Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Greenforest Chrisitan Team Pre-view

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Greenforest Christian 6'9 Forward Tosin Mehinti (UAB signee)


"Good things come to those who wait" is the old saying. David Jones, the head coach for Greenforest Christian School, a small private school located in Decatur, GA, hopes that applies to he and his team this year.  Jones is entering his 39th year as a head coach.  Some may remember him from his days in the 1970s at Southwest Atlanta HS (now Mays HS). He won 3 state titles there during that decade. He later won a state title at Southside HS with James Forrest (Georgia Tech) in 1990.  He also won a GISA title while coaching at First Presbyterian Christian Academy in 2010, but Coach Jones last GHSA state championship was over twenty years ago. He enters his second season at Greenforest. Last year Greenforest Christian won 23 games and made it to the first round of the State Tournament.

What many people didn't realize is that they had one of the state's best kept secrets practicing with the team all last year in 6'9 post player Tosin Mehinti who has signed with UAB.  Mehinti is a presence inside that few players can match up with at any class, let alone the single A level.  Jones feels the overall team is very strong. "I think I have the deepest team I've had in a long time. About eight to nine deep. When you talk about subbing, it's about who won't hurt you more than who helps you,"he says. In addition to returners, Faisal Abdulamlik and Justin Ravenel, both sophomores who started as freshmen, Greenforest has added a few more impact players. Point guard Rashad Swain transferred in from East Coweta HS. Mmony Celestine, one of several African move-ins on the team, will provide depth at the wing.  "We have a balanced team. One of the top five or six teams in my career if we can get them playing together. We don't have selfish players. We could probably have three or four different leading scorers in three or four straight games. We just have to play defense," Jones says.

There are several strong contenders at the single A level this year. Despite losing a lot from last year, defending state champ Whitefield Academy will have to be accounted for. Along with North Cobb Christian, St. Francis, Mt. Pisgah, and Aquinas, Greenforest Christian deserves to be in the discussion. Speaking with BCB at a recent practice, Coach David Jones believes, "I think this team is a very good team. As you know, to win a state title, you have to have good players and stay away from bad luck. You need things to go right. Once you get to the elite eight or final four everyone can play so you have to be pretty good. We just work on getting better everyday. This group is fun to work with. They are coachable. Its refreshing to have kids that work hard and don't have animosity towards someone else on the team."

Greenforest will open this Friday, Nov.30 at Southwest Atlanta Christian at 7:30pm


Visit www.bcbball.com for more stories and information on the "Southeastern Roundball Report", a top recruiting service covering Georgia high school hoops that is subscribed to by college programs at every level.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

St. Francis HS Season Team Preview


St. Francis players from left to right (Jordan Jones, Keshawn Gibbs, McKinley Brown, Malik Beasley, Kobi Simmons, Kaiser Gates)






St. Francis has emerged as a pre-season contender at the single A level this season. Last year's team shocked an undefeated 30 win North Cobb Christian team in the first round of the state tournament.  Couple last year's success with the returning lettermen and the additions of some talented players leaves fifth year head coach Cabral Huff knowing this year's expectations are even higher.  "We've got expectations to go to Macon," referring to the city where the Final 4 is played for GHSA single A teams.

St. Francis lost two starters from last year's Sweet 16 team that saw significant contributions from underclassmen, including full-time and part-time starters, now sophomores Kaiser Gates, Keshawn Gibbs, and Malik Beasley. The addition of Kennesaw State signee Jordan Jones who came from Furtah Prep and Milton HS transfer big man sophomore Josh Coleman who stands at 6'9. Jones is a 6'7 versatile forward that can manufacture offense from the perimeter and interior. Coleman helps anchor the paint helping form one of the potentially bigger front lines in single A this year.  The Knights can go 6'9, 6'7, 6'6 at the 3, 4, and 5 spots, that not many teams of any level in high school can boast, let alone the smallest classification single A.  Huff believes the most improved player may be junior point guard McKinley Brown. "By far, our most improved player, on the court, off the court with leadership. But really, our whole group holds each other accountable. Keshawn Gibbs has done well also" says Huff.

It would be hard to argue that there is a tougher region than 6B-A which consists of 2011 state champion Whitefield Academy, North Cobb Christian, reigning region champ Mt. Pisgah, and Mt. Paran. Huff "feels confident that if we can compete in our region, then we can be set up for the state tournament. I don't think another region can stack up as well as ours."  St. Francis plays a challenging non-region schedule as well.  Huff knows it's a season long process and is committed to getting the Knights playing their best basketball come playoff time. "We just have to take care of the business at hand, whether that's practice or a game that day. It's a game by game process."

