Atlantic Sun preview

Atlantic Sun

1. Belmont – The Bruins have won the conference tournament back-to-back years and this season could be three in a row. Rick Byrd returns the conference's most accomplished player in Ryan Hare and a program that knows what it takes to get to the Big Dance.
2. Jacksonville – Now in his third year of the program, skipper Cliff Warren might just have his most complete and deepest team since taking over the Dolphins. Three starters return, including the best pure point guard in the conference in Ben Smith. Don't be surprised to see the Dolphins make a run for the tournament.
3. Mercer – Four starters return for Mark Slonaker and the conference's most deadly scoring duos in James Florence, a freshman from Marietta's Wheeler High School who led the league in scoring, and senior Shaddean Aaron, who averaged a hair under 16 points a game.
4. Lipscomb – The Buffaloes lost senior leadership and nearly 25 points a game from the backcourt but return one of the best overall players in the league in Eddie Ard. Finding the next go-to guy is the key.
5. East Tennessee State – It is a new look team but the pieces of the puzzle are still there, especially with Courtney Pigram, a junior guard from Memphis, returning. Defensively, the Bucs will scrap and use its speed in the backcourt.
6. Campbell – The Camels play at a frantic pace on both ends of the floor and have super sophomore Jonathan Rodriguez back for what should be a great sequel. He was first in the league in rebounding and third overall in scoring as a rookie.
7. Kennesaw State – Tony Ingle have as good of a 1-2 punch in the league as anyone in Ronell Wooten and Shaun Stegall. Finding depth and an improved shooting touch will help the Owls fly deeper into the post-season this year.
8. Gardner-Webb – The Bulldogs are hoping to look up after a disappointing nine win season last year. The look of the team has changed quite a bit and the roster is filled with shooters and wings.
9. Stetson – Nearly the entire team returns this season for Derek Waugh and that is something to hang their hat (every pun intended) on. Garfield Blair, a 6-5 junior, is the top returning player for the Hatters.
10. USC Upstate – Joining the conference and Division I for the first time, the Spartans have a good foundation to build on in Luke Payne, son of head coach Eddie Payne, and Daniel Quinlan, one of the best shooters in the league.
    
11. North Florida – After a three win season last year, there is only one way to go and that is up. Four starters return to the Osprey and a deep recruiting class.
12. Florida Gulf Coast – Coming off a 27-win season at the Division II independent last year, the Eagles come into the first year of Division I play. Who really knows what to expect in the rookie year.

Player of the Year

Justin Hare, Belmont

The 6-2 senior guard has been one of the most consistent scorers in the conference for the last three years. He and his Belmont team have a bullseye on their back and like so many times before, the Tennessee native has no problem stepping up to the challenge.

Preseason All-Conference:

James Florence, Mercer, Soph., Guard

Ronell Wooten, Kennesaw State, Sr., Forward

Jonathan Rodriguez, Campbell, Soph., Forward

Justin Hare, Belmont, Sr., Guard

Courtney Pigram, East Tennessee State, Jr., Guard

Florence, the top scorer from the Atlantic Sun last year, is back for more. He could post equally impressive numbers again as a sophomore. Florence averaged 19.3 points a contest. Wooten, one of the most explosive players in the conference, is also one of the most underrated players in the Southeast. Rodriguez is an absolute stat-stuffer and the most difficult player to defend. Hare, our pick for Player of the Year, is one of the more recognizable players from the conference nationally thanks to his great post-season play. Pigram, another Player of the Year candidate, is quick and score in a hurry.

Preseason All-Freshmen Team

Ayron Hardy, Jacksonville

Brandon Brown, Lipscomb

Jose Cami, Campbell

Isiah Brown, East Tennessee State

Justin Cecil, North Florida

NCAA tournament team

Belmont

Top NBA prospect

Jonathan Rodriguez, Campbell

After a tremendous freshman year where he averaged 17.2 points (third in the conference), 9.4 rebounds (tops in the conference), three assists (top 15 in the conference) and nearly a block a game (top 15 in the conference), Rodriguez is coming into the season as the most complete player in the league. The 6-foot-5 forward is the toughest player to guard in the Atlantic Sun.

