Prep Zone

By Phillip

February 21, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

Columbia Is the best boys B-Ball team in Georgia History. They’re not only going to win the title this year and also next year to make in three in a row. that is going to gurantee them as being the top boys B-Ball team in GA history.

By thehillisreal

February 22, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this

What! Columbia should not even be in the conversation! I think that Southwest Atlanta (MAYS) teams is 1b to SW Macon 79 team.That team include Gerald Wilkins,Joey Browner.The game between the two was like watching dunkfest; I can’t remember anybody sitting down.Crowd was crazy!The score was high between the two with a loss going to SW ATL by no more than 2 difference.By the way SW ATL were STATE CHAMPIONS that year with a 33-1 record w/coach David Jones.The hill is real,MAYS down right now but they be back next year.By the why the question should be,Is Southwest Atlanta the best area in the state for basketball?Look at the state championships as well as,how many time since 1987 there team always in the final or final four.

By BEARMAN

February 22, 2007 4:46 AM | Link to this

1988 GRIFFIN TEAM WAS A GREAT TEAM WITH DARRIN HANCOCK, SINKFIELD,S.LOVE,FAVORS AND PARKS. GOOD TEAM WITH DEPTH. PLAYERS ON BENCH WHO COULD START FOR ANY TEAM IN STATE. UPSON LEE HAD A GREAT TEAM BACK IN 70’S. THAT SW MACON TEAM PROBABLY THE BEST EVER.

By TP JONES

February 22, 2007 6:56 AM | Link to this

THE BEST ALL WHITE TEAM WAS THE SYLVAN HIGH TEAM OF 1961-1962 MOST OF THEIR TEAM WENT ON TO PLAY COLLEGE BALL.

By Canedawg

February 22, 2007 7:46 AM | Link to this

That team from Westover (Albany) in the early 90’s was pretty good… I believe they won 4 straight AAA titles and I think the Wingfield? kid went on to Cincy for a year and then to the Sonics…

By Duke Blue Devil

February 22, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this

AJC please stop comparing the past with the present. It is easier to win back to back when you have a team that is comprised of an AAU team with players from different counties at one high school using one address.

I am a little bias towards Griffin, however the country schools have consistently dominated - SW Macon - Westover - Randolph Clay except for the old Douglass and Washington. Four years from now there will be no conversation of Norcross, Columbia, and Wheeler is already going backwards. Please ask the question to the present day schools, Before the big time players transferred into your district Did you even make it to the state tournament 4 years ago, and how far did you advance?

By John

February 22, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

You can’t leave out those Mitchell-Baker teams from the late 1990’s and early 2000. The year they beat Donnell Harvey and Randolph-Clay in the finals, they may have been the best in any class that year. Those teams deserve some mention.

By Keith

February 22, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

Marist in 1994. 32-0. #6 in the nation. This is the team that beat Lithonia… a.k.a. “the best team in the state in 1994”…. by 23 points in the state championship.

By Big Man

February 22, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

The teams of today do not compare to the teams of the past. Ron Bradley is a great coach, but he is too in awe of athleticism. Players today have great athleticism, but they lack a great understaning of the game. Fundamentals are at an all time low. As much as I love the current Columbia squad the 1979 SW Macon would kill them. The game is about putting the ball in the hole, not how high you can jump. Go back and look at NBA games from the 80’s and view a game today and you will see the difference in the game. I know those are not high school players, but it illustrates the erosion of individual BASKETBALL skilld and team skills. A few years ago Joe Forte from UNC was celebrated because he had a midrange game as is Rip Hamilton now. Who didn’t have a midrange game back in the day? I’m not even old, i’m in my 20’s. I just call it like it is.

By SD

February 22, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

Being that I am from Atlanta, I just like everyone else, tend to forget about South Georgia. Southwest Georgia by far has the best basketball talent in the state. Teams like Mitchell-Baker, Randolph-Clay, Westover(Albany), have had great teams that just don’t get the recognition because they are so far south. The 2001 Westover team led by Marcus Campbell and Greg Tinch, would have DESTROYED any team in the state of Georgia by 20 points. The Randolph-Clay team that set the record for consecutive wins would have beaten anyone in state. You can’t forget about the 2002 Marietta team with Patrick Ewing Jr., no one wanted to see them. The Westside(Augusta) team that had the likes of Ricky Moore and William Avery. Wilkinson County has also had some great teams. Not to say Columbia isn’t a great team, but until they beat an Oak Hill or Norcross even we will never know if they are among the greatest teams of all time. We all need to dig deeper and really see the greatest teams in the state.

By SD

February 22, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

Being that I am from Atlanta, I just like everyone else, tend to forget about South Georgia. Southwest Georgia by far has the best basketball talent in the state. Teams like Mitchell-Baker, Randolph-Clay, Westover(Albany), have had great teams that just don’t get the recognition because they are so far south. The 2001 Westover team led by Marcus Campbell and Greg Tinch, would have DESTROYED any team in the state of Georgia by 20 points. The Randolph-Clay team that set the record for consecutive wins would have beaten anyone in state. You can’t forget about the 2002 Marietta team with Patrick Ewing Jr., no one wanted to see them. The Westside(Augusta) team that had the likes of Ricky Moore and William Avery. Wilkinson County has also had some great teams. Not to say Columbia isn’t a great team, but until they beat an Oak Hill or Norcross even we will never know if they are among the greatest teams of all time. We all need to dig deeper and really see the greatest teams in the state.

