Mid Offseason Preview

<p><strong>Atlanta, Georgia</strong> - With the 2019 NCAA Georgia team camps over with and the June high school summer league games almost officially coming to an end, it is time to take a look at a mid offseason preview for the 2019-2020 high school basketball season in the state of Georgia. The entire month of June is for high school team camps and summer leagues throughout the month, taking a break from AAU.</p> <p>The 2019 NCAA Georgia event was a fantastic event filled with college coaches, scouts, media outlets, and talent across the board. Here we take a look the "mid season and too early" top ten team rankings going into next season. We are still only in June and a lot of things can change between now and the start of the Georgia high school basketball season at the end of October. With transfers coming in and out of the state, anything can happen. These top ten rankings are clearly predictions and are being based off of what we were able to see throughout the month of June. </p> <p>1. <strong>Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 25-4 (Class 7A Sweet 16)</p> <p>Could next season be the Rams year to make an appearance in the class 7A state championship game, Georgia's highest classification? There has been a buzz that the Grayson Rams are the clear number one favorite right now in the state of Georgia and have a chance to go all the way. Head coach Geoffrey Pierce has made appearances in the past to the sweet sixteen, elite eight, and final four games but has yet to make it to the title game. That could change next season. After a fantastic 2018-2019 campaign, <strong>2020 PG Deivon Smith</strong> will look to have the Rams on top next season. Key transfers, <strong>2020 SG Toneari Lane</strong> and <strong>2020 G Caleb Murphy</strong>, will be huge additions and round out their big three. </p> <p>2<strong>. Pebblebrook High School (Mabelton, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 20-10 (Class 7A Elite 8)</p> <p>Head coach George Washington and his Pebblebrook coaching staff will certainly be one of the favorites next season during the 2019-2020 campaign. The Falcons are returning almost half of their scoring with rising juniors <strong>PG Danny Stubbs</strong>, <strong>W Jamal Clyce</strong>, <strong>F Tyler Shirley</strong>, and <strong>W Kaleb Washington</strong>. Rising sophomore point guards <strong>Andre Young</strong> and <strong>Nile Hillmon</strong> will play major minutes next season for the Falcons. After getting eliminated to Meadowcreek High School in last year's elite 8 matchup, Coach Washington and his staff will look to get back to the class 7A state championship next season for the first time since 2016. </p> <p>3.<strong> East Coweta High School (Sharpsburg, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 24-4 (Class 7A 1st Round)</p> <p>Imagine if East Coweta did not matchup with the nation's number one team in the country, McEachern, last season in the first round of the class 7A state playoffs? Who knows how far head coach Royal Maxwell and his squad could have went after a shocking and impressive regular season. The Indians finished last season with a 24-4 overall record, three of the four loses were during their region tournament and state playoff game. Rising senior wings <strong>Kennesaw State commit Chris Youngblood</strong> and <strong>Brandon Stroud</strong> return to the Indians next season and without question will be the leaders of the pack. </p> <p>4. <strong>Norcross High School (Norcross, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 22-9 (Class 7A Final 4)</p> <p>Powerhouse Norcross High School is coming off another great season and after reaching their third straight class 7A final four. The Blue Devils will always be in the mix as one of the state's best basketball programs and should have another solid squad for the 2019-2020 season. Although they will be losing 2020 G Caleb Murphy, the Blue Devils will still have some solid pieces. <strong>2021 F Josh Taylor</strong> will be transferring back to the state of Georgia after spending a year at school in North Carolina. Players like <strong>2020 SG Kevon Eskridge</strong> and <strong>2021 PG Jaden Harris</strong> will also be returning for Norcross next season and will play huge roles in their run next season to the class 7A state championship. </p> <p>5. <strong>Tucker High School (Tucker, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 28-5 (Class 6A Championship, Runner Up) </p> <p>Head coach James Hartry will certainly be looking to get the Tucker Tigers back to the class 6A state championship game after last season's heartbreaking lost in the same game to Tri Cities High School. Their leading scorer and star playmaker, <strong>2020 F Jermontae Hill</strong>, will be returning and will have one mission during his