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Georgia High School Basketball 22-23 Almanac


Georgia has long been considered one of the richest basketball states in the country…. Since 2017, Georgia has produced 25 guys who have donned a NBA jersey from the likes Jaylen Brown, Collin Sexton, Issac Okoro, Wendell Carter Jr to former #1 draft pick Anthony Edwards. Atlanta has consistently kept talent all over the state from Atlanta, to Savannah, to Macon, to Albany the state has been blessed. This year doesn’t seem to be different after losing stars Kaanan Caryle, Jaden Williams, and Bryson Tiller to Overtime Elite the GHSA basketball will continue to show how good basketball in the state will be. Led two of the top players in the country Stephon Castle (Newton) and Isaiah Collier (Wheeler) along with Arrinten Page (Wheeler), Brandon Reichsteiner (Etowah), Jakai Newton (Newton), Ace Bailey (McEachern), and Caleb Wilson (Holy Innocents). This should be an exciting year in the Peach State. This preview was created as a labor of love to all fans of Georgia High School basketball, where we might not always get it right, but we will try to be as objective and fair as possible…


5 Storylines to Watch


1. Who Going Back To Back?


Norcross lost two important pieces to the championship puzzle with London Johnson opting for the G-League and Jerry Deng headed to prep school. But don’t feel sorry for Norcross as they are returning Mier Panoam, Samarion Bond, but they will welcome Bilal Abdur -Rahman, and UGA commit Lamariyon Jordan. Look for Jesse McMillian to make another run in a loaded 7A. The safe bet to repeat will be Darren Douglas and the Grovetown Warriors, led by Winthrop commit Frankquon Sherman, Georgia State commit Vashon Ferguson, Derrion Reid, and Markel Freeman. Omar Forts looks to keep Tri-Cities in the championship tilt, losing Simeon Cottle will hurt, but they bring back Kory Mincy, and adding Lady of Mercy’s guard Malique Johnson, and ultra-athletic wing Dayton Richardson, makes the Bulldogs a team to watch in 5A. Led by senior standout Tycen McDaniels look for Spencer to be back in the thick of state championship hunt. Cross Creek returns 6’7 Antoine Lorick, and Dontrel Smith but welcomes in De’Kel Hobbs, Isan Anthony, and Quavon Henry. Look for the Razorbacks to make a another run in the wide open 3A class. Westside-Augusta returns their top leading scorers in Khalon Hudson and Jalexs Ewing and will look to keep it going in 2A this year, being an odds-on favor to repeat. Greenforrest always finds a with and with Gai Chol, and DK Manyiel this should continue to make them a back-to-back state champion. Drew Charter lost guard Jakobe Strozier, Cam Johnson, and Bryant Triplett off a team that won the championship in 1A Public, the Eagles will look to rebuild around Kenyatta Bennett.


2. Who’s Your Mr. Basketball?


After a phenomenal high school career which saw it end with being named Mr. Basketball in Georgia Bruce Thornton has taken his talents to Ohio State to become a Buckeye. Thornton’s graduation makes us ponder who is next in line to be honored with the award. In the last 5 years, every winner has either been on an NBA roster or G-League roster. Five players to keep any eye on as the race for Mr. Basketball heats up, Stephon Castle (Newton), Isaiah Collier (Wheeler), Ace Bailey (McEachern), Arrinten Page (Wheeler), Peyton Marshall (Kell).


3. Class Changes?


Every three years the classes in Georgia causing region shifts and teams going from one class to another, check out a few moves that may affect the landscape of GHSA basketball this year. Wheeler (7A), Westlake (7A) Osborne (7A), Buford (7A), Tift County (6A), Riverwood (6A), South Cobb (6A), St. Pius (6A) Langston Hughes (6A) Etowah (6A), North Forsyth (6A), Alpharetta (6A), Statesboro (5A), Dutchtown (5A), Tucker (5A), Mays (5A), Kell (5A), Griffin (4A), Lagrange (4A), Starr’s Mill (4A), Trinity Christian (4A), Lovett (4A), Pace Academy (4A)Stockbridge (4A), Holy Innocents (4A), Southwest Dekalb (4A), Cherokee Bluff (4A), East Forsyth (4A), Seckinger (4A) Carver Columbus (3A), Columbus (3A), Dougherty (3A), Thomasville (3A), Wesleyan (3A) Drew Charter (2A)


4. The shot clock is here!


After a year of using the shot clock on trial basis and on select region games, GHSA will use the 35 second shot clock for the 2022-2023 season going forth. Georgia has become the ninth state in the country to implement the shot clock for high school basketball.


