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June 2008
Classes AAAAA and AAAA: Todd Holcomb’s Super 11 rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Someone suggested last week that we do a Super 11 for each classification. Given the response we got to the all-class Super 11 debate, that’s probably a good idea. Let’s keep the momentum going.
Below are my rankings of the best 11 players in Classes AAAAA and AAAA. These aren’t official AJC rankings, just my own. And while I took the job seriously, I didn’t take three weeks to do it, so you might find me second-guessing myself. The rankings are based on all-state teams and recruiting rankings and comparing that to what I’ve seen and heard from coaches, sportswriters and fans.
Next week, we’ll spotlight Classes AAA-A so check back right here to debate my Super 11 picks and suggest your own. And the all-class Super 11 is still up for debate, too.
TODD’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAAAA
1. Greg Reid, Lowndes (RB/DB)
2. Abry Jones, Northside-WR (DL)
3. Joel Kight, MLK (RB/LB)
4. Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge (LB)
5. Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett (QB)
6. Andre Harris, Lovejoy (OL)
7. Alan Bonner, Newnan (WR)
8. Nigel Thornton-Mitchell, Stephenson (LB)
9. Derrick Lott, North Cobb (DL)
10. Mike Gilliard, Valdosta (LB)
11. Gerald Demps, Lowndes (DB)
Class AAAA
1. Jonathan Davis, Tucker (LB/RB)
2. Braxton Lane, Sandy Creek (WR)
3. Danny Madison, Westside-Macon (WR)
4. Drayton Calhoun, Tucker (RB)
5. Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon (LB)
6. Anthony Caldwell, Douglas County (QB)
7. Warren Norman, Chamblee (RB)
8. Jimmy Staten, Ware County (L)
9. Myer Nolan, Mays (DB)
10. Jeremy Boyd, Ware County (DL)
11. Darius McKeller, Jonesboro (TE)
And now AJC high schools writer Derrick Mahone has listed his Class AAAAA and AAAA Super 11 picks:
MAHONE’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAAAA
1. Greg Reid, Lowndes (RB/DB)
2. Abry Jones, Northside-WR (DL)
3. Joel Kight, MLK (RB/LB)
4. Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge (LB)
5. Mike Gilliard, Valdosta (LB)
6. Andre Harris, Lovejoy (OL)
7. Nigel Thornton-Mitchell, Stephenson (LB)
8. Chance Warmack, Westlake (OG)
9. Jonathan Atchison, Douglass (LB)
10. Gerald Demps, Lowndes (DB)
11. D.J. Adams, Norcross (RB)
Class AAAA
1. Jonathan Davis, Tucker (LB/RB)
2. Braxton Lane, Sandy Creek (WR)
3. Danny Madison, Westside-Macon (WR)
4. Drayton Calhoun, Tucker (RB)
5. Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon (LB)
6. Emmanuel Lartey, Banneker (CB)
7. Warren Norman, Chamblee (RB)
8. Jimmy Staten, Ware County (L)
9. Emmanuel Dieke, North Clayton (DE)
10. Myer Nolan, Mays (DB)
11. Darius McKeller, Jonesboro (TE)
HOT OR NOT: PHOTOS
• Rate Todd’s Class AAAAA-AAAA Super 11 picks!
• Vote for YOUR all-class Super 11 picks!
Kick off the debate: You’ve seen Todd’s Class AAAAA and AAAA Super 11 picks. Now let’s see yours. And what do you think of Todd’s lists?
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Who makes your 2008 AJC Super 11 squad?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the next three weeks, our staff will select the AJC’s 24th annual Super 11 football team.
We won’t announce the team until August, but we’ll have a tentative list of 11 in hand about a month before publication.
With the advent of the Extra Point blog, I want to do something different this year: Ask your opinion. Who do you think the Super 11 should be? Hot or Not photos: Vote for your Super 11 picks!
To get you thinking about it, let’s review a group of 11 that I mentioned in January. I’ve changed my mind on some of these guys. Let me know what you think.
• QB Zach Mettenberger, Oconee County: He’s a Top 100 recruit nationally by most accounts, but is he proven as a high school player? I want big-time recruits, but I also want guys who have been exceptional high school players before their senior seasons. The more I think about, the less I’m sure that Mettenberger fits that description, or that a “project” should be Super 11, no matter how he projects at the next level.
