2019-2020 High School Season Early Preview

<p><strong>Atlanta, Georgia</strong> - The 2019-2020 high school is just around the corner. Although we are still in August, fall leagues, and other workouts for some have already begun. High school coaches and their staff are finalizing schedules as we speak. The state of Georgia has already lost a couple top players in the state over the last month or so, including top guys like <strong>Kentucky commit 2020 SG Brandon Boston Jr.</strong> and <strong>2020 PG KD Johnson</strong>. However, the state of Georgia basketball is still in good hands with the players remaining. Here we take a look and preview which teams are shaping up to look good for next season. </p> <p><strong>1. Norcross High School (Norcross, Georgia) </strong></p> <p>The Blue Devils took a hard hit on their roster this summer after losing two key prospects in Kentucky commit 2020 SG Brandon Boston Jr. (Sierra Canyon, CA) and 2020 G Caleb Murphy (Grayson, GA). The powerhouse school still has the power to draw in top talent and that is exactly what they did. Key guys like top ranked <strong>2020 W JT Thor</strong> and <strong>2020 F Josh Taylor</strong>, a Georgia native, have enrolled at Norcross and will suit up for the Blue Devils this season. With the Thor and Taylor on the roster, that gives the Blue Devils a solid front line. Key guys like <strong>2020 SG Kevon Eskridge</strong> and <strong>2021</strong> <strong>PG Jaden Harris</strong> will be returning to the roster from last season's squad. </p> <p><strong>2. McEachern High School (Powder Springs, Georgia)</strong></p> <p>The class 7A defending champions, McEachern, will without question be led by now <strong>2020 PG Sharife Cooper</strong>. The Indians lose a bunch of key contributors from last year's championship squad, but bring in Georgia native <strong>2020 C Dylan Cardwel</strong>l out of Oak Hill Academy (VA). The chemistry should already be there for Cooper and Cardwell as they both played with AOT Running Rebels on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring, summer. The Indians also will bring in <strong>2021 SG Bobby Moore</strong>, a transfer from North Cobb Christian. With a couple other solid guards who have transferred in, I believe McEachern has a solid chance to defend their state championship and can possibly be crowned once again in March. </p> <p><strong>3. Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia)</strong></p> <p>Back in June, the Grayson Rams were the highly favorited group coming into this high school season. We move them down to number three due to the talent Norcross and McEachern have gathered since then, but that does not mean this year's group is not a class 7A contender. <strong>2020 PG Deivon Smith</strong> will lead the pack and will be assisted by <strong>2020 G Caleb Murphy</strong> and <strong>2020 SG Toneari Lane</strong>, who both have transferred in for their senior season. The Rams have always been a threat in Georgia's class 7A and will be no stranger to this year's competition with the squad they have. </p> <p><strong>4. Pebblebrook High School (Mabelton, Georgia)</strong></p> <p>Head coach George Washington and his staff have been one of the most consistent and developing programs in the state over the last few years or so and nothing will be different this season. The Falcons bring in multiple key contributors back from last season's elite 8 squad including <strong>2021 PG Danny Stubbs</strong> and <strong>2021 W Kaleb Washington</strong>. Pebblebrook will be looking to reach the class 7A final four for the first time since 2016, where now Phoenix Suns point guard Jared Harper was a senior. The Falcons will also be bringing back <strong>2021 F Tyler Shirley</strong> and <strong>2021 W Jamal Clyce</strong>. </p> <p><strong>5. East Coweta High School (Sharpsburg, Georgia) </strong></p> <p>The East Coweta Indians should once again be one of the state's toughest teams and in the state's toughest classification, class 7A. They bring back their two top leading scorers in <strong>Kennesaw State commit 2020 SG Chris Youngblood</strong> and <strong>2020 W Brandon Stroud</strong>. The Indians shocked the state last season by finishing with an amazing 24-4 overall record and making their first state playoffs appearance in a very long time. East Coweta will also be playing one of the state's toughest regions and could possibly be crowned region champs in the future. Both Youngblood and Stroud will be preseason Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year nominees to begin the season. </p> <p><strong>6. Woodward Academy (College Park, Georgia)</strong></p> <p>Woodward Academy can possibly represent the peach state on a national level this year as they have sort of upgraded their roster headlined by future McDonald's All American <strong>2020 C Walker Kessler</strong>. The Eagles acquire two solid guards coming in for next season in <strong>Davidson commit 2020 PG Emory Lanier</strong>, the son of now Georgia State head coach Rob Lanier, and <strong>2021 G Will Richard</strong>. They bring back almost half of their 22-9 and class 4A final four squad from last season. </p> <p><strong>7. Berkmar High School (Lillburn, Georgia) </strong></p> <p>The Patriots finished the 2018-2019 season with a 19-9 overall record and look to be even better next season. On paper, they will likely begin the season ranked at number seven and why is that? You may ask. They will bring a few key transfers this season joining a few pieces from last year's squad. <strong>2022 F Malique Ewin</strong>, <strong>2020 W Jalen Deloach</strong>, and <strong>2021 SG Camden Blount</strong> are just a few new names that will be suiting up in a Berkmar uniform this season. The Patriots should give the Norcross Blue Devils a fight in their region matchups once again this season, the two are expected to meet at least three times during the season. </p> <p><strong>8. Tucker High School (Tucker, Georgia)</strong> </p> <p>The Tucker Tigers were last year's Georgia's class 6A runner-ups after losing a heartbreaker to Tri Cities High School in thes state title game. They return their star playmaker <strong>2020 F Jermontae Hill</strong>, who led the Tigers in scoring last season. They will also receive <strong>2020 W Terrence Edwards</strong>, a transfer from Southwest Dekalb High School and who also played with Hill in the Nike EYBL with Bluff City Legends (TN). Coach Hardtry and his staff finished with an overall 28-5 record last season and will look to make their way back to the class 6A state championship game next March. They have the talent to do so and right now are one of the favorites to win it all. </p> <p><strong>9. Lamber High School (Suwanee, Georgia)</strong> </p> <p>Lambert has always been one of the state's most consistent programs when it comes to basketball. The Longhorns finished last season with a 21-7 overall record and once again made an early exit out the state playoffs, losing in the first round to Newton High School. They bring back key pieces in <strong>2020 F Colin Granger</strong>, <strong>2020 PG Braxton Beaty</strong>, and <strong>2020 SG Luke Champion</strong>. With another solid squad coming in for next season, could this year be the year Lambert actually makes some noise in Georgia's 7A class? That question remains to be answered. </p> <p><strong>10. Greenforest Christian (Decatur, Georgia)</strong></p> <p>The Greenforest Christian Eagles finished last season with a 21-7 overall record and were eliminated in the second round of the state class A private playoffs to Mount Bethel. The Eagles will be headlined by their duo of <strong>2020 C Christian Fussell</strong> and <strong>2020 F Lamar Oden Jr.</strong>, who both led the Eagles in scoring last season. Head coach Rory Griffin will be coming into his third season with this Greenforest Christian program and will look to get them back to the class A private state championship for the first time since Larry Thompson's departure. </p>