Georgia Hoops

Georgia Hoops Fall Showcase

2009-10-10T09:00:00.003-04:00

WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: New Birth Church 6400 Woodrow Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038
WHO: The camp will comprise players from all high school classes (2010 to 2013).
COST: $150.00
This year’s event will feature:

5-on-5 competition
National Exposure on ESPN.com, the exclusive media partner for the showcase
Each player in the camp will be featured in the nationally-respected Georgia Hoops Recruiting Service
Top quality individual skill development work from professional coaches, most notably former University of Georgia coach Pete Hermann, professional players, college and high school coaches
Compete against the best of the best in Georgia
Q&A on the recruiting process from experts and college counselors

You can register today by clicking HERE. Lock yourself in for the best camp in the Southeast.

Thanks for stopping by

2009-09-22T21:31:00.002-04:00

For all things Georgia, be sure to check out D1Spects.com.

For other national high school and college notes and stories be sure to check out the National Hoops Report.

If you are a college coach and interested in purchasing the Georgia Hoops Recruiting Service, please email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com.

Still closed but...

2009-07-04T10:27:00.001-04:00

...open for some seasonal work. Santa Claus doesn't work around the clock either. Stop by my other venture at the National Hoops Report. I'll be rolling out some one on one interviews on the site this month.

2009-05-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

Ga. Southern finds coach: Charlton Young

2009-04-08T21:12:00.002-04:00

Georgia Southern University will announce Charlton Young as the new head men's basketball coach on Thursday. Young, a 1994 graduate of the school, takes over for Jeff Price.

Young is currently an assistant coach at Georgia Tech and has been with the Yellow Jackets since 2005. Young has coached at Auburn, Jacksonville, Chattanooga and Northeastern.

Young is a familiar face in Statesboro. He was inducted into the Georgia Southern Hall of Fame this year. As a point guard for the Eagles, Young set three GSU basketball records: career assists (530), career three-pointers made (241) and season three-pointers made (93).

Georgia finds coach: Mark Fox, Nevada

2009-04-02T21:21:00.005-04:00

Georgia Hoops has learned that Mark Fox will be the new head coach at the University of Georgia.

Fox will come to Athens after a successful career at the University of Nevada. During his time as the Wolfpack head coach, Fox helped the WAC program shine on the national stage and develop a number of professional players.

Kirk Snyder, Nick Fazekas, Ramon Sessions and JaValle McGee all played for Fox and are now in the NBA.

During his tenure at Nevada, Fox and his staff rarely recruited Georgia or the Southeast. The WAC program was a finalist in Shawn Kemp's recruitment last year.

Recapping the Riverfest

2009-03-31T17:29:00.002-04:00

COLUMBUS, GA -- The Columbus Riverfest has been a staple on the Georgia Hoops calendar for as long as we can remember. This year’s event was smaller but competitive as always. The talent in the host city is impressive while some familiar faces stepped up when it mattered.

CLASS OF 2010 EYE-CATCHERS

Adrian Hubbard, Georgia Stars – Strong effort from the 6-7 forward from Norcross. The big man played well inside the paint as a scorer and rebounder in the title game. He recorded a double-double in the victory and was a difference maker down the stretch. He closed out the high school season on a high note and enters the spring schedule right where he left off for the Blue Devils.

Davonta White, Georgia Stars – The strength of the Stars is it’s guard play and in any given game, anyone can be the go-to guy. In the championship game, it was White that took advantage of a mismatch and broke down the defense en route to the basket for buckets. The speedy guard from Centennial finished around the cup and helped the Stars bring home the title.

Trey Bussey, Georgia Blazers – Georgia’s 2010 class is ready for a breakout player and the 6-2 guard from Lithia Springs High School could be that guy during the AAU schedule. Playing the point for the Blazers, Bussey made some tough shots in a highly competitive game against the Georgia Stars in the championship game. He had little trouble getting around the opposing guards and scored either from deep or in the midrange. The game may have been foreshadowing for what could await him on the national stage. Bussey could cement himself into the mid-major level then.

