Prep Zone

By jim satterly

January 18, 2009 10:38 PM | Link to this

In my 15 years of covering preps for the AJC, I saw Wingfield, Hancock, Walker, Malone, Ellis, and Nixon (the latter before I worked for the paper full time). I like Malone of that group (Terry Fair was awfully good also), but the best high school player I ever saw was Al Wood of Jones County (and later UNC). I rate Hancock not so highly, and Wingfield was such a head case that it’s hard to say. Todd, did you ask Figbo?

By Devil Lover

January 18, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this

Well Todd you have picked a good group however I find it hard to believe that a team that has won three consecutive state championship at the 5A level does not have one player on your list. Maybe it is easlier to list players who have had time to develop their talent in both the college and professional level over recent high school players. However let me remind you about a few.

Jodie Meeks help Norcross win their first state championship and was named the AJC’s high school player of the year in 2006. He was recruited by Kentucky Wildcats and just this week he set the all time scoring record in the storied history of Kentucky basketball-54 pts in a nationally televised victory over Tenn. He averages 25.8 pts which leads the SEC and is ranked no. 4 in the nation. Some are saying he could be considered for the college player of the year. And he is just a junior.

Al-Faroug Aminu played on three consecutive state championship teams from 2006-2008 for Norcross. In 2008 he was picked as one of the 24 players nationwide who were selected to the McDonald’s all American team and was named as Mr. Georgia basketball player of the year as well. He now starts for Wake Forest who is the no 3 team in the national and the only major school who is still undefeated. Even though he is not very flashy this kid will end up breaking all of the records.

Gani Lawal played on two of Norcross’ championship teams from 2006-2007. In 2007 He was named Mr. Georgia basketball player of the year and was pick as one of the 24 player nationally as a McDonald’s all American. He now plays for Ga Tech and is leading the ACC in rebounds.

Todd since we all know that the talent is diffinately getting better I think you should find a way to put at least one of these players on your list.

By Ree

January 18, 2009 10:45 PM | Link to this

He is better than Dwight Howard in skill but without a ring there is no way that he can be the BEST in history. Ultimately the playoffs will define him but it is worth noting that this kid is focused and comes from South Atlanta where he is the hero from the local high school. He did not transfer as AJC columnist have discussed but I am sure that Norcross, Wheeler, etc. would love to have him.

He works harder in the classroom and on the court than any young man I have ever seen.

Dwight was magnificent but this guy could be his rival for the next 10 years with his natural ability, tenacity, and work ethic. He is humble and has a great future ahead of him.

Plus he plays in a harder division and simply dominates every post player in the state of Georgia and arguably the country. I saw him play a exhibition game against the best team in the state in Miller Grove High (which features roughly 10 D-1 prospects) and single-handledly (Andre Malone shoots a lot of outside shots while never seeking to penetrate the hole) will his team in a nail-biting lost. And on ESPN we saw his team’s lack of depth…

But he is averaging 30 pts.-10 rebs.-5 blks. for his LOCAL team who is the front-runner for the title but ultimately without a ring you have to crown Dwight Howard!!!

By Gilley

January 19, 2009 12:03 AM | Link to this

Favors is nice but he is no Vincent Banks! Hands Down!

By JT

January 19, 2009 12:34 AM | Link to this

Vincent Banks come on he was good, but he couldn’t stay in school. Not only that they didn’t even mention in the top players on this page. Derrick Favors should be playing pro basketball now, not two years from now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Bob

January 19, 2009 1:24 AM | Link to this

nope… I was the best player EVER in Ga Hoops! I averaged 35, i mean 3.5 points a game, and was the best parttime water boy this state has ever seen! No one could talk sht from the bench like i could… NO ONE!!

By Bob

January 19, 2009 1:26 AM | Link to this

Favors is nice, but hes no Bob! Bob could make it from halfcourt with his eyes closed and a fat chic hanging on him!

By Observer

January 19, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this

As a referee, I had the opportunity to see Hancock and Wingfield up close. Both were blessed with extraordinary physical gifts and could single handedly take over a game but both were also hopelessly stupid and arrogant. If either one of them had been remotely level-headed, we would be talking about their stellar careers here instead of mentioning them as talented footnotes in Georgia high school basketball history.

