AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 24
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Take Ten: Best HS point guards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here at Take Ten, we have a special appreciation for the little guy. Or the big guy who can handle the rock like a little guy. Scanning the NBA and WNBA, there’s a place in our hearts for floor generals Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Jameer Nelson and Steve Nash. We look for the same in the high school ranks. We like those who can play tough perimeter defense, set the tempo offensively, can knock down jump shots and are precise distributors of the ball. So here they are: Ten of the state’s best male and female point guards, in alphabetical order of course. Read ‘em, and get at us.
BOYS
Kevin Anderson, Peachtree Ridge: Proving that classifications don’t mean a whole lot in basketball, the senior transferred from Class A Whitefield Academy where he led the Wolfpack to the state finals last season. His play is key to the Lions’ title hopes.
Adam Callaway, South Cobb: Steady, solid, he was the most underrated player on the Eagles’ Final Four squad last season. Tenacious defender and smart ballhandler.
Junard Hartley, Whitefield Academy: Considered by many to be the top point guard in Cobb County, the 6-foot-3 senior averages 15 points, six assists and six rebounds a game.
Andre Hicks, Lovett: The 5-foot-9 junior is a quick, strong athlete who is the catalyst for the Lions’ basketball and football teams. The hoop squad started out 1-7 while Hicks was playing basketball. It is 9-2 since he joined the fight.
Chris Kupets, Cedar Shoals: Floor leader is also one of the top scorers for the 16-1 Jaguars, ranked third in Class AAA. A frequent visitor of the 20 (points) and 10 (assists) Club.
Brandon Nolley, Hancock Central: A big-time football recruit, the senior made a name for himself last season by playing well against former SACA standout and current Georgia Tech starter, Javaris Crittenton. Sees the floor well and runs the team extremely well.
Lance Storrs, Columbia: Three-year starter who has committed to Georgia Tech is the consummate point guard. Good shooter, solid ball handler and decision maker. Doesn’t commit turnovers.
Zac Swansey, Dunwoody: One of the top scorers all time for the Wildcats, the senior Georgia signee is one of the state’s deadliest perimeter shooters. He is also a deft ball handler and decision maker.
Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove: Just a sophomore, the 6-foot-2 floor leader is a big reason the three-year old Wolverine program is already holding its own with Columbia, Stone Mountain and Tucker in Region 6AAAA.
Dustin Ware, North Cobb Christian (in the Georgia Independent Schools Association): A GISA player makes the list? The junior is obviously good enough to Dennis Felton (he has committed to Georgia already), so he’s good enough for Top 10.
GIRLS
Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan: The 6-foot sophomore is a big reason why the Wolves are in the hunt to defend their Class A state title.
Kendra Berry, Westover: The 5-foot-10 senior is one of the state’s best all-around backcourt players.
Ashlie Billingslea, Stephenson: Keeping everybody happy on a team as talented as the undefeated Jaguars can’t be easy. The South Carolina signee has accomplished this and managed to shine on her own as well.
Christian Hunnicutt, Landmark Christian: The Mundy’s Mill transfer is the cornerstone of the War Eagles’ team, ranked No. 1 in Class A.
Morgan Jennings, Douglass: The Astros have stormed to respectability over the past two seasons. An infusion of young, talented players like Jennings, a junior, is a big reason for the program’s rebirth.
Tammy Lanier, Westlake: The senior is the clear leader of a Lion team that is 17-2 and streaking toward a Region 4-AAAA crown and a state playoff berth.
Angelica Mealing, Avondale: Steady floor general led the Blue Devils to the Class AAA championship last season. The senior has battled injuries all year this season but should be ready for the title run.
Aamira Terry, W.D. Mohammed: Hofstra signee is a fiery competitor, leading a team of underclassmen. She has signed with Hofstra University.
Morgan Toles, St. Pius: Someone has to figure out a way to get the ball inside to 6-foot-6 All-American center Kelley Cain. Toles, just a sophomore, and a foot shorter than Cain, keeps doing it.
Alex Winchell, South Gwinnett: Knocking off Collins Hill or Stephenson to win a Class AAAAA state title won’t be easy. The 5-foot-7 senior will try to get it done.
Worthy of mention:
Pierre Jordan, Dunwoody: The 6-foot junior is already a shade taller than his older brother, Kierre, who led the Wildcats to the Class AAA state title last season. Pierre shares the reigns of this year’s team with Swansey.
Kiara Weems, North Clayton: At 5-foot-10, he’s not the tallest point guard in the state, but he’s one of the most complete. He does it all and has the Eagles in the hunt for a region title and state playoff berth.
Go on. Take Ten. Check Seth’s list and tell us if these guards’ game is MVP like Steve Nash. Then rip us for shamelessly quoting a Nelly Furtado lyric to get Take Ten Nation (that’s you) sending in comments.
Take Gwin: Listmania goes Gwinnett. See what Take Gwin is up to each week.
Permalink | Comments (50) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Take Ten: Greatest Gwinnett athletes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s note: Gwinnett Is Great. It’s not just a motto; it’s fact. So when we here at Take Ten saw the potential for opening a field office in Gwinnett, we knew we had to find the right guy to head up our new Take Gwin division. That man is David Purdum, who dutifully sent us this week’s list of his picks for the ten greatest-ever Gwinnett athletes before hightailing it out of town. We knew he was a wise man.
The 10 Greatest Gwinnett Athletes
10: Maya Moore (Collins Hill): UConn-bound, she’ll be making news for years to come.
9: Louis Williams (South Gwinnett): Immense talent hasn’t been able to overcome size limitations in the NBA. But, man, was he great at South.
8: Jason Elam (Brookwood): Only NFL player to score at least 100 points in 14 consecutive seasons.
7: Amanda Weir (Brookwood): Competed in Athens Olympics and set national record in 100-meter freestyle.
6: David Greene (South Gwinnett): College football’s all-time winningest quarterback was third-round pick by the Seahawks.
5: Josh Wolff (Parkview): One of the fastest members of the U.S. National soccer team.
4: Brian McCann (Duluth): Always seems to take a backseat to Francoeur, but he made the All-Star game first.
3: David Pollack (Shiloh): A dominant force at Georgia, the Bengals snatched him up in the first round.
2: Jeff Francoeur (Parkview): From Parkview to the cover of Sports Illustrated, Frenchy’s meteoric rise has been amazing.
1: George Rogers (Duluth): Heisman trophy winner at South Carolina struggled with off-the-field problems.
Go on. Take Ten, Gwin. Who’s missing from this list? Who’s on it and shouldn’t be? Have at it, y’all.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: David Purdum, Take Ten: GWX
