4:30 PM Hoover HS (AL) 9-1 vs. Norcross HS (GA) 6-1

4:30 PM  Hoover HS (AL) 9-1 vs. Norcross HS (GA) 6-1

Hoover High School found their fame thanks to a good football program but Coach Charles Burkett and his Buccaneers are making their own history on the hardwood.  Over the last three years, they have been widely regarded as one of Alabama’s best teams including a state title win in 2015.  This season Hoover is considered one of the favorites and will lean on the savvy senior guard Marion Humphrey and his sharp-shooting backcourt running mate Jamari Blackmon. Both players are receiving Division I recruiting interest and are undecided.  The addition of 6’11” Clemson commit Trey Jemison (2018) will provide the inside presence to the experienced backcourt that most high school coaches envy. Those factors along with an experienced bench have Coach Burkett and his team excited for the season, chasing more than just a state title.

In the state of Georgia, you would be hard-pressed to find a more consistent and successful program than Coach Jesse McMillan’s Norcross Blue Devils.  Since 2006, Norcross has won 5 State Championships and competed in the Final Four or beyond three additional years. Coach McMillan returns backcourt teammates Dalvin White (2018) and Kyle Sturdivant (2019) both of which are experienced from last year’s state runner-up team. They are joined by the young, talented wing Brandon Boston (2020).  The versatile UGA commit Joseph Toppin (2018) and 2019 forward Issa Muhammad give the Blue Devils a nice inside-outside mix.  Despite losing big men Lance Thomas (Louisville) and Rashaun Hammonds (UGA), this looks to be a case of “next man up” and not rebuild mode for a talented Norcross team.

The matchup pits teams from the highest classification in their respective states against one another, both of which have realistic state championship aspirations.