By Antanasia Campbell

February 22, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

The teams that Westover had in the early 1990’s was straight with the likes of Greg Anderson,Antonio Smith,Andre Lewis,Leroy Davis,and of course Dontonio Wingfield who is the best high school player to play here in Albany! Then the 1998 State title team with Ravii Givens,Robert Hutchinson,Grady Caldwell,Melvin Harris and Greg Tinch was unreal and then the last state title in 2001 with Carey Goodson,Darrell Williams,Aaron Reed,Greg Tinch and 7-1 Marcus Campbell so the Westover Patriots are my choice 6 state titles in 12 years!

By PLAYMAKERS 101

February 22, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

You can’t compare teams from different era’s… Makes no sense, players are different and the system has changed also… The question should be who has the best overall BASKETBALL PROGRAM? What basketball program has been able to survive these changes and still thrive…

By Big Man

February 22, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Antanasia, the topic isn’t best program. Westover would definitely be near the top in that, but best team. The 98 and 01 teams were good, but not great. Maybe the best team from Dontonio’s time could be mentioned, but not program success over the long haul.

And SD, please, that 2001 Westover team would not have beaten every GA team by 20 points. Maybe they dominated their class like that, but Berkmar, Savannah, Marietta and a few other teams were pretty good. That is not even close to being the best Westover team. Randolph-Clay was very good during that streak. They were dominant. I would have liked to see them match up with some other teams in the state from that time. That 2002 Marietta team….Lakeside SAW them and sent them packing. How can you degrade Columbia’s accomplishments? They have beaten a couple of ranked opponents this year. Norcross didn’t beat Oak Hill.

Keith,

Stop it, Lithonia was not the best team in the state in 94. You must have played for them.

By woowoo

February 22, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

I had the pleasure of playing against and watching the SW MACON teams of old and to say they are the best ever is an understatement. I’ve seen both Columbia and Norcross play this year I even followed Columbia last yr. The matchups that SW MACON would have created would doom Columbia and Norcross.They could play defense score on anybody and just great team b-ball. I believe the Columbia team last year was better than this years team,the Decatur teams of the early 80’s was a team to be mentioned and u did not want to go the Decatur Rec and not ready to play u would get ran off the floor.

By woowoo

February 22, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

I had the pleasure of playing against and watching the SW MACON teams of old and to say they are the best ever is an understatement. I’ve seen both Columbia and Norcross play this year I even followed Columbia last yr. The matchups that SW MACON would have created would doom Columbia and Norcross.They could play defense score on anybody and just great team b-ball. I believe the Columbia team last year was better than this years team,the Decatur teams of the early 80’s was a team to be mentioned and u did not want to go the Decatur Rec and not ready to play u would get ran off the floor.

By woowoo

February 22, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

I had the pleasure of playing against and watching the SW MACON team of 79’ To say that is the best team ever is an understatement. They were great on defense and could score on anybody. The matchups would be a problem for Columbia and Norcross and i seen them both play the last 2 yrs. I think the Columbia team of last yr. is better than this years team. The Decatur teams of the early 80’s were also great teams and U didn’t want to go to the Decatur Rec without your A game it would be over

By woowoo

February 22, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

I had the pleasure of playing against and watching the SW MACON team of 79’ To say that is the best team ever is an understatement. They were great on defense and could score on anybody. The matchups would be a problem for Columbia and Norcross and i seen them both play the last 2 yrs. I think the Columbia team of last yr. is better than this years team. The Decatur teams of the early 80’s were also great teams and U didn’t want to go to the Decatur Rec without your A game it would be over

By Dave

February 22, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

I just love how Wheeler gets no respect, although they’ve won AAAAA three or four times in recent memory.

That great 2002 Marietta team? Wheeler outlasted them. That great 2005 North Gwinnett team? Beat them too. And Norcross? Yeah, been there, done that.

Wheeler always trips-up when favored, but always does well as the underdog getting no respect. So look for Wheeler to “upset” Norcross in a few days.

By the way AJC, your love for Gwinnett HS football is understandable, but as for HS basketball, the love should go to Cobb, morons.

By Fernandez Anderson

February 22, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

How can the 1976 West Fulton team be an honorable mention when in this very same paper on Feb 7, 2002 pages C 1&3 (Mark Bradley) the real debate was who was better the 1979 SW Macon team or the 1976 West Fulton team. Both teams went undefeated and won back to back State Championships. West Fulton was the last City of Atlanta team to go undefeated at a time when nearly all of the basketball powers were in Metro Atlanta and the exception being SW Macon. West Fulton won their games by an average margin of 29.5 points per game. They had the number one big man in the country in Rickey Brown (who was MVP of what is now the McDonalds All-America Game) and went on to become what is now a NBA lottery pick, Ken Hall who was a starting guard on the University of Pennsylvania 1979 Final Four team, Larry Sims who went on to play football at the University of Pittsburgh and the diminutive Donald Brock who was All-State in back to back years and the team MVP. That team was coached by Tevester Anderson who also won three State Championships is Mississippi (two in basketball and one in baseball). He coached 16 players that went on to play in the NBA (see AJC Sunday Feb 19, 2007 sports page 16). He is presently the head coach at Jackson State University.

I would encourage Mr. Holcomb when doing historical references to speak with Mr. Mark Bradley or Mr. Steve Figueroa to get more accurate information. Unlike SW Macon, West Fulton was not a school of nearly 6000 students (that would have been like combining the three best schools in Atlanta) nor were they like the schools of today that transfer in entire starting fives.

