Here are five private and public boys’ teams to watch this season. We’ll feature the girls’ teams next week.
Private
St. Francis. The Knights finished 24-7 last season en route to the private school state title, the first boys state championship of any kind in the school's history. St. Francis is already out of the gate fast this season at 2-0 with a blowout win over Class AAAA Banneker (89-52) and a 67-64 win over Laney of Augusta, a Class AA Final Four team last season. The Knights are led by three of the best players in the state, seniors G Malik Beasley (signed with Florida State) and F Kaiser Gates (Xavier), and junior G Kobi Simmons, and have added a highly-touted ninth grader, G Will Richter.
Whitefield Academy. The Wolfpack finished 23-7 last season but lost to St. Francis in the state final after defeating the Knights twice during the regular season. Whitefield has already played five games this season going 3-2 with the losses coming to defending Class AAAA-Region 8 champion Johnson-Gainesville (88-76) and defending Class AAAAAA-Region 7 champion North Gwinnett (60-55), which advanced to the state quarterfinals last season. Senior F Courtney Alexander, junior G Brendan Myles and sophomore PG Isaiah Hart will lead the way for Whitefield.
North Cobb Christian. The Eagles finished 21-8 last season but were knocked out in the second round of the state playoffs by Whitefield Academy. Seven-foot senior C Trey Kalina (Chattanooga) will look to be a dominant force this season.
Athens Christian. The Eagles went 25-5 last season and advanced to the Final Four after making to the title game in 2013. The senior duo of Will "Turtle" Jackson (Georgia) and Demetrius McWhorter hope to lead Athens Christian to its first state championship.
Greenforest Christian. The Eagles won the Region 5 championship last season and finished 22-8, but were upset in the second round of the state playoffs by Calvary Day. Greenforest has been one of the most talented teams in the state the past three seasons and this year is no different with seniors G Justin Ravenel and F Faisal Abduo-Malik, juniors G John Ogwuche and F Precious Ayah, sophomores F Victor Enoh and G Justin Forrest (son of Georgia Tech great James Forrest) and 6-foot-8 freshman C Mohammed Abdulsalem.
Public
Wilkinson County. The Warriors will go for a three-peat this season and have won state championships in three of the last four seasons and seven overall. Leading the charge this season will be senior G Torrico Simmons and sophomore F Greg Couson.
Turner County. The Rebels won the Region 2 championship last season en route to a 26-5 finish and a loss to Wilkinson County in the public school title game. Seniors G Quan Hillmon and F Shaquil Baldwin will lead the way this season.
Calhoun County. The Cougars finished 25-3 last season and lost by just seven points to eventual state champion Wilkinson County in the Final Four. This season Calhoun County fields a veteran team led by three talented seniors – G Quenten Taylor, G Bryant Williams and G Sherrod Williams – with hopes of getting winning a state title.
Hawkinsville. The Red Devils went 22-6 last season and lost a heartbreaker to Turner County (51-49) in the state semi finals. Senior F Warren Singletary will lead a veteran team this season.
Randolph-Clay. The Red Devils finished 23-7 last season but were upset by Hawkinsville in the second round of the state playoffs. Senior F Gary McCrae, who has committed to play linebacker at Georgia, will lead a senior-laden team that could be a sleeper to win the state title.
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