AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 30
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Favors has upward trajectory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At 6 feet 7-1/2, with arms as long as skis and footwork like a tap dancer, Derrick Favors received many an underhanded offer to transfer from South Atlanta. He refused, which says a lot about the character of this 15-year-old basketball meteor.
Instead of even considering the overtures, Favors held firm to his convictions.
“I wanted to stay in my community,” he said. “And with my friends.”
It’s OK to applaud such devotion.
While you’re doing that, cheer his immense talent and potential, too. In his first game after missing two because of an elbow infection, Favors did not have to show too much in the Hornets’ pedestrian 78-69 victory at Towers on Tuesday night.
But he displayed enough to confirm why he is considered among the top two or three sophomores in the nation.
He scored on deft moves in the post over much smaller opponents and showed keen timing in rejecting a handful of shots. Truthfully, it was not an inspired effort, but it was enough to help South Atlanta raise its record to 17-4.
Favors is favored to be the AJC player of year come 2009. In between now and then, he’s going to dazzle with inside maneuvers, sweet 15-foot jump shots and power dunks.
Ask him if he patterns his game after the NBA’s Tim Duncan, whose footwork is at the heart of his low-post dominance, Favors offered a polite, “No. Amare Stoudemire.”
Fair enough. But, truth be told, Favors — who is being recruited by Georgia Tech, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Clemson, et al. — has to get stronger and become more aggressive to ascend to Stoudemire’s level, which surely he has the potential to do.
Michael Reddick is perhaps the only coach who can look Favors eye-to-eye, and he would put his player up man-for-man against anyone around. “Senior, junior, whatever,” Reddick said. “He’s just a great kid with great character. A good student and a great player. He’s been working out with me since the eighth grade, so I’ve seen the development.”
The development of South’s program could have been stunted this year, but Reddick and his staff have held it together. Their school is being renovated, so the team has been displaced all the way to Perry Boulevard in northwest Atlanta — 20 miles from home.
They are forced to catch MARTA for an hour-plus journey home after practice. “It’s not easy,” Favors said, “but we do it.”
Reddick has found the inconvenience to be a vehicle for his team uniting. “Because they catch the bus home so late together, they have bonded so closely,” he said. “We’d rather it be a normal situation, but I think it will help us in the long run.”
As long as Favors is healthy, it stands to reason South Atlanta will make a long run in the state tournament. Reddick, who lost four players with the move away from the original school, can rely on guard Deron Durham, who increased his scoring average by 11 points from last year to 14.
There’s also Michael Nance, the point guard and floor leader, Robert Jones, who averages nine rebounds after barely playing on JV last year, and Bernard Kelly, a 6-3 “pure athlete” whose energy ignites the team.
“It’s not just me; we have a good team,” Favors said. “I think we can — as long was we stay focused. That’s why I’m here. To win it for my community.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Metro Atlanta dominating on the court
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Almost yearly, there is a great debate that expands the entire state: which part of Georgia plays the best football?
The folks from middle and south Georgia make compelling arguments for their regions. Metro Atlanta does likewise. In the end, there hardly is a confirmed answer.
But there is a definitive answer on the same question about basketball. It’s the Atlanta area by a landslide.
Of the 10 combined classifications between boys and girls, a team from these parts holds the No. 1 spot in seven. And in the three polls a team from Atlanta does not hold the top position, there are three in the top 10.
Of course, this is not to say there are not talented players and teams all over Georgia. That’s the beauty of prep hoops; a team like Beach can come up here in the state tournament and show itself to be full of talented athletes led by good coaches.
Remember the recent run Randolph-Clay had of a mind-boggling state-record 90 straight wins before Javaris Crittenton and Southwest Atlanta Christian stopped it in the state semifinals last year?
So, the talent is spread throughout Georgia. But unlike football, there is no debate about where the strength of the sport lies — in metro Atlanta.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Girls - Fab Frosh
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s my all-freshman team for Gwinnett:
Caroline Adams, F, Providence: Could break Becca Lightfoot’s records
Lauren Coleman, F, Parkview: Excellent rebounder
Briana Jordan, G, Greater Atlanta Christian: Extremely quick, has star potential
Aysia McKenzie, G, Wesleyan: Good distributor sees floor well
Chaney Means, G, Greater Atlanta Christian: Strong athlete with nice pullup jumper
What do you think of my choices? Who did I leave out?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Gwinnett Hoops
GSWA Basketball Poll: Jan. 30
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Only 13 more days left until the region tournaments begin and several teams are beginning to make their presence known. Marietta is no longer flying under the radar. A 17-point win over Wheeler was what the Blue Devils needed to bolt to No. 8 in this week’s Class AAAAA poll. The Blue Devils will get a big test tonight (Tuesday) when they take on a surging Harrison squad that has already beaten Marietta once this season. Another hot team is Centennial, which enters the rankings at No. 9 after wins over ranked teams Milton and Chattahoochee. On the girls’ side, Westlake rides an eight-game winning streak to the No. 8 ranking in AAAA. North Cobb’s girls are also on a hot streak with wins over ranked McEachern and Marietta.