By SD

February 22, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

Being that I am from Atlanta, I just like everyone else, tend to forget about South Georgia. Southwest Georgia by far has the best basketball talent in the state. Teams like Mitchell-Baker, Randolph-Clay, Westover(Albany), have had great teams that just don’t get the recognition because they are so far south. The 2001 Westover team led by Marcus Campbell and Greg Tinch, would have DESTROYED any team in the state of Georgia by 20 points. The Randolph-Clay team that set the record for consecutive wins would have beaten anyone in state. You can’t forget about the 2002 Marietta team with Patrick Ewing Jr., no one wanted to see them. The Westside(Augusta) team that had the likes of Ricky Moore and William Avery. Wilkinson County has also had some great teams. Not to say Columbia isn’t a great team, but until they beat an Oak Hill or Norcross even we will never know if they are among the greatest teams of all time. We all need to dig deeper and really see the greatest teams in the state.

By MD

February 22, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

The 1983 and 84 Gainesville High teams won back to back state titles. I think they may have lost 2 games in 2 years. All 5 starters played college basketball. 2 played at Georgia (Pat Hamilton) and Cris Carpenter (football and baseball). Charles Earls played at Georgia Southern. The 2004-2005 East Hall team might be one of the best ever. They defeated Columbia, SWAC and Whitefield Academy all in the same year. They also won a big tournament in Charleston, SC. By the way, they also defeated Columbia last year. 7 players received scholarships, including Marquez Jackson (football at the Univ of Hawaii), Lee Coleman (football at Northwestern), Frank Davis (Tenn Tech) and Walter Hill (football/basketball at UGA). They finished ranked in the top 10 in USA today. Not bad for a AA team.

By Duke Blue Devil

February 22, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this

I was trying to comment as a basketball carnosourer not bias; however 1988 Griffin Bears traveled all over the USA played against Luther Wright, George Lynch, Kenny Anderson, Jimmy Jackson in a Christmas tournament in Myrtle Beach nevertheless came home and won a state championship with a spectacular Sophmore Player of the Year and let’s not mention everyone in Alexander Memorial Coliseum yelling Who Rock ? Who Rock? Hancock, Hancock. This team created an unbelievable atmosphere regardless of the gymnasium. People would drive miles regardless of the venue. Please do not discuss programs because James Martin left in 1993 after a second championship and Ferris Qualls has not missed a state tournament since and has also won a champinoship. That is a program that has survived the changes of basketball and around for the long haul.

By SD

February 22, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this

Being that I am fro Atlant, I just like everyone else, tend to forget about South Georgia. Southwest Georgia by far has the best basketball talent in the state. Teams line Mitchell-Baker, Randolph-clay, Westover(Albany), have had great teams that just don’t get the recognition because they are so far south. The 2001 Westover team led by Marcus Campbell and Greg Tinch, would have DESTORYED any team in the state of Georgia by 20 pts. The Randolph-Clay team that set the record for consecutive wins would have beaten anyone in state. You can’t forget about the 2002 Marietta team with Patrick Ewing Jr., no one wanted too see them. The Westside(Augusta) team the had the likes of Rickey Moore and William Avery. Wilkinson County has also had some great teams. Not to say that Columbia isn’t a great teamm, but until they beat an Oak Hill or Norcross even, we will never know if they are among the greatest teams of all time.

By Don

February 22, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

I saw the Beach team play back in 1967 at the Tech Coliseum vs. Decatur, and yes they were good, beating Decatur 52-50 for the state championship. Decatur returned the favor the following year by beating them by the same score. No one has mentioned the teams fielded by Roger Kaiser and Bob Reinhardt from Decatur. Truly a joy to watch!

By SD

February 22, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

To Dave, Wheeler does not stand a chance. The mighty Wheeler team couldn’t even beat Marietta. They have very weak guard play, and let’s face it, JJ is over rated! Norcross will beat them by 15pts.

By SD

February 22, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Big Man, don’t get me wrong Columbia is good. Do you really thing that they could beat Norcross? They probably couldn’t beat this years Meadowcreek team with Chris Allen.

P.S. no disrespect to Meadowcreek

By LARRY D

February 22, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

I saw that 1967 Beach-Decatur game. Great game in 68 also. DHS Won a state championship in 70. Also Decatur had a 50 game win streak in the early 80’s & one state championship. Who has done that in Georgia High School basketball.

By SD

February 22, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Larry D, Randolph-Clay set the record at like 82 or 83 games won consecutively and won a state title. This was no more than two years ago. FYI

By cj

February 22, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

lets not be blind to common sense here. i think we are all maybe in aw of those older teams but do you really think they’d be as dominant today as they were back then. lets be serious here. the game has changed trememdously since then. the players are much faster, stronger and much more skilled than they were then.

for example lets look at the NBA greats. would Wilt Chamberlain be as dominant now as he was back then. would the celtics have won all those back to back titles had they been playing todays teams. would UCLA have ran college ball today like they did then. Lets be serious here for once.

no to discredit the older teams, they should be mentioned as the some of the states best but how do you discredit the accomplishments of todays teams (columbia and norcross) with what they have done playing night in and night out against tougher competition than any of those teams played. i mean in columbias case winning 60+ and only losing twice over a 2 year span is a great accomplishment and something i dont think the great old teams would have done today against the players of today. and the same goes for norcross what they have done over the past 2 years against their comp is unmatched by the great teams of the past.

bottom line those past teams were great in their era but they were no where near as athletically gifted nor as skilled as todays players. 20 years form now we’ll be having this same discussion with the same results. the future talent level will be better than what we have today. so as of now todays teams are better.

as for the best of today i’d take columbia over norcross any day. two different styles of play. columbia is much more physical than norcross and play in a more physical region than norcross. i just dont think norcross could bang with columbia all game long. See what happened when they banged with PTR.