5. The Overtime Effect!


Overtime Elite (OTE) has a direct effect on Georgia basketball since its existence, players such as talented Bryson Tiller, Kanaan Carlyle, Jayden Williams, Jahki Howard, Kok Yat and TJ Clark have taken thei rtalents to the new thriving league. With Overtime eligibility rules change and staying close to home will more kids take the plunge Stay tuned...


Best Of The Best (Top 25 Regardless Of Class)


1. Wheeler

2. Newton

3. Grovetown

4. Grayson

5. McEachern

6. Norcross

7. Kell

8. Pebblebrook

9. Pace Academy

10. Sandy Creek

11. Greenforest Christian

12. Sandy Creek

13. Alexander

14. Tri-Cities

15. Eagles Landing

16. Buford

17. Lanier

18. Mount Vernon

19. Jonesboro

20. Berkmar

21. Osborne

22. Spencer

23. Langston Hughes

24. Kings Ridge

25. St. Pius


Other Teams To Watch:

Blessed Trinity, Chapel Hill, Cherokee, Cross Creek, Marist, Holy Innocents, Parkview, Trinity Christian, Tucker, Westside-Augusta



Class Rankings

7A


1. Wheeler 6. Pebblebrook

2. Newton 7. Buford

3. Grayson 8. Berkmar

4. Norcross 9. Cherokee

5. McEachern 10. Osborne


Other Teams To Watch:

Parkview, Carrollton, Denmark, East Coweta, Collins Hill


6A


1. Grovetown 6. Langston Hughes

2. Alexander 7. Blessed Trinity

3. Etowah 8. Shiloh

4. Lanier 9. Riverwood

5. St. Pius 10. Jonesboro


Other Teams To Watch:

Gainesville, Marist, River Ridge, South Paulding, Woodward Academy


5A


1. Kell 6. Chapel Hill

2. Eagles Landing 7. Chattahoochee

3. Tri Cities 8. Calhoun

4. Tucker 9. Dutchtown

5. Mays 10. Hiram


Other Teams To Watch:

Centennial, Statesboro, Jones County, Lithia Springs, Jackson-Atlanta


4A


1. Pace Academy 6. Trinity Christian

2. McDonough 7. Southwest Dekalb

3. Holy Innocents 8. Walnut Grove

4. Lovett 9. Westside - Macon

5. Fayette County 10. Cherokee Bluff


Other Teams To Watch:

Baldwin, Howard, Madison County, Miller Grove, North Oconee


3A


1. Sandy Creek 6. Johnson (Savannah)

2. Cross Creek 7. Hart County

3. Cedar Grove 8. Gilmer

4. Beach 9. White County

5. Columbus 10. Adairsville


Other Teams To Watch:

Hephzibah, Thomasville, Lakeview – Ft Oglethorpe, Stephens County, Hebron Christian


2A


1. Spencer 6. Thomson

2. Washington (Atl) 7. Drew Charter

3. Westside - Augusta 8. Model

4. Columbia 9. Putnam County

5. North Cobb Christian 10. Butler


Other Teams To Watch:

ELCA, Kipp Collegiate, Mt. Paran, Providence Christian, Vidalia



1A – Division 1


1. Mt. Vernon 6. Chattooga

2. King’s Ridge 7. Social Circle

3. Mt. Bethel 8. St. Francis

4. Paidea 9. Mt Pisagh

5. Darlington 10. Woodville – Thompkins


Other Teams To Watch:

Dublin, Galloway, Pelham, Tallulah Falls, Whitfield Academy


1A – Division 2


1. Greenforest Christian 6. WD Mohammed

2. Christian Heritage 7. Chattahoochee County

3. Portal 8. Hancock Central

4. Charlton County 9. Dooly County

5. Wilkinson County 10. Macon County


Other Teams To Watch:

Manchester, Telfair County, SACA, Fulton Leadership, Greene County



2022-2023 GHSA Boys Preseason All – State Team

Seniors (Class of 2023)


First Team Second Team Third Team


Stephon Castle (Newton) Gai Chol (Greenforest) Jermichael Davis (McEachern)

Isaiah Collier (Wheeler ) Mari Jordan (Norcross) Spencer Elliott (Marist)

Jelani Hamilton (Wheeler) Jaiun Simon (Pebblebrook) Marcus Whitlock (Newton)