• QB/DB Rashard Smith, Dublin: Smith was The Associated Press defensive player of the year in Class AA, a phenomenal athlete, but I haven’t heard much from him on the recruiting front. He might be a tough sell now for the Super 11. What’s his story?
• QB Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett: All-state first team as a junior in Class AAAAA, but no major offers. The opposite of Mettenberger, Tamburo might be another tough sell at this point, surprisingly.
• RB Washaun Ealey, ECI: Master Lock.
• WR Danny Madison, Westside-Macon: Made all-state as a junior, but few major offers yet. Jamal Patterson of Henry County is the highest-rated wide receiver, according to Scout.com. Madison’s Super 11 stock has fallen. Who are the best wide receivers?
• OL Andre Harris, Lovejoy: He has committed to Auburn since the January list. He was Rivals’ top-rated Georgia lineman in January. Scout now has Chris Burnette of LaGrange (a Georgia commit) and Johnnie Farms of Perry higher. It’s hard to know who’s a good lineman, unless you’re trying to get around him.
• DT Abry Jones, Northside-Warner Robins: Jones was all-state for a state championship team, and then he got his pick among virtually an ACC or SEC school, settling on Georgia. I can’t see him not making it.
• LB/RB Jonathan Davis, Tucker: Another all-state player. By the way, it’s not easy to make all-state as a junior. If you do it, you’re special. Media types and coaches favor seniors for those honors. Davis has a ton of college offers. He’s looking good.
• LB Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus: I’d put him in the Abry Jones category, another all-state guy for a state championship team. I figure he’ll be a terrific college player with his size.
• LB Joel Kight, M.L. King: The Class AAAAA defensive player of the year as a junior. No ACC or SEC offers. I don’t care, though. This guy can play.
• DB/RB Greg Reid, Lowndes: His team’s best player, committed to Florida, where he’ll likely play cornerback. There’s nothing not to like.
Kick off the debate: Who do you think should be on the AJC’s Super 11 team and why? Let us know what you think.
Hot or Not photos: Vote for your Super 11 picks!
Permalink | Comments (165) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Who’s headed to Georgia Coaches’ Hall of Fame?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association inducted Bobby Gruhn of Gainesville, Oliver Hunnicutt of LaGrange and Jerry Sharp of East Rome and Darlington into its Hall of Fame earlier this month in Dalton.
That got me to thinking about which coaches, active and retired, will be inducted in the future.
I’ve broken it down into four lists below. Tell me what you think.
But first, let’s discuss the Class of 2008. Gruhn, Sharp and Hunnicutt are fine choices, but they make me wonder why they’ve made it and others have not.
For example, Gruhn was 256-102-5 in 30 seasons at Gainesville with no state titles. Compare that to Cedartown’s John Hill (254-89-5, no state titles) and Vidalia’s Buck Cravey (269-126-4, one state title).
Hill and Cravey are not in.
Should a state title be required? Newly retired Jim Dorsey of McEachern (237-78-1) likely will make it, but what about Danny Cronic of East Coweta (219-107-1)?
Or is it better to win four state titles in seven seasons, then retire, as Bill Corry (78-6) did in 1962 at Morgan County? The GACA requires a minimum 20 years of coaching.
Now let’s look at Sharp. He was 229-101-9 and won three state titles at two schools, an amazing record. Those East Rome teams of the 1970s were legendary.
But why isn’t Jim Hughes of Thomasville/Colquitt County in the Hall of Fame? Hughes (247-102-5) has more victories and a better winning percentage than Sharp and matched Sharp’s feat of winning three titles with two schools - except that Hughes’ three were in the highest classification.
And lastly, there’s Hunnicutt, who led LaGrange to titles in 1955 and 1958 and was 187-96-19 in an era when you could win state in just 12 games.
When you adjust for that, Hunnicutt’s career was comparable to Dale Williams at Waycross (230-122-3) and Alton Shell at Americus (208-107-2).
All three won about two-thirds of their games and a pair of state titles, but Hunnicutt is in the Hall of Fame and Shell and Williams are not.