Rion Brown, Atlanta Celtics White – Playing only on Sunday, the 6-5 guard made quick work in his only game of action. The junior from Liberty County shot the ball well, attacked the basket and pumped in roughly 20 points in a tough defeat. He’s turned the corner from pure prospect to a producer. Brown’s game and body is similar to former Westlake and current Winthrop player Gideon Gamble. Brown is better at the same stage.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Kentavious Caldwell, Georgia Blazers – The top spot for the class of 2011 is wide open in Georgia and there is a good chance that the 6-5 guard brings home that title at the end of the spring. In the semi-finals of the Riverfest, Caldwell showed why he will be in such high regard by the high-majors this summer. He drilled five three-pointers in the first half and kept the defense on it’s heels with his offensive ability. Caldwell brings a little bit of everything to the table. He’s on his way to stardom nationally, too.

Tim Dixon, Georgia Blazers (pictured above) – Things are about to get crazy for the 6-10 center from Kendrick High School. The sophomore big man is making big strides in his game and turning the corner into becoming a good-looking high-major prospect in the class of 2011. Dixon has a nice go-to move on the offensive end of the floor with a nice jump hook that he can score with more times than not. His hands and footwork has vastly improved and he remains a fine shot-blocker and rebounder in the low post.

C.J. Blackwell, Lou Will Stars – Is there are tougher player to defend in Georgia’s 2011 class? The 6-5 position-less player is a producer. He lit up one team for nearly 40 points during the weekend. Blackwell plays with a toughness that gives interior defenders trouble because of his strength. He can put the ball on the floor and score by attacking. He’s adding a reliable jumper to the arsenal and becoming a threat in the midrange and from deep. Blackwell could develop into a P.J. Tucker type of player. Tucker was a star at Texas.

HI, MY NAME IS…

Calvin Gaines, Atlanta Celtics White – The 6-8 junior looks like a million bucks. He’s big, strong and has a huge wingspan. Gaines, a class of 2010 prospect at Heat Academy in Virginia, could be a player to really emerge onto the scene this spring and summer. The physical tools are certainly there. Consistency and a glimpse into his offensive game will be the thing that keep people coming back to see him play.

Darren Daniel, Georgia Blazers – The hometown Blazers looked like the clear cut favorite to win the Riverfest event on Sunday morning. Then Daniel, a 6-4 wing, was fouled hard by a Georgia Stars player and was taken to the hospital for a number of stitches in his mouth. Daniel was the difference maker for the hometown team. The Phenix City, Alabama native does a little bit of everything from the wing. His progression will be interesting to watch in the spring.

NEWS & NOTES

The Georgia Stars 15 and under team won their age division thanks to team play, offensive balance, a simplistic attack and good depth. From top to bottom, the Stars have a roster full of young players that know how to play.

Chris Denson, a lefty guard from Shaw High School, quietly pumped in 29 points for the Georgia Jaguars. He scored 41 in a game on Saturday.

The Lou Will Stars have a handful of players to keep an eye on in the 16 and under division. Guard Kiki Simmons of Wheeler and wing Blake Ralling of Westlake were both eye-catchers.

Nick Marshall of the Georgia Blazers will have plenty of options for college. He’ll have to make a decision between football and basketball. He’ll be recruited by high-major schools in both sports.

Icebreaker: Several Georgians shine

2009-03-30T21:20:00.003-04:00

Georgia Hoops spent Friday and Saturday at the Icebreaker Invitational in Aiken, S.C. A number of teams from the Peach State participated in the event. The Southern Kings Gold played up a division and brought home the second place trophy from the event.

The National Hoops Report, a sister company to Georgia Hoops, recapped the weekend's action. Milton sophomore Shannon Scott (pictured above) was one of the highlights.

Click HERE for the story.

Our coverage of the Columbus Riverfest is coming soon.

GA Stars claim Riverfest title

2009-03-30T07:29:00.002-04:00

The Georgia Stars to the 17 and under title at the Columbus Riverfest thanks to a big game from Norcross forward Adrian Hubbard (pictured above) in the title game against the Georgia Blazers.

Georgia Hoops will have more coverage from the Riverfest and the Icebreaker Invitational events throughout the week.