The one potential obstacle for St. Francis is their youth.  At times, the Knights can have up to four sophomores and a freshman on the floor.  Huff knows that lack of experience and being young can bring its own set of issues, but believes in his team. "We have to make sure those small moments don't become long stretches.  When we can get teamwork, intensity, and defense, we like our chances. We feel like we can score with anybody.  If we can get consistency with our defense, we are going to be tough to beat."

St. Francis' highly regarded youth are receiving a lot of attention from colleges, recruiting services and different media outlets.  With that type of exposure, it can sometimes lend itself to entitlement. But Huff says that is not an issue.  "Everything we do is competitive. From pre-season running to practice.  Nothing is ever given to them and they have to earn it.  We've got a really good group. Once the season starts, I don't care about a ranking or an offer.  They are playing for St. Francis. We had a conversation the other day-if you average 5ppg, does it really matter if we win a state championship?"

Huff is quick to talk about their program going beyond basketball. He wants his players to leave out better than when they came in. He thinks, "It takes an entire school, faculty, coaching staff. The experience that my asst. Drew Catlett brings and the energy of asst. Mike McCard [are great resources]. Its not just about basketball. It's about building men."

If St. Francis is going to contend in their region and make a trip to Macon in March, count on witnessing a lot of development and growth from their young players.  With the commitment from their players and staff, don't be surprised to find St. Francis still playing in March.

St. Francis opens the season vs. Holy Innocents on Friday, Nov.16

Visit www.bcbball.com and click on blog to read about more of Georgia's "teams to watch"!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

GAC Preseason Team Preview


GAC players (from left to right) Delano Spencer, Isaiah Wilkins, Colin Swinton




Coach Eddie Martin is entering his fifth season as the head coach of Greater Atlanta Christian School. He took over the program after leading Norcross to three straight state championships. His first year at GAC, the team lost in the Final Four, then went on to win two straight state titles in his second and third years before being upset in last year's Elite 8 game by Manchester HS to finish 25-6.  GAC lost only three seniors off last year's team.  This year's team has the makings of another run and returning the title to the private school located in Norcross, GA.

GAC returns it's leading scorer, rebounder, and assist man. The starting backcourt of senior point guard Colin Swinton, coming off a junior season leading the county in assists where he averaged 11.9ppg and 5.9apg, and senior SG Delano Spencer (Ga Southern commit), who led the team in scoring at 15.1ppg with 3.5rpg, and 3.8apg.  Isaiah Wilkins is a 6'6 forward who averaged 7.3ppg, 6.3rpg (led team), and had 53 blocked shots as a sophomore. His role will increase with the departure of Cole Hobbs (Kennesaw State) and Robert Armstrong (Georgia College & State Univ).

Speaking about this year's team, Coach Martin says, "I am really excited about this year's group of guys.  Got the bulk of our team back. It makes it exciting to have so many guys back - they pick up things quicker. The chemistry and success we had over the summer was good and I hope we can build on it." The Spartans are awaiting the arrival of 6'6 post Andrew Lewis off the football field who will provide size, experience, and athleticism inside.

The Spartans will find out early and often if this group is up to the challenge. With the newly aligned regions across Georgia, GAC only has eight region games. That left them to schedule seventeen games and Martin believes "Our schedule is very competitive. We went out there and scheduled seventeen tough ones. It could slap us in the face but serve us well in region play."

Martin is working on finding those other guys to fill out his rotation. "We try to find about seven to eight guys, whether right or wrong, but that's what we try to do," says Martin. Some of those other guys are a trio of juniors in Tyler Hamilton, Justin Lewis, and Troy Morrison. Sophomore Cameron Boyd will also be in the mix when he returns from the football field.

As far as state championship talk, Coach Martin was candid with his response, "We talk about it before we ever start playing.  I think we have a team this year that can compete for a State championship.
Once we start playing, its one game at a time.  If we can stay free from injury, find a solid rotation, and play defense, we can contend"

With Martin leading the way, expect the Spartans to have a say come playoff time.


