New Central Gwinnett coach Ed Stokes certainly likes the look of the Black Knights' backfield, with star rising senior Diante Drake leading the way. Stokes, who spent the previous two years at Valdosta, is excited about working with the ultra-talented Drake.

"[Drake has the] best hands, vision, speed; can do everything. I've never had one like him," said Stokes. "He's the best athlete I've ever had on a team. We [Stokes' teams] played against [Kregg] Lumpkin and [Caleb] King; I'll put Drake in with those cats."

Drake is coming off a junior year in which he ran for 1,500 yards, and as a sophomore led Gwinnett County in touchdowns. But the 5-foot-10, 205-pound back still wants to improve in his final year at the Lawrenceville school.

"I'm trying to improve all around; working on everything," Drake said. "I've been watching a lot of film."

Right down the road at Parkview, rising senior Brandon Jacobs is expecting to have a big year after gaining nearly 900 yards on the ground in 2007. Jacobs signed with Auburn University in Alabama early this month.

"As for now, I'm set," Jacobs said of Auburn.

The 6-1 Jacobs also is a top baseball prospect, suggesting he could forgo college altogether by the time the April 2009 first-year player draft rolls around. His .500 batting average as a junior led the Panthers.

"I think it's good for him," Parkview baseball coach Chan Brown said of Jacobs' commitment to Auburn. "[But] he's become a big-time baseball prospect.

"We'll see what happens with baseball."