Mailbag: March 26, part 1

2009-03-26T15:45:00.000-04:00

Do you think either Whitefield or Dublin would make a decent game with any of the other classification champs? I've seen all play, but when they are playing against A and AA schools, it's hard to see if they could give a S. Atlanta, Miller Grove or Wheeler a game...

I’m sure the game would be competitive because both Dublin and Whitefield would be ready to play but the talent at Wheeler, Miller Grove and South Atlanta is just too much. Size matters and size is what all three of the bigger schools have over Dublin and Whitefield. I think the smaller schools would give all three teams some trouble on the defensive end but too much size and too much depth wins out.

What are your final top 10 player in the state in order? Class of 09 only.

1. Derrick Favors, South Atlanta
2. Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove
3. Lorenzo Brown, Centennial
4. Ari Stewart, Wheeler
5. Richard Howell, Wheeler
6. Kenny Hall, Redan
7. Glen Rice, Jr., Walton
8. Kammeon Holsey, Hancock Central
9. Noel Johnson, Fayette County
10. Jimmy Bacon, Long County

See above but add classes of '10 and '11, as well. Thanks.

Sorry, I don’t rank the players publicly until they finish their careers. I’m a big believer that rankings take the focus off the task at hand. I will send my rankings to college coaches only. Other than that, I won’t numerically rank players on Georgia Hoops anymore. I’ve seen too many people poisoned by them in the past.

What you think of Shaw's Chris Denson?

That is a tough question to answer because the player I saw during the high school season didn’t look like the player that I’ve seen in AAU. My evaluation is incomplete. Hopefully I get a chance to watch him again this weekend when I make a quick trip to Columbus for the Riverfest tournament on Sunday.

Are the Milton trio a package deal? What schools are in good position with them?

I don’t think the Milton trio is a package deal. I know their recruiting paths will cross over each others but I’d be surprised if they all go to the same school. As far as what schools are in position with them, I’m not totally sure as of now. I will see them this weekend in Augusta at the Icebreaker Invitational. I will ask them there.

I believe all three are high-major prospects and all three will go to a school at that level.

Where do you think Trae Golden will end up? Do the in-state schools GT and UGA have a chance to land him?

Whoever the new head coach is at Georgia, I think it would be wise of him and his staff to target Trae Golden. For starters, he is a player that you want to usher in a new regime with. He’s a quality kid and a one you don’t have to worry about off the court. In Georgia’s 2010 class, the talent is thin at the high-major level. That is the case nationally, too. The knock on past UGA coaching staffs is that they don’t keep the top in-state talent home. Golden is one of the top guys in 2010. The new staff needs to make a splash with recruiting with guys like Golden, Jalen Kendrick, Jumail Jones, Donte Williams, JerShon Cobb, etc.

Georgia Tech is in the mix for Golden, too. The Jackets have long been a player is his recruitment. Georgia Tech is a school the family knows plenty about.

Will Columbia be the top team in AAA next season?

Because Georgia has an epidemic of transfers during the off-season, it is hard to say anyone is the favorite in any class in March. That being said, I think Columbia will be back in the hunt. The team returns a lot.

Who is top overall freshman, Jordan Price or Tony Parker?

I believe Tony Parker is the best freshman in the state. Furthermore, I think he is the best prospect in the state outside of the class of 2009. Sure, there are still things he needs to work on (as is the case for every player out there) but his hands, footwork and overall feel for the game in the post is outstanding for a young player.

The Mailbag is back

2009-03-25T07:09:00.000-04:00

Now that the season is over, it's a perfect time to bring back The Mailbag. Feel free to ask your questions regarding basketball within the state of Georgia. The questions aren't limited to just high school hoops either. Ask national recruiting questions. Ask about your college team. Fire away.

Feel free to email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com or leave a message on the message board.

I WILL ANSWER THE MAILBAG QUESTIONS ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26.

