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DEL.ICIO.USTake Ten: Top Georgia high schools for girls and boys basketball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some schools are football schools. Some schools focus on basketball. And some are ridiculously successful at something specific … like girls tennis. Yes, we’re looking at you, Walton.
We at Take Ten enjoyed our holiday break but wanted to get back into the swing of things with schools that know how to run girls and boys basketball programs — at the same time.
Historically, we wouldn’t even know where to begin. We’ll save that question for a later date, following some research. But if you take a look at this season, you’ll see some programs that are making it work for both teams.
Here are our top 10 schools that are finding success on the court with the boys and girls programs:
10: Greater Atlanta Christian — The Spartans boys (10-3) are unbeaten in Class AA, and the girls (8-5) haven’t lost in region play.
9: Campbell — The girls side (12-1) gets most of the accolades here with 11 consecutive victories to open the season. The gentlemen Spartans (10-4) did win 10 in a row at one point.
8: Redan — The girls team is undefeated at 8-0. The Raiders boys team is 7-4 behind coach Dalton Greene.
7: Cherokee — Alabama commitment Shawn Kemp Jr. makes the Warriors (9-5) an interesting team to watch. The girls (10-3) are making noise in Region 5-AAAAA play.
6: Franklin County — The boys (11-3) are rolling along in Class AAA, but the girls have been nothing but dominant with a 13-1 record and six consecutive victories.
5: Wesleyan — Last season, we would have had the Wolves program No. 1. Both teams won titles. This year, Jan Azar’s team (13-3) has been nationally ranked and continues to dominate despite Class A status. The boys (11-5) are working to get back to the top once again.
4: Marist — The War Eagles (11-1) are cooking behind coach Greg McClaire, winning 11 in a row. The girls are 12-2 and have not lost to a Georgia team.
3: Westlake — Tamika Willis has the Lady Lions (11-1) undefeated in the state. Coach Darron Rogers has the boys (10-5) in contention in Region 4-AAAAA.
2: McEachern — Point guard Trae Golden makes the Indians (11-1) one of the top teams in the state, while Lady Indians forward Kyra Crosby could guide her team to a Region 5-AAAAA title.
1: Norcross — The boys team (10-1) has won three consecutive state titles and looks to have a lead on No. 4. The Lady Blue Devils (10-4) have Angie Hembree walking the sidelines and are legitimate contenders in Class AAAAA.
Go on. Take Ten. Which programs do you think are doing it right? Who has the best (overall) quality boys and girls basketball programs? Did we miss someone or are we just idiots? Let us know. Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
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Comments
By Blue Collar
January 14, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Here we go again….another worthless column 15 games into the basketball season!! Thanks for nothing AJC. And yes, you are just idiots…lol
By Mr. Miller Grove
January 14, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
I agree Blue Collar…this is pointless
By come on
January 14, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this
Glen, Westlake boys? Are you serious? Right now, they are the most underachieving team in AAAAA. They are a huge disappointment this year. Get a clue AJC. If you guys at the AJC spent more time on basketball instead of trying to make football linger on, maybe you would know that.
I tell you, all this time of waiting for the AJC to acknowledge high school basketball and then you come with this crap. Oh, and can we please get a real ranking? What was that “regardless of classification” ranking all about. They don’t play the state tournament all together, do they?
By Drago
January 14, 2009 3:10 PM | Link to this
BE Careful, you might make them mad and they will then only report on teams in Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb counties.
Oh, never mind.
By Proud Norcross Mom
January 14, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this
You got it exactly right! I don’t even have a child who plays….but I love and respect the Coaches, Assistants, teachers, principal, everyone associated with the Blue Devils. I have always loved high school and college basketball and this school does it right…with hard work and love for the sport!
By singlebball_mom
January 14, 2009 4:50 PM | Link to this
Proud Norcross Mom you said that right! They are amazing people can say what they want their reputation speaks for itself.. They dont need to recruit they draw in talents and quality administrators.
