experienced guard that will help with ball handling most likely off the bench.

Another Middle Georgia mover, Kylan Hill joins Central-Macon after averaging 8.9 points and leading Jones County in rebounding at 7.6. Hill will be a vital piece inside now that Kentrevious Jones has transferred away.

In a move that shakes the landscape of Middle Georgia and the state title picture in Class AAA, Kentrevious Jones has departed from Central-Macon (27-3) and has moved cross town to join Khavon Moore at Westside-Macon (22-7). The 6-foot-11, 285-pound center with HM D-I offers will now anchor the Seminoles in the paint and immediately makes Westside a true state title contender as he pairs with the 6-foot-8 five-star junior along with fellow transfers Trey Foster and Jaylyne Brown. Also still in the fold is guard Samone Reed. Jones brings with him his 17.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. The loss is a potentially crippling blow for Central-Macon as a region rival reaps the benefits.

Class AA

Christian Robinson played a big role in helping Westside-Augusta to the Elite Eight and will now bring his tenacious downhill attack to Butler. Robinson is a powerful guard who averaged over 11 points per game last season. Built like a fullback, Robinson has a bulldog mentality when getting to the basket and defending ball handlers. Robinson should help steady Butler, a team that could be one of the best in the Augusta area this season.

Javier Flohr averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals at Grovetown. He represents solid depth and experience for Harlem who sank to 2-23 last year.

Brothers Laberton Jr. and Julius Sims could be impact players right away for Toombs County as their father Laberton Sr., has taken the job after serving as an assistant at Tift County. Laberton Jr. saw some time on the Tift County varsity, a major step up from the type of competition he will see night in and night out at Toombs County. He should vie for a big role along the Bulldogs frontline with the ability to play above the rim while Julius could debut as a freshman.

Class A

Mo Merritt brings a much needed post presence to North Cobb Christian. The springy 6-foot-7 forward is a tough rebounder but a smooth finisher inside. He played well at Kennesaw State’s Elite Camp and only rose his stock. He’s not a hot prospect just yet, but with a year at annual powerhouse North Cobb Christian, the stretchy big man has a chance to really make a difference in Class A and build upon his interest he currently holds from Georgia Southern and Savannah State.

Aquinas lands an underrated tenacious guard in Trent Bowdre. A rivaling coach had this to say about Bowdre after he averaged 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a sophomore at Grovetown: “He is an animal on defense, great at attacking the basket, lefty and can shoot from the outside. He is a dawg. He is fearless.”

Dajuan Hill spent his time on the Cross Creek JV last year, but will likely play a prominent role inside for Aquinas as a junior. The 6-foot-5 post has nice footwork and physicality inside.

Koby Isaac gets to officially announce his presence to the GHSA after playing sparingly on the Norcross varsity team as a freshman. He heads to Southwest Atlanta Christian where he teams up with DeAundre Ballard in the backcourt. Isaac, pegged as a three-star recruit, already has interest from Wake Forest, Memphis, Georgia Tech, Florida State and more.

If there was ever a smidgen of a potential but still unlikely weakness for defending Class A-Private state champs Greenforest it would be the Eagles backcourt after John Ogwuche (New Hampshire) graduated, leaving Justin Forrest as the lone proven starter. Those worries of who will slide in next to Forrest are all but put to rest with the addition of David Quimby. The 6-foot-3 scoring guard exits Dougherty, a program that was blasted with controversy and suspensions due to playing illegal players which resulted in a 2016-17 postseason ban and a fine. Quimby now joins the heavy favorite to repeat for a title. He exploded this offseason as a high scoring guard that poured in 40 points in a single game. He can score from all over the floor, especially from deep when he gets hot. Quimby is a major stock riser that will garner attention his senior season.

