AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAJC’s Top 10 Basketball Rankings: Parkview girls, South Atlanta boys are No. 1s
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Parkview’s Mike McCoy isn’t ready to think of his team as a perfect squad. Despite being undefeated and rolling over most of their opponents, the Class AAAAA Panthers still have some things to work on.
“Our girls are going to fight tooth and nail for everything on defense,” said McCoy, who led Parkview to a title in 2003. “That’s easy to coach. You can’t coach effort. Offensively, we’re not there yet. We’re still working on that side of the ball.”
The South Atlanta boys team doesn’t have that problem. Derrick Favors, ranked by many as the nation’s top high school basketball prospect, has put up several 30-point, 20-rebound performances, and he’s dominating state and national competition.
That puts the Parkview girls and the South Atlanta boys atop the AJC’s all-classification metro Atlanta top-10 rankings.
Parkview appears to be the team to beat in Class AAAAA. And South Atlanta could be heading for a title in Class AAA.
But when dealing with all-classification rankings everything is open to debate. So let the debates begin. How would you rank them?
Metro Atlanta Basketball Rankings
A look at the top 10 metro teams from all classifications:
Boys
1: South Atlanta (13-1) — The Class AAA Hornets have victories against Class AAAAA contenders McEachern and Centennial. Face two nationally ranked teams this week.
2: McEachern (11-1) — Only loss to South Atlanta, 74-73. Competes in highly competitive Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (Mo.) this week.
3: Norcross (10-1) — Defense is again the story of the three-time defending Class AAAAA champions, who yield 53 points per game.
4: Miller Grove (12-2) — The Class AAAA team’s losses came to nationally ranked Boyd Anderson (Fla.) and Christ School (N.C.).
5: Centennial (11-1) — If guard play indeed wins championships, then the Knights have the edge on everyone, with a half-dozen stellar ballhandlers.
6: Wheeler (10-5) — Five losses for Class AAAAA team lead to consternation, but the Wildcats’ opponents serve as who’s who of the nation’s top programs. One loss was to Centennial.
7: Columbia (12-1) — The Eagles have restocked after winning two of the past Class AAAA champions. They moved down to Class AAA and offer a real threat to South Atlanta.
8: Milton (9-3) — The youngest team of the Class AAAAA group, with three losses by a total of 13 points. Has impressive victory against Walton.
9: Walton (11-4) — Certainly one of the most entertaining Class AAAAA teams that averages 83 points per game. Three of four losses came to out-of-state teams.
10: Westlake (10-5) — It is merely a matter of time before this talented group of juniors comes together for Class AAAAA team.
— Rob Morton / rtmorton@ajc.com
Girls
1: Parkview (14-0) — Junior Lauren Coleman leads a staggering defensive unit for the undefeated Class AAAAA Panthers.
2: Mill Creek (12-1) — After a two-point loss to Marietta, the Class AAAAA Hawks have won 10 consecutive games by an average margin of victory of 21 points.
3: Fayette County (16-0) — Senior guard Tessah Holt and junior forward Anma Onyeuku make the Tigers the team to beat in Class AAAA.
4: Norcross (10-4) — Angie Hembree’s team is clicking behind forward Tiffany Clarke, and the Class AAAAA Blue Devils only two in-state losses were against Parkview and Mill Creek.
5: Wesleyan (13-3) — The Class AA Wolves were strong in national competition, finishing seventh at the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions.
6: Redan (8-0) — Still undefeated, the Class AAAAA Raiders can prove much with a victory on Friday against Stephenson.
7: Marist (12-2) — Kim Hixon’s Class AAAA team already has won key games against Buford and Southwest DeKalb and hasn’t lost a game in-state.
8: Mays (16-0) — The Class AAAA Raiders quietly are putting together an undefeated season. But the success is getting louder.
9: Westlake (11-1) — The transition to Class AAAAA has been a good one for center Tamika Willis and Co., who haven’t lost a game in-state.
