'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.

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.

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

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.

Although the Blue Devils finished with fewer state titles than the top two challengers, they were near the top in nearly every sport.

Marist won four state titles during the school year and earned a state-best 1,734.5 points on its way to first place in Class 4A in the inaugural AJC Varsity all-sports list.

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

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.