Georgia Class 4A State Tournament Preview
Class 4A Playoff Preview: Like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in recent NBA Finals, the class 4A championship game has been pretty repetitive. For two years in a row the Knights of Upson-Lee and Golden Lions of St.…
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Continue ReadingClass 4A Playoff Preview:
Like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in recent NBA Finals, the class 4A championship game has been pretty repetitive. For two years in a row the Knights of Upson-Lee and Golden Lions of St. Pius X have met at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion with sellout crowds in attendance. In both contests Upson-Lee came away victorious but with the setup of this year’s bracket, the two peach state powerhouses will potentially meet in the elite 8 to bring the anticipated round 3 state championship match-up to a screeching halt. There are several teams in the field that can make a run to Macon with plenty of talented players on those teams to keep the tournament exciting from start to finish. Inside we take a look at the top teams going into the playoffs, best players, sleepers, and predictions for the final game in class 4A this season.
Top Teams:
- Upson-Lee – defending two-time state champion. 77-1 in their previous 78 contests.
5-Star Walker Kessler - Sandy Creek – back to back final four participants. Loss to Upson-Lee 52-51 a season ago.
- Pius X – back to back state runners up. Three region championships in the last 3 years .
- Carver-Columbus – middle Georgia powerhouse. Final four participants in 2016-17.
- Woodward Academy – winners of arguably the best region in 4A. Best prospect in the state for this classification.
- Henry County – final four participants in 2017-18. 25-3 record on the year.
- Americus-Sumter – scrappy middle Georgia squad. 22-4 on the year. Biggest threat to Upson-Lee in the first two rounds.
- Thompson – 19-5 on the year. Region champion.
- Denmark – 1st year school. Region champion. Best point guard in 4A in the 2021 class.
- Lafayette – 24-2 on the season. Arguably the best 3 seed in the 4A bracket.
Best Players:
’20 F/C Houston Kessler (Woodward Academy) – True 7’0” center with great touch on the interior with either hand. A consistent knock down shooter from the outside making him the ideal pick and pop big man at the high major level. 5-Star Center and top 20 nationally in the 2020 class. Offers from Duke, Virginia, and UGA.
’19 F TJ Bickerstaff (Sandy Creek) – 6’7” Drexel University commit that does everything for the Patriots out of Tyrone, Georgia. Bickerstaff can handle the basketball in the back court, make plays in the half court off the bounce and knock down shots on the perimeter.
’19 F Travon Walker (Upson-Lee) – 4-Star football prospect and US Army All-American headed to Athens to play for Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs next fall. 6’6” and 290lbs but able to play above the rim and shut down the paint from a rebounding and defensive standpoint.
’19 G Matthew Gonzalo (St. Pius X) – The all-time assists leader in St. Pius X history and four-year starter for head coach Aaron Parr. An unquestioned leader and play-maker on the floor, fresh off an offer from the Bobcats of Georgia College and State University.
’19 F Josh Lusane (Americus-Sumter) – A legitimate inside threat for the Panthers. Standing 6’7” Lusane has great touch inside and can work his way out to the mid-range area. Currently averaging 16.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Holds offers from Division II championship contender Lincoln-Memorial, Albany State, and NW Florida.
’19 G A.J. Watts (Carver-Columbus) – Watts is a 6′ off guard that is an absolute blur in the open floor. He is one of the most tenacious attackers of the rim that I’ve seen without finishing above the rim consistently. He leads the Tigers out of Columbus on the offensive end scoring at a 20.7 point per game clip on the season.
Best 1st Round Match-Ups:
Josh Lusane(4) Westover vs. (1) Woodward Academy
(3) LaFayette vs. (2) Marist School
(3) Dougherty vs. (2) Henry County
Most Dangerous 3 or 4 Seed:
Westover (4)
Baldwin (3)
Final Four Prediction:
Sandy Creek vs. Upson-Lee
Woodward Academy vs. Carver-Columbus
State Championship Game Prediction:
Sandy Creek over Carver-Columbus