Georgia Hoops AAAAA All-State team

2009-03-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

CLASS AAAAA
1st team All-State
Richard Howell, PF, Wheeler, Sr. (AAAAA Player of the Year)
Lorenzo Brown, SG, Centennial, Sr.
Russell Powell, PG, Newnan, Sr.
Glen Rice, Jr., SG/SF, Walton, Sr.
Ari Stewart, SF, Wheeler, Sr.

2nd team All-State
Taariq Muhammad, PG, Norcross, Sr.
Javaris Bryant, SF, Westlake, Sr.
Ryan Harrow, PG/SG, Walton, Jr.
Trae Golden, SG, McEachern, Jr.
Julian Royal, PF, Milton, Soph.

Georgia Hoops Class AAAA All-State team

2009-03-23T12:28:00.002-04:00

CLASS AAAA
1st team All-State
Mfon Udofia, PG, Miller Grove, Sr. (AAAA Player of the Year)
Noel Johnson, SF, Fayette County, Sr.
Manny Atkins, SF/PF, Tucker, Sr.
Ricardo Glenn, PF, Richmond Academy, Sr.
J.J. Mann, SF/PF, Marist, Sr.

2nd team All-State
Darius Baugh, SG, Hillgrove, Sr.
Malcolm Jackson, SG, Sandy Creek, Sr.
Dee Goens, PG, Marist, Sr.
Aloys Cabell, PG, Mays, Jr.
Shaq Barber, PG, Griffin, Sr.

Georgia Hoops Class AAA All-State team

2009-03-20T13:33:00.000-04:00

CLASS AAA
1st team All-State
Derrick Favors, PF/C, South Atlanta, Sr. (AAA Player of the Year)
Terrence Noel, SG/PG, Westover, Sr.
Rod Rucker, SF/PF, Elbert County, Jr.
DeMario Mayfield, SG, Franklin County, Sr.
JerShon Cobb, SG, Columbia, Jr.

2nd team All-State
James Vincent, C, Northside, Sr.
Jordan McRae, SG, Liberty County, Jr.
Andre Malone, SG/SF, South Atlanta, Sr.
Jerome Hamilton, PF, Worth County, Sr.
George Manomano, SG, Gainesville, Sr.

Georgia Hoops Class AA All-State team

2009-03-19T23:28:00.002-04:00

CLASS AA
1st team All-State
Jimmy Bacon, SF, Long County, Sr. (AA Player of the Year)
Trent Wiedeman, PF, Greater Atlanta Christian, Jr.
Sherrard Brantley, SG, Dublin, Sr.
Ryan LeGates, SG, Blessed Trinity, Sr.
Matt Brabham, SG, Central Macon, Jr.

2nd team All-State
Wendell Williams, SG, Appling County, Sr.
Marvell Harris, PF, Northeast Macon, Jr.
Dontavious Lee, SG, Crawford County, Sr.
Reshard Smith, SG/PG, Dublin, Sr.
Gerald Dunn, PG, Greene County, Sr.

Georgia Hoops Class A All-State team

2009-03-18T16:11:00.001-04:00

CLASS A
1st team All-State
Brandon Reed, SG, Whitefield Academy, Sr. (A Player of the Year)
Kammeon Holsey, PF, Hancock Central, Sr.
Raymond Higgs, SG, Athens Christian, Sr.
Kentavious Caldwell, SG, Greenville, Soph.
Nick Marshall, SG, Wilcox County, Soph.

2nd team All-State
Tyshawn Good, SG, Darlington, Sr.
Jamel Jones, SF, Greenforest Christian, Jr.
Ternell Davis, SG, Turner County, Sr.
Robert Ellis, PF, Terrell County, Sr.
Cody Padgett, SF, Calvary Day, Sr.