By cj

February 22, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

and for sd columbia would KILL meadow creek. Meadow creek is no better than what columbia plays night in and night out in their region (tucker and Stone Mountain). Did you see what columbia did to them and both of them have more than just one prolific scorer and an athlete like meadowcreek. those teams are loaded with athletes. check my last post as to why columbia would beat Norcross.

By Duke Blue Devil

February 22, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

CJ, you must be a young man because most of the teams talked about most of the teams the players are in there late 30’s and they would beat the Columbia and Norcross in there time frame and right now because of knowledege of the game. That Columbia team misses that point guard from last year and Lance has to handle that ball and awful lot to be a shooter but if a team slows the game down against either Norcross or Columbia and make the coaches beat you instead of the athletes they can be beaten any night. However most of the coaches don’t have players that are disciplined enough to slow it down and every team will continue to get blown out the gym.

Let us ask the question How many of these players have attended these schools more than two years? None of them, all junior college transfers programs. Anybody with talented players for two years will be successful not dominanting.

By Marietta 02 #15

February 22, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

PLEASE…by far Wheeler in 02 was not the best Marietta thrashed them twice not just at our house but yeah at their own place…as far as Lakeside goes that year….they came out and shot over 60% from the field and went on to get blasted by Wheeler…they played a very food game but in 02 i could careless who won we all know MARIETTA RAN THAT YEAR!! Wheeler’s lucky they landed in the bracket they did ask Lipscomb…he didnt want to see us!

By Todd Holcomb

February 22, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Just a couple of drive-by comments …

The West Fulton team of ‘76 that somebody referenced is one mentioned by all the long-time coaches of that era as being really special. David Jones, who coached SW Atlanta during that time, says Brock was the best guard he ever coached against, and this comes from a coach won won four state titles. Brock apparently didn’t play college ball due to grades. The star of the team was 6-10 center Rickey Brown, who played in the NBA.

Also, on the discussion of Beach, the ‘67 team did not play Decatur. The ‘67 team won its three state playoff games pretty easily, the last two by 39 points apiece. I think it was 2-3 years later when Beach lost to Decatur by a point.

And finally, the four of the best teams I’ve seen this decade didn’t win championships — 2002 Marietta, 2004 McEachern, 2005 South Gwinnett and 2006 Wheeler.

By Hammer to Fall

February 22, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

If I may:

Berrien (1971; 30-0). Held opponents to an average of 35 points per game. A good many newspapers touted them the best team in the state. All five starters earned scholarships. I think they would hold up now, as most schools try to outscore their opponent than outplay them.

Irwinville (1950-51; 37-0, 37-0) was way ahead of its time. They’d get rocked today, but they were putting up high scores when no one else did. Good defense, too. Not bad for a Class C school full of farm boys. They had the original huge winning streak, 76 games.

Beach (1967) might be the most legend of them all. They changed the game in the state. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Carver of Atlanta won a title a week later.

Westover and Southwest of Macon are right up at the top, too. Southwest is the most loaded team I’ve ever come across.

By Big Man

February 22, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

I think Columbia would beat Norcross, and definitely Meadowcreek. Norcross has no outside shooting and they would not have a size advantage against Columbia. Norcross is not deep enough. I am not saying that Columbia would dominate them, I just think Columbia is the better team.

And Dave, Wheeler has fielded some good teams, but they don’t stack up with the all time great teams. Maybe the last Wheeler champs(05) could, but if Delano plays in that game, South Gwinnett wins by 10. I have loved watching Wheeler over the years, but like I said before winning multiple championships does not make a great team, it makes you a great program, which Wheeler is. Your past accomplishments have nothing to do with your current team.

By donnie

February 22, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

You cannot match the teams now against the teams of the past because of the players that move and change schools at the request of parents, AAU and High School coaches. The past teams like SW Macon, were kids who grew up in the community together.GHSA now allows players to change schools during the semester, as long as the documentation is provided. Community kids now compete against superstar squads where kids are traveling from other districts to school to play ball, and no one does anything about it.

By cj

February 22, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Duke, it wouldnt make since first of all to say slow the game down against columbia because if you ever watched them play thats what they do to evreyone else. plus do you really think storrs is the only shooter on that team. you must have never seen them play in person. he’s not even the best player on their team this year or last year. i could possibly agree with you about doing that to norcross. as someone who has lived on columbia drive all my life i’ve watched a lot of columbia past and present and appearently you know nothing about columbia’s team and program. FYI 90% of columbias contribters have been there since 9th grade and 90% of last years team was home grown and came up thru the JV ranks. get your facts straight before you make general assumptions.

as far as those gus being in their late 30s, are you telling me the game hasn’t changed since 20 years ago. are you telling me players are not much faster, stronger, and more athletic than those 20 years ago. yeah knowledge of the game is key and helps a lot but when those guys were in high school im sure they were not much more informed about the game than todays kids are. because they made the same mental mistakes then as kids today make. trust me i’m old enough to have watch more than half of those guys play and i admit they were great THEN and NOW they would be good but they would not be as dominant as they were THEN.