By Todd Holcomb

January 19, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this

Jim: I’ll ask Figbo this week. I suspect he’d put Charlie Dudish in the top 10. I seem to remember that he loved Darrin Hancock.

re: Norcross: I don’t think winning three straight entitles a school to a Top 10 selection all-time, but Norcross has had some premium players. I think Meeks was the best in high school, then Aminu, then Lawal. Also, Meeks was perhaps the Class AAAAA player of the year, but I think Javaris Crittenton was Mr. Georgia basketball that year.

By Veteran Fan

January 19, 2009 10:54 AM | Link to this

Brian Oliver of Wills was an incredible high school player on a team with only one other player that played college ball! Won a state title at the highest level and had a great run at GT. Did well in the pros, but was a lock down defender when the NBA was all about scoring! Saw all these players play and Oliver was the best in high school with Malone and Frazier probably next. Howard can’t be judged because he chose to play at the A level where he had no competition, but his pro career is extraordinary! Devil Lover needs to wake up if he thinks the players are getting better! There was no three point shot years ago and the turnovers are up, the free throw pct is down, shooting is atrocious, and nobody rebounds or plays defense! In addition the coaching is terrible so the players are not very good!

By jrmjr

January 19, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

as a 74 graduate of southwest macon, i have seen and played with all the macon greats.jeff malone was good but not the best player on that team, it was fair. Probably the best while in high school at southwest was eric manuel. he signed with kentucky.

the best to come out around here in high school was and still is AL WOOD.

rudy

By Droopy74

January 19, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this

It is hard to compare this generation to past because basketball has changed drastically - Due to transfers & AAU. However, Darrin Hancock filled every gym he played in the state of Georgia and people came from miles away to view.

Dominated in Georgia State Title, Junior College Player of the Year @ Garden City, Kansas for one year and the Final Four in New Orleans, and then to the Charlotte Hornets. Won a gold medal in the old Olympic Festival with Shaquille.

Wheteher he played against Douglass, Washington, or Southwest Macon. He played both ends of the floor and definitely deserves to be on the list.

We are not discussing how they finish there careers, but HIGH SCHOOL and he dominated and everyone here would have paid to get in the door.

By jsh

January 19, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this

I would say Dwight Howard is the best from this list. However, another name I would like to throw in the mix is James Forrest. I saw him play in high school and he was a man amongst boys. I can not find his high school stats, but i know he scored 22 pts in the McD All American game. PrepStars had him as the #3 recruit behind Glenn Robinson and Chris Webber.

On a side note, was the 1995 high school class the best ever, here is the prepstars top ten list from that year: Kevin Garnett, Ron Mercer, Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Abdur-Rahim, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Stephon Marbury, Chauncey Billups, Antawn Jamison and Randell Jackson. Two locks for the HoF (KG and Carter) and one possible with Pierce. All 10 played in the NBA…

By Todd Holcomb

January 19, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this

as a 74 graduate of southwest macon, i have seen and played with all the macon greats.jeff malone was good but not the best player on that team, it was fair.

Good insights. Thanks. I actually asked Jeff Malone that question during an interview, who was SW Macon’s best player in 1979. His answer? “Me.” I’m sure Fair would’ve disagreed.

By eagleman

January 20, 2009 2:39 AM | Link to this

Other players to consider in this list would be Chris Ellis (Marietta, 2002) and Eddie Lee Wilkins (Cass - not sure of year). Both were great players in high school.

By Ernest

January 20, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this

Todd, I remember when you posted your original list. I’ll repeat what I said the, when you consider HS career only, Dontonio Wingfield was the all-time best player in HS in the state of GA. Yes, he was a head case but his talent and impact on the game is undeniable. He led his team to the finals as a freshman.

Is there anyone else that had a more impressive 4 year career than Dontonio? I don’t think so….

By Rod

January 20, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this

Say what you will about Dontonio Wingfield being a head case (and he most certainly was) but name another player who played on 4 state title teams. Granted he didnt play in the championship game his senior year but he lead the team to the finals that year. For high school career ONLY he has to be the top player.

By jrmjr

January 20, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

i’m not going by a career, i’m saying who the best player i saw in one year and it is al wood.wingfields teams did better than al’s, but al was better to me. TODD:j malone would be one of the few to say he was the best player on that team, well maybe elvin, his dad.lol. jeff could shoot, fair controlled the game. micheal hunt was a better all round player(defense) than jeff in high school, but jeff could always shoot. that skill took him to the nba.jeff certainly turned out to be the best but not in high school. imho rudy

By Todd Holcomb

January 20, 2009 8:52 PM | Link to this

I didn’t get to see that ‘79 SW Macon team play, although I was very aware of them, and I do recall that Fair was the best known player on the team. At only 6-7, maybe he was not quite bit enough to be a great power forward, his true position, in college or especially the NBA. Of course, he was very good at UGA.

