It is that time to start peering ahead at the the predetermined brackets in the state tournament for GHSA teams. There are a number of teams that, with solid showings in their region tournament, can align themselves for a potential deep (Elite Eight or greater).
The following regions will match up in the first round:
Region 1 vs Region 4; Region2 vs Region 3; Region 5 vs Region 8; Region 6 vs Region 7. This will be the case for ALL classifications in the first round. In the first round the No.1 vs No.4 and No.2 vs No.3 from each region will face off. The No.1 and No.2 from each region are at home in the first round.
Yes the state tournament is still a few weeks away, however the jockeying for position will heat up this week and for the remainder of the regular season through the region tournaments.
Just keep those region pairings in the the back of you mind as you attend games in-person and watch games online as time draws closer for region tournament action into state tournament action.
This week the Top 8 are unchanged, one team is out and one team returns at the bottom of the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA.
Last week’s games are considered games that were played from Tuesday 1/23/2024 through Monday 1/29/2024. This week’s games will be considered games played from Tuesday 1/30/2024 through Monday 2/5/2024. The next Hillsman Heavy Top 10 Georgia will be on Tuesday 2/6/2024.
Last Week 1/23/2024; 1-Grayson, 2-McEachern, 3-Kell, 4-Sandy Creek, 5-Alexander, 6-Greenforest, 7-Walton, 8-Wheeler, 9-McDonough, 10-Pace Academy, OUT- Berkmar, OUT- Holy Innocents
Here is a look at this week’s Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA.
**PLEASE NOTE ALL RECORDS ARE AS OF TUESDAY 1/30/2024 PRIOR TO ANY GAMES PLAYED ON THAT DAY**
Here is the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA with last week’s ranking noted.
1- Grayson (1)- Head Coach: Geoffrey Pierce Current Record: 19-2; Last Week: defeated Newton, defeated Brookwood This Week: vs Archer, vs Parkview Key Notes: Grayson remains undefeated against Georgia teams after defeated Newton in overtime and Brookwood this past week. Grayson will get an Archer team looking to bounce back from their earlier one-sided defeat to Grayson. The overall depth and versatile nature of Grayson still is the headline behind Gicarri Harris, CJ Hyland, Jacob Wilkins, Amir Taylor and Anthony Alston. Grayson went 5-2 vs OOS. Grayson is 1-1 in games decided by 5 points or less.
2- McEachern (2)– Head Coach: Tremayne Anchrum Current Record: 17-5; Last Week: defeated Harrison, defeated Hillgrove This Week: vs Marietta, vs North Paulding Key Notes: McEachern’s current winning streak is four games and they are in full control in their region. McEachern’s only loss to a Georgia team remains to Grayson in the season opener. McEachern finishes the season 6-4 vs OOS, improved to 3-1 in games decided by 5 points or less. Bailey continues to lead the charge for McEachern while Jaye Nash and Nnadozie Onyirimba have taken their play to another level. McEachern now looks to fine tune some things and look ready for a deep run.
3- Kell (3) Head Coach: Jermaine Sellers Current Record: 18-3; Last Week: defeated Cambridge, defeated North Springs, defeated Greater Atlanta Christian This Week: vs Chattahoochee, vs Northview Key Notes: Kell continues to roll along with 17 straight wins. Kell is in full control in their region. Kell finished 7-0 vs OOS this season which includes wins over Jackson-Reed (DC) which is their signature win of the season. Kell’s three losses this season are to McEachern, Newton and Grayson. CJ Brown, Jaylen Colon and Cannon Richards are at the forefront with solid contributions coming from Chris McLavish and Zach Graves at times.
4-Sandy Creek (4) Head Coach: Jon Nickerson Current Record: 18-2; Last Week: defeated Cedar Grove, defeated Carver-Atlanta, defeated Osborne This Week: vs Douglass-Atlanta, vs Carver-Atlanta, vs Etowah Key Notes: Sandy Creek is riding a current 9-game winning streak and has notable wins over Mt. Vernon, Milton, Cedar Grove, Fayette County (2x), Osborne, Buford, Pinson Valley (AL), St. Anne-Pacelli, St. Pius X and Flint Hill (MD). Sandy Creek’s lone loss to a Georgia team was to Grayson and their OOS loss was to St. Frances Academy (MD). Sandy Creek finished 3-1 vs OOS. Sandy Creek has continued to display the tools in the tool box in Amari Brown (17ppg 5rpg 3apg 51% FG), Micah Smith (16ppg 8rpg 5apg 3bpg 55% FG), PJ Green (6ppg 5rpg 3apg), Jacobi Robinson (10ppg 3rpg 3apg 45% FG) and Jared White (10ppg 4rpg 3apg 44%-3PT). Sandy Creek has a non-region game against Etowah this week that stands out on the schedule.