Mt. Vernon Presbyterian took a blow last year, losing 6-foot-11 Texas-commit to La Lumiere, IN for his senior season. This year KJ Jenkins is off to Sandy Creek, but the Mustangs have talent to fill the void. A pair of home schooled guards, Oliver Oden and Ward Phillips join the backcourt. Oden averaged 16.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals. Phillips averaged 9 points per game and drilled 45 threes on the year. Corey Myart comes in from Duluth and will have an opportunity to polish his game at Mt. Vernon where the 6-foot-7 forward will see plenty of playing time.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Transfers

The GHSA Needs A Proper Ruling On McIntosh Transfer

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***UPDATED 5:23 PM, 11/19/15***

Class 5A No. 2 McIntosh tipped-off its season with a ho-hum 89-68 win over Morrow on Tuesday night. The usual suspects did their normal damage with Will Washington scoring 20 points and dishing out eight assists, Jordan Lyons scoring 24 points and Dishon Lowery and Chase Walter doing their expected yeoman’s work inside.

One new Chief however was unable to suit up. Make that, not allowed.

Isaac Kellum, a 6-foot-4 swingman that averaged 13.8 points per game, transferred over to McIntosh in the offseason for his senior season. This wasn’t a crazy out-of-state transfer or someone moving in from a school that is hours away, but a 13-minute transfer over from Fayette County High School. With over 60 known transfers and plenty of more that slipped through the cracks, you would think a simple move such as this would go unopposed, but for some reason the GHSA threw a red flag against little old McIntosh.

From all accounts, Kellum is a great student in the classroom (3.8 weighted GPA, ACT 24, SAT 1,580 and dual enrolled at Clayton State) and a good kid. So why out of all the transfers along the state, is one of the most logical transfers getting the kibosh? As of this week, the senior is still ineligible to play his final year of high school ball while seemingly every other transfer has already begun playing with their new team.

In July, Kellum and his parents moved to Peachtree City. Soon after moving, a rough patch occurred and his parents separated. Isaac, living in the McIntosh school district with his mother, was still set to play basketball until October 27 when he found out he would be ineligible. The family went to a hardship hearing in Thomaston, Ga. but was denied for some reason.

To make sure they had all the proper paperwork again, the parents even went to get official legal separation documents to soothe the GHSA if they had any inclination that something amiss was taking place. Charles Kellum, Isaac’s father, let me know that the family sat in the courthouse for six hours hoping to get the paperwork signed and have the issue eventually resolved. Upon the judge hearing the reasoning why they were there, to let their son play basketball, the judge said he had never heard of a governing body making a family go to such extreme lengths just to prove he is living in the district and has the correct custody.

When the verdict came down, the judge said he could not sign the document because Isaac is an 18-year-old adult and he can’t be signed over to a specific parent.

So the GHSA is now not letting an 18-year-old adult play basketball his senior year of high school  in the correct school district after dealing with a whirlwind of unfortunate events. The GHSA denied him on the initial hardship hearing and the appeal last Tuesday and will not give the Kellum’s a straight answer to why he can’t play, not listing a violation of the by-laws or any other potential hangup.

https://twitter.com/_Juiccee_/status/666814963747549184

Double Standards

I personally am not a huge fan of transfers, but I understand it is part of the game and it is not something I bemoan. Building super teams is good for the players to get exposure but of course bad for homegrown teams that have played together their entire life – like McIntosh. The Chiefs had a player fill out all the proper paperwork, but the GHSA won’t accept the simple move.

We can’t have double standards. If you are going to let almost every other school land their new move-ins, and ones that come from out of state, where is the reasoning behind a player who is 13 minutes away from his new school not getting the green light to play ball? And the worst thing about all this? It’s not that McIntosh has a realistic shot at a state title, but it’s the fact that basketball is being taken away from this 17/18 year-old, in his final season. Kellum will likely be able to find a home to play basketball at in college if he so chooses, but nothing will ever compare to going to school with your peers and lacing them up and playing in front of packed houses every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday as the team – or family – attempts to make their march to Macon and history.

https://twitter.com/DLowery_15/status/666465820944502784

What To Do?

