Post Thanksgiving Cobb County Polls
1. McEachern (Powder Springs, GA) 3-0
The Indians held it down over the Thanksgiving break playing in their first game since defeating Wheeler on Nov. 11th on Friday Nov. 24th against Jalen Lecque and the Christ School Greenies in the Holiday Hoopsgiving Event. McEachern defeated Christ School 83-72 with Okoro leading the Indians in scoring with 28 points. They then had to face 2020 SG Anthony Edwards, who is one of the most athletic guards in the nation, and Holy Spirit Prep in the Hard in the Paint Classic. The Indians struggled early and the game was real intense, but they were able to come out on top defeating Holy Spirit 69-60 in OT. The star backcourt of 2020 PG Sharife Cooper and 2019 SG Isaac Okoro led the way with 27 points coming from Cooper and 23 from Okoro. McEachern’s next real test will be Dec. 9th against Porter-Gaud (SC) in the Blue Collar Event at Buford High School.
2. Wheeler (Marietta, GA) 3-2
2018 C EJ Montgomery has been on a tear this season and making a statement that he is the best player in the state of Georgia. Montgomery has been leading his Wildcat squad this year so far, averaging 25.4 points per game and has already had two 30+ point performances. The Wildcats are also getting some help from their other four starters with 2019 PG Jaire Eastmond, 2019 SG Isaac Martin, 2018 WG Brandon Younger, and Tennessee State commit 2018 F Austin Johnson. 2018 CG Isaiah Holt has been bringing the energy off the bench for the Wildcats, if there was a sixth man of the year award Holt will definitely be the front runner. Wheeler went 3-1 over the Thanksgiving break, defeating teams like Mount Bethel, Cedar Shoals, and Buford. Their only lost came to Holy Spirt Prep over that span at the Hard in the Paint Classic. Wheeler will host the undefeated Campbell Spartans this Friday Dec. 2nd.
3. Pebblebrook (Mabelton, GA) 2-2
The post Collin Sexton season has begun for Coach Washington and the Pebblebrook Falcons. This squad might be the best shooting team so far in the peach state with the amount of jump shots these kids can hit and make it look so easy. 2018 CG DJ Murray has been leading this squad this year so far as expected, along with Canisius commit 2018 WG Mervin James. Murray is averaging 23.5 points per game so far. This is kid has been under the radar but that can change really quick. Pebblebrook defeated Meadowcreek in the On the Radar Showcase on Nov. 18th and then defeated one of their rivals in Douglas County on the road by 3. The Falcons then took two tough back to back losses in the Holiday Hoopsgiving Event to Charlotte Christian (NC) and 2019 PG Ashton Hagans and the Newton Rams. They will have to bounce back this weekend as they face and host their cross town rival South Cobb on Friday night and will face Jonesboro High School in the State Farm Classic at Milton High School this Saturday.
4. Campbell (Smyrna, GA) 4-0
The Spartans are off to their best start of the season since the 2010-2011 season. Campbell defeated Heritage to take the Dalton Invitational championship. They have already had four different players score 20 or more points in a game this season. With no Tyree Crankfield in the picture anymore, there will be a lot of balance scoring here for Campbell this season. The Spartans defeated two out of state teams on their run in East Hamilton (TN) and Science Hill (TN). Their next test will be this Friday Dec. 1st as they travel to Wheeler High School to begin their region play.
5. Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw, GA) 2-0
Coach Bonner and the Mustangs have only had two games but are just getting started at Kennesaw Mountain. Over the break the Mustangs defeated Chattahoochee and Forsyth Central. 2018 CG Josh Strong is averaging 19 points per game so far this season coming off a 24 point performance against Forsyth Central. 2019 WG Jalyn McCreary is averaging 18 points per game so far this season. Kennesaw Mountain will be headed to Sprayberry this Tuesday and it will not be a cake walk. Yellow Jackets feature a player named Micah McCuen, who played on the same AAU team this summer with Strong and is becoming an emerging player as well for Sprayberry. The Mustangs then host Marietta this Friday Dec. 1st.
6. South Cobb (Austell, GA) 2-1
Coach Moultrie and the South Cobb staff started their season off at the Mountain Brook (AL) Spartan Classic in Alabama. The Eagles made their way into the championship after defeating Greensboro (AL) and Callaway (MS), Malik Newman’s old high school, led by emerging star 2019 CG Markieth Browning. Browning had an incredible first game dropping a team high 24 points in his varsity debut. Unfortunately the Eagles came up short of coming home with a championship after falling to Alabama powerhouse Mountain Brook (AL) 70-39. South Cobb will have to move on focus on their tough game against their neighborhood rival Pebblebrook this Friday night at the Cobb Civic Center. The Eagles will host their first region game against Harrison this Tuesday before they face Pebblebrook.
7. Allatoona (Acworth, GA) 1-2
Like Pebblebrook, the post Trey Doomes season for Coach Hood and the Buccaneers has begun. Doomes transferred down to the University School in Florida for his senior year. The Buccaneers held their opening game over the break in the Jared Cook Classic and faced and beat the host school North Gwinnett with a score of 58-46. After a few days off the Bucs headed to Jacksonville but did not come back with the results they were looking for after going winless. The two losses came from Florida’s own Providence and Andrew Jackson. The Bucs will get better and back on track as the season goes along, next game will be on the road and a region game against Seqouyah High School on Tuesday Nov. 28th before hosting a good Etowah team Friday night.