By bluedevils

February 22, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

do you guys actually think that norcross lost that game. please….Were talkin about norcross the team thats bout to start a dynasty in georgia sports. p tree ridge ha i could bet that they get woooped by centinnial. Norcross will win state after man handle wheeler own chris allen with those sry bunch of losers from meadowcreek and maybe show marrietta what a real blue devil is and beach stay at savannah where u play basketball on dirt and u a tire for a hoop. Welcome to norcross basketball!!

By Dylan

February 22, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

uhmmm i think the baes georgia team had to be the 2003 wheeler team… i mean they only beat south gwinett and norcross that year oh and the went back to back in the biggest region… shurad curry david gozalez and chris hannah thats just 3 big time players on that years roster

By slick

February 22, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this

How bout dat Southside High Team in the early 90s with James Forrest in the late Tony Moore…..tight……great champs awesome

By Duncan Doeknutt

February 22, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

The best team was the 1958 Fargo Falcons…This all white team went to school til noon, picked cotton for several hours then walked 2 miles back to the gym for practice… They were lead by Cotton Pickens, Cotton Balz and Cotton Genn… They won the state 1A title that year over the Homerville Homeboys 34 -29.

By Duke Blue Devil

February 22, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

CJ I will leave you alone because I have seen them play and a lot of other Columbia teams play; always talented but cannot knock the door down until last year but you are bias to Columbia because that is your home team. This is jus an open blog about basketball in general. If I stay bias, I have seen a lot of James Martin teams at Griffin and Towers beat several of those old teams at Columbia. However please don’t make the statement that all those kids grew up in the area. Yes the game has changed in 10 years, because all the deals that are made at AAU tournaments on where kids will play basketball together next year, country schools do not have that choice. Good Luck to your team in the State.

By Todd Holcomb

February 22, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

Hey Dylan -

That was the 2005 Wheeler team you’re talking about, not 2003. Add don’t forget that team also had James Florence, now scoring 18 ppg at Mercer as a freshman. That was a very nice club.

The only thing about Wheeler is that there’s no obvious great team through the years, just a high standard of excellence year in, year out. The ‘05 team was probably the best, though.

By SD

February 22, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

Bluedevils you better hope Norcross gets past Wheeler. Because if they don’t they will have their hands full with Chris Allen. Not saying Norcross isn’t good, but if Chris Allen gets hot it will get real ugly real fast. People don’t call it “The Chris Allen Show” for no reason.

By Dasingle

February 22, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

The only High School Basketball team in the state of Georgia to win a NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS the 1979 SW-Macon team. No other team in Georgia can lay claim to that. Until you get a National Championship, there is no debate. It is what it is. Bench was just as good as starters and would have been starters on any other school’s team. Let this rest until someone else wins a National Championship.

By fanman

February 22, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

the best team in georgia high school history has to be the Marietta team which had Patrick Ewing Jr., Jazz Ross, Chris Ellis (son of Dale Ellis) only a few years back.

By Fernandez Anderson

February 22, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this

Todd, coach David Jones is absolutely right in his assessment and he and his trusted assistant coach Mack always said that about Brock; however I no for a fact coach Jones 74’ team wouldn’t want to have anything to do with the 76’ West Fulton team. In fact West Fulton should have won three straight State Championships only to lose in 75’ against SW Atlanta on a tip-in that was ruled no good. During this game Flanagan opened the game with 10 points in the quarter and failed to score the rest of the way while Brock went for 26 points and 13 assist. The 76’ West Fulton team in the statefinals only allowed Jones County to get the ball across half court 4 times while they scored a grand total of 6 poits for the second half. Both teams were undefeated and this may have been the only time that I can recall where both finalist were undefeated. Jones County was lead by future High School and College All-American and Olympian Al Wood.

Coach David Jones was and is a great coach and there were numerous battles throughout the years and great friendships and respect by all who participated.

By D

February 22, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

By far 1979 Southwest Macon team was the best ever. They defeated crosstown rival Northeast Macon five times (their only loses) that year including the state championship. The Northeast team probably would be considered if they could have beaten Southwest. Southwest played defense, could run, shoot, jump and had a bench. No way any of these recent teams could handle them. Another outstanding team was the 1980 Lakeshore Lancers coached by Rusty Hudson that finished 29-1 and voted the best team in the state that year. Their top 8 players could play with anyone and were led by Jimmy Brown, 2nd most recruited player in the state behind Jay Banks. Only loss to crosstown rival College Park, whom they had beaten twice already by an average of 18. The mid 70’s College Park teams coached by Ken Ross won 3 consecutive titles and lost the fourth by 1 point in the championship game. They were lead by James “Boo” Anderson and the Stinchcomb twins, Ronald and Donald. All 3 played division one and were rated in the top 10 recruited players in Georgia in 1977.

By Mike

February 22, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this

The 1994 Marist team was perhaps one of the best teams I have ever seen. How many of these teams mentioned above finished the season ranked number 6 in the country AND had the national coach of the year? Plus the fact that they had Matt Harpring who is going on his 10th season in the NBA. 7 players on that team went on to play college ball, the starting 5 all played Div 1.

By Big Man

February 22, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this

D, How about Ken Ross was the JV coach at Mount Zion during my high school years in the mid 90’s. One day we found out that he had won state championships and we were amazed. We were wondering why he wasn’t the head coach, no disrespect to Rick Moore. Coach Ross never even mentioned it. He was a cool guy and very humble.