Georgia connection

Michael Lusk, Lipscomb (North Cobb)

Mike Dejworek, Belmont (Mount Pisgah)

Junard Hartley, Campbell (Whitefield Academy)

Jesse Wheeler, Gardner-Webb (Duluth)

Dillion Boggs, Gardner-Webb (Pope)

Rory Spencer, USC-Upstate (Douglass/Maine Central)

Ben Smith, Jacksonville (Dublin)

Lehmon Colbert, Jacksonville (Crawford County)

Alex Cornett, Kennesaw State (North Atlanta)

Jeff Croft, Kennesaw State (Woodland)

Ryan Daugherty, Kennesaw State (Marietta)

Keonte Keith, Kennesaw State (Jefferson)

Reggie King, Kennesaw State (Jones County)

Kelvin McConnell, Kennesaw State (Whitefield Academy)

J.D. Pollock, Kennesaw State (Lassister)

Shuan Stegall, Kennesaw State (Redan)

Jonathan Whipple, Kennesaw State (Wilkinson County)

Ronell Wooten, Kennesaw State (Statesboro)

James Florence, Mercer (Wheeler)

BeJay Corley, Mercer (Wheeler)

Brian Mills, Mercer (Chapel Hill)

Brian Pfohl, Mercer (Pace Academy)

Daniel Emerson, Mercer (Norcross)

Kris Thomas, Stetson (Dunwoody)

Germaine Sparks, North Florida (Liberty County)

Sampson, Golden the latest decision makers

Class of 2008 committed players

Chase Anderson, SG, Mill Creek (Air Force)
Al-Farouq Aminu, PF/SF, Norcross (Wake Forest)
Elhanan Bone, PF, Washington County (UNC Greensboro)
Shane Burrell, PF, Sound Doctrine (Alabama A&M)
James Fields, PG, Beach (Georgia State)
Jarmon Fortson, SG, Carver (Auburn - football)
Steven Fowlkes, PF, Banneker (Tennessee – football)
Gideon Gamble, SG, Westlake (Winthrop)
Darius Garrett, PF, McEachern (Richmond)
Delwan Graham, PF, Dunwoody (LSU)
Yaw Gyawu, SF, Parkview (Colgate)
Dennis Harris, PF/SF, Mundy’s Mill (LSU)
Dequan Jones, SF, Wheeler (Miami)
Tyler McDaniel, PF/SF, Meadowcreek (Tennessee Tech)
P.J. Meyers, PG, T.W. Josey (Campbell)
Reggie Middleton, PG, Glenn Hills (Winthrop)
Tony Mitchell, SF, Swainsboro (Alabama)
Darius Morrow, C, Columbia (South Carolina)
Chris Reynolds, SG, Glenn Hills (Campbell)
Ralph Sampson, III, C, Northview (Minnesota)
Tanner Smith, SG, Wesleyan (Clemson)
Jerel Stephenson, SG, Glenn Hills (UNC Wilmington)
Matt Sundberg, SG, Harrison (College of Charleston)
Howard Thompkins, PF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
Toby Veal, PF, Savannah Johnson (Colorado)
J.C. Ward, Marietta (East Tennessee State)
Dustin Ware, PG, North Cobb Christian (Georgia)
Ray Willis, SG, Westlake (Oklahoma)
Tony Woods, C, Rome (Wake Forest)
Cashmere Wright, PG, Urban Christian (Cincinnati)
Andre Young, PG, Deerfield-Windsor (Clemson)

Class of 2009 committed players

Robert Chubb, PF, McIntosh (Auburn)

Class of 2010 committed players

Trae Golden, SG, McEachern (Ohio State)

Class of 2011 committed players

Marc Brown, SG, Westlake (Florida State)

Get to know Fayette County's Noel Johnson

Noel Johnson, one of the top players in the state, is ready for a big year at Fayette County High School. The 6-foot-7 guard is only and a junior but he's already one of the most seasoned and battled tested players in the state. Check out this interesting video featuring him, former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and insight from Fayette County coach Andre Flynn.

SEC Preview

As always, it will be a wild and wacky year in the SEC. Who will reign supreme and what players from the Peach State are in the conference? We break it all down in our continued look at the nation.

SEC East

1. Tennessee – Eight players that averaged more than 15 minutes a game return to the team and the Vols have added a pair of transfers that started in other power conferences before coming to Knoxville. This team could very well be playing for all the marbles in April.
2. Kentucky – A new sheriff is in town and there seems to be some new life blood in Lexington. The backcourt depth is strong while the question marks are inside. Rookie Patrick Patterson will need to do a lot this year.
3. Georgia – The Bulldogs finally have depth inside thanks to a giant recruiting class but off-season suspension could derail this team. The backcourt has experience and there is a chance that the Bulldogs could make the NCAA for the first time under Dennis Felton.
4. Vanderbilt – The Commodores have a good base to work with as Shan Foster returns for his senior year. He'll have help around the cup with super Aussie freshman Andy Ogilvy inside. It doesn't hurt that Kevin Stallings is one of the best coaches in the league either.
5. Florida – After back-to-back National Championships, the Gators are starting from scratch. The team boasts the top overall recruiting class and the youngsters will need to help right from the start. Depth and inexperience are the two biggest concerns.
6. South Carolina – The Gamecocks lost the three top scorers from last year's team but add Cincinnati transfer Devan Downey. He'll score plenty but have size concerns and inexperience.