10: Stephenson (9-3) — Defending Class AAAAA champions trying to get back into title form.
— Glenn LaFollette / glafollette@ajc.com
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Fastbreak
Comments
By Johnny
January 13, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
How good are the Parkview girls and who do they have besides Coleman?
By Butta
January 13, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
Rob,this shows how much you know about basketball and your lack of coverage in high school basketball. Westlake should not be in top ten and they are in class AAAAA this year, not AAAA.
By Blue Collar
January 13, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this
Are you all seriuos??? First we have to wait until Jan to get a bball poll, then we don’t even get a REAL POLL!!!??? ALL CLASS?? Does that even matter? Basketball doesn’t have an all-class playoff, so why in the world would the Ajc throw together this worthless poll. Football gets a pre-season poll for all classification from 5-a all the way to 1-a, along with weekly updates to the polls, previews of weekly top ten match ups, recruiting updates, coach and player inteview, etc. But bball gets this crap!! Where is the top ten 5-a poll….4-a poll??? This is just another example of useless research. These are the same teams that the AJC has talked about all year, in fact it even looks like the same article I saw back in November. If the AJC doesn’t care about bball writers, then at least allow people to do their own research and contribute their own weekly columns and updates. How many times has Ga highschool footbal had a number one rated recruit in the nation? Never!! How many number one overall picks have come from GA highschool football? None!! Yet Ga highschool bball has produced several of both, yet still does not recieve a fraction of the coverage that football does. No disrespect to football, but bball does exist and continues to thrive on a national level. Will someone please explain to me the meaning of this. And to the article that was posted yesterday about all the “unfair transferring” that goes in GA bball, must I remind everyone of all the transferring that goes on in football i.e Kaleb King, Jonathan Davis, Cameron Haywood etc. How many people can say they new that last saturday #1 Miller Grove played #2 Tucker, or that #1 McEachern played #1 South Atlanta? Please AJC step up your bball coverage. Thanks goodness for Maxpreps.com and Gasports.com for keeping us updated with whats going on in the world of Ga highschool bball.
By bigballa
January 13, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
How is it that you have a team that is 9-3 ranked and you don’t have Campbell who is 12-1 not ranked?
By Devil Lover
January 13, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
Correction Campbell is now 10-4.
By Devil Lover
January 13, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this
Hey Rob. Find out were they plan to play this year’s 5AAAAA state championship quarter finals.
By Devil Lover
January 13, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
I think one of the most important games this year will be if Centennial and Wheeler play for their region 6 championship. This will determine what order Norcross and others will have to play those teams in the state championship. In other words region 6 no.1 and no. 2 teams will be split between both sides of the brackets. For Norcross if they should win region 7 then they will not have to play region 6’s no. 1 team until the championship game. However, they will possibly have to play both region 6’s no. 3 and no. 2 teams to get through the quarter finals.
To me right now, McEachern and Centennia look like the top two teams in 5A basketball.
By justafan
January 13, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this
BlueCollar hit it all in one big vent.I waited thissss long for these weak All classification rankings.And when you take a closer look at Mr. Mortons’ polls,you will find it a bit suspect.In his words (speaking of Westlake High)”It is merely a matter of time before this talented group of juniors comes together for Class AAAAA team.” He ranked them 10 overall in Ga. Problem is, they only have 2 wins over teams with winning records. With the girls, he ranked Norcross No.1 overall but last years runner up Redan(who returns everybody)no.6 in his rankings. Cmon pal,as far along in the season as we are you should have a better overview. Mom use to always say,”Tha Easiest Way Ain’t Always The Best Way” You took the shortcut,and it shows in your polls.
By justafan
January 13, 2009 6:51 PM | Link to this
Correction, that Girls ranking was Parkview and not Norcross.
By SportsFan31313
January 13, 2009 7:47 PM | Link to this
Greetings Rob Morton,
What do you think about Region 3-AAAAA Bradwell Institute Girls Basketball Team under Coach Faye Baker? I believe they are 10-1.
