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Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Who do you take: Lawal or Aminu?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You’re a college coach. Three years from now, which current Norcross star would you rather have on your roster: senior Gani Lawal or junior Al-Farouq Aminu? Does the possibility of one or both leaving early for the NBA play into your decision?
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Take 10: State’s best-ever cagers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week, Take 10 gives ranking the best 10 players in Georgia boys basketball history a go. There are four guards, four forwards and two centers, just in case another state wants to challenge. Tell us what you think:
1. C Dwight Howard, Southwest Atlanta Christian (graduated 2004): Georgia’s first Naismith Award winner, Howard averaged 25.5 points, 18.3 rebounds and 8.0 blocked shots for his senior season, which ended with a Class A championship. Howard then became the first pick in the NBA draft out of high school and is now an NBA all-star.
2. C Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Wheeler (1995): Abdur-Rahim put Wheeler on the map with a state title in 1994. His team was stunned not to win it in 1995, when Abdur-Rahim was Mr. Georgia Basketball for a second time, averaging 31 points and 12 rebounds. Abdur-Rahim is now in his 11th season in the NBA.
3. G Louis Williams, South Gwinnett (2005): The Naismith Award winner as the prep player of the year in 2005, Williams averaged 27.5 points as a senior and won a state title as a junior and left South Gwinnett as the state’s all-time leading scorer. He turned pro out of high school and was taken No. 45 in the NBA draft.
4. F Dontonio Wingfield, Westover (1993): Wingfield and Westover of Albany ruled the early 1990s in Georgia basketball, winning the Class AAA titles from 1990 through 1993. Wingfield averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds as a senior. He stayed one season at Cincinnati and turned pro but quickly flamed out.
5. F Darrin Hancock, Griffin (1988): Hancock’s speed, strength and jumping ability were more than any prep school of his day could handle. Griffin won the Class AAAA title with Hancock as a sophomore in 1988. As a senior, he averaged 30 points and nine rebounds. Hancock wound up at four colleges before a brief NBA career but played professionally for 15 years.
6. F Kenny Walker, Crawford County (1982): Walker, nicknamed “Sky” for his remarkable leaping ability, won a pair of Class A state titles at Crawford County in 1981 an 1982 before becoming a two-time SEC player of the year and All-American at Kentucky. He had a spotty seven-year NBA career, mostly with the Knicks. It was perhaps highlighted by a win in the Slam Dunk Contest in 1989.
7. G Walt Frazier, Howard (1964): Frazier had the only Pro Basketball Hall of Fame career of any Georgia player. He got a pair of NBA championship rings, but he never won a state title in high school at old Howard High in Atlanta. Segregation kept SEC schools from recruiting Frazier, who went to Southern Illinois before his Hall of Fame NBA career that saw him win league titles in 1969 and 1973. Frazier was league MVP in 1975.
8. G Jeff Malone, Southwest Macon (1979): Malone, a 6-foot-4 scoring guard, was the best player on what many believe was Georgia’s best team ever, Southwest Macon’s 1979 bunch that also featured Terry Fair (Georgia). Southwest won the title in 1978, as well. Malone went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA, mostly with the Washington Bullets, and finished with a 19.0 scoring average. He also was a four-year starter at Mississippi State, where he averaged 26.2 points as a senior.
9. F Dale Ellis, Marietta (1979): Ellis didn’t emerge as an outstanding NBA player until a trade to Seattle in 1986. He was swapped by another former Georgia high school player, Al Wood of Jones County. Ellis was primarily an inside player in high school before becoming one of the NBA’s premier 3-point shooters.
10. G Norm Nixon, Southwest Macon (1973): A first-round pick out of Duquesne, Nixon won NBA titles with the Lakers in 1980 and 1982. Nixon averaged 15.7 points and 8.3 assists over a 10-year NBA career. Nixon’s 1973 Southwest team won the Class AAA championship, then won the four-team tournament of champions that Georgia held that year. He’s married to actress Debbie Allen.
Other folks that got strong consideration:
Chris Morris, Douglass; Pervis Ellison, Savannah; Kwame Brown, Glynn Academy; Dale Davis, Stephens County; Dion Glover, Cedar Grove; Mike Glenn, Coosa; Horace Grant, Hancock Central; Matt Harpring, Marist; Cedric Henderson, Marietta; Jarvis Hayes, Douglass; Reggie Johnson, Cedar Grove; Jumaine Jones, Mitchell-Baker; Mike Mitchell, Price; Tree Rollins, Crisp County; Brian Oliver, Wills; Derek Smith, Hogansville; Josh Smith, McEachern; Al Wood, Jones County; Joby Wright, Johnson; Sharone Wright, SW Macon.
Go on. Take Ten. Shoot us your list of the state’s best-ever hoopsters. Or tell us why our definition of the word ‘great’ could use a little work. Your call.
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