5- Alexander (6) Head Coach: Jason Slate Current Record: 17-2; Last Week: defeated South Paulding, defeated Paulding County This Week: vs New Manchester, vs Newnan Key Notes: Alexander’s only losses are to Holy Innocents and McEachern. They finished the seaso 3-0 vs OOS. Alexander’s remaining games are all region contests and now look to gear up to make a deep state run and defend their 6A title. Braedan Lue (18.9ppg 8.6rpg), Greg Dunston (13.4ppg 4.,5apg), Allen Stoddard (10.7ppg 5.9rpg) and Jermaine Freeman (10.2ppg 3.1rpg 2.5spg) are averaging in double-figures scoring.
6-Greenforest (6)- Head Coach: Rory Griffin Current Record: 17-4 Last Week: defeated SACA, defeated Cedar Shoals This Week: Key Notes: Current 11-game winning streak; Greenforest packs quality wins over Langston Hughes, Eagle’s Landing, Newton, Baldwin, Mt. Vernon and Christian Heritage (in their classification). Greenforest’s losses this season are to Kell, Berkmar, Milton and Williston (FL). The Kell loss is the only loss of more than six points. Greenforest is 2-1 vs OOS, 2-1 in games decided by 5 points or less and have 9 wins against Georgia teams in higher classifications with all still at a shot at the state tournament in their respective classes. Elijah Lewis, Mike Robinson, Caleb Kawela and Daniel Daramola are just a few of the names than can be a factor on any given night. Greenforest continues to rely on the staple of their program, hard work. Greenforest doesn’t have the “household names” for recruiting but has a team up and down the roster that know what is expected of them night in and night out.
7- Walton (7)- Head Coach: Bo Abney; Current Record: 18-3 Last Week: defeated Osborne, defeated Cherokee This Week: vs Kennesaw Mountain, vs Wheeler Key Notes: Walton handled their business last week winning a pair of region games. Luke Flynn, JP Wells, Kaedan Gilstrap power this senior-laden Walton team. Their losses have came to St. Pius X, Eagle’s Landing and Lassiter. They are 2-1 vs Lassiter this season and the lone loss came when Flynn, Wells and Gilstrap were out. Quality wins over Dutchtown, Seckinger, Wheeler and North Gwinnett; 0-1 in games decided by 5 points or less; Walton did not play any OOS opponents this season. Walton continues to peak as the season goes and road trip to Wheeler is ahead this week. Walton is pretty good, the scheduling overall should have been better for the talent.
8- Wheeler (8)- Head Coach: Larry Thompson; Current Record: 16-5; Last Week: defeated Cherokee, defeated North Cobb This Week: vs Osborne, vs Walton Key Notes: Wheeler has won four in a row since its loss at Walton and will get Walton again this week at home. Wheeler will continue to rely on Josh Hill and Ricky McKenzie to carry the bulk oft he load for an otherwise youthful team, especially in the backcourt. Wheeler is 1-0 in games decided by 5 points or less and are 2-0 vs OOS.