By Reggie
January 14, 2009 5:52 AM | Link to this
To AJC,
Its too bad we have such poor basketball coverage as this. With all the talent in the metro area, this is the best coverage we get? Its the middle of January. Is it the cutbacks at the paper? Come on and get your head in the game.
By hshoopster
January 14, 2009 7:48 AM | Link to this
For all you fans out there, the coverage is about to get worse for basketball. The AJC is actually looking to cut back and with it will include more cutbacks on high school basketball coverage.
AJC, please tell me this is wrong. It’s embarrassing that Georgia has more D1 talent than any other state in the country and this is the level of coverage you offer the kids and their fans.
I hear you want to sell newspapers, you do that by covering as many schools as possible. Good luck to you and your fledgling business plan.
By The Wolfpack
January 14, 2009 7:51 AM | Link to this
How about giving props to the newer schools, instead of covering the same 2 or 3 schools that everyone knows recruits within the state. Take the Woodland Wolfpack out of Stockbridge,GA. We are in our second year and very competetive in AAA. We have a 6’5 Senior, Adam Stoe, who is being looked at by several colleges. And there other skilled players on the team who have interest from various programs i.e, Darius Tookes, Chris O’Garro, Elliott Davis, and Raphael Daniels, to name a few. Its time for some new teams to get love, they work hard and deserve it.
By Marco Polo
January 14, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this
haha well this isnt college football so im sure if campbell is as good as the record says they will show it but that Milton team is pretty good and so is walton with glen rice jr. and of course Centennial dang that region is gonna be good to watch all year
By Blue Collar
January 14, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this
Yeah, I’m with you justafan, I have already offered my services to the AJC as a highschool bball columnist since they don’t have anyone available to actually go to the gyms and watch the actual games. I guess everyone at the AJC is still watching football highlight tapes from this years “exciting” football season that ended about two months ago!! lol. Meanwhile, all we can do is pray for change.
By upsetcity
January 14, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this
Add Lassiter into the mix in Region 6. They beat Milton last night and are 10-2.
By Mr. Miller Grove
January 14, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
Where is Derrick Mahone, this is ridiculus. I would have liked to see a more indept article on GA bball. It appears that everyone else in the country is more excited about GA basketball than the AJC. Mr. Favors is signing today, and you give it minimal coverage. it amazing that in 4 years, AJC will be hounding this kid for interviews and on the front page of the sports page…(Dwight Howard) ring a bell. AJC seriously man step you game up. You know i had to talk about Miller Grove so here goes, does anyone know that they face Centennial on MLK day at Centennial….Should be a great matchup of two of the best backcourts in the highschool….basketball
By singlebball_mom
January 14, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Mr Miller.. Miler Grove face Centennial monday thanks for the news…. AJC sucks for coverage
I do my own research…they make me sick
By ImaTitleTownBaby
January 14, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
What about Valdosta… they aint loss a game yet? Coffee and Valdosta will be in the playoffs with all them atlanta teams this year.
By Mr. Miller Grove
January 14, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
Check out the one day tournament at Centennial, there are a few qualities teams and decent matchups on the ticket…..MLK Hardwood Classic…Free parking tickets $10.
Veritas Christian NC vs. Dunwoody 10am Columbia Vs. Milton 12pm Tucker vs. GAC 2pm Miller Grove vs. Centennial 4pm East Hall vs. Norcross 6pm Whitefield vs. United Faith Christain Academy, NC 8pm
Great day of Basketball….Too bad that AJC is not mentioning that.
visit www.centennialbasketball.com for more information….
AJC you Suck….BAD….well you are good as sucking so is it that you suck well…not sure but my last sentence is more interesting than your articles…where is Derrick Mahone?
By Destiny
January 14, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this
Yes I would have to agree…. WHERE IS DERRICK MAHONE!!! He DID at least come to the games and provdied more coverage. I’m sure if they just ask for volunteers, they would have more than enough people that can cover games. CONGRATS TO DERRICK FAVORS!!!