Arrinten Page (Wheeler) Brandon Rechsteiner (Etowah) Mier Panoam (Norcross)

Jakai Newton (Newton) David Thomas (Eagle’s Landing) DK Manyiel – Greenforest


Other Players To Watch:

Marquavious Brown (Morgan County), Frankquon Sherman (Grovetown), Brigham Rogers (Blessed Trinity), Noah Melson (Alexander), Dylan Faulkner (Calhoun)


Juniors (Class of 2024)


First Team Second Team Third Team


Airous Bailey (McEachern) Christian Anderson (Lovett) Karris Bilal (Riverwood)

Kyle Greene (Pace Academy) CJ Brown (Kell) Luke Flynn (Walton)

Gicarri Harris (Grayson) Roc Lee (Berkmar) Josh Hill (Wheeler)

Peyton Marshall (Kell) Braeden Lue (Alexander) Jabez Jenkins (Newton)

Micah Smith (Sandy Creek) Derrion Reid (Grovetown) Jayce Nathaniel (Lanier)


Other Players To Watch:

Levonta Ivey (Thomson), William Jobe (Kings Ridge), Dennis Scott III (Mt. Vernon), Cole Kirouac (North Forsyth), Will Moore (West Forsyth)


Sophomore (Class of 2025)


First Team Second Team Third Team


Josh Dixon (Milton) Chane Bynum (Washington) Eric Chatfield (Pace

Akai Fleming (Osborne) Ethan Carter (Arlington Chris.) Deke Cooper (Woodward)

Tylis Jordan (Shiloh) Amir Taylor (Grayson) Daniel Ogunyemi (Valor)

JD Palm (McEachern) Micah Tucker (Mt. Pisgah) Alex Pissis (Trinity Chris.)

Caleb Wilson (Holy Innocents) Jacob Wilkins (Parkview) Eddie Cook (Berkmar)


Other Players To Watch:

Daniel Daramola (Greenforest), Rhys Cotton (McEachern), Aiden Weaver (Etowah), Jared White (Sandy Creek), Kyle Carpenter (Buford)



GHSA Games To Watch

November 12th

Norcross vs Sandy Creek

November 19th

Mt. Vernon vs Lanier

Parkview vs Greenforest

November 21st

Buford vs Parkview

November 22nd

Grovetown vs Buford

Parkview vs Tucker

November 23rd

Grayson vs Tri-Cities

November 25th

Newton vs Grovetown

Holy Innocents vs Washington


November 26th

Wheeler vs Grovetown

Newton vs McEachern


November 29th

Pebblebrook vs Milton

Sandy Creek vs Spencer


December 2nd

Parkview vs Milton


December 3rd

Pebblebrook vs Tri Cities

Blessed Trinity vs St. Pius

December 6th

Eagles Landing vs St. Pius

December 7th

Tri Cities vs Grovetown


December 10th

Newton vs Norcross

Grayson vs Berkmar

Kell vs Mt. Vernon

Blessed Trinity vs Calhoun


December 17th

Greenforest vs Kell

Buford vs Berkmar

Tucker vs McDonough


December 30th

Alexander vs Etowah


December 31st

Newton vs AZ Compass Prep


January 7th

Grayson vs Kell


January 20th

Pace Academy vs McDonough


January 21st

Norcross vs Pebblebrook

Pace Academy vs Milton


February 4th

Sandy Creek vs Etowah


February 6th

Wheeler vs Newton



Region Predictions

7A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Lowndes 1.Wheeler

2.Valdosta 2.Osborne

3.Colquitt County 3.Cherokee

4.Richmond Hill 4.North Cobb


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Pebblebrook 1.Milton

2.East Coweta 2.Denmark

3.Westlake 3.Lambert

4. Carrollton 4.West Forsyth


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.McEachern 1.Norcross

2.Harrison 2.Berkmar

3. Marietta 3.North Gwinnett

4. Hillgrove 4.Peachtree Ridge


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Newton 1.Buford

2.Grayson 2.Collins Hill

3.Parkview 3.Mountain View

4.South Gwinnett 4.Central Gwinnett


6A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Tift County 1.Alexander

2.Veterans 2.Langston Hughes

3.Thomas County Central 3.South Paulding

4.Lee County 4.Paulding County


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Grovetown 1.Etowah

2.Evans 2.River Ridge

3.Brunswick 3.Creekview

4.Effingham County 4.Sequoyah


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Jonesboro 1.Blessed Trinity

2.Woodward Academy 2.John Creek

3. Morrow 3.Alpharetta

4. Rockdale County 4. Pope


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.St.Pius 1.Lanier

2.Riverwood 2.Shiloh

3.Marist 3.Gainesville

4.South Cobb 4.Habersham Central


5A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Statesboro 1.Tri-Cities

2.Greenbrier 2.Chapel Hill

3.Jenkins 3.Mays

4. Bradwell Institute 4.Lithia Springs


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Eagle’s Landing 1.Kell

2.Dutchtown 2.Chattoochee

3.Jones County 3.Centennial

4.Union Grove 4.GAC


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Northside, Columbus 1.Calhoun