SEC West

1. Arkansas – Six seniors with valuable experience, one of the most dynamic guards in the nation in Patrick Beverly, a new coach and high expectations. Should be a very interesting year in Fayetteville.
2. Mississippi State – The Bulldogs have the conference's most difficult player to defend in Jamont Gordon, who could be the SEC Player of the Year. Rick Stansbury has plenty of long, lanky and athletic players to work with, too.
3. Auburn – Balance, experience and depth have the Tigers looking strong coming into the season. It would be a big surprise to see Jeff Lebo's club make a run for the NCAA tournament at the season's end.
4. Alabama – Richard Hendrix is the conference's best big man but losing point guard Ron Steele could derail their flow. Alonzo Gee is the biggest sleeper in the conference.
5. LSU – The star power is gone but the balance and versatility is the strength of this club this year. Tasmin Mitchell is one of the most versatile players in the nation while Garrett Temple and Terry Martin give the team size on the wings.
6. Ole Miss – Andy Kennedy, in his first year at the helm, coached up his squad and won 21 games last year. This year, the team is younger and deeper. Look for a big year out of Florida transfer David Huertas, sophomore Eneil Polynice and freshman Malcolm White.

Preseason All-Conference

Chris Lofton, Tennessee, Sr., Guard

Patrick Beverly, Arkansas, Soph., Guard

Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State, Jr., Guard

Richard Hendrix, Alabama, Jr., Forward

Shan Foster, Vanderbilt, Sr., Forward

Lofton is the most deadly scorer in the league and should be the go-to guy once again for the Vols, one of the best teams in the nation. Gordon is the toughest player to defend and does it all (16 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.3 apg). Beverly proved himself as one of the most dynamic scorers returning to the SEC while Hendrix, the top returning rebounder in the conference, and Foster (15.6 ppg) are the best two players at their respective positions.

Player of the Year

Chris Lofton, Tennessee

The sharp-shooter will likely be the top scorer again for the Vols and the expectations are sky high for the senior and his teammates. Expect him to go out with a bang. The Kentucky native may take a hit in his scoring from last year but it will be a sacrifice as Tennessee could be playing for a National Championship with more depth.

Freshman of the Year

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

The Wildcats need some help inside and the West Virginia native is certainly capable of stepping right in and making an impact. He embodies his state's blue collar mentality and should contribute right away.

Preseason All-Freshmen Team

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky

Andrew Ogilvy, Vanderbilt

Rico Pickett, Alabama

Alex Tyus, Florida

Nick Calathes, Florida

Several teams will lean on rookies and that is why the All-Freshman team could have up to a dozen different candidates for the first team.

NCAA tournament teams

Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi State

Top NBA prospect

Andrew Ogilvy, Vanderbilt

The Australian import may only be a freshman but the 7-footer has already caught the eye of pro scouts with his play over the summer at the FIBA U19 World Championships. He posted big time numbers at the event (22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds a game).

Georgia connection

Senario Hillman, Alabama (Wilkinson County)

Korvotney Barber, Auburn (Manchester)

Rasheem Barrett, Auburn (Marist)

Matt Heramb, Auburn (Chapel Hill)

Archie Miaway, Auburn (Norcross/JC)

Quan Prowell, Auburn (Jordan)

Corey Butler, Georgia (Cross Keys)

Billy Humphrey, Georgia (Dacula)

Mike Mercer, Georgia (South Gwinnett)

Chris Barnes, Georgia (Riverdale)

Jeremy Price, Georgia (Columbia)

Zac Swansey, Georgia (Dunwoody)

Ricky McPhee, Georgia (Parkview)

Jodie Meeks, Kentucky (Norcross)

Trevor Gaskins, Ole Miss (Chattahoochee)

Zach Graham, Ole Miss (Peachtree Ridge)

Dominique Archie, South Carolina (Josey)

Dwayne Day, South Carolina (Montgomery County)

Austin Steed, South Carolina (Butler)

Cameron Tatum, Tennessee (Tucker/Patterson School)

A little advice from yours truly

"Can I ask you for some advice?"

I get asked this question almost daily. Sometimes I feel like Lucy from Charlie Brown. For you kids, that was a cartoon back in the day. And we're not talking The Family Guy. Cartoons, the kind that were meant for kids.

Anyways.

I'm not a great advice giver. I promise. But I'll try.

Here are a couple of things to consider as the season approaches:

- Do you get it? Either you do or you don't. It's that simple. Do you have good grades? Do you honor the rules and guidelines that are given to you by your parents, teachers, coaches, leaders and those that have your best interest at heart? Do you play hard in blowouts? Do you run through a wall in practice? Do you stand up for your teammates? Do you do the right thing? People are watching. They are always watching.