What’s Fair doing these days? Anybody know? Somebody told me that Wingfield had begun coaching youth basketball.

By Willy

January 21, 2009 12:13 AM | Link to this

Todd, Derrick Favors>Dwight Howard in high school. Yes Dwight howard was an inch or two taller but Favors is clearly more skilled and is the best high school player from the state of GA ever!!! He is 6’9 and has a 39 inch vertical which means when he jumps his head should be at the rim. Favors atheltism, skill, and size is abosultely freakish and that is why he is the best player from the state of GA. We’ll see if he is a better pro player though….

By JustMyOpinion

January 21, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this

Anybody remembers Dion Glover? Didn’t he win it all at Cedar Grove?

By Ernest

January 21, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

Todd, you brought up a GREAT idea for a ‘Where are they now’ section. There have been MANY talented HS athletes in GA over the years, and quite a few that did not go to the next level. It would be a great human interest story to hear that Dontonio turned himself around (if that is true).

There was an all state running back at Commerce several years ago (Monte ???) and I always wondered what happened to him.

Back to the blog, best HS BBall player of all time would be Dontonio Wingfield because of what he did for his team. Best individual talent would probably be Darrin Hancock. Best HS BBall team of all time is the 79 SW Macon team. No one should question that. Interesting that some of the best all time teams were probably in the 70’s as a few of the Savannah High teams were pretty good also. For sentimental reasons, the 67 Beach High team gets strong consideration since they were the first all black team to win after the GHSA integrated.

By Ernest

January 21, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this

Todd, if Derrick Mahone is around, tell him to chime in on this. I know this was one of his favorite topics.

By bryant

January 21, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

what about Mike Dean, Billy Humphrey and Dion Glover these guys put up some lofty numbers in Highschool

By bryant

January 21, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

I forgot Jay Brown out of griffin

By DHS Alum 1992

January 22, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this

Todd,

Check the numbers on Chris Morris (Douglass High)… wouldn’t have the title in 1984 without him, I would say… he should be on this list or at least considered.

Hancock was a talent to see in person, too, and Wingfield was really good…

By Shane

January 22, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this

Hancock was special but Wingfield was out of this world. Close to 7 foot and could hit the jumper from half court. We saw only about 50% of what he could really do and he went up against players like Melvin Drake, Pertha Robinson, Chris Cameron and that was just with his Albany teams. Played picj up against him and he is a BEAST. Watched him go t** for tat with Rasheed Wallace and company….

But I would also add Al “Leroy” Pinkins to this list. 6-7 phenom that barely hit his potential. Yes Al was a great Football and Baseball player but he was BEST at basketball. Some of his games against Randolph Clay are legend and lore…He made Jermaine Jones also from Mitchell Baker look human.

I’ll never forget the night Pinkins broke the Mitchell County scoring record. Even though it was my dad, Steve Jones that held the record, I knew that I was witnessing one of the greatest basketball performances of all time.

By ATLs Historian

January 22, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this

Any discussion about the top players to play in Georgia without these guys being mentioned isn’t a discussion:

Melvin “Hollywood” Howard - Decatur Octavious Thomas - George Cedric Henderson - Marietta Herbert Jones - Brown Chris Collier - Brown Roland Shelton - Decatur Paris Dennis - Mays Rodney Butts - Mays Wayne Buckingham/James Forrest - Southside Terry Martin/Chris Morris - Douglass James Banks - Smith Anthony Flanagan - Southwest …..and the list goes on and on…..

By FalconFan

January 22, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this

Wow, I remember those Days with Wayne Buckingham and James Forrest against Douglass’ starting 5. lol

By Atl. born and bred

January 23, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this

Atls Historians you are right on point. Can’t forget Anthony “Ice Man” Crawford. Washington High C/O ‘81

By John

January 24, 2009 2:43 AM | Link to this

Darrin Hancock was the best HS basketball player in state history,bar none wheter he was playing against Washington H.S. and Big Elmo Spencer or the Donald Dollar coached Douglas Astros or Don Richardson’s Southwest Macon Team’s. Hancock dominated his competition period. He played both ends of the floor,he dominated the 1988 state tourney that sold out every game Griffin played in at Georgia Tech’s thriller dome.Far as athletic ability goes Hancock was head and shoulders above all of the guys on this list.If you go back and look head to head against the best competition in HS,the bigger the game the better he played. You knew when you came to see Griffin Hancock was gonna put on a show.Were talking small town Griffin where back then everyone went to the same HS. Now a days kids play on teams that recruit or parents transfer their kids to schools that have 12 potential McDonald’s all american’s on there roster. Notice I said potential.If HS was covered back then like it is today Hancock would have jumped from HS to the pros. Super athelete.

