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DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: State’s best playoffs big men
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They are big. And they are bad, but in a good way. Here’s the Take Ten list of the state’s best big men on teams still in the playoffs:
Martavius Adams, 6-9, Wilkinson County: Adams transferred from Baldwin after his junior season, making his new team instant contenders. Oklahoma State recruit plays well with back toward basket.
Chris Barnes, 6-8, Riverdale: Barnes is nursing a knee injury, which will likely have a huge impact on his team’s playoff run. When healthy, Barnes can play with anyone. Has signed with Georgia.
Terrell Bell, 6-7, Stone Mountain: Most of the time, you can find Bell wandering around the perimeter, where he will play in college (Virginia Tech). But Bell will move inside when the Pirates need to dominate the paint.
Clint Boling, 6-7, Chattahoochee: Was being scouted by small colleges before signing to play offensive tackle at Georgia. With superior bulk and strength, almost impossible to guard with one player in the paint.
Leonard Carr, 6-5, Centennial: Carr doesn’t intimidate anyone with his size, but makes up for it with his physical style of play. This defensive stopper averages double figures (10 points per game).
Ladaris Green, 6-9, Beach: Green was one of the stars on last year’s Cinderella team, which lost to Norcross in the state championship game. Several major colleges are scouting him, but another playoff run propelled by Green could raise the stakes.
Cameron Heyward, 6-6, Peachtree Ridge: The son of the late former NFL Star Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, he signed with Ohio State to play both football and basketball.
Gani Lawal, 6-8, Norcross: Lawal has done an excellent job of handling the pressures of being a big-time local recruit (signed with Georgia Tech) for the defending state champions. Another title will cement legacy as one of state’s best ever.
Jeremy Price, 6-8. Columbia: Perhaps the state’s best in the middle. Great hands, very athletic and finishes well. Always moving around, looking to make the big play. Signed with Georgia.
Jeremy Simmons, 6-7, Tucker: Simmons is one of the state’s top unsigned seniors. He rebounds well and can score, but lacks consistency. Best basketball likely ahead of him.
Go on. Take Ten. Tell us who makes your list of best big men still in it to win it at the state tourney. But hurry. Brackets are being busted on a weekly basis.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By Superstar
March 1, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
You slippin Mike
list should be:
Gani Lawal - Norcross JJ Hickson - Wheeler Jeremy Price - Columbia Montavious Adams - Wilco Chris Barnes - Riverdale Cameron Heyward - PTR Ladrius Green - Beach Jeremy Simmons - Tucker Charles Corbin - Griffin Mark Veasy - MHS
Terrel Bell is know where near a post player… Clint Boilings can barely hold a basketball let alone play basketball. Lenard Carr - Please.
By Steve
March 1, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
Mark Veazy a top 10 big man?? Man what are you smoking, and can I have some?
Look the kid is BIG at 6-11, but he’s hardly as intimidating a player as most of these other guys. Yeah, he blocks shots, but with 6-11 going after guys several inches shorter, that’s going to happen. No disrespect to Veazy, now, mind you. He IS good, but hardly top 10 material.
One that isn’t quite there yet but ought to be next year is Dacula’s 6-9 sophomore Brian Cole. This is a fluidly-moving big kid with a nice soft touch on the ball. He’s solid defensively, and can get off the floor. Look to see him love up in both height and status nest year. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he eventually tops out in the 6-11 range, and if he does, he’s going to almost unstoppable.
By CHS07
March 1, 2007 6:09 PM | Link to this
The reason JJ didn’t make the list is because he will be sitting at home tonight, where Boling(A pretty impressive big man, and Leonard(Not La’nard or Lenard)Carr will be down in Macon this Weekend.
By Sean
March 1, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this
JJ Hickson maybe at home tonight, but he is also going to be at the McDonald’s All American Game in couple weeks, and probably in the NBA within 3 years. So how could he not be one of the 10 best “big man” in the Peach State
By jodie
March 1, 2007 8:40 PM | Link to this
Leonard Carr is the basketball player… La’Nard plays football…
By Devil Lover
March 2, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
To be a great big man you have to be able to help your team win the big ones like Gani Lawal. Sorry JJ third place lasy yr and out in the first round this yr. Mr. Hickson probably thinking to much about eating a big Max.