2.McIntosh 2.Hiram

3. Harris County 3.Cass

4. Northgate 4.Carterville


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Tucker 1.Clarke Central

2.Decatur 2.Winder-Barrow

3.Lithonia 3.Heritage-Conyers

4.Chamblee 4.Eastside


4A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Bainbridge 1.Pace Academy

2.Cairo 2.McDonough

3.Westover 3.Lovett

4.Shaw 4.Woodland-Stockbridge


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Westside-Macon 1.Holy Innocents

2.Howard 2.Miller Grove

3.Spalding 3.Southwest Dekalb

4.Baldwin 4.Druid Hills


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Southeast Bulloch 1.Southeast Whitfield

2.Benedictine 2.Northwest Whitfield

3.Wayne County 3.Central, Carroll

4.New Hempstead 4.Sonoraville


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Fayette County 1.Walnut Grove

2.Trinity Christian 2.North Oconee

3.Lagrange 3.Madison County

4.Whitewater 4.Cherokee Bluff


3A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Columbus 1.Sandy Creek

2.Thomasville 2.Cedar Grove

3.Crisp County 3.Douglass

4.Monroe 4.Carver, Atlanta


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Mary Persons 1.Lakeview-Ft Oglethorpe

2.Jackson 2.Adairsville

3.Peach County 3.Bremen

4.Pike County 4.Ringgold


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Beach 1.Gilmer County

2.Johnson, Savannah 2.White County

3.Calvary Day School 3.Wesleyan

4.Savannah Country Day 4.Pickens County


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Cross Creek 1.Hart County

2.Morgan County 2.Monroe Area

3.Hephizibah 3.Stephens County

4.Harlem 4.Oconee County


2A


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Sumter County 1.Columbia

2.Cook 2.ELCA

3.Berrien 3.Landmark Christian

4.Worth County 4.Redan


REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Spencer 1.Washington

2.Southwest 2.North Cobb Christian

3.Northeast 3.Drew Charter School

4.Rutland 4.Mt. Paran


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Vidalia 1.Model

2.Windsor Forest 2.Murray County

3.Tattnall County 3. Rockmart

4.Toombs County 4.Haralson County


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Westside, Augusta 1.Providence Christian

2.Thomson 2.Athens Academy

3.Putnam County 3.Union County

4.Butler 4.Banks County


1A-Division 1


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Pelham 1.Social Circle

2.Irwin County 2.Jasper County

3.Brooks County 3.Prince Ave Christian

4.Bacon County 4.Oglethorpe County

REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Dublin 1.Mount Vernon

2.East Laurens 2.King’s Ridge

3.Jefferson County 3.Mt. Bethel Christian

4.Swainboro 4.Paidea


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Woodville-Tompkins 1.Darlington

2.Metter 2.Chatooga

3.Bryan County 3.Pepperell

4.Claxton 4.Armuchee


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Lamar County 1.Athens Christian

2.Heard County 2.Tallulah Falls

3.Crwford County 3.Commerce

4.Temple 4.Rabun County


1A-Division 2


REGION 1 REGION 5

1.Seminole County 1.Hancock Central

2.Calhoun County 2.Wilkinson County

3.Quitman County 3.Georgia Military College

4.Mitchell County 4.Johnson County

REGION 2 REGION 6

1.Lanier County 1.Chattahoochee County

2.Charlton County 2.Macon County

3.Clinch County 3.Manchester

4.Turner County 4.Greenville


REGION 3 REGION 7

1.Portal 1.Greenforest Christian

2.Jenkins County 2.Christian Heritage

3.Montgomery County 3.WD Mohammed

4.McIntosh County Academy 4.Fulton Leadership Academy


REGION 4 REGION 8

1.Dooly County 1.Towns County

2.Telfair County 2.Washington-Wilkes

3.Wheeler County 3.Warren County

4.Wilcox County 4.Aquinas

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