NEW: Week 2 Team Rankings
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Atlanta, Georgia – We told you last week that we will be dropping team rankings every week for the rest of the season. This week marks are second week and some of Georgia’s top ten programs had key games this past weekend. The state of Georgia is still currently on holiday break but most schools will begin their second semester this week. Last week’s top ten in the first set of rankings included: McEachern, Grayson, Buford, Meadowcreek, Wheeler, Morgan County, Pebblebrook, Norcross, St. Francis, and Newton. McEachern and Norcross took their talents and represented the peach state up at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, WV and where some of the best programs across the country participated. Meadowcreek also traveled out of the state where they were competing in the Memphis National Hoopfest. Other programs like Pebblebrook, Buford, Morgan County, Newton, Grayson, and St. Francis stayed in state for their games. Check out Week 2’s rankings below.
Note: Updated as of Jan. 6th
1. McEachern High School (Powder Springs, Georgia) 12-0
After two more high quality wins at this past weekend’s Cancer Research Classic against Findlay Prep (NV) and a rematch with Imhotep Charter (PA), the McEachern Indians are once again the state’s number team sitting at an impressive 12-0 record. The combination of 2020 PG Sharife Cooper and Auburn signee 2019 F Isaac Okoro have been absolutely dominate. The two combine for a 67-4 overall record since both wearing that McEachern uniform together up to this point. The Indians will come back to the peach state and face region opponents Marietta, Kennesaw Mountain, and Hillgrove, which should be a breeze for these guys, before heading to the famous Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts in two weeks where they will face Rancho Christian (CA).
2. Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia) 14-2
The Grayson Rams won themselves a battle against region foe Shiloh High School on Friday night where they won in overtime 61-59. One of the state’s available seniors PG Jevon Tatum led Grayson with a game high 21 points while 2022 PG Ashton Malone had a solid 15 points off the bench. The Rams won in a very hostile enviroment on the road and improving them to an overall 14-2 record coming into this week. They will be playing two more region contest this week at home against South Gwinnett and Rockdale County, two programs the Rams cannot sleep on at all.
3. Buford High School (Buford, Georgia) 14-1
Buford improves to a 14-1 overall record coming into this week’s rankings with two very easy wins over region opponents Walnut Grove High School, who they defeated 63-45, and Johnson High School, who they demolished 73-28 on Saturday. Buford’s schedule this week will include a region matchup with Cedar Shoals and Loganville, and an interesting non-region matchup against Eagles Landing High School, who is currently 11-3 on the year.
4. Meadowcreek High School (Norcross, Georgia) 14-4
The Mustangs traveled to Memphis, Tennessee this past weekend where they competed in the National Hoopfest. Coach G and his squad split their road trip this past weekend with a lost to Barlett (TN) 62-50 on Friday night and a win over Brentwood Academy (TN) 46-43. Temple signee 2019 SG Damian Dunn led the Mustangs in scoring the first night against Barlett (TN) with 18 points. UAB signee 2019 PG Jalen Benjamin led with a team high 18 points in their win over Brentwood Academy (TN). The Mustangs should breeze through their two region games this week against Lakeside High School and Central Gwinnett.
5. Wheeler High School (Marietta, Georgia) 14-4
Coach Thompson and his squad have not played a game since their win over St. Francis in the 2018 TOC Classic on December 29th. The Wildcats have played one of the toughest schedules in the state so far in the first half of the season so this rest was well needed and deserved. Wheeler will be on the road this week in their two super tough region matchups against Pebblebrook High School and East Coweta High School. Both games will be big for the Wildcats and in hostile enviroments. Their meeting against Pebblebrook on Tuesday night will be their first meeting since last year’s region 2 class 7A championship game and where Pebblebrook won by a buzzer beater shot on Wheeler’s home floor.
6. Morgan County High School (Madison, Georgia) 14-1
Morgan County stays at number six with their lone win last week over region opponent Monroe Area High School 79-53. The Bulldogs will have two games this week at home with one of them being against region foe Franklin County and the other against Duluth in the Sweet South Shootout. Their matchup with Duluth on Saturday night should be an intriguing one and Morgan County should not sleep on Duluth, who has a solid program going.
7. Pebblebrook High School (Mabelton, Georgia) 12-5
Coach Washington and his squad have only played one game since coming back from their trip in California and that matchup was against region opponent Newnan High School and where they easily won 66-34. One of Georgia’s top seniors PG Jalen Harper has had a great senior season and is just averaging about 20 points per contest this year. The Falcons will have their hands full this week as they host two region rivalry games and the enviroments are expected to be crazy. They will host Wheeler High School and crosstown rival Westlake High School on Friday Night and what should be an extremely packed house.
8. Norcross High School (Norcross, Georgia) 10-7
It would be wrong to move Norcross from their ranking at number seven. The Blue Devils, like McEachern, traveled to the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, West Virginia and where they faced powerhouse Montverde Academy (FL) and DeMatha (MD) in their two days. Unfortunately some of the players on the team, like Xavier commit 2019 F Daniel Ramsey who did not travel with the team at all, were fighting the flu. Norcross went winless in West Virginia losing to Montverde 88-56 and DeMatha (MD) 70-67, where USC signee 2019 PG Kyle Sturdivant and 2020 W Brandon Boston Jr. combined for 44 points. The Blue Devils will face region opponents Central Gwinnett on Tuesday and will travel to Berkmar on Friday night, which will not be an easy win. Norcross defeated Berkmar 53-46 last time these two met.
9. St. Francis (Alpharetta, Georgia) 12-3
The Knights blew by their two region games this past weekend with wins over Mount Paran Christian 76-39 and Mount Pisgah Christian 89-69. Xavier commit 2020 PG Dwon Odom contiunes his great junior season averaging 25.0 points per game in their two games last week. Like we said last week, the toughest part of the Knights schedule has past them and region play should be win after win for them.
10. Newton High School (Covington, Georgia) 11-3
Newton High School played it’s first game since their appearance in the 2018 TOC Classic this Friday night in front of a packed house at home against region opponent Rockdale County and where they were put on upset alert. The Rams pulled away late to give them a 67-61 victory to avoid the upset and where 2019 G Tyrese Brown (pictured above) finished with a game high 21 points while available senior forward Armani Harris finished with 17 points. The Rams have two more region opponents this week with a road trip to Shiloh High School, who is coming off their lost to Grayson in OT, and a road trip to Archer High School. The Rams will try and go 2-0 before their rematch with Grayson on January 15th.
Others Receiving Votes:
Lambert (14-3)
East Coweta (15-1)
Greater Atlanta Christian (11-4)
Others Receiving Attention:
Fayette County (14-2)
Southwest Dekalb (13-5)
Holy Spirit Prep (5-11)
Shiloh (12-5)
Discovery (14-3)
Upson Lee (12-1)
Sandy Creek (11-3)
Heritage (9-7) GISA
Peachtree Ridge (13-4)
Berkmar (13-4)
Mountain View (11-6)
Chattahoochee (14-3)