Sr., Jr., Soph. & Fr. of the Year awards

2009-03-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

Senior of the year: Derrick Favors, South Atlanta, Sr.
Seniors of the year
AAAAA – Richard Howell, Wheeler, PF
AAAA – Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove, PG
AAA – Derrick Favors, South Atlanta, PF/C
AA – Jimmy Bacon, Long County, SF
A – Brandon Reed, Whitefield Academy, SG

Junior of the year: Ryan Harrow, Walton, PG/SG
Juniors of the year
AAAAA – Trae Golden, McEachern, SG
AAAA – Aloys Cabell, Mays, PG
AAA – JerShon Cobb, Columbia, SG
AA – Trent Wiedeman, Greater Atlanta Christian, PF
A – Jamel Jones, Greenforest Christian, SF

Sophomore of the year: Julian Royal, Milton, PF
Sophomores of the year
AAAAA – Shannon Scott, Milton, PG
AAAA – Algie Key, Lakeside-Dekalb, SF
AAA – Nick Jacobs, South Atlanta, PF
AA –Paul Dawson, GAC, PG
A – Kentavious Caldwell, Greenville, SG

Freshman of the year: Tony Parker, Miller Grove, C/PF
Freshmen of the year
AAAAA – Evan Nolte, Milton, SF/SG
AAAA – Tony Parker, Miller Grove, C/PF
AAA – Jordan Price, Columbia, SG
AA – Willie Clayton, Thomasville, PF
A – Nate Bucher, Providence Christian, PG

Deep South Classic rosters

2009-03-17T13:55:00.002-04:00

2009 Deep South Classic
March 21, 2009
Darton College

East team
James Lee, Monroe
Terrance Weathers, Monroe
Andrew Colvin, Dougherty
Terrance Noel, Westover
Kenji Breedlove, Westover
Greg Green, Westover
Brandon Browner, Terrell County
Martavious Yarbrough, Terrell County
Shaquille Harris, Americus-Sumter
Jimmy Glover, Calhoun County
Jerome Hamilton, Worth County
Meshak Williams, Worth County
Robert Ellis, Terrell County

West team

Melzie Johnson, Bainbridge
James Lodman, Bainbridge
Escondarious Yarbrough, Early County
Kecardis Williams, Early County
Ryan Spann, Randolph-Clay
Quintarius Pollard, Pelham
Arthur Jackson, Mitchell County
Gerald Williams, Mitchell County
Kentrail Brown, Cairo
Brian Berl, Colquitt County
Marquis Williams, Bainbridge
Adrian Knoght, Thomas County Central
Ronald Revels, Thomasville

South Georgia Shoot Out rosters

2009-03-17T13:49:00.002-04:00

2009 South Georgia Shoot Out

March 22, 2009

Tift County High School

North Team

Javon Dawson, Crisp County
Jesse Bo Carter, Crisp County
Tray Pearce, Turner County
Todd Lawson, Turner County
Charsini Washington, Dooly County
Eric Martin, Dooly County
Alex Barron, Dooly County
Antonio Marshall, Wilcox County
Kwamaine Outlaw, Wilcox County
Akeem Thomas, Atkinson County
Jamal Burgess, Turner County
Desmin Hall. Crisp County

South Team

Thoulitt Hunter, Valdosta
Rontrel Frazier, Valdosta
Cameron Venus, Valdosta
Anthony Combs, Lowndes
Michael Faulk, Coffee County
Demario Bennett, Coffee County
Keith Edmonds, Clinch County
Darius Davis, Tift county
Dejour Mitchell, Tift county
Killean Thompson, Cook County
Jeremy Fountain, Valdosta
Willie Calhoun, Clinch County

Looking back: Pre-season polls

2009-03-16T13:45:00.001-04:00

Pre-season polls don’t mean much, right? Ever wonder who was ranked where when the season began?

Here are the top 10 teams at the start of the season.

AAAAA

1. Wheeler
2. Norcross
3. Centennial
4. McEachern
5. Westlake
6. Walton
7. Milton
8. South Gwinnett
9. Savannah
10. Redan

AAAA

1. Glenn Hills
2. Statesboro
3. Miller Grove
4. Tucker
5. Fayette County
6. Mays
7. Heritage-Conyers
8. Hephzibah
9. Rome
10. Marist

AAA

1. South Atlanta
2. Columbia
3. Carver-Columbus
4. Dunwoody
5. East Hall
6. Flowery Branch
7. Hart County
8. Franklin County
9. Gainesville
10. Liberty County

AA

1. Greater Atlanta Christian
2. Dublin
3. East Laurens
4. Manchester
5. Decatur
6. Buford
7. Blessed Trinity
8. Lovett
9. Jordan
10. Long County

A

1. Hancock Central
2. Turner County
3. Wilkinson County
4. Whitefield Academy
5. Southwest Atlanta Christian
6. Randolph-Clay
7. Wesleyan
8. Wilcox County
9. Portal
10. Paideia

Of the 50 teams ranked in the pre-season polls, 14 failed to make the state playoffs.

