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DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: The 10 best in the Final Fours
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s Final Four time in Georgia, and we at Take Ten were having trouble deciding what to do: Travel to Macon or Gwinnett Arena? We’ll probably do both. If you’re just a casual fan, you’ve got to thinking about where you’re getting the best entertainment. Who are the best teams? Who are the best players? We decided to answer the latter for you.
Here are the 10 best players to make this year’s GHSA Final Fours:
10: Kayla Weaver, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe - The Warriors are one of the best stories in this year’s tournament. The school had never won a state tournament game until this season. Now they’ve won three and are vying for a championship. Weaver, the team’s senior leader, is deadly from beyond the arc and a threat to score at any point.
9: Telia McCall, Marietta - The future Virginia player has been a force in getting Marietta back to the Final Four, looking for Ken Sprague’s first state title. Teammate Brittany White is fun to watch as well, but it’s McCall who drives this team.
8: Rashard Smith, Dublin - This versatile athlete has signed with North Carolina State for football. He’s fun to watch on the basketball court, dropping 30 points on Central Macon in the quarterfinals.
7: Blanche Alverson, Buford - The Wolves have a great starting five — keep an eye on freshman Andraya Carter — but its Alverson who gets attention at the Final Four. The Auburn signee has been nominated to the McDonald’s All-American team and has pushed Buford to its 30-1 mark.
6: Julian Royal, Milton - The super talented sophomore had what could have been his best game yet: 32 points (teammates only had 31) against South Gwinnett in the quarterfinals. Milton’s going to be good next season, too.
5: Anma Onyeuku, Fayette County - Senior point guard Tessah Holt is the driving force behind the Tigers undefeated run, but it’s the athletic junior forward who provides dazzle to Holts razzle. She’s quick and fun to watch. Just don’t even try to stop her in transition. It’s a thing of beauty.
4: Ari Stewart, Wheeler - Teammate Richard Howell gets plenty of attention, but we think the 6-foot-6 forward may be more fun to watch. Stewart is a major reason the Wildcats are back into the Final Four. He’ll be playing at Wake Forest next season.
3: Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove - Our team of experts (Rob Morton) says that the 6-foot-2 senior guard, who will play for Georgia Tech next season, is one of the best outside shooters in Georgia for the last 25 years. Udofia had a super-human effort against Fayette County in the quarterfinals. Let’s see what he has cooked up for the Final Four.
2: Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan - We call Armstrong “MacGyver” because she does everything. Literally, everything. She has been the key to the Wolves dominance all season and is probably one of the best girls players in state history. She scores, rebounds, moves in transition, and we’re fairly certain she even makes the team meals, presses coach Jan Azar’s suits before tip and drives the team bus.
1: Derrick Favors, South Atlanta - Well, duh. The Atlanta Tipoff Club just announced the 6-foot-9 monster its 2009 Naismith Award winner. He’s averaged 27.5 points, 13.3 boards, five blocks, four steals, three assists and 17 “Wows” per game this season. That’s good enough for No. 1 on list. Now go see him before he throws on the Georgia Tech jersey.
Go on. Take Ten. Who are the best to players to see at this year’s Final Fours? Who did we miss? Let us know.
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By Savannah's Best
March 11, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this
Monique Willis (Beach) South Carolina signee, McDonald’s All-American Nominee….all everything….ask Westlake
By CougarFan
March 11, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this
Russell Powell-Newnan
By Glenn are you kidding me?
March 11, 2009 4:46 PM | Link to this
I would have to say that Powell kid of Newnan. He has to be on of the best remaining considering the fact that he is leading his team to the final four and his supporting cast are true FOOTBALL PLAYERS! They are good atheletes, but they are going to school for FOOTBALL not BASKETBALL. He has to be good to do that. I’m not too familiar with all these people who made the list, but all i’m saying is that these kids probably had a BASKETBALL supporting cast to get them to Gwinnett.
By steph curry
March 11, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this
Mfon is a LOT of things - but one of the best SHOOTERS in the last TWENTY-FIVE years? You guys NEVER fail to amaze me with your IDIOCY.
Unless you are listing about 450 players in your “best shooters” MFon isn’t close. Have you watched the kid play, ever? His game is attack, attack, attack!
You guys really suck at reporting HS ball.
By Westlake Must Agree
March 11, 2009 5:36 PM | Link to this
I’m from Westlake and I must agree that Monique Willis (Beach HS) is one of the best I’ve ever seen. We all were impressed. How could the AJC miss this?
By MGHS # 1 Fan
March 11, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this
Ok Curry…that was not a nice thing to say about Mfon!!!! Wake up and smell the coffee….this kid has brought Miller Grove on the map with his talent and skill! Now we are getting ready to compete in the Final Four for the second yr in a row tonight!
It’s really sad that people like you don’t recognize or appreciate good, solid talent! I’ll be sure to remember your words when he holds up that State Championship trophy on Friday evening!!!
Let’s Go Wolverines!!!
By steph curry
March 11, 2009 5:59 PM | Link to this
MGHS #1
Do they teach your reading comprehension down that way?
What did I say “not nice” about Mfon? That he isn’t one of the TWENTY FIVE BEST SHOOTERS EVER? He ISN’T.