- Are you humble? Guess what, it's okay to say you didn't do something right. It's okay to sit back, take the tongue-lashing from a coach or hear a criticism from someone that knows the game and the recruiting process. Learn from it. Get better from it. Swallow your pride every once in a while. Part of becoming a man, is taking it like a man.

- Find your fit. Parents and players ask round the clock about what school is the best. It's about the fit. Of course, everyone wants to play at the highest level. Who doesn't want to hear Dickie V go crazy about you? But guess what, there is more to life than that. Don't rob yourself of a great opportunity because you want to go to a high-major and play when the games are clearly in the books. High-major? Mid-major? Low-major? Division II? Division III? Junior college? NAIA?

- If you do go to a high-major school, make sure you know what it takes to be a teammate. Guess what, that guy that you'll be rooming with or traveling in a bus across the country and flying in a cramped airplane is just as good as you (or better). So are the guys that the assistant coaches will be recruiting when you are in college. Sometimes it is his night to shine. Hopefully you all shine together.

- If someone goes out of their way to come and watch you play (ahem, a college coach!), be sure to sincerely thank him. Chances are, he'd probably like to be tucking his kids into bed and sitting on the couch with his wife back home. Instead, he came to watch you play. Be aware of that. Be sure to thank them. It goes a long way.

- Research, research, research. I can't stress this enough. I can't tell you how many times I've seen kids renege on their commitment. Honor your word. It is part of becoming a man. Find out everything you can about that school. Visit them. See the town you want to live in for four years. Find out if they have your major. See the campus. See the people. You might meet your wife there. You might meet your future business partner there. You might cure cancer thanks to the studies you receive there. Find out if that coach runs a style of play that you can shine in but be challenged to grow as a player. Can you win at that school?

- If you are a college prospect, everything will take care of itself. Don't worry about rankings. They have never paid for anyone's education. You do by your play, your work in the classroom and your character. You can't rank those. If you want a gold star, I'll take you down to CVS and buy one for you. Worry about what happens on the court, what happens in the classroom and what happens within the walls of your own home. Everything takes care of itself if you are doing your part.

I could go on for days but this should cover it. For now, at least. Play ball, play hard, play for fun, enjoy your high school days and find those that you consider your friends and listen to your family, who loves you and wants the best for you. If you do that, you won't need the advice because you are probably already living these principles already.

Andre Young - GA's most under-appreciated player

Andre Young, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Albany's Deerfield-Windsor School, is headed to Clemson. Despite his accolades, success and future career in the ACC, Young is one of the most unappreciated players in the state. To get a good look at the future Clemson player, be sure to check out the GBOA Hoops feature on him.

ACC Preview

ACC

1. North Carolina – Too much depth, too much speed, too much power, too much size, too much scoring to even think about stopping in the conference this year. Should contend for National Championship.
2. NC State – Sidney Lowe has a team with plenty of weapons (three NBA prospects to be exact in Grant, Costner and Hickson), good size and momentum from last season. The biggest question mark is the point guard spot. They need a leader there. And fast.
3. Duke – This is one of the deepest Blue Devil teams in years but also one of the smallest. It will be interesting to see how Coach K can get this team together in a hurry and how to overcome its height issues.
4. Clemson – Only one starter was lost from last year's team that won 25 games. There is balance and athleticism but the big question mark is at the point guard position.
5. Virginia – The Cavaliers lost 18.4 points a game and a battle-tested guard in JR Reynolds but reloaded with depth at the position and returns one of the best warriors in the nation in Sean Singletary.
6. Maryland – Nearly 40 points and three starters are missing from the starting lineup but the team boasts big bodies, a potential pro in Greivis Vasquez and one of the best coaches in the conference.
7. Georgia Tech – Perhaps the biggest x-factor in the conference. The Yellow Jackets have a number of players with starting experience and add Lewis Clinch back to the lineup and a motor man down low in Gani Lawal.
8. Florida State – Guard play will dictate this team's success and the offensive attack will be much more balanced. The key is rebounding. Who will step up on the glass?
9. Wake Forest – The Demon Deacons could very well be the biggest surprise in the conference. The players are young. The coaches are young. The attitude and motivation will all be dedicated to the late Skip Prosser. The year started on a sad note and could end on a high.
10. Virginia Tech – Gone are the senior leaders and enter a new brand of basketball. The Hokies have a huge recruiting class and one of the top athletes in the nation in Deron Washington.
11. Boston College – There is a good chance the Eagles finish way ahead of this slot because that is what they do. They are the best over-achievers in the nation. Who will be the next under the radar recruit that makes it big? Rakim Sanders.
12. Miami – The Hurricanes have the weapons but struggle against the big boys in the league. Frank Haith, once again, has an upward climb.

