Grayson’s boys basketball team is unranked in Class AAAAAA despite a 13-1 record. Beating No. 9 Dacula (10-3, 3-1) on the road Wednesday was evidence that the rankings were wrong. Winning at home against No. 2 Shiloh (10-2, 4-0) on Friday night would guarantee it.
Grayson is largely a senior-dominated team. Guards Alphonso Willis (17.1 points, 6.4 rebounds) and Austin Dukes (15.2 points, 5.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds) are the leaders.
‘’In high school basketball, you’ve got to have good guard play to be successful, and Alphonso and Austin are play as well as any backcourt out there right now,’’ Grayson coach Geoffrey Pierce said. “They not only score the ball, but the rebound and play well all-around.’’
A third senior, co-captain Trevian Sconiers, ranks in the top three on the team in every category. Grayson has four senior starters. Hafeez Anifowoshe (5.8 points, 4.5 rebounds) is the other.
Three other seniors come off the bench.
Also watch for freshman post Kenyon Jackson, who is getting 9.7 rebounds.
‘’He’s been a pleasant surprise,’’ Pierce said. “He just has a knack for the ball. If he gets his hands on it, he squeezes it. He doesn’t miss lot of chances to rebound. He also does good job defending the paint (nearly four blocks per game).’’
Grayson has made the state tournament only twice (2004, 2014) and never advanced a round.
Here are some good games to watch this weekend in AAAAAA:
-No. 1-ranked Wheeler's boys (9-5, 3-2) plays at Milton (10-5, 5-1) on Saturday for first place in Region 5. Wheeler’s Romello White (signed with Georgia Tech) and Milton’s Chris Lewis (Harvard), both 6 feet, 8 inches, are the state’s two best senior power-forward prospects.
-Norcross (13-2, 5-0) plays at Duluth (11-5, 5-0) on Friday for first place in Region 7.
Duluth fended off contender Collins Hill (13-2, 3-2) this week with a 63-57 victory. Javis Diaz scored 20 points with nine rebounds. Norcross forwards Rayshaun Hammonds and Lance Thomas are each rated among the top 15 juniors in Georgia.
-Region 2 leader Tucker (11-4) plays at Region 4 leader McEachern (12-2, 3-0) on Saturday. Darius Jones, at 15.5 points per game, is McEachern’s leading scorer. Tucker’s Xavier Johnson (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Adonis Green (15 points, 10 rebounds) each had double-doubles this week in a victory over Lakeside-DeKalb.
-There aren’t any girls games this weekend matching first- and second-place teams. The best game is probably Hughes (6-5, 5-1) at Westlake (10-3, 3-1) in Region 3. Both are chasing Douglas County (14-1, 6-0).