I never said ANYTHING about his lack of talent. In fact I said he was “a lot of things”, implying that he is a great player.
Go away.
By highschoolfan
March 11, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
Howell is the best player on the team though
By highschoolfan
March 11, 2009 7:50 PM | Link to this
id even take phil taylor before Ari Stewart, Stewarts played well, i will agree, but he is proven to be a very inconsistant performer in highschool, and he is finally playing his most consistant game since he has arrived at Wheeler (he picked the right time though)
By wheelerfan
March 11, 2009 7:52 PM | Link to this
agreed, richard is so fun to watch, he can do it all for a big man with size, esp soft touch around the basket
By Wheelerfan
March 11, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this
When ari is on tho he can be a force, he can drive or pull up on somebody and knock home the jumper, but richard is much more consistent
By Todd Holcomb
March 11, 2009 11:39 PM | Link to this
It’s neat that Russell Powell and Rashard Smith have led football and basketball teams into semifinals. … That’s Tony Flanagan-like. Although Flan’s SW Atlanta teams won both titles.
My favorite boys player to watch is Whitefield’s Brandon Reed. There are guys who shoot the three, and guys who attack the basket and score. Others post up and can’t be stopped. But Reed is a mature scorer because of his abilty to make the 5-10 footer. Sounds easy, but a lot of very good players can’t reliably make runners and bank shots in traffic. Reed does that very well.
By Ernest
March 12, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this
Mfon is a GREAT player but I’m not sure he is one of the best outside shooters. His court vision is tremendous and he has an uncanny ability to get into the paint. He can either take the short shot or dish to one of his teammates. The fact that he can hit the outside shot means he has to be respected.
I expect him to move into the starting lineup at PG for GT by the middle of next season, if not sooner.
By Real Talk
March 12, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
Ok come on why isn’t Florida Bound Tessah Holt in this top….This don’t make no sense… She is too smooth!!!!
By Auntie Em
March 12, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
You can’t spell amazing without the AMA!
Other than the surge of Favors in the past year, Anne Marie should top the list … she’s been consistently on the court for Wesleyan, and a team leader. Even with knee problems, she continues to dominate her opponent on the court.
And, she’s one of the most self-less players out there. AMA hands off the ball more than she shoots. She isn’t wrapped up in “her” scores or stats, she wants the team win and the Championship Tropy back in the display case at Wesleyan.
Props to her teammates, too … lucky to be surrounded by the depth and capability of her entire team, from co-captain Chantel Kennedy (D1 signee to Colorado State University), juniors Erin Hall (affectionately known as Air-In for her 3-point accuracy), Kennington Groff, Aysia McKenzie, and Logan Morris; soph Grace Leah Baughn, to freshmen Jordan Frazier and Holli Wilkins. Many others who would be strong players at other schools and will see more playing time next year - Megan Coole, Grace Cowart, Hayley Hughes to name a few.
This team OWNS The Macon Coliseum.
By Next Up Magazine
March 12, 2009 11:35 PM | Link to this
Next Up Magazine will be in the building.
By GAVSV
March 13, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this
Rashard Smith from Dublin. He is 5-10 and can put his elbows on top of the rim. He can slam dunk, shoot the jumper, drive to the basket for layups and hit the threes, while running the offense and defense as the PG for Dublin. Rashard Smith is a two-time Class AA Defensive Player of the Year in football. Smith was the only person to be named all-state in football and basketball last season, and he’s probably headed in that direction again as he has accomplished that feat in football already. Another thing, as good as he is in football and basketball, he is better in baseball. A sport he loves also but can’t play because of his extended season of success on the court. Rashard Smith has played in 3 semifinals in football, winning 1 state chamionship and has played in 3 final fours winning 1 state championship with the possibility of winning a second on saturday. Mr. Smith isn’t a one sport wonder! He plays sports year round. Unlike other athletes today he enjoys as many athletic activities as he can. If he had just concentrated on basketball there is no telling how much media attention he would be getting, but he perfers to perform and let that speak for him. He is a super star and he is headed to North Carolina State on a football scholarship. He could easily get a basketball scholarship. I watched him leave football players face first grabbing air on the football field after trying to tackle him. I have seen him drive the lane and slam over a 6-8 center. This guy is the real deal and a pleasure to watch. As for titles, Rashard has a championship ring in football and basketball. Hopefully he can add another ring in basketball on saturday! He is by far the best player to watch year round! What else could a sports fan want!
By TJ
March 13, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this
Brandon Reed of Whitefield Academy shoots the 3 well, has a great mid range game and finishes very well at the basket. They execute very well on offense with very little if any one on one play. I think both he and Coach Johnson get over looked when we start talking about the best at waht they do.
By Titletown King
March 13, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this
COACH DALLIS SMITH
-has AAA Westover in the championship with a team full of midget guards.. truly a talented coach, but Derrick Favors will be having a Wilt Chamberlain night Saturday in Macon
By st12002
March 20, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
I saw Karisma Boykin shut Kayla Weaver down in the BIG game. Held her to 8 points (2 in the 2nd half). Still no love for Carrollton.