OK, to the lists …
The 10 best candidates for the Hall of Fame (active): These are locks to make it.
- Larry Campbell, Lincoln County
- Robert Davis, Westside-Macon
- Luther Welsh, Thomson
- Alan Chadwick, Marist
- Conrad Nix, Northside-Warner Robins
- Ed Pilcher, Bainbridge
- Dwight Hochstetler, Bowdon
- Charlie Winslette, Gatewood School
- Buck Godfrey, Southwest DeKalb
- Rick Tomberlin, Valdosta
The 10 best non-locks for the Hall of Fame (active): You must coach at least 20 years in Georgia to be eligible. The first three are locks. The rest are working on their longevity.
- Rich McWhorter, Charlton County
- Cecil Flowe, Parkview
- Jeff Herron, Camden County
- Steve Pardue, LaGrange
- Randy McPherson, Lowndes
- Rayvan Teague, Carrollton
- Erik Soliday, Turner County
- Charlie Flowers, Dougherty
- Robby Pruitt, Fitzgerald
- Roger Holmes, Dublin
The 10 best candidates for the Hall of Fame (retired): The top two are locks; the bottom eight have credentials as good as some who already are in and probably will make it someday.
- T. McFerrin, South Gwinnett
- Dexter Wood, Buford
- Buck Cravey, Vidalia
- Jim Hughes, Colquitt County
- Jim Dorsey, McEachern
- Jack Johnson, Mitchell-Baker
- Dale Williams, Waycross
- John Hill, Cedartown
- Jim Cavan, R.E. Lee
- Jim Lofton, GAC
Five coaches from the GIA who should be in the Hall of Fame: Only two GIA coaches (DuPree of Laney and Arthur Mott of Tifton’s Wilson High) are in the Hall. But the two greatest black coaches of the GIA era — L.C. Baker of Washington and Odis Spencer of Spencer — are not.
- L.C. Baker, Washington
- Odis Spencer, Spencer
- Clarence Fisher, Center/Carver-Atlanta
- Stan Lomax, Risley
- T. Herman Graves, Howard
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Georgia High School Baseball Blog - June 10, 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was a big day for baseball in the Peach State during last week’s first-year major league baseball player draft. Three Georgians went in the top eight picks, and five players were selected in the first round.
Griffin High School’s Tim Beckham, who hit .667 during the Bears’ run to the state championship series, was selected with the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.
“One of the biggest things that a lot of people don’t see are the intangibles,” Griffin coach Jamie Cassady said. “His leadership ability, his character [and] mental makeup … those are the things that are going to make him successful at the next level. A lot of kids don’t have those extra things, but Tim’s a special kid. He became committed, and he’s fallen in love with the game.”
Four picks later, the San Francisco Giants selected former Lee County star Buster Posey, the national player of the year from Florida State.
“Posey is as close to a major league-ready catcher now,” said Baseball America draft analyst Matt Blood. “He’s strong behind the plate; he’s athletic, and he can really swing the bat.”
University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Chicago White Sox, completing a banner first hour of the draft for the state’s top talent. Stephens County shortstop/pitcher Ethan Martin went No. 15 overall to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and five picks later, the Seattle Mariners picked University of Georgia closer Josh Fields.
Forty-five other Georgia players were chosen. In the second round, Baltimore selected Cedar Grove outfielder Xavier Avery with the 50th pick; Atlanta chose Kell pitcher Zeke Spruill with the 70th pick, and Georgia Tech outfielder and former North Gwinnett star Charlie Blackmon was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the 72nd pick.
As usual, Spruill wasn’t the only local player selected by the Braves, who picked eight Georgia high school players. The University of Georgia had six players chosen; Georgia Tech had seven. Georgia Southern (3); Kennesaw State (1); North Georgia (1); Middle Georgia (1) and Mercer (1) were all represented.