GAC opens play this Saturday at Parkview HS against Fayette County HS at 5:30pm. They will play 3A Morgan County HS in the GACS showcase sponsored by Blue Collar Basketball on Dec.15 at 7:00pm


Morgan County Pre-Season Team Preview

Morgan County players (from left to right) SO Tookie Brown, JR CJ Thurman, JR Davon Gibbs









Morgan County high school is coming off a 25 win 2011-12 season in which they made it to the Elite 8. That was a remarkable turnaround for a program that had won only 11 games the previous year, a 14 win improvement that was one of the best in the entire state.  What makes it even more impressive is that they were able to do so while leaning heavily on two sophomores and a freshman.  Head Coach Charlemagne Gibbons, who doubles up as the head coach for the Morgan County girls team as well, knows there is tremendous optimism in Madison, GA coming into this season.

Tookie Brown created a lot of buzz last year as a freshman averaging 18.5ppg, 4apg, and 4rpg. He is joined in the backcourt by junior Davon Gibbs (10ppg, 3apg). Patrolling the paint is junior big man, 6'8 CJ Thurman who tallied a double-double avg last year with 14ppg, 13rpg.  Gibbons is pleased with the leadership of Gibbs and Brown. He feels Thurman is "really coming along. His attention to detail is better and a lot of that is maturity and practice habits are as good since he's been here."

Gibbons is excited about returning his core group of players. "We bring everybody back which is always a good thing. We are still real young [but] we got some experience from last year and I hope it pays off," Gibbons says.  The Bulldogs will throw another young player into the fire this year in freshman Jalen Ingram who Gibbons thinks "could be special. He has a lot of tools. Looks really good for a 2016 guy."  Morgan County got a transfer right at the beginning of the school year with Josh Sallette of Macon, GA moving in. He will bring some size inside to help compliment Thurman and take some pressure off him.

Coach Gibbons knows that teams will be more prepared for them this year with more of a target on their backs.  He knows they will have to do a better job attacking half-court zone defenses as they begin seeing more teams pack it in on them later in the year last season.  Gibbons is confident that this group is ready for the challenge and are prepared.  He believes "Defensively, we can be pretty good. We have to keep 'em off the backboard - no second shots. We have to have a good balance going inside and out." The Elite 8 loss to eventual champ Laney HS was something the players carried into the off-season and understanding the need to work hard to play for it all. "This group has worked harder in the off-season than any other group I've ever had," Gibbons firmly states.


Morgan County may be young, but they have talent that few in class 3A posses.  As legendary coach John Wooden once said, "I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."  Thanks to last year, Morgan County's talent now has some experience.

Morgan County will tip-off their season on this Saturday at Berkmar at 4:00pm.  They will also be participating in the GACS showcase sponsored by Blue Collar Basketball on Dec.15 playing host team GAC in the 7:00pm game slot.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Norcross HS Team Preview


Norcross Trio (from left to right) Andre Chatfield, Terrance O' Donahue, Brandon Goodwin






Norcross HS has collected a lot of hardware over the past several years, as much as any program across the state and had several alumni selected in the NBA draft. Head Coach Jesse McMillan enters his fifth year as head coach, and twelfth overall at the Gwinnett County school. He has a talented group that is one of the early pre-season favorites in the new 6A classification.  Norcross is depending on some guys who are still on the football field in Myles Autry, Lorenzo Carter, and Chris Herndon.   But right now they will turn to Southern Miss commit Brandon Goodwin, 6’7 forward Terrance O’Donahue (College of Charleston commit) who came from McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN and Parkview HS transfer Andre Chatfield.  Once all hands are on deck, look for Norcross to be a very deep and dangerous team that will be a tough out in February.

McMillan, or known to his players and those around the program as ‘Coach Mac,’ talking about his team, “I think I am really pleased with how the pre-season and first couple of weeks of practice have gone. The returners understand that last year wasn’t acceptable. Since practice has started, the guys are focused and we (coaching staff) are spending very little time motivating and repeating things. There is more focus and maturity.” Coach Mac likes his club’s mentality and leadership, “I feel good about the experience that young guys got last year and understanding what it takes to be successful. It’s good from top to bottom.  Our two seniors, [Brandon and Terrance have done well also]. Brandon is a lead by example guy with his effort and energy every day. And with Terrance being out (minor injury) right now, we have been pleased with his involvement in practice on the baseline, almost like an extra coach.” O’Donahue is more of a skilled, versatile forward who can step out away form the basket and will be a huge asset to this year’s team.

Norcross welcomes two other newcomers in the backcourt with 6'4 wing Andre Chatfield and 5'10 junior guard Khalen Pinkett. Chatfield averaged 16.3ppg for Parkview HS as a sophomore last year. McMillan is excited about what he has seen so far from Chatfield, "Andre has done great. He shoots the ball well, and is extremely good in transition. We are pushing him right now to be the type of on-ball lockdown defender that we feel he can be." The coach was quick to mention Pinkett as well, "Khalen-You don't won't to forget about him. He is an excellent on-ball defender. He plays hard and is smart. Another piece to the puzzle.  He really impressed us with his play in the scrimmage (Hillgrove HS) the other night."

