Let's take a timeout from our regularly scheduled football programming to check out some of the top boys basketball teams in the state. Here are five to watch in Class AAAAAA. We'll talk about the girls next week in this space.
What are the best teams that are not mentioned below?
Douglas County – The Tigers finished ranked No. 9 last season after winning Region 3 and going 22-6. The team's most productive player, Justin Bridges, graduated, but 6-5 wing Brandon Robinson (12.2 ppg in 2014) is rated the No. 4 junior in Georgia. K'Ja Johnson (11.3 ppg) is committed to Florida A&M. Junior Kalen Clifton is the No. 46 senior in Georgia. The Tigers have a 6-8 post n D'Ondre Glenn. Douglas County has betaen Hillgrove as part of a 3-0 start (avenging a second-round loss in the 2014 playoffs). Douglas County plays Madison Academy on Friday at Holy Innocents' and nationally ranked St. Francis on Saturday in the Radar Showcase at Whitfield Academy.
Norcross – Norcross made the semifinals last season, losing to eventual champion Tift County. Only two starters return, but they - PF Ricky Madison (No. 15) and SG Tim Cameron (No. 19) - are ranked among the top-20 Georgia seniors, according to Georgia Hoops. Madison (6-6) has signed with High Point. Wing man Devin Huffman is No. 65. Rayshaun Hammonds, a 6-8 transfer from Meadowcreek, is the No. 7 sophomore. This is reputedly the deepest, youngest and tallest team (five that are 6-6 or taller) that Norcross has fielded in years. No football players this season, which is rare. Norcross will rotate lots of players, including quick, young backcourt performers Amir Butcher (6-2), Jordan Goldwire (5-10) and Zach Cooks (5-8).
North Gwinnett – All-state guard T.J. Howard transferred to IMG Academy in Florida. Two starters return from a 27-4 team that won Region 7 and lost in the quarterfinals to runner-up Wheeler. Malik Carter, a 6-8 forward, is rated the No. 23 senior in Georgia, per Georgia Hoopes. He averaged 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. SF Kamaran Calhoun, a four-year starter, is No. 55. He averaged 12.4. North plays Norcross on Dec. 4.
Pebblebrook – The Falcons won Region 4, reached the state semifinals, losing to Wheeler, and finished 24-6 last season. The team's best player, guard Ty Hudson, is back. The Clemson commit averaged 18 points, 5.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2014. Big guard Trhae Mitchell was the second-leading scorer last season (13 ppg with 6.6 rebounds).Center Derek Ogbeide (6-8) is committed to Georgia. Point guard Jared Harper is rated the No. 16 junior in Georgia.
Wheeler – The Wildcats, the 2014 runner-up to Tift County, is the consensus No. 10 team in the country nationally, according to MaxPreps, with a high of No. 9 by PrepNation. Jaylen Brown is the consensus No. 2 recruit in the country. Daniel Giddens, a 6-10 post, transferred to Oak Hill Academy, and two other prominent starters graduated, but Wheeler picked up four significant tranfers – Tucker's Shambari Phillips, who is committed to Tennessee; Mount Vernon's Darius Perry, the No. 4 sophomore in the state; Marietta's Cam Jordan, the No. 19 junior; and Hakeem Anchrum, a 6-7 forward from Parker High in Birmingham.
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