Final AJC High School Top 10 (with final record)
1. Brookwood (34-3): Broncos win last seven postseason games, first state title since 1986.
2. Wesleyan (30-4-1): Could the Wolves beat the No. 1 team in a best-of-three series?
3. Cartersville (29-7): Purple Hurricanes win fourth title this decade.
4. Loganville (32-7): Underdogs no more: Red Devils knock off three region champs on the way to first Class AAAA title.
5. Walton (27-11): Reach Class AAAAA championship series for second consecutive season.
6. Griffin (28-8): First title series since 1981; shortstop Beckham top overall pick in MLB draft.
7. Pacelli (31-4): Columbus private school lost two games after March 18.
8. Stephens County (29-10): Reach first championship series since 1973; shortstop/pitcher Ethan Martin goes in first round to Los Angeles Dodgers.
9. Landmark Christian (27-8): Young team got to first Class A championship series.
10. Lovett (25-11): Lions won 15 straight before losing Class AA title series to Wesleyan.
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Sizing up 2008 football schedules
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The GHSA released football schedules last week, and looking through them quickly, I’ve picked out a dozen or so that are among the toughest in the state. Let me know if I’ve missed any. Before I get to that, however, I wanted to answer a couple of e-mails I received this weekend about interesting topics:
• One writer said he heard GHSA is considering a ban on playing “Dixie” at football games or other high school sporting events. Not true, says GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin. Apparently, it’s a tradition at Fannin County and perhaps other places.
“Since I have been with the GHSA [since 1992], the issue of songs played at athletic events has never arisen,” said Swearngin. But it’s an interesting issue that has received attention on a local chat board.
• Tennessee and Georgia played an all-star game Saturday in Chattanooga, and the home state won 41-0. Should an all-star team be allowed to call itself “Georgia” when it gets its players entirely from the weak corner of our state?
It looks like most of Tennessee’s players were from the Chattanooga area, so I guess the game was fair, but for the sake of state pride, shouldn’t we call this Chattanooga vs. Metro Dalton? Georgia Northwest had won two of the previous four meetings, so maybe the 41-0 was a fluke.
OK, to the tough schedules:
• Buford: Non-region games with Timberview (a Texas powerhouse), North Hall and Thomson, with Region 6-AA games against GAC, Lovett, Westminster and Blessed Trinity. That’s the toughest schedule in Class AA.
• Cairo: Bainbridge and Thomas Central on the road to open the season, plus Thomasville as a third very tough non-region game, before a 1-AAA schedule that includes Monroe, Peach County and Perry.
• Carver-Columbus: Carver has been playing Shaw and LaGange, but now there’s a chance to go outside the league with the region being smaller. So Carver, the Class AAA champion, will play up against powers Northside-Warner Robins and Baldwin.
• GAC: On second thought, maybe GAC’s Class AA schedule is tougher than Buford’s because Buford doesn’t have to play itself. GAC plays Hart County, St. Pius and the Baylor School outside of 6-AA, plus Buford, Lovett, Westminster and Blessed Trinity.
• LaGrange: Similar to Shaw. The Grangers picked up Newnan and Stephens County and will play Carver and Shaw in 2-AAA.
• North Cobb and Harrison: These two play in deep Region 5-AAAAA. North Cobb has added M.L. King as its non-region foe, while Harrison nabbed Peachtree Ridge.
• North Gwinnett: Non-region games against Brookwood and South Carolina state champion Byrnes should get the Bulldogs ready for 7-AAAAA, which includes Norcross and Peachtree Ridge.
• Northside-Warner Robins: I can’t see another undefeated season for Northside. The Class AAAA champs now are playing in the state’s toughest region (Lowndes, Valdosta and the rest), but Northside’s non-region slate includes Florida state champion Booker T. Washington and Georgia champion Carver, plus Perry. The Oct. 3 game vs. Lowndes is the best game on anyone’s schedule.
• Peachtree Ridge: The Lions start with Harrison and Lowndes and finish with Norcross and North Gwinnett, with Mill Creek and Collins Hill in the middle.
• Perry: The Northside game Aug. 29 will be big in Houston County. Perry also plays Wilcox County, Hawkinsville, Peach County, Cairo and Monroe.
• Thomasville: The Bulldogs aren’t afraid to play bigger schools. They’ll play Colquitt County (AAAAA), Thomas Central (AAAA) and Cairo (AAA) before taking on 1-AA.