Who’s hot, who’s not - you tell us. Submit your comments below.
Georgia Sportswriters Association Basketball Poll
(Number in parenthesis is first place votes)
Girls
Class AAAAA
1: Collins Hill (9)
2: Stephenson
3: South Gwinnett
4: Mill Creek
5: McEachern
6: Campbell
7: Marietta
8: Berkmar
9: North Cobb
10: Warner Robins
Others receiving votes: Etowah, Camden County, Morrow, Beach, Sprayberry..
Class AAAA
1: St. Pius (6)
2: Greenbrier (2)
3: Northside-Warner Robins (1)
4: Mays
5: Marist
6: Clarke Central
7: Dalton
8: Westlake
9: Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
10: Cherokee
Others receiving votes: Westside-Macon, North Clayton, Sequoyah, Jonesboro, Jones County.
Class AAA
1: Southwest-Macon (7)
2: Carrollton (2)
3: Kendrick
4: East Hall
5: Hephzibah
6: Hardaway
7: Worth Co.
8: Towers
9: Franklin Co.
10: Sandy Creek
Others receiving votes: Northeast-Macon, Liberty Co., Dougherty, West Laurens.
Class AA
1: Greater Atlanta Christian (8)
2: Avondale
3: Randolph-Clay (1)
4: Wesleyan
5: McIntosh County Academy
6: Laney
7: Rutland
8: Screven Co.
9: Paideia
10: Armuchee
Others receiving votes: Model, Dodge Co., Lafayette.
Class A
1: Landmark Christian (9)
2: Southwest Atlanta Christian
3: Calhoun Co.
4: Calvary Day
5: Bowdon
6: Hancock Central
7: Truetlen
8: Hebron Christian
9: Savannah Country Day
10: Hawkinsville
Others receiving votes: St. Francis, Greenville, Towns Co., Gordon Lee, Jefferson, Lincoln Co., Echols Co., Portal.
Boys
Class AAAAA
1: Norcross (9)
2: Meadowcreek
3: Beach
4: Peachtree Ridge
5: Wheeler
6: McEachern
7: Tri-Cities
8: Marietta
9: Centennial
10: Camden Co.
Others receiving votes: Johnson-Savannah, Chattahoochee.
Class AAAA
1: Columbia (10)
2: Cedar Shoals
3: Tucker
4: Cherokee
5: Lithia Springs
6: Stone Mountain
7: Riverdale
8: Fayette Co.
9: North Clayton
10: Stockbridge
Others receiving votes: Westlake, Jonesboro, Greenbrier, Ware Co., Pebblebrook, Miller Grove.
Class AAA
1: Dunwoody (9)
2: East Hall
3: Southside
4: Carver-Columbus
5: Hart Co.
6: Jordan
7: Northside-Columbus
8: Glenn Hills and South Atlanta (tie)
10: Washington Co. and Westover (tie)
Others receiving votes: Northeast-Macon, Monroe-Albany, Franklin Co., Burke Co.
Class AA
1: Thomasville (9)
2: Buford
3: Swainsboro
4: Randolph-Clay
5: Decatur
6: Wesleyan
7: Coosa
8: Dodge Co.
9: Darlington
10: Manchester
Others receiving votes: Dawson Co., Appling Co., Tattnall Co., Josey, Union Co.
Class A
1: Wilkinson Co. (9)
2: Calvary Day
3: Whitefield Academy
4: Turner Co.
5: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
6: Wilcox Co.
7: Providence Christian
8: Taylor Co.
9: Jefferson
10: St. Francis
Others receiving votes: Bremen, Hancock Central, Trion, Chattahoochee Co., Portal, Aquinas, Hawkinsville.
Note: This list compiled by Derrick Mahone each week from GSWA voting results
With many of the ranked teams meeting this week, there is bound to be a big shakeup in next week’s rankings. What’s your take on this week’s poll? Who is being overlooked? Who shouldn’t be here at all? Who’s got game? Who’s got lame? Hoops talk starts now.
Permalink | Comments (67) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball rankings