Basketball fans and supporters of fair play can only hope that this issue gets resolved quickly and Kellum is cleared to play. There is too much player movement to single out one athlete and blow the whistle on them. It is either abolish transferring (too hard to do) or let everyone make the move as long as the proper paperwork is submitted. Right now, Kellum is devastated over the ruling and he, his family, friends and teammates are still trying to find an answer from the GHSA as to why he is unable to play.

We are in 2015, closing in on 2016. There is no place for a governing body to pick and choose who gets to play and who doesn’t. There needs to be one set guideline. There should be no foul play involved and everything should be on the up-and-up. No ‘Wizard of Oz’ act hiding behind the curtain and not answering why some players are allowed while others disallowed. Let’s hope for a New Year’s Resolution, the GHSA gets its act together and allows Kellum and every other properly filed transfer who got rejected a chance to play the game they love.

GHSA, GHSA Basketball, Score Atlanta, Transfers

GHSA Basketball Transfer Recap and Overview

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As there is every year, there was some major offseason movement among some of the best basketball programs in the state of Georgia. Unlike football, there is an AAU circuit that plays nearly year round with the best players in the area joining forces to make a run at Nationals. Playing with players from other schools gives players a chance to bond with one another and learn each other’s game. The success on this summer circuit sometimes prompts players to decide to transfer to be able keep playing together. Where it hurts the schools where they transfer from, it helps build powerhouse programs elsewhere. It truly has turned into the Wild Wild West during the offseason, with the entire outlook of programs changing with the loss or the import of one or more transfer(s).

Here is a rundown of some transfers I have heard through the grapevine and a summary of what the addition means. If you know of anymore or any that are incorrect, please shoot me a tweet @KyleSandy355 or leave a comment or an email at [email protected]. Thanks!

Class AAAAAA

SO Chris Parks – 6’6” 210 lbs – (5A Lanier to Collins Hill)

SR Romello White – 6’8” 215 lbs – (IMG Academy, FL to Wheeler)

SR Darnell Rogers – 5’2”135 lbs – (Indian Land, SC to Shiloh)

JR Collin Sexton – 6’2” 160 lbs – (Hillgrove to Pebblebrook)

JR Chuma Okeke – 6’7” 210 lbs – (Langston Hughes to Westlake)

SR A.J. Cheeseman – 6’6” 210 lbs – (Duluth to Collins Hill)

JR Kendrick Summerour – 5’9” 155 lbs – (5A Kell to Milton)

JR Greg James – 6’4” 162 lbs – (Alpharetta to Shiloh)

SO Reikan Donaldson – 6’2” 160 lbs – (1A Calvary Day to Wheeler)

JR Zach Cooks – 5’8” 140 lbs – (Norcross to Berkmar)

SO Justin Brown – 6’0” 165 lbs – (Northview to Milton)

SR Kyrin Galloway – 6’8” 200 lbs – (4A Buford to Milton)

JR Jay Estime – 6’5” 180 lbs – (Peachtree Ridge to Berkmar)

SR Al-Wajid Aminu – 6’6″ 185 lbs – (Coral Gables, FL to Wheeler)

SR Ronald Bell – 6’5″ 175 lbs – (5A North Atlanta to Westlake)

SR Teshaun Hightower – 6’5″ 180 lbs (3A Towers to Collins Hill)

SR Reece Anderson – 6’2” 185 lbs – (5A Chapel Hill to Douglas County)

JR David Swillum – 6’0″ 175 lbs – (Milton to Alpharetta)

SR Keishon Kershaw – 6’2″ 175 lbs – (Milton to Alpharetta)

SR Khalil Richard – 5’11” 165 – (St. Frances, MD to Shiloh)

SR Robert Hill – 6’9″ 240 lbs – (Duluth to Berkmar)

JR Elafayette Stone – 6’8″ 245 lbs – (Copperas Cove, TX to East Coweta)