By jnew

February 22, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this

dark blue devil four out of the five starters at columbia has been there their hold career so for u to say ask a question about recruiting in dekalb county is nonsense. Because the talent is in dekalb and gwinnett you just got to know how to judge talent you man thats all and norcross wheeler and columbia have been doing quite well so lay off with the recruiting.

Besides the coaches are not recruiting parents move into those districts because they want their kids on an winning team to get notice by scouts. It is awfully hard to get look at if your team is 10-13 or 8-16 records like that get overlooked. For a kid to changed schools its a little of everything parents, the kid himself, and the coach. remember you have to live in the school district to go to that school right? Dont be mad because its a whole lot of talent in dekalb and gwinnett

By MR. BEACH HIGH

February 22, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this

EXCEPT FOR THE 1967 BEACH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. ALL THESE OTHER TEAMS EVERYONES TALKING ABOUT ARE WEAK. LETS NOT TALK ABOUT THE PAST. LETS TALK ABOUT THOSE BULLDOGS WINNING THIS STATE AAAAA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR. WE BEAT THE ”CHRIS ALLEN SHOW” BY 18 POINTS EARLIER THIS YEAR. KNOCKED OFF OVERRATED WHEELER LAST YEAR IN THE PLAYOFFS. TRI-CITIES WAS NO MATCH FOR US AS WE BLOWED THEM OUT BY LIKE 20. NOW WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH NORCROSS. LAST YEAR OUR STAR PLAYER WAS SUSPENDED FOR THE ENTIRE PLAYOFFS. NOW THE WHOLE TEAM IS BACK AND READY TO CAUSE HELL.

By wcg

February 22, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

With respect to the Westover Dynasty, we have to recognize that during the course of their 4 STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS, they won both in AAA & AAAA. (AAAA was the largest classification at that time). So saying Westover was in a smaller classification does not hold true. That being said, as a youngster I saw the 1979 SW Macon team and there has been no better in time. And the non-sense of saying ol school would not compare, is RIDICULOUS! Lets remember that in 1979, Michael Jordan was in high school. Certainly, you would not say that his level of play would not compare to today’s players.

By Todd Holcomb

February 22, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this

For the record, Westover never won a state title in the largest classification. All six titles were in Class AAA. That’s not to say that some of those Westover teams were not the best in the state those years. They may well have been.

Good point about Jordan.

By Diesel

February 22, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this

This question is so simple yet no one has the right idea. THere was a group of boys from Whitefield Academy in 2002. The starting five was Tim Morris (Sophomore year of high school, went to Stanford then tranferred to Washington), Josh Smith(Freshman, NBA Atlanta Hawks), Paul DeLaney (Freshman, UAB), Ryan Lamb (Freshman, Marshall) and Anthony Miller (Sophomore, The Citadel). That team split up but had they stayed together would have been the best team in the nation Morris’ senior year. P.S. two other players from that teAM played college ball and the school went on to win the 2003 State Championship ovewr Dwight Howard’s SACA team. wolfpack = dynasty.

By wcg

February 22, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the correction. It was Dougherty High out of Albany that was in AAAA one year then moved back to AAA as opposed to Westover.

By Eagle

February 22, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

Respect needs to be given where respect is due. Who is to say if Columbia is the best ever in the state. Different time different players. But for those who have responded and do not know there history for the year, go back and check. They have beat numerous NATIONALLY ranked teams this year (including some in the top 10) along with top teams in the state. That deserves much respect. Because of the schedule they had this year I think it was right for the AJC to even bring the question to light. Good luck Columbia!

By Eagle

February 22, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this

Respect needs to be given where respect is due. Who is to say if Columbia is the best ever in the state. Different time different players. But for those who have responded and do not know there history for the year, go back and check. They have beat numerous NATIONALLY ranked teams this year along with top teams in the state. That deserves much respect. Because of the schedule they had this year I think it was right for the AJC to even bring the question to light. Good luck Columbia!

By Ken D. Bowman Sr.

February 22, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this

Graduated from SW Macon in 1979. One of the best basketball programs in the country. Don Richardson an outstanding coach. SW Macon also had the great Norm Nixon as well under this program guided by Don Richardson and staff. This was truly a great team, I wish everyone could have seen this team in action. The concept of team sport was fully implemented. We had a great high school, a high school involving great people. Remember prior to the 1979, team their were great players prior. Macon GA is known for its talented people from every walk of life. This was a great town, remember “Macon on the Move”. We have a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. They should have allow Mr. Richardson to coach at Mercer University. I do not think no one really had an opportunity in witnessing Mr. Richard’s true greatness. A coach who didn’t coach during the game, only during practice.

By Dre

February 23, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

The 1984 Douglass High School basketball team coach by Don Dollar.

By Dylan

February 23, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this

uhmm actualy it was the 03-04 team and the 05 boys lost to beach and oakhill that season … and ya the wildcats lost to colmbia this year but if they beat norcross and go on to win state i think this years team could go down as the best

By LarryD

February 23, 2007 1:27 AM | Link to this

Correction, Decatur lost to Johnson Of Savanah at GT AAA State tourniment game 44-40. Decatur lost to Forest Park In 1968 state playoffs 69-68.