9- Pace Academy (10)- Head Coach: Sharman White Current Record: 19-3 Last Week: defeated Hampton, defeated Mt. Zion-Jonesboro, defeated McDonough, defeated Stockbridge This Week: vs Woodland-Stockbridge, vs Lovett Key Notes: Pace Academy has won four straight games since it’s loss to McDonough which includes a victory over McDonough on the road. Pace Academy used a dominant second half in their victory over McDonough-one of the top teams in class 4A, that could foreshadow another deep state tournament run. Pace Academy is 16-1 against Georgia teams, 2-1 in games decided by 5 points or less and are 3-2 vs OOS. Eric Chatfield, Kyle Greene, Chandler Bing and LJ Moore
10- Westside-Augusta (NR)- Head Coach: Jerry Hunter: Current Record 18-3 Last Week: defeated Thomson, defeated Putnam County. This Week: vs Glenn Hills, vs Washington County Key Notes: Westside-Augusta has won eight straight games since dropping two in a row to Butler and Gray Collegiate (SC). Two of their three losses they have defeated the opponent is the next meeting (Butler and Thomson) and still have another game left against Butler. Westside-Augusta’s quality wins are over McDonough (by 32 points), Cross Creek, North Augusta (SC) and Greenbrier. Westside-Augusta has handle busy in a major way against teams they were suppose to by winning by very wide margins. Westside-Augusta has three 100-plus games this season in which they won by 70, 47 and 36 points. They did not play with their food. In games where the scoring is not as high, they have also won. Westside-Augusta and rivalry games will always be their trip up but this basketball team continues to handle business and return to the Hillsman Heavy Top 10. They have won back-to-back state titles and this season’s team begins to eye a three-peat albeit in different classifications.
OUT- McDonough (9)- Head Coach: BJ Thomas Current Record: 20-3 Last Week: defeated Lovett, defeated Hampton, loss to Pace Academy This Week: vs Luella Key Notes: McDonough’s 9-game winning streak was snapped with a loss to Pace Academy. McDonough and Pace Academy split in the regular season for the second straight season. McDonough was outscored 50-28 in the second half in the loss to Pace Academy. McDonough’s only two Georgia losses are to Westside-Augusta (by 32 points) and Pace Academy (by 22 points). The Pace Academy win got them in a week ago and the loss to Pace Academy knocks them out a week later. McDonough, behind Keenan Gray leads the team in scoring at around 19.7ppg to go with 4.9rpg 3.5apg. Nigel Thomas (13.7ppg) and Zion Greene (12.1ppg), should make a deep state tournament run. McDonough is 3-0 in games decided by 5 points or less.
KEEPING TABS ON (alphabetically order):
The Keeping Tabs On section this season has keep tabs on roughly 75 teams across all classifications and not by classification. Two weeks ago we split those up three ways, Trending Up, Buoying and Trending Down. Last week we broke away from that to provide you with a number of teams that had a case for breaking into the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA but did not and why with “What Kept Them Out”. This week we are going to identify some teams that may be having better seasons than we have acknowledged, that with good region finishes, have more than an outside chance of making a deep (Eight Eight or better) run in the state playoffs despite not being in the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA at any point this season.
Baldwin: 19-2 overall; 10-0 in region; Current 6-game winning streak since loss to Greenforest. Other loss to Baldwin. Key wins include; Swainsboro, Westover and North Augusta (SC). Ben Smith in his 1st season has worked with the schedule for the most part that was laid out prior to him arriving. Team defense is their calling card. Seniors Isiah Dennis (19ppg) leads team in scoring. and Tre Lawrence power the team. Sophomores Karez Demory and Deven Nelson are vital for Baldwin’s success the rest of the season.
Buford: 19-3 overall; 7-0 in region; Current 9-game win streak. Losses are to Newton, Sandy Creek and Providence Christian Academy (TN)- all quality opponents. Quality wins include; Tucker, Etowah, Mountain View (2x-region), Somerset Academy (FL) and Dacula (region). Best win is Tucker. Buford, along with Westside-Augusta- who is in this weeks Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA, are the only two teams on this list this week that were on the “What Kept Them Out” list last week.
Chapel Hill: 16-5 overall; 10-2 in region; Current 7-game winning streak since two-point region loss to Lithia Springs. Other losses are; Tri-Cities (region), Osborne, Wheeler and Valdosta. Key wins include: The Walker School, Shiloh, Manyard Jackson, Mays, Carrollton and Fayette County. Ramon Soyoye leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks while Kayden Mays is vital to the engine of the team. Chapel Hill is a very dangerous basketball team top to bottom and head coach Mike Artis has continued to ascend them upward.
Fayette County: 13-7 overall; 8-1 in Region; Have win 3 in a row; losses to Sandy Creek (2x), Chapel Hill, Newton, Starr’s Mill (region), Langston Hughes, Jasper (AL). Best win of the season is over St. Pius X. Keith Gillespie and Christian McAllister lead the way for Fayette County.