JR JJ Smith – 6’4″ 195 lbs – (E.E. Smith, NC to Pebblebrook)

JR Thurman Massenburg – 6’7″ 210 lbs – (Home School Augusta to Shiloh)

SO Trevin Wade – 5’11” 155 lbs – (Hillgrove to South Cobb)

SO Landers Nolley – 6’4″ 175 lbs – (Lovejoy to Curie, IL)

JR Brandon Blair – 5’10” 155 lbs – (Shiloh to Duluth)

SR Amir Butcher – 6’2″ 170 lbs – (Norcross to Tucker)

Class AAAAA

SR Aaron Augustin – 5’11” 170 lbs – (6A Peachtree Ridge to Miller Grove)

JR Tae Hardy – 6’3″ 150 lbs – (Southwest DeKalb to Miller Grove)

SR Cameron Cox – 6’3″ 170 lbs – (Creekview to Sequoyah)

SR Isaac Kellum – 6’4″ 170 lbs – (Fayette County to McIntosh)

SR Tyler Scott – 6’10” 215 lbs – (Gainesville to Greenville, SC)

SR Colin Young – 6’3” 185 lbs – (3A Laney to Miller Grove)

SR Marquis Traylor – 6’5″ 180 lbs – (Knob Noster, MO to Houston County)

JR D.J. Young – 6’1″ 180 lbs – (6A Milton to Discovery)

SR Madison Williams – 6’3″ 170 lbs – (SCISA Augusta Christian to Academy of Richmond County)

SR Chris Stone – 6’0″ 155 lbs – (GISA Augusta Prep Day to Evans)

SR Jo’el Grant – 6’0″ 165 lbs – (SCISA Augusta Christian to Evans)

SR Khamron Gordon – 6’2″ 195 lbs – (1A Aquinas to Cross Creek)

SR Theo Benn Jr. – 6’0″ 180 lbs (6A Berkmar to Discovery)

SO Chima Ogboi – 6’3″ 175 lbs (1A Mt. Paran to Allatoona)

Class AAAA

SR Jacara Cross – 6’6” 220 lbs – (3A Cedar Grove to Lithonia)

SO Alex Jones – 5’9” 155 lbs – (6A Alpharetta to Buford)

SO D.J. Brittian – 6’0″ 160 lbs – (5A Miller Grove to Grady)

SO Kris Gardner – 6’1″ 170 lbs -(6A Lee County to Westover)

SR SanAntonio Brinson – 6’7” 200 lbs – (1A Aquinas to Thomson)

SO Corderius Hastings – 6’0″ 165 lbs – (Griffin to The Potter House, FL)

JR Kovi Tate – 6’4″ – 218 lbs – (5A Woodland-Stockbridge to Henry County)

Class AAA

SO Lamont Smith – 6’1” 185 lbs – (4A Buford to East Jackson)

JR Zion Williams – 5’8” 155 lbs – (Savannah to Jenkins)

SR Dylan Curry – 6’4″ 165 lbs – (Oak Hill Academy, VA to West Hall)

SO Gabe Bryant – 6’8″ 225 lbs – (Dorman, SC to Dawson County)

SR Ric’Quail Smoot – 6’8″ 230 lbs – (Butler to The Potter House, FL)

SR Jalen Holbrook – 6’2″ 170 lbs (1A Aquinas to Butler)

SO Travis Anderson – 5’10” 165 lbs – (2A Holy Innocents to East Jackson)

JR Nick Hargrove Jr. – 6’0″ 170 lbs – (GCAA Bible Baptist Christian to Southwest)

SR Korbian Bell – 6’7″ 220 lbs – (5A Morrow to South Atlanta)

Class AA

SO Isaiah Kelly – 6’8” 195 lbs – (SCISA Augusta Christian to Pace Academy)

SR Alex Perry – 6’6″ 190 lbs – (Maclay, FL to Thomasville)

Class A

SR Anthony Showell – 6’2” 165 lbs – (6A Duluth to St. Francis)

SO Cameron Gardner – 6’3″ 180 lbs – (3A Hephzibah to Aquinas)

SO Gerald Merriweather – 5’7″ 140 lbs – (3A Hephzibah to Aquinas)

JR Demiere Brown – 6’4″ 200 lbs – (5A Hiram to North Cobb Christian)

Class AAAAAA Impact Transfers:

One player might shift the balance of power in 6A and especially in Region 3. Chuma Okeke and his 22.8 points and 8.3 rebounds shift from Langston Hughes to Westlake. Hughes was primed for a big season chock full of juniors. An astronomical 12 sophomores suited up last year for coach Rory Welsh and it was Okeke along with guard Khalil Cuffee (18.2 ppg) that ran the show as super sophomores. Now Cuffee will have to shoulder the complete load with Okeke gone. The highly sought after forward joins an already talented roster that stumbled to a 13-15 record in 2014. Big man Michael Durr, shooting guard Raquan Wilkins and point guards Danny and Jamie Lewis along with Okeke make the Lions one of the most intriguing teams for a huge rebound season. Westlake has also added North Atlanta stand-out Ronald Bell. Bell can play both forward positions and has a high motor which he uses to go after loose balls and rebounds.

The Tigers added a strong combo guard in Reece Anderson, who will join an already potent backcourt. Anderson was a key contributor last season for the Chapel Hill Panthers and now will slide in to play with highly sought after swingman Brandon Robinson. Anderson is a big physical guard who has improved his handle and jumpshot throughout his high school career. Anderson will be relied upon to produce in the ultra-competitive Region 3-AAAAAA, which is home to state runner up Pebblebrook, the reloaded Westlake Lions and the talented young Langston Hughes Panthers. Anderson was an honorable mention selection in Region 4-AAA as a sophomore in 2014 and has the upside to garner similar honors or better his senior season.

Collins Hill picked up some great size inside to help add to a team that could use some toughness in the low post. Chris Parks and AJ Cheeseman will bring just that. Parks averaged 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds as a freshman with Lanier. Cheeseman knows Collins Hill well, as his Duluth Wildcats split a pair with the Eagles during the Region 7 regular season. Cheeseman averaged 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds as a junior.

The Eagles also nabbed Teshaun Hightower from AAA Towers High School. The combo guard has great athleticism and can become a big time scorer in the right system. Last season as a junior he averaged over 12 points per game and has yet to reach his ceiling. He has nice lift on his jumper and should start to rack up the scholarship offers with a productive senior season. Hightower broke out with a big summer circuit and was originally set to join Grayson High School before settling on Collins Hill.

Shiloh added some dynamic players to its backcourt in Darnell Rogers and Greg James. Rogers averaged over 28 points per game in South Carolina and became a YouTube sensation for his acrobatic and jaw dropping play as the smallest player on the floor. He played with new teammate Josh Okogie on the AAU circuit on Team CP3 and decided to follow him to Georgia to play their senior season together. James is strong outside shooter with nice size and is receiving looks from low to mid-major programs.

The Generals added another dynamic guard with Division-One talent in Khalil Richard. A strong guard who banged home 45% of his three-point attempts last season, Richard announced on Sept. 15 that he committed to Siena. At St. Frances Academy as a junior he averaged 12.9 points per game and 3.0 assists. He joins Darnell Rogers and Greg James at Shiloh, a team that lost just one game in-state as they finished 28-4.

Hillgrove took a major blow in losing Collin Sexton. The rising junior was a major piece to Hillgrove’s 23-win season and was a big-game performer when the Hawks needed him the most. He will join last season’s state runner up Pebblebrook, who needs to reload after losing Ty Hudson (Clemson), Derek Ogbeide (UGA), Trhae Mitchell and glue guy Kevin Murph. Sexton will team up with Auburn-bound point guard Jared Harper and will form one of the best back courts in the state.