Preseason All-Conference

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, Jr., Forward

Brandon Costner, NC State, Soph., Forward

Sean Singletary, Virginia, Sr., Guard

DeMarcus Nelson, Duke, Sr., Guard

Gavin Grant, NC State, Sr., Forward

It is as tight of a race as it can get for elite status in the ACC this year. Hansbrough has all of the tools, the right team and motor to contend for deserved national first team honors. Singletary is the next logical choice for all-conference. After that, it's a crap shoot.

Player of the Year

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

No one plays with more heart, power and passion in the ACC than this big man. He anchors the middle for the best team in the conference and could very well be playing in the Final Four at the end of the year.

Freshman of the Year

Kyle Singler, Duke

The Oregon native will be asked to do a lot from the outset. He has the skill set to play both inside and out and expect him to log major minutes on the blocks for the size depleted Blue Devils this season.

Preseason All-Freshmen Team:

J.J. Hickson, NC State

Kyle Singler, Duke

Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech

Demontez Stitt, Clemson

Rakim Sanders, Boston College

Opportunity. That is what separates the productive rookies with those that have the potential word still attached to their names at this stage of the game. Each of the five players listed will have a chance to start and play major minutes this season.

NCAA tournament teams

North Carolina, NC State, Duke, Maryland, Clemson and Virginia

Top NBA prospect

Brandon Costner, NC State

He's an outstanding talent with great size, a great shot and inside-out capabilities.

Georgia connection

J.J. Hickson, NC State (Wheeler)

Jerome Burney, Maryland (Westlake)

Landon Milbourne, Maryland (St. Francis/Oak Hill)

Toney Dougals, Florida State (Jonesboro)

Jordan DeMercy, Florida State (Norcross)

Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech (Crisp County)

Alade Aminu, Georgia Tech (Stephenson)

Matt Causey, Georgia Tech (Berkmar)

Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech (Norcross)

Lance Storrs, Georgia Tech (Columbia)

Ty Anderson, Georgia Tech (Oconee County)

Solomon Tat, Virginia (Community Christian)

Terrell Bell, Virginia Tech (Stone Mountain)

Terrence Vinson, Virginia Tech (Lowndes County)

Cliff Hammonds, Clemson (Cairo)

D1 Bound

The commitment list is at an all-time high, and higher than last year's class at this same time with 30 Division I pledges on the board going into the weekend.

Class of 2008 committed players

Chase Anderson, SG, Mill Creek (Air Force)
Al-Farouq Aminu, PF/SF, Norcross (Wake Forest)
Elhanan Bone, PF, Washington County (UNC Greensboro)
Shane Burrell, PF, Sound Doctrine (Alabama A&M)
James Fields, PG, Beach (Georgia State)
Jarmon Fortson, SG, Carver (Auburn - football)
Steven Fowlkes, PF, Banneker (Tennessee – football)
Gideon Gamble, SG, Westlake (Winthrop)
Darius Garrett, PF, McEachern (Richmond)
Delwan Graham, PF, Dunwoody (LSU)
Yaw Gyawu, SF, Parkview (Colgate)
Dennis Harris, PF/SF, Mundy’s Mill (LSU)
Dequan Jones, SF, Wheeler (Miami)
Tyler McDaniel, PF/SF, Meadowcreek (Tennessee Tech)
P.J. Meyers, PG, T.W. Josey (Campbell)
Reggie Middleton, PG, Glenn Hills (Winthrop)
Tony Mitchell, SF, Swainsboro (Alabama)
Darius Morrow, C, Columbia (South Carolina)
Chris Reynolds, SG, Glenn Hills (Campbell)
Tanner Smith, SG, Wesleyan (Clemson)
Jerel Stephenson, SG, Glenn Hills (UNC Wilmington)
Matt Sundberg, SG, Harrison (College of Charleston)
Howard Thompkins, PF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
Toby Veal, PF, Savannah Johnson (Colorado)
J.C. Ward, Marietta (East Tennessee State)
Dustin Ware, PG, North Cobb Christian (Georgia)
Ray Willis, SG, Westlake (Oklahoma)
Tony Woods, C, Rome (Wake Forest)
Cashmere Wright, PG, Urban Christian (Cincinnati)
Andre Young, PG, Deerfield-Windsor (Clemson)

Class of 2009 committed players

Robert Chubb, PF, McIntosh (Auburn)

Class of 2011 committed players

Marc Brown, SG, Westlake (Florida State)

Delwan Graham sets the tone

No one, and we mean no one, plays with more heart and passion in the state than LSU bound Delwan Graham. The Dunwoody senior is one of the most exciting players in the state and will have his Wildcats ready for the battles this season. For a closer look at Graham, check out this GBOAHoops.com special video.