Norcross is a proud program that was bothered by it's failure to play for the region championship last year for the first time in ten years.  Speaking about the high expectations that come with playing for a program like Norcross, McMillan says "There is no way to get around it. There are constant reminders. Our biggest goal is to play and win our region championship. The state championship goal is always a goal here. The players understand the commitment and effort it takes."

If you get out to see Norcross early in the season, you're likely to see a team carried by its backcourt. That could and should significantly shift to a more balanced attack once the football guys return and O'Donahue gets healthy. Norcross will open their season in Jacksonville, FL with two games this weekend (Nov.16-17)

Norcross will take on 4-time defending State Champ Miller Grove on Dec.15 in the GACS Showcase sponsored by Blue Collar Basketball. 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Eagles Landing High School Season Preview


Eagles Landing Projected Starting five of Seniors (from left to right)
Trevin Joseph, Desmond Ringer, Isaiah Dennis, Chris Davenport, Eric Wortham


Eagles Landing HS has quietly won 54 games and made back to back Final 4 runs the past two years, only to lose to eventual State Champion Columbia twice.  This season, head coach Clay Crump may have the most talented starting five in the entire state of Georgia. Speaking with BCB, Crump speaks candidly, "Well, expectations have never been higher at Eagle's Landing as we are pre-season #1 in some polls and we have the ability to live up to it if we play our roles, play defense, stay humble, rebound the ball. We definitely have the talent to do it.”

With new imports 6'2 senior guard Trevin Joseph from Stockbridge HS and 6'8 senior forward Chris Davenport from Montverde Academy (FL) to compliment three returning senior starters, it is easy to understand why there is great excitement and optimism in McDonough, GA this time of year.  The coach states, "Chris brings a lot of experience – incredible athlete, really good competitor, very good defender-understands timing, is a good teammate, blends well and makes other people around him better. He takes pressure off Desmond inside.  Trevin is a scorer. He's a very good finisher in transition, really solid and good athlete. He is learning what we need him to do defensively. He stretches the floor with his shooting."  The newcomers join reigning Region Player of the Year Eric Wortham, South Carolina big man commit Desmond Ringer, and the electric, athletic PG in Isaiah Dennis. As juniors Dennis led the balanced team in scoring at 14ppg, Wortham (13.7ppg), and Ringer (12ppg).  Dennis's progression at the point guard position has the coaching staff feeling even more comfortable than last year.  Crump believes, "Isaiah’s development at point-learning to put people in the right position. He made huge strides this summer. He is incredibly fast in transition and now his better understanding of pick n’roll situations and [overall basketball IQ] are so much better this year."

A freak accident derailed the Golden Eagles title run last year when Wortham went down with a season ending and life threatening seizure that shocked the Eagles Landing community. Wortham has fully healed and Eagles Landing offers a balanced attack that will have opposing coaches scratching their heads trying to game-plan to stop them. The only weakness appears to be a short bench. However, Crump feels good about his depth, "We can play deep. There is a drop-off [because of how good that first five is] but we have enough depth to get it done." Eagles Landing can turn to super-sub Jordan Sessions, a 6'7 junior forward who has the versatility to go inside or step out to the perimeter and would start for most teams across the state.

Eric Wortham's story is a remarkable one in itself and a reminder to all people, and athletes to live every day to the fullest. An athlete is sometimes one play away from a season-ending or career-altering moment. Coach Crump says, "Eric always reminds us that its a blessing to play the game and not a right. If talented kids can keep that perspective then they can accomplish good things."
Crump likes his team and selfless spirit they have. He continues "A coach with this many Seniors is typically concerned with selfishness and guys worried about stats. But I am not concerned about that. They enjoy playing team basketball.  They are high-character kids. A very exciting team. Everyone that watched them play this summer enjoyed it.  They don’t play entitled. The core has been together since they were sophomores."  However, Crump cautions, "We don’t want to peak too early. We play in some big tournaments early in season (City of Palms).  We want to be playing our best basketball in March, not December!"

If this team continues to check their ego at the door, there seems to be limitless potential for what they could accomplish this season.

Eagles Landing will face Allatoona HS in their first scrimmage at home this Wednesday, at 7:30pm