The Pebblebrook Falcons swooped in late in the transfer scene and landed a potential game changer in the already deep Region 3-AAAAAA picture. Jatrious “JJ” Smith has transferred from E.E. Smith, NC. The four-star guard who is a Top 50 national recruit, was originally slated to play at Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina according to the Fayetteville Observer , but today (10/7) Shun Williams of OnTheRadarHoops broke the news that the ultra-talented scorer is coming to Georgia. Last season as a sophomore he averaged 19.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. ACC and SEC schools have been hot after the guard, who gets to the line at will, averaging almost six freethrow attempts a game last year. Smith played with the Southern Stampede of the EYBL which sported the likes of Al Durham (Berkmar) and Jay Estime and Zach Cooks who transferred to Berkmar to play with Durham this year. The addition of Smith makes Pebblebrook the owner of arguably the most talented backcourt in a a state that has seen the balance of power shift with each move. Smith, Jared Harper (Auburn) and Hillgrove transfer Collin Sexton are a lethal trio for coach George Washington.

The big winner of all this moving-and-shaking has to be Milton, who vaults itself back into state prominence if all the pieces come together. Kendrick Summerour brings his slick And-1 type handles to the Eagles after averaging 14.1 points and 4.1 assists as a sophomore at Kell. Justin Brown averaged 15.1 points a night as a freshman at Northview, while Kyrin Galloway brings size inside. This new trio will team-up with Harvard bound big man Chris Lewis and the rapidly improving Alex O’Connell.

Although Milton added a plethora of talent this offseason, they also lost some key pieces that saw a lot of time on the court last year. Senior Keishon Kershaw and junior David Swillum will bring their abilities to Alpharetta. Kershaw started half the season for the Eagles and provides energy on the perimeter. Swillum led the JV team in scoring and has been groomed to make a contribution right away in his first season playing full-time on varsity. Fellow junior DJ Young has left for first-year school Discovery and should be thrust into a role which will see him as a primary option on offense. When he gets the opportunity to set his feet, Young can be lethal from outside with his three-point stroke.

Wheeler has added the younger brother of NBA’er and former Norcross star Al-Farouq Aminu. Al-Wajid is a 6-foot-6 forward with long arms which will help Wheeler’s defense right away in both the passing lanes and on the interior. Now a senior, as a sophomore Aminu averaged 9.4 points, 9.0 and 1.8 blocks per game at Coral Gables, FL.

The Wildcats also picked up four-star forward Romello White, late into the transfer scene. Initially, it was being reported by sources that White, who started his high school career at Peachtree Ridge, would be back with the Lions, but he indeed has landed with Wheeler. @CoryintheSource looked like the first to break it, and had his tweet retweeted by White himself. On Sept. 14, Shun Williams of OnTheRadarHoops tweeted that Iowa State was at Wheeler to see both Darius Perry and White work out. White committed to Tennessee on Jan. 5, but later de-committed on April 14 after the coaching change.

Berkmar could be in line for a resurgence this season behind junior guard Al Durham and three important transfers. Guards Zach Cooks (Norcross) and Jay Estime (Peachtree Ridge) should revamp the Patriots backcourt. Both are juniors and can knock down the three-ball. Cooks is a quick little point guard who can push tempo and find the open man. Estime averaged over 10 points per game and led the Lions in three-pointers made last year. The perimeter should be a strength for the Patriots, but the interior got a major boost as well adding big man Robert Hill Jr., who comes over from Duluth. Hill stands 6-foot-9 and has started to blossom into a reliable low post presence. Two years ago Hill, who is also training to become a pilot, moved in halfway through the season and had to sit out. With Obinna Ofodile and A.J. Cheeseman getting the majority of the minutes inside in 2014 at Duluth, Hill’s move to Berkmar should see him take on a major role as a top option in the low post for coach Greg Phillips.