Derrick Favors in action

South Atlanta's Derrick Favors is arguably the best player in the state and the expectations for the 6-foot-8 junior are off the charts this season. To see what all of the fuss is about, check him out in our video of the day.

Around the 'Net: Dekalb County

Dekalb County is one of the deepest counties in the state for pure athletes, quick guards and college rich programs. Georgia Hoops spends many of hours in gyms around Dekalb. We'd like to spend more time online, checking out each team via the web. However, we only uncovered three team websites within the county.

http://www.chambleebasketball.com/ - Chamble

http://dunwoodybasketball.com/ - Dunwoody

http://www.tuckertigersbasketball.com/ - Tucker

Great grid schedule for DeKalb County season

If you know of a team link that we missed, email us at jyoung@rivals.com.

Around the 'Net: Gwinnett County

As the season draws closer, we will help you prepare for the year. Looking for information on the teams like rosters, schedules and other information, you can generally find them on the team websites. Here are the links for the Gwinnett County teams:

http://www.berkmarhoops.net/ - Berkmar

http://www.brookwoodhoops.com/ - Brookwood

http://www.chhsbasketball.com/ - Collins Hill

http://www.daculahighbasketball.com/ - Dacula

http://www.duluthhoops.com/ - Duluth

http://www.graysonhoops.com/ - Grayson

http://www.millcreekbasketball.com/ - Mill Creek

http://www.norcrossbasketball.com/ - Norcross

http://www.northgwinnettbasketball.com/ - North Gwinnett

http://parkviewpantherbasketball.com/ - Parkview

http://www.ridgehoops.net/ - Peachtree Ridge

http://www.shilohbasketball.com/ - Shiloh

http://www.southgwinnettbasketball.com/ - South Gwinnett

Great grid schedule for Gwinnnett County season

For updates, email Justin Young at jyoung@rivals.com.

Wesley Witherspoon in action

Berkmar High wing forward Wesley Witherspoon will be one of the most recruited players in the state this season. The 6-foot-8 senior has opted to sign in the spring and a long line of high-major schools will be in tow, trying to get his signature.

Are you a bookworm or a ballworm?

Okay, so you are a pretty good basketball player. I'm sure I've probably written about you on the blog or on Rivals.com. Congratulations. Your name is in print. That's what you play for, right?

Think again.

Think long and hard about that.

You want to know what matters? Scholarships. You earn those. And more times than not, you earn those by getting it done in the classroom and by what you do on the court.

And when you get to college, the books still matter.

Think long and hard about that, too.

If you are lucky enough to earn a scholarship from Georgia or Georgia Tech and go there, don't think you can slack off. Just ask Mike Mercer or Albert Jackson or Takias Brown at Georgia. Or Lewis Clinch or Ra'Sean Dickey at Georgia Tech.

All five have missed or will miss a significant number of games in their college careers. They are lucky to still have their scholarships.

Clinch missed the second semester of his sophomore year. His loss certainly hurt Georgia Tech's chances of a big year. He was a major scoring option for the team and the best perimeter threat on the floor.

Dickey will miss the first semester of his senior season because he is academically ineligible. He is a senior folks. A senior!

Georgia announced that three key players from the team will miss a good part of the year. Mercer, a junior, will miss 15 games this season because he basically skipped classes. Brown, a senior, is suspended for nine games and Jackson is out for six.

Georgia has it's best roster since Dennis Felton took over the SEC school. Mercer, the team's most versatile player, and Brown, the top scorer and rebounder from last year, were both looked as the top options in a team that could make a run for the NCAA tournament.

No one is asking you to be a genius. That isn't the case. But be accountable to yourself, your teammates and your potential as a college student athlete.

Think long and hard about that.

Top five performers from Stars of Georgia camp

Adrien Coleman, SG, Stephenson High School, Jr. – He scored whenever he wanted and did it all around the basket. Don't be surprised to see him lead Dekalb County in scoring this year. He's wired to put the ball in the hole.

Khalid Mutakabbir, SG/PG, Peachtree Ridge High School, Jr. – Very impressive as a defender both inside and out, he rebounded well and scored when the opportunity presented itself. Smart player.

Glen Rice, Jr., SG, Walton High School, Jr. – One of the most versatile players in the metro area. He's long, can handle the ball, play a number of positions and should have a big year this season.

Kymmon Woods, PG/SG, East Hall High School, Fr. – East Hall has another one. Woods was speedy to the basket, crafty with the ball and showed off a nice touch as a passer.