Notes from the Notepad: March 15

2009-03-15T21:24:00.001-04:00

Five things I’m buying this week:

1. Wheeler - The state’s most talented team didn’t rely so much on it’s array of offensive weapons to win the class AAAAA championship. It was all defense.

During the first half of the season, Wheeler allowed opponents to score an average of 72 points per game in games played in 2008 of the year. In 2009, the average was 59. The Wildcats were 18-2 in that stretch. In 2008, Wheeler was 7-5.

Richard Howell and Ari Stewart were fantastic in the post-season and both made a strong case for class AAAAA Player of the Year. Junior guard Phil Taylor did a fine job of keeping everyone on the same page as well as providing the team with a legitimate threat from the perimeter.

Mix in glue guys, key glue guys, like Joab Jerome and Karl Cochran and the Wildcats made it absolutely impossible for teams to get close when it mattered.

Outstanding effort by the Wildcats and boy did this team step up when it mattered.

2. Miller Grove - The Wolverines held Tucker to two of 29 from the floor in the first half of the state championship game. That might be the most remarkable sentence written this season in Georgia High School basketball. That is six percent shooting from the floor folks. That’s mind-boggling.

Mfon Udofia is the best competitor in the state and absolutely shined this season and made a strong case for the Georgia Hoops Player of the Year. He is the best clutch player in the state and shined when it mattered.

Miller Grove isn’t all about Udofia either. Stephen Hill, one of the top athletes in the Southeast, shined in the state playoffs on both ends of the floor. Seniors Joe Caldwell, Malcolm Frank, Xavier McGahee and others all came up the ranks at the Lithonia school and accepted their roles in order to earn a title.

The future is bright for Miller Grove still. Tony Parker, the state’s top freshman, Dante Williams, one of the elite juniors in the state, Henry Brooks, a fine sophomore big man, and Adarius Fulton, a quality junior point guard, are all back next season. That alone should keep the Wolverines at the top spot in AAAA.

What an effort by first year coach Eddie Johnson, too. He was thrust into the head coaching position right before the season started due to the ridiculous suspension of Sharman White. Johnson quickly earned the trust from his team and never looked back.
Classy move by the team when the final buzzer sounded against Tucker. They sprinted to White, who was sitting in the first row behind the bench, and immediately mobbed him.

3. South Atlanta - Derrick Favors knows how to go out with a bang. The state’s top player helped his Hornets grab the AAA state title by scoring 38 points and grabbing 21 points against Westover in an 81-62 win.

Favors finally took home the hardware and will enter Georgia Tech as a state champion. He’s the best player the Peach State has seen since Dwight Howard’s remarkable run in 2004. Favors is humble and respectful and a kid that you want to root for.

After Favors’ sophomore season, the rumor mill began to churn and rumors had him at Oak Hill Academy. On a June morning in Cleveland, Georgia, I knew that the rumor had zero legs. Walking into the Truett-McConnell gym with his teammates for a full day of team camp in the North Georgia mountains was Favors, big grin and all. That’s when I learned about the big man’s loyalty. The Naismith Trophy award winner is a kid true to his word and true to those that are true to him.

“Of all the accolades, this is the best one,” Favors told the Macon Telegraph on Saturday night after winning the state championship. “It was because I did it with my team. I’ve been playing with these guys since the ninth grade, and this is the best feeling.”

The Hornets enjoyed a tremendous ride this year and the team will have a memorable year to look back on the rest of their lives.

4. Dublin - Guard play will always win big games. That was the case for the Irish.

Chris Smith and Sherrard Brantley both shot the lights out in the class AA championship game against Blessed Trinity. That shooting touch helped Dublin make the march to Macon. Smith had a terrific game and Brantley came alive in the second half to hold off the surging Blessed Trinity attack.