Lee County: 18-3 overall; 7-0 in region; Current 5-game winning streak since loss to Valdosta. Losses to Valdosta, Hillgrove and Camden County. Key wins include: Baldwin, Monroe-Albany (2x), Peachtree Ridge and St. Anne-Pacelli. Overall schedule is ok, could be better for talent and recent runs. Josiah Parker (around 14ppg 11rpg) leads team in scoring and rebounding. Braden Moore is the engineer of the offense and leads team in assists around 8apg.
Monroe-Albany: 17-3 overall; 6-0 in Region; Have won 3 in a row. Losses to Westover and Lee County (2). Quality wins over: Westover, Calhoun County, Savannah, Dougherty and Carver-Columbus. Justin Burns leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks and is the go-to guy for Monroe-Albany.
Peachtree Ridge: 15-6 overall; 7-1 in Region; Current 6-game winning streak: Losses to Grayson, Decatur, Berkmar, Lee County, Coral Springs (FL) and Dutchtown. Key wins over Berkmar, Norcross, Mountain View, North Gwinnett and Walker. Lacking quality true road win over quality opponent.
Portal: 19-1 overall; 6-0 in Region; Current 8-game winning streak. Split with Vidalia. Quality wins include: Johnson-Savannah, Statesboro (2x), Evans, Calhoun County, Montgomery County (2x). Senior-laden team lead by four seniors averaging in double-figures scoring. Amir Jackson averaging a double-double at 11.2ppg and 10rpg.
St. Pius X: 15-6 overall; 7-1 in region; Current 20game win streak after suffering back-to-back losses to Sandy Creek and Riverwood (region). Losses are to; Holy Innocents, Fayette County, Sandy Creek, Riverwood, Grissom (AL), and Mt. Bethel. Split with Riverwood. Key wins include: Walton, Riverwood, Marist and North Gwinnett. Aiden Portee, Tobias Brinkley II, D’Marley Elliott and Michael Dee has been key for SPX this season.
Riverwood: 17-5 overall; 8-1 in region; Current 3-game win streak since one-point loss to Pace Academy. Other losses are to; Shiloh, St. Pius X, Middlebrook (NC) and Newton. Key wins include; Sequoyah, Westlake, North Gwinnett, Creekside Christian and split with St. Pius X (region). Karris Bilal and JR Reynolds are the noted players for Buck Jenkins squad. 3-2 in games decided by 5 points or less.
Woodward Academy: 18-5 overall; 10-2 in region; Current 4-game winning streak since overtime loss to Jonesboro. Losses to; Jonesboro (2x), Grayson, Douglass-Atlanta and Hillgrove. Lack key wins but have wins over Osborne and Seckinger. Deke Cooper, Brandon Peters, Zack Foster, Payton Waites and Jarvis Hayes Jr are the key guys for Woodward Academy.
NON-GHSA PINCH POST (alphabetical order); The pinch post action returns for a second straight week looking at the top non-GHSA schools in Georgia. All non-GHSA teams can be included in the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA if warranted, however, non have ever made it in in the six year history of the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 GA. Just because it is not seen often does not mean it is not effective, good basketball and doesn’t get attention from those at the next level(s) of basketball. Here is a look at some non-GHSA teams that have had solid seasons and have kept our attention the majority of the season. No new teams were added but her is an update on the current teams included.
Creekside Christian (GAPPS): 14-9, 7-3 vs GHSA, 4-3 vs OOS, no GHSA opponents remaining. 4-4 in games decided by 5 points or less. Notable wins over Decatur, Bell Creek-FL, Blanche Ely-FL, Oxford-AL. Notable losses to Wilson Academy, Heritage-Newnan, Victory Christian-NC, Riverwood, The Rock-FL, FSU HS-FL. Cedric Taylor 17ppg 10.8rpg 2.5apg 1.8bpg, Bilal Osman 13.7ppg 4rpg, Joseph Reddick 11ppg 6.2rpg 2.9apg, Kelton Teasley 8.8ppg 3.2rpg lead Creekside Christian. Creekside Christian is the defending GAPPS State Champion.