Derek Zittrauer, PF, South Forsyth High School, Jr. – The big man was the most polished big man in the camp. He scored with both hands around the cup, played well with his back to the basket and rebounded nicely.

Tony Woods throwing it down

Rome High School is home to one of the top centers in the nation, Tony Woods. He's long, lean and headed to Wake Forest.

Georgia's top Pangos prospects

The Pangos camp was a great success over the weekend at Norcross High School and a number of the top young players from the state showed their talent. The depth was great and picking the top five top prospects was a difficult task as 15 players were considered for the top five.

Trae Golden, McEachern, SG, Soph. - Without question, he was the top offensive threat in the camp. Was outstanding with the ball in his hands. He'll lead Cobb County in scoring this year.

Jordan McRae, Liberty County, SG, Soph. - No one was a bigger surprise in the camp than this bouncy wing from the 3A school. McRae might have been the most athletic player in the camp.

Jalen Kendrick, Southwest Atlanta Christian, SF, Soph. - The long, lean and athletic wing is the next smooth operator from the state. He's versatile and crafty and full of high-major potential.

Marcus Thornton, Westlake, PF, Soph. - Surprised that Westlake has another good-looking player on its roster? You shouldn't be. Thornton mixed wing skills with power under the basket.

Jaquez Motley, Urban Christian, PG, Fr. - Paired with one of the elite scorers in the state (Cashmere Wright), Motley says he wants to average 12 assists a game. That's very possible.

Talk about the camp on our new forums.

Delwan Graham in action

We've always been big believers that one of the best classifications in the state is the 3A division. The depth is great and a number of sleepers can be found in 3A. Dunwoody has been the biggest powerhouse in the classification. One of the reasons why is the play of manchild forward Delwan Graham. Have you seen him in action? You can, by clicking on this link - GBOA Hoops: Delwan Graham.

Be sure to vote on the 3A poll to the right.

Savannah Johnson's Toby Veal in action

Savannah Johnson forward Toby Veal is one of the top players in Georgia. He's headed to Colorado after his senior season. If you haven't seen him in action, here is your chance.

It's Madness time

At 12:01 Friday night, the college basketball officially gets under way as college teams tip off the season with full practices. The weekend also means several recruiting opportunities for some of the top players in Georgia.

Here is a run down of who is going where.

Kentucky has had success in Georgia in the past (Jodie Meeks, Randolph Morris, Jeff Sheppard) and since taking over the program, Billy Gillispie has been down to Georgia a number of times.

This weekend, the Wildcats are hosting Dunwoody's Chris Singleton and Northview's Ralph Sampson, III. Both are in the home stretch of their recruitment.

Making the short drive over to UAB are top juniors Lorenzo Brown of Centennial and Ari Stewart of Wheeler. The two will see plenty of each other over the next couple of years as they both anchor two of the top teams in the state.

Westlake, one of the top teams in the state, have boosted its lineup this year with Florida move-in Ray Willis, a skilled and long guard. He's taking an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend. He has already visited Central Florida.

Michigan State was the first school to send a head coach to see Richard Howell, a teammate of Stewart's at Wheeler, and that is paying off. Howell, a 6-7 forward is unofficially visiting the Spartans this weekend.

You probably don't know the name but you will by the time class of 2010 prospect Jason Morris graduates high school. The Augusta native is going to school in Connecticut (Hotchkiss School) and looking to be a national prospect. He'll be at Georgetown this weekend for an unofficial visit.

He's yet to play in a game in high school but Milton freshman Julian Royal is getting a leg up with the best of the best. Sources tell Georgia Hoops, he is headed to North Carolina for the weekend to support family friend and former UNC Tar Heel Charlie Scott. We haven't seen Royal yet but reports are very strong about the youngster.

Talk about it on the new GeorgiaHoops message board.

If you know of any visitors that we are missing, please let us know. Email us at jyoung@rivals.com.

ralph sampson III Highlights

Ralph Sampson, III, a 6-11 center from Northview High School, is one of the fastest rising players in the nation. This weekend he is headed to Kentucky for an unonfficial visit and will see the Big Blue Madness.

Here are some highlights of the big man in action.

Attention all coaches!

Believe it or not but the high school basketball season is about to begin. And we are chomping at the bit for it to get rolling. GeorgiaHoops is the leader in Georgia high school basketball and cover the state like no one else. Our travels sent us to all corners of the state last year and this year should be no different. Hopefully, we will spend some time with you in your gym.

If you have your roster and/or schedule, please send it our way. Email Justin Young at jyoung@rivals.com with your up-to-date information. If you have a team website, even better. Please send a link along and we'll put it on the blog for all to reference.

