AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 29
Monday, January 29, 2007
Who’s No. 1? Let the debate begin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He blogs about statewide preps, whether you like it or not.
It’ll never happen, but wouldn’t it be something to have an all-classification champion in basketball?
Depth plays such a critical role in football, where teams with deeper rosters can use them to wear down thinner teams with several players working both sides of the ball. But there’s much less disparity between the deepest rosters and the thinnest in basketball.
One star player makes a huge difference. Two working in tandem can put a program on par with the state’s best.
That’s why a few years ago, Southwest Atlanta Christian — a powerhouse among the smallest schools in the state — could hold its own with anybody from Class AAAAA on down. It had one future NBA star, Dwight Howard, and another who appears well on the way in Javaris Crittenton.
That’s why there’s a spirited debate among who the state’s best is right now. Is it Class AAAAA’s top dog, Norcross, with Gani Lawal and Al-Farouq Aminu? Or is it Class AAAA’s runaway No. 1, Columbia, with Lance Storrs and Jeremy Price?
Could Wheeler, a stunning 71-54 loser to Marietta over the weekend, still be a part of the argument, given its three AAAAA championships over the past five years? And what of Dunwoody (AAA), Thomasville (AA) and Wilkinson County (A), consensus No. 1s in the smallest three classes?
If you can have separate championships in wrestling - first for duals, then for traditional - it would seem a small thing to tack on an extra weekend for an all-classification basketball throwdown. But don’t hold your breath waiting for it.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Mad Maxie
Recruiting: How much is too much?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Johnny Notalent just received a phone call from a friend who is on the team at Tech State Junior College. He said that he told his coach about Johnny and thinks T.S.J.C. is going to ask him to walk-on. Alert the press.
AJC.com’s recruiting blog just got 10,000 more hits.
People eat recruiting stuff up, and I’m not sure why.
As head of the Bob Stoops fan club, of course, I’m interested in who’s going to be the next Adrian Peterson. And I also enjoy knowing where the local high school athletes are headed. But talk about overkill.
Recruiting web sites have become big business, and they’re scary good at getting kids to call them first. A couple writers at this week’s Senior Bowl suggested dot.com’s are too good at breaking the news, insinuating that gifts and or “donations” might be exchanging hands.
Personally, I think the recruiting sites are just outworking everyone and aren’t ashamed to bother a teenager every day all day. But I wouldn’t put it past an overzealous reporter to do whatever it takes to make sure Johnny Notalent calls them first with his decision to de-commit from T.S.J.C. Miss too many big stories like that one and your job could be at risk.
So who’s at fault, if anyone? As long as there is a massive interest in recruiting, the media will attempt to provide the information. But how much is too much? Is there anything wrong with the interest or coverage of recruiting?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: David Purdum
Norcross-Columbia? Let’s make it happen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are only two weeks left in the regular season, and then the fun begins. The playoffs will be unfolding across the state, finishing with the crowning of 10 state champions.
If you are a true basketball fan, you love to see the best teams battle. It is a shame that the state’s two premier teams will not meet this season.
As Norcross enters as the heavy favorite to win the AAAAA title, Columbia will be going for the big trophy in AAAA. Twice they’ve played in the same showcases on national television — once at Georgia Tech, and again at Norcross in the PrimeTime Shootout.
Under the same roof. On the same court. But unfortunately, not in the same game.
Since the schools can’t add a game to their schedule this late, a better suggestion would be to ditch one of their remaining contests to make room for the ultimate throwdown.
Norcross has three regular season games left against North Forsyth (Tuesday), Mill Creek (Friday) and Duluth (Feb. 9). The nationally ranked Blue Devils have outscored those teams 248-108 in earlier matchups.
Columbia’s remaining schedule is Washington (Friday), St. Pius (Feb. 6) and Marist (Feb. 9). The nationally ranked Eagles beat Washington 56-31 earlier and have yet to play St. Pius and Marist.
Friday seems like a good date for both. Let Mill Creek, which lost 84-51 to Norcross earlier, play Washington in the opener of a doubleheader featuring Norcross and Columbia. The four teams should get together quickly, settle on a location and get it on.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak
