Class 7A State Tournament Preview
Georgia’s class 7A (AAAAAAA) is the highest of it’s class in the state of Georgia. The 7A class features some of the best and top heavy basketball programs in the peach state. Programs such as Norcross, Wheeler, Newton, Shiloh, Pebblebrook, Westlake, Tift County, Collins Hill, McEachern, and more. The last five class 7A state champs since 2012-2013 are Norcross, Tift County, Wheeler, Westlake, and Tift County in that order. The 2015 Wheeler team, a squad who featured the 2016 #3 NBA draft pick Jaylen Brown, participated in the Dick’s National Tournament in New York. This year’s state playoffs should be another interesting one with a bunch of intriguing matchups. Here is a breakdown for each quadrant on this season’s GHSA class 7A bracket.
Top Right Quadrant – #1 seeds – McEachern (Region 3) and Norcross (Region 7)
McEachern (24-2) has been nationally ranked all season long in the top 10 according to USA today. But will the Indians be able contiune their fantastic play in the state playoffs? The road to the 2017 Geico Dick’s Nationals, where McEachern was recently eligible to participate in, begins Friday night in Lovinggood Arena as they host Walton High School (13-13). 2020 point guard Sharife Cooper and 2019 forward Isaac Okoro have been having a wonderful season so far. What else would be better than bringing the title home back to Powder Springs? And after last season being so close but falling short to Tift County. It will be a tough road for McEachern to get to the state championship title game as this side of the bracket also include powerhouses in Westlake and Norcross. Now Westlake (14-13) is not as elite as past years this season due to their young and inexperienced talent, but this bunch is what I like to call scrappy and very physical and I believe if they can win their first round matchup, they can hopefully give McEachern a run for thier money in the 2nd round. The Westlake Lions finished 3rd in thier region, Region 3 7A, and will travel to Colquitt County this week for their first round matchup. This year’s squad has been led by 2019 guard Chase Hunter, who was a freshman on their 2016 state champion team. Will Norcross (24-3) get back to the state championship game for the 2nd straight year? The Blue Devils made their way to the state title game last season but could not bring the title home as they were defeated by Tift County. This Norcross squad all year has been one of the best scoring teams in the state. With elite scorers in 2019 guard Kyle Sturdivant, 2020 guard Brandon Boston, 2018 point guard Dalvin White, and 2018 wing Jojo Toppin. Norcross is my pick to meet McEachern in this year’s elite 8, if McEachern does not get by Westlake. The Duluth (19-9) and West Forsyth (16-12) matchup highlights the most interesting 1st round matchup in this quadrant of the bracket. The winner of this matchup will most likely travel to Norcross. The Wildcats of Duluth have had one of the toughest schedules in the state and I believe that has prepared them for this stage. Their matchup against West Forsyth will be a close one but I will be going with Duluth to pull this one out.
Top Left Quadrant – #1 seeds – Tift County (Region 1) and Lambert (Region 5
The defending class 7A state champions and winners of the last two of the last four years sit on this side of the quadrant in Tift County High School (20-6). Tift County surprisingly shocked the Georgia basketball world last season when they went on thier run to their 2nd state title in four years. The Blue Devils defeated Marietta, Berkmar, Newton at Newton, McEachern, and Norcross on their way to captrung their state championship in 2017. The Campbell Spartans (18-9) will be the first team to take a knock at the defending champs. Coach Gwynn and his Campbell teams are always known for one of the toughest squads in the state, having played in one of the toughest regions in the state in the last few years. This is the most interesting 1st round matchup in this quadrant, so let us not be surprised if Campbell comes out with the win. The winner of that matchup will face the winner between Woodstock (15-13) and Kennesaw Mountain (18-9). Kennesaw Mountain features one of the best duo’s in the peach state in 2019 wing Jalyn McCreary (18.6 ppg) and 2018 guard Josh Strong (19.0 ppg). The Mustangs have improved from last season after going 10-18. Lambert (21-5), who are the Region 5 7A champions, will tip off their state tournament with a battle with Mill Creek (13-14). The Longhorns come into this one currently on a 6 game winning streak. The senior backcourt of 2018 point guard Jordan Mcliwain and 2018 point guard Damon Stoudamire Jr. have been terrific all year long for Lambert. Another key matchup that we should keep a close eye on is South Gwinnett (11-16) and Meadowcreek (20-6). Now I know it does not look as interesting on paper but this is a very competitive South Gwinnett team. The Comets had Grayson on the ropes during their region tourament battle and was just one point away from pulling off the upset losing 71-70. Meadowcreek has been phenomenal all year with some key wins this season against top teams in Georgia. The Mustangs feature a big three of 2018 wing Corey Hightower (Detroit), 2019 wing Jamir Chaplin, and 2018 forward Amari Kelly (Duquesne). If it were not for the buzzer beater shot that Kyle Sturdivant of Norcross hit against them in their region championship game, the Mustangs would have been region champions. Meadowcreek is my pick to face Tift County in the elite 8 matchup. Let us not forget if they were to meet again, it will be a rematch with these two programs as they have met before in the beginning of the season where Meadowcreek routed Tift County 70-46 in the Georgia Elite 8 Tip Off at McEachern High School.
Bottom Left Quadrant – #1 seeds – Newton (Region 8) and Etowah (Region 4)
Wheeler (17-10) had a heart breaking region championship lost to Pebblebrook last weekend as Grant Howard hit a floater as time expired. The Wildcats have been led by 2018 center EJ Montgomery this season and HC Larry Thompson, in his first year, has been able to have Wheeler in the position they are in today. The Wildcats will host Lowndes (16-10) out of Region 1 7A in their first round matchup. If you have not heard yet, Wheeler took a big lost a few weeks ago as 2019 shooting guard Isaac Martin has been ruled out for the season due to a knee injury. This means the bench will play a big role in Wheeler’s run to the state championship. The most interesting 1st round matchup for this quadrant will most definitely be Milton (16-11) at Mountain View (21-5). Milton finished 3rd in their region, Region 5 7A, and Mountain View finished 2nd in their region, Region 6 7A, losing by four to Peachtree Ridge in their title game. 2020 point guard Christian Wright of Milton has been the engine for his team this year and recently just scored his 1,000th point as a sophomore, which is incredible. Be on the look out for Milton if they can pull off this upset on the road. Newton (24-3) will be trying to make their way back to the class 7A final four for the first time since 2016. The Rams are led by 2019 point guard Ashton Hagans (UGA). We all know Ashton is one of the top prospects nationally and has been having a Russell Westbrook MVP type of season having recorded several triple doubles this year. Newton is a tough and physical defensive team and that can be their strength, along with their guard play, to capturing that 7A state title. The road to Macon begins with a visit from Central Gwinnett (8-16) this Saturday night. Newton is my pick to meet Wheeler in the elite 8 matchup for the quadrant. But let us not forget about the Etowah Ealges, who are now back to back Region 4 7A champions. Etowah (23-2) were the winners of the 2017 Tournament of Champions American Divison back in late December. Since then, the Eagles are 11-1 and have been locked in defensively. Etowah will be hosting North Cobb (14-12) this Friday night in their first round matchup. We can possibly see a Wheeler at Etowah sweet 16 matchup next week and in which can be very fascinating.
Bottom Right Quadrant – #1 seeds – Peachtree Ridge (Region 6) and Pebblebrook (Region 2)
We have two very interesting 1st round matchups in this quadrant with Collins Hill (20-5) traveling to Pebblebrook (24-2) Saturday night and Berkmar (16-10) traveling to Grayson (19-6) Saturday night. The Pebblebrook Falcons have been riding a 22 game winning streak for months now, with their last lost coming back in late November to Newton in the 2017 Holiday Hoopsgiving. How long can Pebblebrook ride their winning streak? Can they continue to win all the way to the state championship? Coach Washington has been to two state championship games so far with his Pebblebrook program, in back to back years in 2015 and 2016, but came just short of bringing it back to Mabelton. Can this year be his year to bring it home? We will see. Pebblebrook might have the toughest first round matchup as they will be facing Collins Hill, who recieved the “at large” bid earlier this week. The winner between Berkmar and Grayson will most likely face the Region 6 class 7A champions in Peachtree Ridge (23-4). The Lions will be hosting South Forsyth (10-18) in their first round matchup in state. Peachtree Ridge has quietly made there case as being one of the best teams in the state. The Lions feature 2018 guard Devin Vassell (Florida State), who is one of the best guards in the state of Georgia. I would love to see the Peachtree Ridge verse Pebblebrook matchup. Roswell (16-11) will be hosting Hillgrove (11-15) on Saturday for their first round matchup. Roswell is coming off their region championship lost against Etowah last week and the winner between those two programs will face Pebblebrook or Collins Hill.
My Final Four Prediction:
McEachern
Newton
Meadowcreek
Pebblebrook
State Championshp Prediction:
McEachern vs Pebblebrook
State Champion Prediction:
McEachern