If you don't have a roster, please let us know the following:

Projected starters

Underclassmen to watch on your team

Who is your best college prospect (at any level)

Your contact information (office phone, cell phone, etc.)

This information is vital as we try to connect the hundreds of college coaches that we interact with to you, your players and your program.

We'll be previewing the state here at GeorgiaHoops over the next month and want to make sure we know of all of the top talent in our loaded state.

Feel free to post your comments here on the blog or shoot me an email any time.

HoopTV Dunk Of The Day, September 29th, 2007

Miami came to Georgia and stole a good one in Wheeler's Dequan Jones. The 6-5 wing is one of the most explosive athletes in the nation and he proves it in this HoopTV Dunk of the Day clip.

Kingwood clips: Georgia Stars

The Georgia Stars had a successful run this spring and summer on the AAU circuit. See them in action against one of the top teams in the nation, Pump 'N Run from California. We'll update as much as possible with video. Enjoy this clip from Ballislife.com.

And the list keeps on growing...

Class of 2008 committed players

Chase Anderson, SG, Mill Creek (Air Force)
Al-Farouq Aminu, PF/SF, Norcross (Wake Forest)
Elhanan Bone, PF, Washington County (UNC Greensboro)
Justin Brownlee, SF, Covenant Christian (City College of San Francisco JC for 2007 class)
Shane Burrell, PF, Sound Doctrine (Alabama A&M)
James Fields, PG, Beach (Georgia State)
Jarmon Fortson, SG, Carver (Auburn - football)
Steven Fowlkes, PF, Banneker (Tennessee – football)
Gideon Gamble, SG, Westlake (Winthrop)
Darius Garrett, PF, McEachern (Richmond)
Delwan Graham, PF, Dunwoody (LSU)
Yaw Gyawu, SF, Parkview (Colgate)
Dennis Harris, PF/SF, Mundy’s Mill (LSU)
Dequan Jones, SF, Wheeler (Miami)
P.J. Meyers, PG, T.W. Josey (Campbell)
Reggie Middleton, PG, Glenn Hills (Winthrop)
Tony Mitchell, SF, Swainsboro (Alabama)
Darius Morrow, C, Columbia (South Carolina)
Chris Reynolds, SG, Glenn Hills (Campbell)
Tanner Smith, SG, Wesleyan (Clemson)
Jerel Stephenson, SG, Glenn Hills (UNC Wilmington)
Matt Sundberg, SG, Harrison (College of Charleston)
Howard Thompkins, PF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
Toby Veal, PF, Savannah Johnson (Colorado)
J.C. Ward, PF, Marietta (East Tennessee State)
Dustin Ware, PG, North Cobb Christian (Georgia)
Tony Woods, C, Rome (Wake Forest)
Cashmere Wright, PG, Urban Christian (Cincinnati)
Andre Young, PG, Deerfield-Windsor (Clemson)

Class of 2009 committed players

Robert Chubb, PF, McIntosh (Auburn)

If you know of any omissions, please let us know at jyoung@rivals.com.

Updating the commitment list

Class of 2008 committed players

Chase Anderson, SG, Mill Creek (Air Force)
Al-Farouq Aminu, PF/SF, Norcross (Wake Forest)
Justin Brownlee, SF, Covenant Christian (City College of San Francisco JC for 2007 class)
James Fields, PG, Beach (Georgia State)
Jarmon Fortson, SG, Carver (Auburn - football)
Steven Fowlkes, PF, Banneker (Tennessee – football)
Gideon Gamble, SG, Westlake (Winthrop)
Darius Garrett, PF, McEachern (Richmond)
Delwan Graham, PF, Dunwoody (LSU)
Yaw Gyawu, SF, Parkview (Colgate)
Dennis Harris, PF/SF, Mundy’s Mill (LSU)
Dequan Jones, SF, Wheeler (Miami)
P.J. Meyers, PG, T.W. Josey (Campbell)
Reggie Middleton, PG, Glenn Hills (Winthrop)
Tony Mitchell, SF, Swainsboro (Alabama)
Darius Morrow, C, Columbia (South Carolina)
Chris Reynolds, SG, Glenn Hills (Campbell)
Tanner Smith, SG, Wesleyan (Clemson)
Jerel Stephenson, SG, Glenn Hills (UNC Wilmington)
Matt Sundberg, SG, Harrison (College of Charleston)
Howard Thompkins, PF, Wesleyan (Georgia)
Dustin Ware, PG, North Cobb Christian (Georgia)
Tony Woods, C, Rome (Wake Forest)
Cashmere Wright, PG, Urban Christian (Cincinnati)
Andre Young, PG, Deerfield-Windsor (Clemson)

Class of 2009 committed players
Robert Chubb, PF, McIntosh (Auburn)