Senior Rashard Smith did a fine job of gluing all of the talent together, too. Tawaski King, the monster in the middle, played an important role, too. His physical presences on Arris Brundidge was an important factor in the victory.

Dublin did a great job on the defensive end of the floor and fought through a very tough road to the championship game. Earning the class AA title was a tough task and the Irish did a terrific job in the process.

5. Whitefield Academy - I’m never afraid to admit when I made a mistake or when I looked past someone or a team. I looked past Whitefield Academy. The Wolfpack won what I believed to be the deepest tournament in all five classifications.

Two things that I shouldn’t have overlooked: 1. This team is led by a pair of great seniors in Brandon Reed and Cameron Baskerville. 2. This team will flat out defend you.

Not surprisingly, Reed has great success inside the Macon Centreplex. He played well there as a freshman. He’s been to the big stage before and understands the complexity of the moment.

Reed should also be commended on his decision to play at a school where he can make a difference for all four years. The lefty guard will make an instant impact at Arkansas State and should play in the NCAA tournament at some point in his career at the Sun Belt school.

Baskerville played well down the stretch and did what he does best – rebound in and out of his area, score the easy shots down low and occasionally pick and pop for a midrange jumper.

Sophomore Kennard Backman stepped up in the moment and played great in the title game against a big Turner County team.

Overall, great game, great effort and great win to claim the class A title.

SCRIBBLE NOTES

- Each of the championship games were blowouts. A re-seeding of the tournament would have been nice. Maybe I’ll roll out my fantasy bracket later in the week.

- I’d love to see a Tournament of Champions in Georgia, where the state champions play for the overall state championship. With only five teams eligible for that setting, I’d re-seed the tournament to 32 total teams.

- Food for thought…J.J. Hickson’s N.C. State team was last in the ACC last year before he went pro. Gani Lawal’s Georgia Tech team was last in the ACC this year. He could be making an unwise choice and going pro this year.

- More food for thought…there wasn’t a Division I school from Georgia in the NCAA tournament. There were four Division II schools in the NCAA tournament: Armstrong Atlantic, Augusta State, Georgia College & State University and Valdosta State.

- Let’s hear your picks for Player of the Year in each class. Post your selections in the message section. I’ll be rolling out the post-season accolades in the very near future.

- AAU coaches, email me at georgiahoops@gmail.com so I can get you a profile form. I’m putting together team reports for the college coaches. They are asking who is playing for who and where teams are going.

- Again, another apology for canceling the 2009 Unsigned Senior Showcase. There were some unforeseen circumstances that forced me to cancel the event. It was a last resort situation.

Webcast of semi-finals available

2009-03-11T15:48:00.001-04:00

You can watch the semi-finals on gpb.org, presented by SCORE Atlanta.

Click HERE for the live, streaming video.

A Final Four primer

2009-03-11T14:44:00.002-04:00

A
Wednesday at Macon Centreplex
Turner Co. vs. Athens Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Wilcox Co. vs. Whitefield Academy, 8:30 p.m.

Why Turner County wins: Because this is the best team in class A right now. It’s been long chronicled on Georgia Hoops that the Rebels have the pieces in place to run the table in Macon. Seniors Ternell Davis and Tray Pearce have proven to be the capable scorers in the clutch while the depth and size inside, paced by Chris Spears and Breon Dixon, are too much for teams to handle. Athens Christian has no answer for all four players. Plus, Eric Holland is proving to be one of the premiere coaches in the state, too.

Why Athens Christian wins: Coming off a monster win over Greenforest Christian, the Eagles are flying high thanks to the speed and athleticism of Raymond Higgs and the perimeter touch of David Mann. Head coach Ron Link has a storybook filled with playoff moments and he has helped this team go from a .500 team to a 28-win team.

Why Wilcox County wins: Nick Marshall won’t let his team lose. That was the case against Wilkinson County last week in Columbus. The sophomore fought through a hamstring cramp and hit big shot after big shot in the fourth quarter. The two-sport star is proving to be one of the elite big game players in the state. The team is young but balanced at the starting five. Junior big man Lonnie Outlaw is a big defensive presence in the paint, too.