Heritage-Newnan (GIAA): 19-2, current 9-game win streak, 3-0 in games decided by 5 points or less, 5-2 vs GHSA-no games vs GHSA schools remaining. Notable wins over Ware County, North Cobb Christian, Jonesboro, Creekside Christian and St. Anne-Pacelli. Losses to Campbell and Carrollton. Are in the same District with St. Anne-Pacelli and defeated them 52-51 last week, face St. Anne-Pacelli this week at St. Anne-Pacelli. Max Skidmore 16.2ppg 3rpg 2.7apg, Sam Meade 15.2ppg 7rpg and Mason Robert-Bolinger 11.8ppg 5.5rpg 2.3apg lead Heritage-Newnan.
St. Andrew’s (GIAA): 15-7; current 8-game winning streak, 8-6 vs GHSA schools- 1 game vs GHSA school (Savannah) remaining. Notable wins over Hebron Christian Academy, Johnson-Savannah, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. Non-GHSA loss is to Furtah Prep, notable losses to Glynn Academy, Statesboro, Cedar Grove, King’s Ridge Christian. Zayden Edwards, Zyere Edwards and Will Thompson lead St. Andrew’s. S. Andrew’s is the two-time defending GIAA State Champions.
St. Anne-Pacelli (GIAA): 13-6; 6-5 vs GHSA- 1 game vs GHSA schools (Greater Atlanta Christian) remaining, Notable wins over Douglas County (2x), Warner Robins, Valdosta, Dougherty. Notable losses to Newton, Sandy Creek, Christian Heritage, Lee County. Loss to District foe Heritage-Newnan last week 52-51, face Heritage-Newnan again this week. TJ Smith 19.8ppg 6.8rpg Jaydence Ford 19.6ppg 2rpg 2apg
Wilson Academy (Independent): 17-9, 4-3 vs GHSA-no games vs GHSA schools remaining, 7-3 vs OOS, 4-3 in games decided by 5 points or less. Notable wins over Creekside Christian, Paideia, Greater Atlanta Christian, Potter House-FL, Dutchtown, Word Of God (NC), Hargrave Military Academy (VA). Notable losses to Eagle’s Landing, La Lumiere (IN), Legacy Early College-SC, North Broward Prep (FL), Mt. Vernon, Archbishop Hoban (OH). Caleb Cameron, Isaiah Cameron and Jeremiah Stebbins are the team leaders.
NOTABLES:
McEachern’s Ace Bailey was selected as a McDonald’s All-American. Bailey was the only Georgian selected for the McDonald’s All-American Game
Pace Academy’s Sharman White was named head coach of the East team for the McDonald’s All-American Game this year. Pace Academy assistant coach Johnathan Robinson and Tucker head coach James Harty will join White as assistant coaches for the game in Houston, TX. Hartry won a state title at Tucker in 2008 while Robinson has been on White’s coaching staffs 10 years in total including at Miller Grove and Pace Academy.
North Oconee’s Justin Payne set a school record for assists in a game by tallying 12 assists in a victory over Madison County last week. The previous school record was 11 assists.
St. Anne-Pacelli’s TJ Smith surpassed 1,000 career points with 14 points in a loss against Heritage-Newnan last week.
Pace Academy’s LJ Moore surpassed 1,000 career points with 13 points in a victory last week over Stockbridge.
Pace Academy’s KJ Greene surpasses 1,000 points with 17 points in a victory last week over McDonough.
As a reminder The Hillsman Heavy Top 10 Georgia considers all basketball playing schools in the state from the GHSA, GISA/GIAA and GICAA/GAPPS associations. The Hillsman Heavy Top 10 Georgia IS NOT ranked by association or classification within an association. It is one all-inclusive ranking.
The Hillsman Heavy Top 10 Georgia is in its sixth season, fourth of public publication, and ranks using the following criteria; OVERALL performance, Team Chemistry, Coaching, Schedule (quality In-State, Out-Of-State [OOS], Head-to-Head opponents, Common Opponents are all heavily considered) and Scheduling For Roster Talent (meaning is the team very talented but stacking up wins against lesser talented teams but struggling against teams equal or greater in roster talent and vice versa; yes a team with more losses can be better than a team with fewer losses because of scheduling and the other criteria previously mentioned.
While player recruiting status is not a heavy focus and determining factor, it is considered when looking at a team’s overall performance, especially against equal or greater competition.
When we load and unload the bus and plane with these 10 teams these are the teams that we can take anywhere as they are the best 10 in Georgia for the 2023-2024 season for each week of the Hillsman Heavy Top 10 Georgia.
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