8. Pope (Marietta, GA) 1-1
After their tough win over their neighborhood rival Sprayberry, the Greyhounds made a stop at Roswell over the break to face Westminster in the Honor Air Flight Invitational. Greyhounds could not secure the win as they fell 67-54. Their senior leader 2018 WG Jackson Baylark is leading them in scoring so far and is one of the top 5 scorers in the County at 19.5 points per game. Pope’s next test will be on Friday Dec. 1st as they head to their region opponent Cambridge.
9. Walton (Marietta, GA) 3-1
New head coach Bo Abney is off to a good start this season with his new squad. Walton is 3-0 after losing to Cambridge in their opener before the break. The Raiders participated in the Marietta Turkey Classic over this Thanksgiving break and defeated Mount Zion, Arabia Mountain, and host school Marietta. The Raiders have had their share of scoring, with three different players already having 20 or more points in a game, that includes 2019 SG Jordan Krueger, 2020 SG David Sickles, and 2018 F Pat McDonough. Pat McDonough is the leading scorer on this Walton squad so far and Jordan Krueger and David Sickles are one of the best shooters in the County. The Raiders will host Johns Creek this Tuesday.
10. Harrison (Kennesaw, GA) 2-1
The Hoyas opened up their Thanksgiving break at the 1st Annual Craig Sager Tournament at Dacula High School. Harrison made it all to the championship round after defeating New Creation Academy and Walnut Grove. Like South Cobb, they came up short and were defeated by South Gwinnett by a score of 64-62. The Hoyas will have two region road games this week as they travel to South Cobb Tuesday night and to Osborne Friday night. Their home opener will be Tuesday Dec. 5th against 2018 PG KJ Jenkins and the Creekview Grizzlies, which is also a region game.
11. Hillgrove (Powder Springs, GA) 2-1
2019 PG Orry Owens had a hot start to the season in his varsity debut with the Hawks dropping 18 points in their win over Riverwood. The Hawks played in the North Forsyth Thanksgiving Tournament. After defeating Riverwood the Hawks took a lost to Hoover (AL) but then bounced back to defeat Marist High School. No more DeMierre Black for the Hawks so they will have to look for scoring elsewhere. Hillgrove will host Hiram this Tuesday before heading to Mill Creek Friday night.
12. Marietta (Marietta, GA) 3-2
The Blue Devils hosted their annual Marietta Turkey Classic this year again over the break. Marietta, after losing to Campbell prior to the break, went 2-1 after beating Arabia Mountain and Riverdale but falling to Walton on the last day of the Classic. 2021 PG Travis Burrus is really emerging as one of the best PG’s in the class of 2021. The true freshman has a really high IQ for the game and Marietta has themselves a good one for the future. The Blue Devils will have a few days off as they host Kennesaw Mountain this Friday.
13. Sprayberry (Marietta, GA) 3-3
2018 PG Micah McCuen is having a great season for the Jackets so far. He is this seasons’s scoring leader for his squad and tremondous rebounder for a point guard. Micah has already had two 20 plus point performances already with two 10 plus rebounds as well. The Jackets faced their neighorhood rival Pope on the road over the break and took a tough lost and then took a couple losses to Lithia Springs and North Cobb Christian at the Paulding County Thanksgiving Tournament. Sprayberry bounced back with a win over Woodland in the last day of the tournament. Yellow Jackets come back at record of 3-3 and will face 2019 Jalyn McCreary and Kennesaw Mountain at home this Tuesday.
14. Kell (Marietta, GA) 0-1
The Longhorns did not have any games over the break after losing to their rival Sprayberry prior to the break. Kell will face Lassiter this upcoming Tuesday on the road, looking to bounce back and get back in rhythm. Senior backcourt of 2018 PG Jahwan Smith and 2018 CG Sayvon Delgado will have to step up even more this season with the injury of 2019 CG CJ Henderson. CJ is expected to be out until at least January but it could be before then. The Longhorns next real test will be on the road at Villa Rica on Tuesday Dec. 5th. Kell face Villa Rica in last season’s region championship with Villa Rica coming out on top.
15. North Cobb (Acworth, GA) 1-2
North Cobb is looking better than last season so far, their record does not show but after a 3-22 season last year they are looking like they are on the right track and with senior PG Nayari Dampier back on the court and healthy. The Warriors opened their season at the Paulding County Thanksgiving Tournament and took two close losses to Paulding County and their neighborhood rival North Cobb Christian. They did come out with a win over Woodland high school. 2019 F Kevin Hester has been on a tear so far this year averaging 17 points per game and 13 rebounds a game so far for the Warriors. Hester is one our 2018 Preseason Cobb POY Nominees. The Warriors will face Cherokee this upcoming Tuesday but their next test will be on the road at Walton Friday night Dec. 1st and Saturday against Kell on Dec. 2nd.
16. Lassiter (Marietta, GA) 1-3
The Trojans only had two games over the break at the Forsyth Central Thanksgiving Tournament. Lassiter defeated Forsyth Central and took a lost to Chattahoocheee. 2018 CG Christian Jackson has been doing exactly what Jackson does by being the high volume scorer for his team. Jackson is averaging 17.6 points per game so far this season. Lassiter will have a home game against Kell this Tuesday and will have to bounce back from their lost against Chattahoochee.
17. Osborne (Marietta, GA) 0-5
The Cardinals are still winless after competing in the 1st Annual Craig Sager Tournament at Dacula High School. Osborne took on North Atlanta before the tournament and took a bad lost losing 80-39. They received losses to Owego (NY), Johns Creek, and Northview in the Craig Sager Tournament. The Cardinals are one of the youngest teams in the state so they will take some time to get back to the level they were on last season. They are led by their sophomore PG Matthew Smith. Smith has had a decent season so far and is still developing as a high school point guard. The Cardinals face Harrison this Friday Night Dec. 1st in their first region game.