By other teams in GA
January 14, 2009 5:33 PM | Link to this
top 10…all from the ATL area…WTF ???
By SportsFan31313
January 14, 2009 7:27 PM | Link to this
You go that right…. By other teams in Ga. They can’t be serious right?
By SportsFan31313
January 14, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this
They could’nt get it all in football so they thought they would try it in basketball.
By jeff
January 14, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this
hi my name is jeff i am try to meeting with u and the lets me know thats i can get thats this is sport bascktball ??
By BIG PANTHER I.e GA STATE
January 14, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this
I think you would have to include all the SW ATL schools, except THerrell.MAYS,SWAC,WESTLAKE, have 6 Boys championships- 2 Girls state championships in past 10 years.
By Dawg1
January 14, 2009 11:01 PM | Link to this
What amazes me is that they don’t really have an idea of who the best teams in the state and regions are. Last week in a column about possible region favorites they had Brookwood listed for Region 8-AAAAA….and they aren’t even a top 4 team in that region. They made no mention of either South Gwinnett or Meadowcreek, teams that should each be ranked in the top 10 in AAAAA.
By Roland
January 14, 2009 11:50 PM | Link to this
WHEELER?!! MAYBE? I MEAN SERIOUSLY!!!!!!
By Roland again
January 14, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this
I MEAN which one of these teams can say that their gym is named after their CURRENT HEAD COACH. SERIOUSLY AJC!!! LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE BECAUSE IT IS TOO GENERAL.
By Wesleyan Fan
January 15, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this
this is a pretty cool thing. we love our basketball. Too bad your #10 and your #5 aren’t playing this year. Last year it was 2500+ at both regular season games and it was standing room only at the Region Tourney which GAC and Wesleyan played in girls and in guys. Splitting.
Norcross is NAILS, as well. Just think #10, #5, and #1 are all within 4.5 miles of eachother…
Pretty intense!
By A fan
January 15, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this
I do think the AJC could do a better job in reporting High school basketball. I know football is big but Georgia is producing some talented young men on the court. Just give some more attention. High school football ended in December.
By Destiny
January 15, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
OK HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!! WHY IS IT THAT MAYS IS GETTING NO LOVE….. BEIN 16-0 AND THE BOYS HAVE ONLY LOST 13-3!!!! THERE ARE TEAMS LISTED THAT HAVE LOST GAMES OR HAVE NOT EVEN PLAYED AS MANY GAMES…. SO IF SOME TEAMS WERE 4-0 THEY WOULD BE ON THE LIST???? DERRICK MAHONE… PLEASE HELP!!!!
By jc
January 15, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this
No one cares about high school basketball because it is a boring sport. I would rather watch golf.
Football and baseball rule in Ga. and always will.
By congaman
January 15, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
Give them time- Allatoona will be there! Those coaches are doing a great job.
By dback16
January 17, 2009 12:21 AM | Link to this
Sickn’ing! All this time of waiting and this is the response. You generalize the board based on boys and girls teams at the same school, if they were good and are now decent! Pitiful!
By Fayette Co.
January 17, 2009 4:03 AM | Link to this
What about Fayette Co. High in AAAA play? Both the boys and girls made it to the state championship game last year!!!! The girls returned all 5 starters and are undefeated this year while the boys have one of the states top players and have only lost 1 game. Together they combine for a 15-1 record!!
Oh yea, they both played #3 Westlake in an exibition opener. The boys lost by a 1 sec jump shot in the forth by 1 point and the girls would smoke em if they met again.
This has to be a joke!!!!!
By Devil Lover
January 17, 2009 11:09 AM | Link to this
Norcross has the best base balanced program in thr state between the girls and boys. Thie year’s girls might even be more tallented compared to their competition than the boys.
By gaucho
January 17, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this
Norcross and their AAU cronies exploit uneducated single moms.
PERIOD
By crumdog
January 19, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
to the clown jc. baseball is a joke sport now. nobody goes to the games and who cares about high school basedball or matter of fact pro baseball too.