senior campaign. He will be accompanied by <strong>2020 W Terrence Edwards</strong>, a transfer from Southwest Dekalb and AAU teammate. The Tigers have a bunch of solid and tough guards that I believe will have them stay at the top of the rankings throughout the 2019-2020 season next year. </p> <p>6. <strong>Southwest Dekalb High School (Decatur, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 24-7 (Class 5A Final 4)</p> <p>Rising senior point guard <strong>KD Johnson</strong> will certailny come out of Southwest Dekalb as one of the best players to ever wear a Panthers jersey but he will also have his eye on a state title next season. The Southwest Dekalb Panthers will certainly be one of Georgia's best next season and could also represent nationally. Johnson will be playing alongside <strong>2020 W Eugene Brown III</strong>, who missed half of the season last year due to an injury. The duo will look to lead the Panthers to another great season and have the complimentary players to do so. They rank #6 in our mid offseason preview. </p> <p>7. <strong>Wheeler High School (Marietta, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 17-12 (Class 7A Sweet 16)</p> <p>Head coach Larry Thompson is coming off his second season with the Wheeler Wildcats and will look to have a better season in the 2019-2020 campaign. Now the Wildcats were certailny better than what their record shows after getting some major wins last season over high major programs. Wheeler loses a lot of their scoring from last season but that makes room for more playmakers. Their returning leading scorer, <strong>2020 G/F Sam Hines</strong>, will be the leader of the pack next season. Star <strong>2023 PG Isaiah Collier</strong> will take responsibility at the point guard position for powerhouse Wheeler next season and could potentially be the next big star out of the program. </p> <p>8. <strong>Saint Francis (Alpharetta, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 28-4 (Class A Private Champions) </p> <p>The Saint Francis Knights have captured the class A private state title last season after losing in the same game just a year before. The Knights will certainly look to repeat as champions and definitely have the pieces to do so. Their star player and one of the nation's best prospects, <strong>Xavier commit 2020 PG Dwon Odom</strong>, will be returning for his senior year. Dwon will look to lead his Saint Francis squad to back-to-back state titles and leading them to their third consecutive state championship appearance. Rising senior <strong>2020 SG Chase Ellis</strong> and rising junior<strong> 2021 W Jusaun Holt</strong> will also be returning in a Knight's uniform and help lead the way to success. </p> <p>9. <strong>Pace Academy (Atlanta, Georgia)</strong> - Last Season Record: 20-9 (Class 3A 1st Round) </p> <p>Head coach Sharman White will be in his second season at Pace Academy and after a solid first year, he will be looking to have the Knights in better position next season. They will be bringing in one of the nation's top breakout prospects in <strong>2021 F Matthew Cleveland</strong>, who will be transferring from Cambridge High School. Rising junior <strong>2021 PG Madison Durr</strong> will also be returning to the Pace Academy roster and also <strong>2021 F Cole Middleton</strong>, who missed half the season due to a foot injury. The 2019-2020 Pace Academy squad will be a sneaky good team in my eyes next year and they have the right coaching staff to prove it. </p> <p>10. <strong>Greenforest Christian (Decatur, Georgia</strong>) - Last Season Record: 21-7 (Class A Private Sweet 16)</p> <p>The Greenforest Christian Eagles will be looking to make their name known once again in the peach state next season. Since losing former head coach Larry Thompson in 2016, who is now at Wheeler High School, the Eagles have not been back to the state championship game. That is something they will be looking to change this upcoming season. The Eagles return almost half of their scoring threats from last year including <strong>2020 SG Lamar Oden Jr.</strong> and <strong>2020 C Christian Fussell</strong>. The Eagles will also add Meadowcreek transfer <strong>2021 PG Kedrick Green Jr.</strong>, who already has a state championship under his belt. </p> <p>Others Include:</p> <p>Lambert High School (Suwannee, Georgia) </p> <p>Mount Bethel (Marietta, Georgia) </p> <p>Holy Innocents (Atlanta, Georgia)</p> <p>Milton High School (Alpharetta, Georgia)</p> <p>Campbell High School (Smyrna, Georgia)</p> <p>Discovery High School (Lawrenceville, Georgia)</p> <p>Berkmar High School (Lawrenceville, Georgia)</p> <p>Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)</p> <p>Fayette County High School (Fayetteville, Georgia)</p> <p>Carrollton High School (Carrolton, Georgia)</p> <p>The Heritage School (Newnan, Georgia)</p>