Top Games in the Peach State Preview Part 2
Here is Part 2 of some of the top games in the Peach State to come. The season is in full rhythm and there are a bunch of games, tournaments, and events still to come. We could not name them all but here are just a few to still be on the look out for this year below.
Pebblebrook vs South Cobb – Round 2 – Tues. Jan. 9th 7:00pm
The South Cobb – Pebblebrook Rivalry is one of the best and most hype games in the state of Georgia. In Round one, it took overtime for Pebblebrook to come out with the win. It was an intense game all night. With South Cobb’s man to man pressure defense, it was giving the Falcons of Pebblebrook fits. 2018 WG Canisius commit Mervin James had a monster game for Pebblebrook, ending with 12 points and 16 rebounds. 2019 PG Jalen Harper led the Falcons in scoring with 19 points. 2019 CG Markieth Browning finished with 12 points for the Eagles. Round 2 is still on schedule to be played on Tues. Jan. 9th at South Cobb.
Wheeler vs Duluth – Big South Shootout – Tues. Jan. 2nd 9:15pm
Duluth will be hosting the 1st Annual Big South Shootout this year. These two squads will be meeting the day after the New Year on Tues. Jan. 2nd at 9:15pm. Duluth features one of the most underrated guards in the state in 2018 Adam Flagler. Flagler is a 6’3 combo guard who can put the ball in the basket and score for his team. The Wildcats of Duluth have one of the toughest schedules in the peach state. They will be going up against of one the top players in the country in 2018 C EJ Montgomery. Montgomery’s stock has been rising and has been having a monster season so far for Wheeler. 2019 SG Isaac Martin is also a name to remember for the rest of the year and this summer as well. Martin is a left handed and pure 3pt specialist and can hit contested shots. We have an interesting matchup here between the Wildcats.
Newton vs Shiloh – Region 8 Class 7A Matchup
This matchup here can possibly be a preview of the Region 8 Class 7A championship, but we cannot look pass Grayson, who recently defeated Newton 64-63 this past Tuesday. The Newton Rams, as we should all know, feature one of the best players in the country in the class of 2019 with 2019 PG Ashton Hagans. Hagans is one of the most versatile point guards and has a great strength on the defensive end. Hagans was supposedly headed to Oak Hill Academy for his junior year but decided to stay and help run this Newton squad. Hagans is not alone, Newton also features 2019 CG Tre Clark. Clark is an athletic 6’2 guard who can score in transition and hit the outside shot. Shiloh also has a top player of there own in 2019 WG Elias King. Elias has transferred back to Shiloh after spending his sophomore year at Huntington Prep in West Virginia. King is a walking bucket and is pure scorer for the Generals. Like Duluth, Shiloh has a real tough schedule and playing Newton twice just adds to the case. First meeting between these two will be Tues. Jan. 9th at Newton & the second will be Tues. Jan. 30th at Shiloh.
Southwest Dekalb vs Miller Grove – Region 5 Class 5A Matchup
I compare this rivalry matchup to a Pebblebrook-Westlake type game. Here is another great rivalry that has been played in the Peach State for years. This seasons matchup should be a good one with the talent of elite guard play. The first meeting has been postponed to Friday Jan. 12th at Miller Grove. Second meeting will be at Southwest Dekalb a week later Jan. 19th. There will be few underrated players to be on the look out for in this one. If you have not heard as of yet, Southwest Dekalb has one of the most explosive and athletic guards in the state in 2020 CG Kadarius Johnson. The Panthers also feature 2020 Eugene Brown III. Brown has a very high IQ when he is on the floor and can create plays for his teammates. Those two guards should matchup very well with 2018 PG TJ Stargell Jr and 2018 CG Lorenzo Anderson of Miller Grove. One of the best backcourts in the state of Georgia in my opinion is Anderson and Stargell Jr. The Wolverines also feature 2019 CG Maurice Harvey, who is also a scoring option for Miller Grove. Wolverines also have a dynamic frontcourt with 2018 forwards Jermon Clark and Kevin Paige. Clark and Paige are a force on the glass and can finish around the rim nicely. Southwest Dekalb also has a forward of their own in 2019 F James Glisson III. James is a very physical forward that can also finish around the basket. James can also hit the mid range jump shot if left open.
Shiloh vs Pebblebrook – Tournament of Champions Classic – Wed. Dec. 27th 5:30pm
I love this matchup right here and cannot wait for it. These two squads have met before but have not played since the 2015-2016 season where Shiloh came out with the win 68-63. These two also met in the final four the year before that and Pebblebrook that time came out with the win. The two programs will cross paths again but this time at the loaded Tournament of Champions Classic at Wheeler High School. A lot of elite and talented guards and wings in this one and it should be a fast paced and high scoring game. This matchup features, 2018 CG DJ Murray (Pebblebrook), 2019 WG Elias King (Shiloh), 2018 WG Canisius commit Mervin James (Pebblebrook), 2020 SG Toneari Lane (Shiloh), 2018 CG Grant Howard (Pebblebrook), 2018 WG Shamarie McLeod (Shiloh), 2019 Jalen Harper (Pebblebrook).
Holy Spirit Prep vs Norcross – Atlanta Hawks Naismith Classic – Sat. Dec. 23rd 8:00pm
Norcross will be hosting the 1st Annual Atlanta Hawks Naismith Classic this year. Featuring programs such as, Newton, Tift a County, Miller Grove, Holy Spirit Prep & more. The three day event will be come to an end with a great match up here between Holy Spirit Prep and Norcross. As you know already the Blue Devils of Norcross can really put the ball in the basket with elite scorers in 2019 CG Kyle Sturdivant and 2020 SG Brandon Boston. They will be facing a very good Holy Spirit Prep squad that features one of the top players in the country in the class of 2020 in Anthony Edwards. Edwards has a big body and is explosive very athletic and can score in a variety of ways. Holy Spirit already has a big win over Wheeler and took a national ranked McEachern squad into overtime so this will be another one of their great test they have on schedule.