The Paulding County Patriots are making a push for recognition in Class AAAAA.
The Patriots finished the year with a five-game winning streak and proved it should be considered among the contenders in Region 7. The boys were 16-14 last season and lost to Clarke Central in the first round of the state playoffs.
This year could be even better. Paulding County is 12-1, the lone loss being a region setback to Carrollton.
The tandem of Jervon Morris and John Cook have become one of the most productive duos in the state. They average a combined 42.1 points.
Morris, a 6-foot-2 senior, averages 24.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 steals. He scored 42 in the season opener and been held below 20 points only twice. John Cook, a 6-5 senior, leads the team with 17.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He scored 32 points against East Paulding, has been in double figures in all but two early games. Keon Sedgwick, a junior guard, averages 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 3.5 steals.
Here are five other schools who are off to a good start this season:
Buford: The Wolves finished third in the prestigious Arby's Classic, beating Wenonah, Ala., in the consolation game. Buford has already beaten the likes of Wheeler and Archer and opened the season by winning the Parkview Thanksgiving Tournament. The Wolves start region play on Thursday against Walnut Grove.
Woodland: The Wolfpack ended 2018 with eight straight wins and won the Price-Greenberg Tournament, beating King, KIPP Atlanta and Mt. Zion. Their lone Region 4 loss came at state-ranked Eagle's Landing. Senior Curtis Purdue leads the team with 14.2 points and 4.9 rebounds. Jalen Mason (9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds) is among a solid supporting cast.
Jones County: The Greyhounds have used stellar defense and a balanced scoring attack to start the season 12-3. Senior Jameson Bryant is the only player averaging double figures (12.1), but five others average seven-plus, including Tre Dean (9.7), Marquis Jackson (9.1) and Bryson Wooten (9.0). Jones closed 2018 by beating Northside in the championship game of the State Bank Holiday Classic.
Fayette County: The Tigers are 13-2 and have experienced some tournament tests that will be beneficial. Fayette County beat Mountain View and Creekside in the Big South Shootout and lost to Westlake in the final of the Peach State Classic, beating Southwest DeKalb and Eagle's Landing Christian to reach the final. JeKobe Coleman leads the veteran Fayette County club with 15.7 points
Southwest DeKalb: The Panthers are off to a 12-5 start against a difficult schedule. The Panthers went 1-2 in the Tournament of Champions, losing to host Wheeler and Newton. They were third in the Peach State classic, losing to Fayette County but beating Jonesboro in OT. Kadarius Johnson ranks third in DeKalb County in scoring (21.3) and first in assists and steals. James Glisson III is No. III in DeKalb in rebounding (8.5) and averages 17.2 points.
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