By John

January 24, 2009 3:23 AM | Link to this

Hancock also averaged 30 a game in the 1988 state tourney as a soph and was Mr. Georgia basketball even though coach James Martin chose to hold him back during the reg. season once the state tournament started he turned him loose much to the dismay of Johnson of Gainsville, Lassiter of Marietta and Bruce Elder,NE Macon and Westover Patriots in the Championship game.Hancock was the truth.

By olympia

January 24, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this

Add Shandon Anderson of A. A. Crim High School to that list of players not winning a high school championship. He had an outstanding career at the University of Georgia and did win an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.

By THEHILLISREAL

January 25, 2009 1:12 AM | Link to this

Boy!!! Y’all sleeping on that 33-1 state championship team at Southwest Atlanta(MAYS).Gerald Wilkins and Joey Browner from Vikings with there only lost coming to SW macon by few points. The year 1979,SW MACON 33-0.If SW Atlanta had beat them in the dome that night,would we say SW ATLANTA had all the great star.

By Big Man

January 27, 2009 12:33 AM | Link to this

Al Farouq Aminu did NOT play for 3 straight state championships. He was INELIGIBLE for varsity competition his first year at Norcross. Him and Jordan Demercy played JV. Darrin Hancock was the TRUTH. I grew up watching Hancock, Dontonio Wingfield, Dion Glover and others, but Louis Williams is one of the most impressive players I have ever seen in the state of GA. Also, one of the best individual performances I have ever seen was by Chezley Watson of East Hall in 97.

By ATL historian

January 29, 2009 10:32 PM | Link to this

It took me only a minute to remember some other players who without a doubt should be mentioned as the greatest or some the greatest to ever play bball in the great of state of georgia they are as follows: Reggie Johnson—-Cedar Grove—-Robert Haygood—Russell High—-Ricky Woods—Lithonia High—Eddie Gibson—Rockdale Co—Stanley Malcolm—Cedar Grove—Luke Kelly—Lagrange High—Hancel Banks—-Lithonia—

most of the guys played in the early to late 70’s and I might add if these guys were coming along today they would be even more effective with todays attitudes, lack of shooting ability, lack of fundamentals, etc. THESE GUYS WERE THE TRUTH!!!!

By Gerald

January 31, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this

Tony Akins from Berkmar was the best high school player I’ve seen since Shareef. He averaged 28.8 ppg his senior season while leading the Patriots to the state finals under David Boyd, made even more impressive by the fact that none of his teammates merited defensive attention. Shareef had DA Layne and Russ Wheeler, Howard had Crittenden, Williams had Mercer, and Meeks, Aminu, and Lawal had each other. Akins only had Matt Carter and David Hemphill, and often faced double- and triple-teams as soon as he crossed the half-court line. Nonetheless, he scored 44 of Berkmar’s 55 points—including 33 of 35 in the first half—in a playoff win over a Eddie Martin’s Brookwood team, the best single game I’ve ever seen by a high schooler, and his 53 points against Spartanburg, SC are still a Gwinnett County single-game record.

By Number 15

February 2, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget about the great players from the City of Atlanta in 1984. There were some pretty good ones. Particularly 6-AAA. Fulton, George, Mays and Brown were tough teams in 1984. In fact, Mays wound the Region, but Fulton played for the title against a very tough Gainesville team. Were it not for an injury to a key player in the first few minutes of the game, both Fulton and Douglass(AAAA) would have brought titles back to the city! I have played against some pretty stiff competition in my time, but none tougher than Robert Cantrell of George High in Atlanta. Incredible athlete (Great quarterback as well). Finally, the best all around player in Georgia was Hubert Henderson of Fulton High School. Okay, he was a teammate of mine, but ask anyone who was at the All-Star game in 1984. He out-played them all! Hands down!

By Atom12

February 13, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this

Walt Frazier won championships with the Knicks in 1970 (not 1969), and 1973. You neglect to point out that he was also a 7-time All Star, and also voted one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time. Furthermore, it’s arguable he had one of the greatest Game 7 championship performances in 1973.