| 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
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