East Coweta suffered through an abysmal 1-25 season last year, but new head coach Royal Maxwell will have a nice addition to work with in the powerful Region 3. Elafayette Stone, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Copperas Cove, TX, will be asked to be the focal point for the Indian offense this upcoming season. Stone is a true back-to-the-basket post player and uses his 245-pound frame to carve out space down low. Stone has soft hands and is an efficient rebounder with the potential to become a double-double machine.

The Rest of the State Impact Transfers:

Aaron Augustin averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists for Peachtree Ridge a year ago, but now teams up with UConn-commit Alterique Gilbert at Class AAAAA power Miller Grove to form yet another great Peach State backcourt.

Tae Hardy will join Gilbert and Augustin in a now crowded, but loaded backcourt. He comes from Southwest DeKalb where he averaged 16.5 points per game last year as a sophomore.

A third guard has landed at Miller Grove in Colin Young. Young was a part of the break out Laney Wildcats who won 29 games and put together the most impressive resume in all of the state with wins over the likes of Morgan County, Pebblebrook, Norcross and eventual state champ Jenkins last year. The 6-foot-3 guard was named Region 3-AAA Second Team after pitching in 11 points per game. Young is a knockdown shooter who led the Wildcats with 49 threes, connecting at a 46% clip. He will get plenty of opportunities to spot up with Gilbert and Augustin running the show up top.

McIntosh, who has blossomed into a Class AAAAA power after a 29-1 record last year, returns 10 players including the Chiefs’ top four scorers. 2015-16 will be the season the Chiefs make a deep run into the playoffs after adding Isaac Kellum. The senior averaged 13.8 points per game at neighboring Fayette County High School and will slide into the starting three spot. He brings great athleticism and may be the missing piece needed for the Chiefs to capture their first ever state championship.

Houston County continues to trend upwards after adding Marquis Traylor from Knob Noster High School in Missouri. The Bears finished the regular season 0-7 in Region 2-AAAAA, but stunned cross-region foe Grovetown (17-7, 9-1) in the region tournament and sent the Warriors home early without a state playoff berth. The Bears featured just four seniors last year and Traylor should help with his athleticism. As a junior he averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while showing off his hops, blocking 1.3 shots per game.

After a 13-13 regular season in Class AAAAA, Academy of Richmond County (ARC) returns some good pieces, but the best might have come via transfer in Madison Williams. At 6-foot-3, Williams is an athletic combo guard that joins the program after starring at Augusta Christian. An ability to get to the rim and nice range on his jumper makes Williams a high-scoring guard with a lot of mid-major interest. He will be expected to take the reigns of the Musketeers offense and lead them into the state playoffs after missing out a year ago.

Jacara Cross’ move from Cedar Grove to Lithonia makes the Bulldogs one of the top dogs in AAAA.  Couple him with Tyleen Patterson, Rodney Chatman and Tyheem Freeman and you have a dynamic team that already is coming off a 27-win season.

Alex Jones graded out as one of the best freshmen in the state last year and was named AAAAAA Freshman of the Year by HoopSeen. He helped lead Alpharetta to a 25-6 record and 18-0 Region 6 record. The floor general averaged a double-double in points and assists and was a lock down defender on the perimeter. Jones will fill in for Tre Hansbrough, who signed to play at Tennessee Tech after averaging 23 points per game his senior season at Buford.

Kris Gardner will bring stability to the Westover backcourt this season after transferring from 6A Lee County. In his freshman season Gardner was named All-Region 1AAAAAA First Team. Now at the AAAA level, Gardner brings strong ball handling and decision making to a Westover team that was bounced in the first round of the state playoffs last year.