By BEARMAN

February 23, 2007 1:48 AM | Link to this

WHO ROCK! HANCOCK, HANCOCK!! THE GRIFFIN BEARS HAVE BEEN TO THE STATE A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE 80’S 90’S AND 2000’S. THEY ALSO HAD GOOD TEAMS IN THE 70’S. JOE WARD ERA. THEY MAY NOT BE THE BEST, BUT THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE BEST. ATHLETES WITH HEART TO WIN AND PLAY HARD. THIS YEAR THEY HAD A BAD START WITH FOOTBALL PLAYERS MISSING, BUT BOUNCED BACK WINNING THE GAMES IN THE REGION AND BELIEVE ME, A TOUGH REGION. DON’T BE SURPRISED TO SEE GRIFFIN PLAYING COLUMBIA FOR THE STATE. WITH THE DEPTH THEY HAVE, THEY COULD VERY WELL BE THE TEAM TO BEAT COLUMBIA. COLUMBIA IS A GREAT TEAM AND WILL BE TOUGH TO BEAT, I KNOW 2 TEAMS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BEAT THEM, GRIFFIN AND RIVERDALE.

By fosterjoiner

February 23, 2007 1:51 AM | Link to this

I believe the 1979 SW Macon team was the best team. To the guy who thinks Delano playing against Wheeler would have given the comets a 10 point victory. I want to remind you the refs protected Williams and if all the fouls he committed had been called he does not play the entire game and the comets are blown out of the gym. Two fouls were called. One might have been a bad call but remember the refs kept Williams and the comets in the game. Big man you pretty obvious forget the refs had a repitation to protecting Williams. He was very overrated and should not have gone to the NBA draft. He got away with some calls and the comets would have lost big. In spite of the refs the best TEAM talent wise won. The comets were good but very overrated. Columbia needs to play tougher competition before I would consider them among the best. It was also Wheeler’s first game. I believe it would have been a different story if had been now.

By Big Man

February 23, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this

forestjoiner, I went to a few games that year to see the Comets and yes the refs gave him a little preferential treatment, but they did not “protect” him. All contact is not a foul. I don’t remember him really getting away with anything obvious. I liked both teams so I was objective in my view. The reason the refs had a reputation for protecting Louis is because he could complain to them and not get T’d up. He drew a lot of fouls because he was aggressive going to the basket. You don’t get fouls called on jump shots often. Anybody that knows the game knows that jump shooting teams have a hard time winning. Look at the NBA Finals last year. Dwyane Wade got a lot of calls, but thats because he is aggressive. Any ref will tell you that. That is how the game is played. When things got tough Dirk went to the jump shot and they lost the finals. In the series before when San Antonio came back and took a 3 point lead with less than a minute left Dirk took it to the hole and got a 3 point play. Thats the name of the game. The refs did not protect Louis, nor am I saying they were biased towards Wheeler. That was a great game. I’m just disappointed that 1 bad call changed the outcome of that game. It took a lot of air out of the crowd and took away from what was a great game. Who knows, maybe Wheeler hols for the last shot after that and wins it at the buzzer? Now about this year’s team…..stop it. It doesn’t matter if Columbia played them in the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, or 30th game they still would have won. They got handled. And they are not even playing their best ball now. They lost in the region tournament. They had 2 close games against Northview along with a few other close games in region. Marietta BLEW them out. Stop it. Don’t be a homer. As much as I love Wheeler’s program they are not playing great ball right now. They could still go on to win the championship, but Columbia would still handle them.

By greg

February 23, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

You seem to have forgotten about a Gainesville High School run in the mid-80s. While not the best team ever in Georgia, it is certainly deserving of mention. That team, coached by Jerry Davis, lost to Decatur by one in the state title game and then won back-to-back titles the next two years, including going 30-0 in the year it defended its title. And they did it with kids from the Gainesville HS attendance district only.

By Ernest

February 23, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this

First of all, it’s great reading the postings thus far. Without question, there have been many talented teams over the years in our state.

IMO, I rank 2 teams as #1, the 67 Beach team and the 79 SW Macon team. I’m from Savannah and in the mid 60’s, there were several talented basketball teams in the Savannah, including the 68 Johnson team with Joby Wright. According to Coach Ellington, he felt he had a more talented team a few years earlier. The 67 team is special because it was the first team to win after integration. Because of the social impact, they will always be acknowledged as one of the top teams ever.

The 79 SW Macon team was crowned as a national champion. What more needs to be said? Can any other team in GA say they were national champs? I thought the Marietta team a few years ago had a chance however they never won a state championship. IMO, the criteria should be that the team also won the state.

The article was interesting, touching on a ‘hush hush’ topic, the recruiting that goes on. No disrespect to the talented teams today, but it really means something when your team is made up entirely of kids in your attendance zone. I hope the AJC pursues this further.

By Tom Andrews

February 23, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

The Tate Bulldogs. Record 35-4. Tallest player was 6ft. Only 101 people in High School. Tom

By The Master Debater

February 23, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

If you REALLY follow high school basketball in Georgia .. and, believe it or not, the state’s boundaries extend well beyond metro Atlanta … then you would realize that, in years past, the best team in the state did not always compete in the highest classification.

The 2001 Westover team that won the Class AAA state championship was the best in any classification that year. In the Beach Ball Classic, they beat Florida Class 6A state champion Dillard as well as the St. Raymond’s of New York team led by future ACC star Julius Hodge. The Patriots won their five games in the state tournament by an average of 37 points. Their closest postseason game was a 21-point victory in the state quarterfinals. During the regular season, they went 3-0 against the Dougherty team (led by current Memphis Grizzlie Alexander Johnson) that won the Class AAAA state championship in 2001.