Why Whitefield Academy wins: Senior leadership. The Wolfpack has plenty of it. Brandon Reed (pictured) is having about as good of a senior year of any guard in the state and he seems to play his best basketball inside the Macon Centreplex. Big man Cameron Baskerville is a tough match-up because of his inside-outside ability. Watching Reed go against Marshall will be one of the best match-ups of the Final Four in any classification.

Georgia Hoops picks: Turner County over Athens Christian, Whitefield Academy over Wilcox County

AA Final Four primer

2009-03-11T14:30:00.002-04:00

AA
Thursday at Macon Centreplex
Greene Co. vs. Blessed Trinity, 5:30 p.m.
Dublin vs. Greater Atlanta Christian, 8:30 p.m.

Why Greene County wins: Coming out of region 4, the No. 3 seed team is marching along quite well. Senior guards Gerald Dunn and Davante Smith may be small (both stand under 5-10) but both know how to score with speed. The team played an aggressive schedule and has played teams better in talent than Blessed Trinity. That could be a huge factor.

Why Blessed Trinity wins: After last year’s run and graduation of key players, there weren’t many that thought the Titans would be back in the limelight. Led by the scoring prowess of guard Ryan LeGates (pictured above) and the interior athleticism of Arris Brundidge, the Roswell team has a good nucleus to make it to the championship game.

Why Dublin wins: The road to the Macon Centreplex has prepared the Irish for anything. After beating Northeast Macon, Long County and Central Macon, Dublin has been battle tested every round. Playing GAC won’t have this team worried. Dublin will have to play smarter and keep the turnovers low. The strength remains in the backcourt with Sherrard Brantley, Rashard Smith and Chris Smith. That trio should be the difference maker.

Why Greater Atlanta Christian wins: Start with Eddie Martin. Winning is what he does. The former Norcross head coach has the Spartans on the big stage in his first year at the Gwinnett County private school. He’s done it with a crew that consists of a big time producer in Trent Wiedeman, a sharp-shooting senior in Taylor Metzger, a crafty sophomore point guard in Paul Dawson and a do-everything player in Bo Herbert. GAC will out-think teams and the game against Dublin will be one of the best of the week.

Georgia Hoops picks: Blessed Trinity over Greene County, Dublin over Greater Atlanta Christian

AAA Final Four primer

2009-03-11T14:11:00.003-04:00

AAA
Friday at Macon Centreplex
Westover vs. Gainesville, 5:30 p.m.
South Atlanta vs. Columbia, 8:30 p.m.

Why Westover wins: There may not be a tougher player in the AAA tournament that senior guard Terrence Noel. He’s stepped up in the playoffs despite a reoccurring separated shoulder problem he’s been fighting through this season. The Albany locals have raved about this team and some have even called this team the best Albany has offered up in nearly five years. That’s impressive.

Why Gainesville wins: No one outside of Hall County is expecting them to win it. Being the underdog is a huge advantage in your own world. It’s a me against the planet mentality. The Red Elephants roll out a heavy senior laden lineup. The team is 21-5 since Jan. 1, too.

Why South Atlanta wins: It never hurts when the best player in the country mans the middle of your lineup. It’s time for Derrick Favors to shake the monkey off his back, too. The state’s most dominate player since Dwight Howard has yet to claim a state championship title. It is now or never. Think the big fella needs any more motivation than that? Throw in Andre Malone, Nick Watkins, Nick Jacobs, Rashaud Bell and a host of other players that are all difficult to match-up with, the Hornets are ready for anything.

Why Columbia wins: They have to play South Atlanta in the semi-finals. If that won’t get you excited for the big dance, nothing will. Columbia has been here before. Playing in the Final Four is nothing new for this club. Junior JerShon Cobb (pictured above) is a tough match-up for South Atlanta because of his versatility. Mix in Columbia’s size, depth and coaching and Phil McCrary’s kids could be playing for another title.

Georgia Hoops picks: Westover over Gainesville, South Atlanta over Columbia