Cobb County (GA) Team Previews Part 1
McEachern (Powder Springs, GA)
Last Season Record: 29-1
McEachern High School, which has been known for the most part of their success on the football field, has been pretty powerful on the court as well. In the last three seasons, Coach Thompson and the Indians are 76-13. Winning three region championships in a row, an elite 8, and final four appearances. Last seasons only lost came to the class 7A defending champions Tift County. The Indians defeated a bunch of national teams last season such as: Oak Ridge (FL), Miller Grove (GA), Allatoona (GA), Langston Hughes (GA), Scotlandville (LA), and Wheeler (GA) twice. This years McEachern team will be no different than last season, maybe even better with the addition of Pebblebrook High School (GA) big man 2019 F Jared Jones. McEachern returns most of their roster from last season, with 2020 PG Sharife Cooper, 2019s SG Isaac Okoro, and C Babatunde Akingbola. Also the main role players such as: 2018 WG Brandon Suggs, 2019 WG Devin Gordon, and 2020 CG Alyn Breed. Chemistry is no question for this group. Cooper, Okoro, Akingbola, Breed, Jones, and Suggs ran with Nike EYBL A.O.T (Athletes of Tomorrow) 16U this passed summer in the Nike EYBL circuit and making it to the 16U Finals but came up short of a championship as they fell to Team CP3 (NC). McEachern will not have any exhibition games this year. They tip off the season against a new look Wheeler team in the GA Tip Off Classic on Saturday November 11th at McEachern High School. McEachern will also be participating in the 2017 City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, FL, Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, WV, and the Flyin Hoops Tournament in Ohio. There is no question that McEachern (GA) can be ranked nationally this year and will not be a surprised if they can make another run to the class 7A final four this year.
Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw, GA)
Last Season Record: 10-18
The Mustangs had a rough season last year only winning ten games even though they still made the state playoffs but got eliminated early losing to Colquitt County. Kennesaw has not really been known for basketball in the peach state. This year the Mustangs can be a big sleeper. Last year Kennesaw Mountain acquired a kid named Jalyn McCreary who transferred from Wheeler High School and who was not allowed to play varsity due to the GHSA rules. McCreary is a 2019 forward and/or wing that can really score in all ways on the offensive side of the court. McCreary ran with Southern Stampede 16U on the Nike EYBL circuit. Jalyn racked up a few offers this summer, UMASS, Hofstra, Florida Gulf Coast, & more have offered so far. The Mustangs also acquired 2019 PG Kahlil Shaheed from Wheeler as well, a close friend of Jalyn McCreary. With the two new additions plus 2018 CG Joshua Strong, Kennesaw Mountain can really be a team to look out for in the state playoffs. Joshua Strong will be the leader of this Mustang squad. After making his all region team last year, Strong will have a big senior season this year and has some help from McCreary and Shaheed. Mustangs are predicted to finish second in their region, region 4 in class 6A, behind McEachern. Mustangs face off against the Indians on Thursday Jan. 11th 2018 and Tues. Jan. 30th 2018. Those are two important dates Kennesaw will have to circle.
Kell (Marietta, GA)
Last Season Record: 21-8
Coach Sellers and the Kell Longhorns are 51-36 in the last three seasons. Longhorns made their first state playoff appearance in 2015. That was first time Kell has made an appearance since the 2004-2005 season. Last season might have been one of the best the Longhorns have had in the last few years. Even without their star forward Brian Thomas, who signed with Florida Gulf Coast University and injured his foot in their season opener, the Longhorns won 21 games and only lost 8 games and almost captured a region title. Seniors PG Jahwan Smith and CG Sayvon Delgado will lead this season’s squad. Smith is a 5’10 point guard with quickness and handles and can also score when you need him too. Delgado is definitely one of the best shooters in the peach state. Sayvon is a 6’1 combo guard, which means he can play the two-guard position but also has the skills of a pure point guard. The two seniors will try to go out with a bang this season and try to once again capture a region title for the Longhorns. Junior PG CJ Henderson will also be a big peace to this Longhorns team. CJ played some key varsity minutes last season and will look to continue that this season as well. Kell opens up their season against their rival Sprayberry High School on Tuesday November 14th 2017.
Hillgrove (Powder Springs, GA)
Last Season Record: 19-8
The Hillgrove Hawks were the most improved team last season after going 13-15 in the 2015-2016 seasons. Elite scorer SG DeMierre Black has graduated and playing at the next level. Black was a top five scorer in the county, averaging 23.1 point per game for the Hawks. Hillgrove’s season ended on a devastating buzzer beater last season in the state playoffs to Brookwood High School. New scorers and leaders will obviously be needed for the Hawks. Orry Owens, a 5-10 point guard, will be running the offense for this season’s Hillgrove squad. Jonathan Elder, who is a big body and good shooter, Lance Wise, who will bring the defense to this squad with his great defensive skills, Zac Clark, a great shooter for the Hawks, and Chris Richardson, who can attack the paint and finish at the rim and also grab boards, will be key contributors this season for the Hawks. Hillgrove will not have any exhibition games this season. The Hawks will open their season up at the North Forsyth Thanksgiving on November 18th 2017.
Osbonre (Marietta, GA)
Last Season Record: 13-17
The Osborne Cardinals were the surprising team to make the class 6A state playoffs last season. The Cardinals were eliminated early in the state playoffs with a lost to Dacula High School. The Cardinals were led by their senior leader CG Latrell Tate, who averaged 23 points per game last season. With Tate out of the picture now it will be time for new stars to emerge for this season’s Cardinal squad. Osborne will be very young this season. But Coach Thomas will expect a lot from their senior leader 5’9 SG Jarmaine Miles. Miles will have to lead this year’s Osborne team. Freshman WG Jermiah Carter and sophomore CG Matthew Smith will also play key roles this season. The Cardinals faced some stellar competition to start the season last year, playing Collins Hill High School and St. Francis High School. This season will not be any different to start, as the Cardinals will travel to elite Pebblebrook High School for an exhibition game on Friday November 10th 2017 and will host Collins High School the following Tuesday November 14th 2017.