The Mitchell-Baker teams that won three consecutive Class AA state championships between 1998 and 2002 had the depth and quickness to beat anybody in any classification.

Getting back to Westover: the Dontonio Wingfield teams that won four straight Class AAA state titles between 1990 and 1993 were the best teams in the state at that time, bar none.

Exhibit A: in 1990 (Wingfield’s freshman year), Westover beat Statesboro in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs. The following season, Statesboro moved up and went 30-1 to win the Class AAAA state championship. (This was the SHS team led by McDonalds All-American PG Keith LeGree, who was a four-year starter at Louisville and Cincinnati. Statesboro’s shooting guard was Mitch Taylor, who signed with Auburn.)

On the gavsv.com message board, a well-known coach noted that at one stop on the summer-camp circuit during the Wingfield era, Westover I won the camp championship, while Westover II was the runner-up. That’s how deep and talented those teams were.

By fosterjoiner

February 23, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

A little preferential treatment! I saw both teams during the season. Wheeler’s depth proved the difference. Wheeler had 3 guys foul out and still had 4 guys in double figures. The comets were too dependant on superstar. I know many refs and have seen some biased officiating at this level. A couple of refs I know told me after the game the refs kept the game close by ignoring fouls committed by Williams and Mercer. The key was Williams. The comets would have been blown out of the gym if all the fouls had been committed were called. It is your opinion about Columbia but I believe you are wrong. Next year at old spice showcase Columbia will play Norcross. Maybe one of the days the two will be in the same class so the issue will be settled.

By big Wee

February 23, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

The 1995 Dunwoody wildcats was a great team. How many teams at the highest level went undefeated? Ranked # 21 usa today and #2 in the south. Don’t forget at that time Dekalb county would not let teams travel out of the state. I believe the talent is watered down. watch a game now and you see no pick and roll or give and go you see flash and it sad. A lot of the high school stars are going to sit down by the water cooler and be p** off! ( remember Juan Gaston.)

By Ernest

February 23, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

As I read TP Jones comments on 2/22 @ 6:56a and thinking what Coach Ellington said about about good teams he had prior to the 67 team, what were some of the best teams prior to integration? All that have been mentioned here are post integration. We can all agree it was a different brand of basketball back then but I’ve heard they had several good teams in the old GIA (black high schools).

By frank

February 23, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

Georiga’s best boys high school team is 1979 Dougherty(Albany). Dougherty lost(stolen) AAAA championship to SW Macon, but was the best team. Honorable mention Dougherty 1997 & 2001( defeated Mays) AAAA Champions. Westover(Albany) AAAA Champions 1990, 91, 92, 93, 98 and AAA 2001.

By Russ

February 23, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

I was a senior in high school in 1990 when my Westover Patriots began their four-year run of AAA state championships. In ‘88, we saw the high school version of the Dominique Wilkins vs. Larry Bird incredible playoff game: Darrin Hancock of Griffin (still the hands down best athlete I ever saw play high school basketball) vs. Reginald Tinch of Westover in the AAAA state title game. Back and forth, until Hancock single-handedly won that game for Griffin. That being said…Dontonio Wingfield was the most incredible high school player I ever laid eyes on. As a 6-7 freshman, he could run the floor, dribble, shoot from long range, rebound and throw down absolutely thundering jams. He never got much better the next three years…because he didn’t have to.

Coach Boston passed away last year…he was a great coach and was kind enough to lend a buddy and me all the game tapes from the 1990 season. We went through and compiled every dunk, three-pointer and great play from that year onto one tape. After I went to UGA and ran into a number of Atlanta types who crowed and beat their chest about the superiority of Big City Ball, I just popped the tape end and revelled in the silence. Thus endeth the lesson.

By LARRY L

February 24, 2007 1:55 AM | Link to this

Obviously, most readers wasn’t around or don’t remember the team from Savannah namely Beach High school 1967. It was the first year of intergation. I was there when we came up here. Just to give you some history, we had (2) 6’-8” forwards. We had the quickes guards in the state, we had a 6’-10 guy on the bench, we had the best ball handler as our 6th man, Gator Rivers who later went on to the Globe Trotters. At the end of games we gave the ball to Gator to put on show time, teams tryed to guard him to take the ball with no success. Our Coach then also coached the Globe Trotters, Savannah State, Morris Brown, now back with Beach. When have you seen a State Championship game, where a team won by 55 points. Which is the most lop side championship win in history.

By Will

February 24, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

To not include Wheeler in the rankings of the greatest teams in GA ball would be ridiculous - for my money, the best Wheeler team would have to be the 2003 Wildcat state champion team - no seroiously obvious stars - just a hard-working group that actually played together as a team & had the heart and determination that everyone else lacked that year. If you saw them play that season, there wasn’t a lot of flash, but there was a lot of great ball.

By Erin Menefee

March 1, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this

Although some of the best athletes may have come from North Georgia the best TEAMS are from South Georgia. The Westover teams that won 6 state championships in 12 years and been to the title game 8 out of 13 years. Remember it was their cross-town rivals Albany High that Westover defeated on their first 2 championships. Also lets not forget the Mitchell-Baker teams, Randolph-Clay and Dougherty. And also in 2001 Westover AAA and Dougherty AAAA became the first schools to win championship from the same city (Albany). The best is in the south hands down!!! Also the person with the 90’s Westover highlights I would love to see those someday and see some real basketball.