'Big Coop — Deontavis Cooper — is remembered by his Thomas County Central football teammates, coach for his strength and his character. Cooper died hours after graduation.

Stephon Castle's high school coach at Newton said of the San Antonio Spurs star: “The bigger the game, the bigger he’s going to play."

Buford pitcher Caroline Stanton was given the Gatorade National Player of the Year award by her coach and softball great Cat Osterman on Tuesday morning.

Bremen opened the school year with the first fast-pitch softball state championship in school history, cruised to a first-place finish in the AJC Varsity all-sports standings.

Lake Oconee Academy rallied in the final days of the athletic calendar and finished in first place in Class A Division II in the inaugural AJC Varsity all-sports standings.

Buford finished the school year as the highest-scoring athletic program in Class 6A in the inaugural AJC Varsity all-sports standings for GHSA.

The Dragons outlast Oconee County for first place in the inaugural AJC Varsity all-sports standings for Georgia High School Association schools.

The AJC Varsity all-sports rankings are modeled after similar competitions used by college divisions and other high school associations but with a twist.

GAC trailed Hebron Christian heading into the spring championship season but overcame the deficit with a state championship in boys tennis, top-5 finishes in six other sports.

Pope was in third place in Class 5A, then a supercharged spring put it on top of the inaugural AJC Varsity all-sports standings for GHSA schools.