By THE TUCKER TIGERS BENCH
March 2, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
U must be crazy a* hell not to have CHEVY WILSON from Tucker in this top 10…… To be honesty the two big man from tucker Jeremy Simmons and Chevy Wilson are the two best big man in the state of Georgia…….
By harry
March 2, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
YAO GYAWU
By jason
March 2, 2007 7:49 PM | Link to this
I think that consistency thing with Simmons is out the window. This season he is averaging 15ppg and 12rpg and probably at least 3-5blks. Sounds consistent if you ask me. Also Tucker has Chevy Wilson who is a rebounding machine. And he also has great post moves. These two could be the key to Tucker winning it all this year.
By richard
March 4, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
How about 6’7 junior Tobey Veal from Johnson of Sav. Who was ranked 38 in the nike all american camp, or Josh Smith a 6’6 junior transfer from Myterle Beach S.C. to Johnson of Sav. who’s ranked 12 in the nike all american camp. Both who are being flooded with D-1 interest.
By richard
March 4, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Ladaris Green, that’s a joke. Tobey Veal embarrassed Green,in the two meetings of the big men. Even though Green’s Beach HS bulldogs won both contest. Veal out rebounded, scored, and hustled Green, in front of standing room only crowds. Smith did not play due to a leg injury.
By richard
March 4, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
Tobey Veal gave Norcross Gani Lawal all he could handle at the UGA bb-camp. Both big men were dominate on the boards, raining jumpers, and exchanged dazzling dunks. The only thing that separates Gani Lawal dominice from Tobey Veal is role players, but with a healthy Josh Smith, look for Johnson of Sav. to be the 2008 5-A state champs.
By nhs07
March 4, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this
Mark veazey was dominated by Gani Lawal as well as the whole Norcross team. From what I saw all he has going for him is his height (6’10”).
Cameron Heyward is a better star on the field than he is on the court. I believe he is nothing but a huge body on the court that takes up space. He does seem to be that aggressive nor have that great of a shot.
What about Al-Farouq Aminu? He is rated in the top 5 of the junior class. He plays the 4 at Norcross, but can play the 3, 4, and 5 anywhere. He has a great outside shot, good inside moves, as well as good ball handling skills for his size. I would take Aminu over Heyward as well as many others on this list.
By Lulu
March 5, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
Any chance of a story on the meat and potatoes of most high school teams…those great hardwood hoverers: the low-down guys who hustle the ball,stalk the CELeryEBS without traveling or doubling dribbling (such antiquated skills that separate good,ie HS, basketball from the tanking NBA)?
By Devil Hate ( Marietta or Norcross)
March 5, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this
For all you Norcross fans who think their something for beating Wheeler, Your not. An case you aint noticed WHS is having a down year in the wins column (only 21). JJ Hickson manned up aganist 2 6-9 men and still recorded a double-double. Gani proved he can score, but 8 rebounds for man his size and with his athleticism, that’s kind of disappointing. Also, Wheeler came TO Norcross and came within a missed putback lay-up of taking out the #2 team in GA (#1 in AAAAA), a team that has one player of significance that didn’t transfer to Norcross (Denzail Jones). Unlike Wheeler who doesn’t start all transfers. Not putting JJ Hickson as one of the top 5 big-men in the state is a crime because JJ carried that Wheeler team on his back for most of the season, there isn’t another player in the state who averages 25 points and 12 rebounds. There also isn’t another player in the state who has improved from last season to this season. There isn’t another senior big-man in the state who shoots the mid-range like JJ (something he didn’t have last year). It’s a crime not to put him among the state’s top-10 big-men. Also, compared to other GA POY candidates, he came the closest of anyone to beating Norcross.
By Jim
March 5, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
Not knocking any of the players mentioned, but you can’t leave out Walter Hill(6’5”) at EHall(27 points in saturday’s win over #1 Dunwoody). You UGA fans will get to see him as a reciever on the field this fall. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the court either.
By jeff
March 6, 2007 7:57 AM | Link to this
Boling over JJ Hickson??? Are you kidding me?