How The “Week” Was Won: A Trifecta Of Things I Liked Over The Past 7 Days

<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Guards, Guards, Guards</strong></span></p> <p>As a former guard myself back when the Sony Walkman was still in people's jacket pockets, my eyes are always drawn to not just uber talents, but the headiness and sound ball skills of backcourt standouts. That said, I have a hunch the above sub-headline will be used again in multiple spots this season, as the guard play around the Atlanta-metro has been nothing short of outrageous. Even before this past week, I was jazzed to get a look at Chattahoochee's exciting junior point guard A.J. White, but he was out Dec. 6 in a close loss at home to North Atlanta. Backcourt mate Franklin Bailey was excellent still, and highly rated wing rated Cam Sheffield is a known commodity to those in his Region and beyond. We'll be catching White's act very soon. Etowah boasts 3 superb guards in Will Garvey, Cole Ellis and young freshman up-and-comer Mason Etter, and with that kind of talent in the backcourt, it's easy to see why a 4th straight Region crown could be in the offing. Walton's point man Luka Avaliani bears mentioning, as the junior leads a scrappy and disciplined group of 4 other guards for the 9-2 Raiders. Friday nights in metro Atlanta always mean boisterous crowds, and a trip to Pace Academy was no different, as talented junior point guard Madison Durr showed off his skills at both ends, while wing Matt Cleveland dunked and high rose his way to a big night. I'll refer you to my three pieces on Saturday's Hawks-Naismith Classic and the guards there, for the wow moments from the three evening games could be a short story unto itself, but casual and hardcore fans alike should find the time to get out and the likes of Southwest DeKalb's Eugene Brown and Jarrett Walton, Discovery's London Riley and Deveion Teague-Parham, Grayson's Caleb Murphy and Deivon Smith, McEachern's Sharife Cooper and Camron McDowell, Tucker's Terrance Edwards and Raylan Barrion and Norcross' Quincy Ademokoy and Kevon Eskridge.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Pope</strong></span></p> <p>Johns Creek is a solid, well-rounded club and deserved the win Monday night, but I'm intrigued after watching this formerly undefeated Greyhound team play as well as they did with depletions due to illness and injury. They're well-coached and sound, with point guard Will Kolker leading the way. Inside-outside threat Ross Shepherd is the kind of versatile big man any coach would want, and they boast other capable component pieces in 6-4 junior wing Zach Marinko and 6-0 junior marksman Trey Kaiser. Getting back under the weather Caden Jessop and injured Gannon Brown at full strength should get them back on track, and that warrants another look from the keen eyes of Prep Hoops Georgia at the kids from East Cobb.</p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Tri-Cities is scary good</strong></span></p> <p>I finally got my much-anticipated opportunity to see the defending 6A champs from East Point in what was a scintillating contest in Douglasville against Alexander Tuesday, and without spoiling too much of my player recap coming up Wednesday, I'll simply say they appear to this former coach's eye as among what I'm sure is only a handful of teams in the state that have no apparent weaknesses. The Bulldogs boast in spades - high-level skill and moxie at the point, deadeye shooters all over the arc, frontcourt size and athleticism, a deep bench which seemingly runs all the way out of the gym, and a relentless full-court defensive approach that wears on the soul. Again, check my game piece Wednesday for full analysis of the individual excellence I saw from this group (and Alexander as well).</p>