Griffin (20-8 in 2014) has suffered a big loss in its hope to reach the AAAA playoffs for the second straight season. The Potter’s House, FL has struck again and plucked another fine young talent out of the state of Georgia in rising sophomore Corderius Hastings. The talented guard averaged 15.1 points per game along with 4.8 assists and 3.9 steals. The shifty guard can bang home the three and get to the rack on offense while supplying sticky defense to ball handlers. He joins Ric’Quail Smoot, a 6-foot-8 Butler transfer, in Florida. Smoot is a bruiser inside that finishes well around the rim. He averaged nearly a double-double last season and has improved his jump shot, showing a feathery touch around the baseline. The Potter’s House was 13-10 last year while playing a national schedule as a part of the Sunshine Independent league.

A pair of guards should improve backcourts in AAA. Lamont Smith joins super sophomore Drue Drinnon for East Jackson while Zion Williams replaces Jenkins graduate Eric Johnson, who hit the game winner to lift the Warriors to a state championship last season with just seconds left. Williams averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 assists as a sophomore.

In a turn of events, Travis Anderson has landed at East Jackson after originally going to Grayson after a successful season at Holy Innocents’ which led to the playmaking guard being named by HoopSeen as the Class AA Freshman of the Year. Anderson proved he could score and pass at a high-rate and was tabbed to make Grayson a contender in Region 8-AAAAAA with Austin Dukes and Alphonso Willis. Instead, after playing with Grayson this year in the HoopSeen Fall League, today (10/5/15) Shun Williams of OnTheRadarHoops broke the news that the talented guard will be teaming up with Drue Drinnon and Buford transfer Lamont Smith in the Eagles’ backcourt. The addition automatically makes East Jackson a player to make a deep run in state if the front court can be productive as well.

Dawson County landed a huge player with big time upside in Gabe Bryant. The 6-foot-8 big man comes from South Carolina and will make an immediate impact with the Tigers, who won just 7 games last season (7-19). Bryant protects the paint with ease and can rebound outside of his zone. His offense has continued to improve and he will enter Dawsonville as the Tigers’ go-to guy on day one.

The dynamic Nick Hargrove Jr. will be given the keys to the car to try and drive Southwest High School to its first winning record since 2009-10. While at Bible Baptist Christian in Hampton, Georgia, Hargrove Jr. did everything. The 6-foot junior averaged 30.6 points per game, 9.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 6.1 steals. Hargrove cracked 40 points three times and will now bring his free-scoring mentality to the GHSA ranks. He definitely is a player to keep an eye on and may quickly become a fan favorite in Middle Georgia.

Isaiah Kelly provides Pace head coach Demetrius Smith with an embarrassment of riches inside. Kelly will join top nationally ranked big man Wendell Carter Jr. and will likely give the Knights a say when it comes to the state championship. As a freshman, he averaged 16.2 points and 10.5 rebounds.

Class AA Thomasville landed a key piece to add with Jordan Willis and the 22-9 Bulldogs who fell to eventual state runner-up Crawford County 80-65 in the quarterfinals after being tied 47-47 heading into the final frame. Alex Perry is a long, versatile forward who can stretch the floor and score inside. Perry averaged over 17 points and 10 rebounds last season as a junior at Maclay High School in Tallahassee, FL. He joins Willis, a strong point guard that averaged more than 14 points per game last year.

Dual sport star Anthony Showell averaged 16.6 points per game for Duluth last season and suits up alongside 5-star guard Kobi Simmons.

Aquinas suffered a major loss with the transfer of SanAntonio Brinson. The long senior has the ability to play 1-4 and has a unique skill set that can blend into any system. At first there were rumblings he would head to Thomson, but instead he landed at 22ft Academy in South Carolina. Now, as of 9-21-2015, SanAntonio went to Twitter to announce that he is indeed heading to Thomson for good after spending time with the 22ft program this offseason. Brinson is an interesting prospect who should see a major bump in his recruitment now that he is playing on a bigger stage with more exposure. He has improved his range and handle and is coming off an All-State Honorable Mention campaign in 2014. Thomson is coming off an 8-21 record and will turn the keys over to Brinson to get the Bulldogs back into the postseason. In 2013-14, Thomson lost in the second round of the state playoffs and finished 19-5.