• Anybody in 1-AAAAA: The toughest schedules belong to Northside, Lowndes (which plays Peachtree Ridge), Tift County (Roswell) and Coffee (Ware County, Shaw). Meanwhile, Valdosta took the wimpy route. We’ll see if it matters.
Kick off the debate: Which school has the toughest schedule next season? Which schools should be included on this list?
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Lots of Georgia high school baseballers ripe for picking in 2008 MLB Draft
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rookies on parade: Blog about today’s MLB Draft here. Click here for further online Draft updates. What do you think about the draft picks? Who’s overrated? Underrated? Who would have been YOUR top pick?
MLB DRAFT UPDATE CENTRAL
1. Tampa Bay takes Griffin shortstop Tim Beckham with the first pick of the 2008 MLB Draft. Speaking from Griffin, Beckham told ESPN by phone, “It’s great to be with the Tampa Bay Rays.”
2. Pittsburgh takes Vanderbilt 3B Pedro Alvarez.
3. Kansas City takes American Heritage (Fl.) HS 1B Eric Hosmer.
4. Baltimore takes U. San Diego LHP Brian Matusz.
5. San Francisco takes FSU C Buster Posey. Posey graduated from Georgia’s Lee Co. HS.
6. Florida takes Patriot (Ca.) HS C Kyle Skipworth.
7. Cincinnati takes Miami 1B Yonder Alonso.
8. Chicago (AL) takes Georgia SS Gordon Beckham.
9. Washington takes Missouri RHP Aaron Crow.
10. Houston takes Stanford C Jason Castro.
15. L.A. Dodgers take Stephens Co. RHP/3B Ethan Martin.
20. Seattle takes Georgia P Josh Fields.
Click here for further online Draft updates.
Scout rankings: See how the Class of 2007 is faring on the farm.
Rookies on parade: Blog about today’s MLB Draft here. Click here for further online Draft updates. What do you think about the draft picks? Who’s overrated? Underrated? Who would have been YOUR top pick?
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Metro schools dominate all-sports lists
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In an era when private schools dominate the state’s all-sports trophies, football is holding out.
Football and wrestling were the only major sports that didn’t have a private school champion in 2007-08.
In fact, football has had only one private-school champion in the last 10 years, and that was Marist in 2003.
What makes football different?
It’s less expensive, for one.
Hard work and year-around training are becoming mandatory for winning in any sport, but in football, that training doesn’t require year-around competition or the travel and skills-specific coaching that cost loads of money.
Sports that are more dependent on skills training — tennis, golf, soccer, softball — are prone to private-school domination.
Notice also that the top two finishers in the Directors Cup in Class AAAAA, which has no private schools, are two of the more affluent school districts in Georgia — Walton and Brookwood.
That’s not discounting the accomplishments of those schools, because it takes remarkable talent and effort to be so good in so many sports, but it’s also a factor that the parents at some schools have the resources to ensure that their children have the training they need to reach the top.
Money also helps in football with facilities and hiring coaches. But the idea that you can’t win the Kentucky Derby with a mule applies to all sports to some extent, but it’s especially true in football.
So here are some questions for you:
• Why do you think football is resistant to private-school dominance?
• Are the ingredients to success a little different from sport to sport?
• And why are private schools so successful?
Private schools placed first and second in the Directors Cup in all four classifications that have private schools — Class AAAA to A.
And now, the 1.5 multiplier that put many private schools in higher classifications is going away, and about 10 private schools are dropping in class this fall, including Directors Cup all-sports champions Westminter (to AA) and Wesleyan (A).
Georgia Athletic Directors Association Dodge Directors Cup standings (unofficial):
Class AAAAA
1: Walton
2: Brookwood
3: Collins Hill
4: Parkview
5: Northview
Class AAAA
1: Marist
2: Woodward Academy
3: St. Pius
4: Starr’s Mill
5: McIntosh
Class AAA
1: Westminster
2: Blessed Trinity
3: Columbus
4: Oconee County
5: Sandy Creek
Class AA
1: Wesleyan
2: Lovett
3: GAC
4: Savannah Christian
5: North Oconee
Class A
1: Brookstone
2: Landmark Christian
3: Providence Christian
4: Savannah Country Day
5: Athens Academy
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