By SportsFan31313
January 14, 2009 7:38 PM | Link to this
I believe everyone should take a notice at the Bradwell Institute Girls Basketball Team. They are Darn Good.
By JW
January 14, 2009 8:48 PM | Link to this
Since several people asked, Derrick Mahone got shipped off to Cobb County to cover courts and other assorted junk. So he’s out of basketball. Seems short-sighted to me, but it is what it is. He did a great job with preps. At least he’s still employed, unlike many others.
As for the AJC’s prep basketball coverage, it’s been decreasing incrementally each of the past few years. Chances are, it’ll be even less next year. And less still, the next … if, in fact, that’s possible by that time. As a long-time reader, it’s more sad than anything else.
By SportsFan31313
January 15, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
Greetings Rob Morton,
I see that you are Ranking a lot of Atlanta Schools in the Top Ten in the State. I acknowledge the schools listed are very good teams. However; I am quite sure that they are other great teams within the State that are great too other than just the Metro Atlanta Area Teams.
Lets try ranking them by Region and Classifications. I would like to see where the Schools really rank. I don’t eve see Collins Hill girls varsity team. Have they fallen off this year?
You also have Region 3-AAAAA Bradwell Institute Girls Basketball Team who are 11-2 with losses only to Region 1-AAAAA Coffee County in Overtime, and Region 2-AAAA Brunswick where I believe was a very very close game, and whom are undefeated. It would be nice to see the Rankings through out the entire State.
By SportsFan31313
January 15, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
Lets get Todd Holcomb to write these articles. He is pretty much on board when it comes to Prep Sports.
By JEWELL ROLLEN
January 16, 2009 9:30 AM | Link to this
LAST NITE SOUTH ATLANTA HIGH PLAYED LEFLORE OF ALA, TWO TOP TEN RANKED TEAMS IN THE NATION….IF SOMEONE CAN FIND A SCORE OR WRITE UP IN THE AJC PLEASE LET ME KNOW. HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COVERAGE IN THIS RAG IS A JOKE!!!!
By GB
January 17, 2009 7:04 PM | Link to this
Uh ok…Mill creek and Parkview over Fayette girls?? First off, fayette county girls r ranked number 1 in state and number 35 NATIONALLY. on the actual rankings…not this crap. ha. the sucky thing is fayette is AAAA so doesnt get the chance to beat them. we’ll just let the actual rankings do the talking. and everybody else is right…AJC’s coverage on high school basketball is awful. there are alot better teams out there that are never mentioned.
By dback16
January 18, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this
GB, I asked the same question on gavsv.com, as far as the scoreatl.com poll. Fayette girls and Mays girls are being misrepresented. Parkview beat Westside Macon by 21, Mays beat Westside Macon by 57. And they(Parkview) get a number 1 ranking. Not only that, in the past 5 years the best Parkview has done is an elite 8. That in no way compares to Fayette County and Mays, with Fayette being a runner up last year and 2 elite 8’s and Mays having an elite 8 last year, a sweet 16, 2 more elite 8’s and a state championship in the past 5 years. I was told these were just weekly rankings and past records had no determination on the present.
By j j hawk
January 20, 2009 6:25 AM | Link to this
Don’t sleep on those washington co. hawks basketball teams. there boys team will have something to say in aaa this year.
By will smith
January 24, 2009 11:51 PM | Link to this
Just came from watching washington co. hawks victory over number 3 ranked liberty co.Just witness the best player in the state nobodys heared of.Well allow me to introduce him. kentorey Johnson.
By newss03
February 5, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
I see you guys dont listen, ok fine then… NEWNAN HIGH 18-1 plays WESTLAKE 10-5 friday 2/6/09 at Westlake if and when we beat them can we pretty please get a spot in your top ten. Do you guys have someone that graduated from there on your staff