Takeaways from NWGA Media Day
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Unity Christian School hosted the NWGA Media Day on Sunday, bringing 18 north Georgia programs together for an afternoon in Rome. I was able to sit down with each team individually to ask them some questions about their team and…
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Continue ReadingUnity Christian School hosted the NWGA Media Day on Sunday, bringing 18 north Georgia programs together for an afternoon in Rome. I was able to sit down with each team individually to ask them some questions about their team and the upcoming season. Here are some of my takeaways from those conversations.
Notes
- The theme of the day was fast-paced basketball. When asked about style of play, most of the programs in attendance told me they were going to play fast this year and push the pace.
- Excel will have a talented and deep backcourt. They bring back both leading scorers, Jakaden Barkley Jakaden Barkley 6'2" | PG Excel Christian Academy | 2023 GA and Jacob Taylor Jacob Taylor 6'3" | PG Wheeler | 2025 State GA , and have a handful of solid guards behind them.
- Jeremias Heard Jeremias Heard 6'9" | C Model | 2024 State GA is looking like an absolute beast. He’s 6’9, 280 lbs of straight muscle. He’ll see plenty of touches this year as Model loses 4 of their top 7.
- Calhoun expects to pick up where they left off, despite losing 8 valuable seniors. Their goals for the season include a region championship and another deep playoff run.
- Jax Abernathy Jax Abernathy 6'4" | SG Christian Heritage | 2024 State GA is finally receiving the D1 attention he deserves. He told me he’s been hearing from Chattanooga, Furman, and Belmont.
- It all starts with defense for Lafayette. Coach Hank Peppers has built a culture at Lafayette that epitomizes defense and toughness, both of which will be present in this year’s squad.
- Adairsville will be young but could certainly sneak up on some people. Tre Winters Tre Winters 6'5" | SG Adairsville | 2025 State GA is capable of going for 30 points on any given night and Zach Postell provides another talented scoring option in the backcourt.
- Coosa’s identity will likely shift from their frontcourt to backcourt as they graduate Zaire Philyaw but senior guards Joseph Richardson and Ashton Williams Ashton Williams 6'3" | PG Worth County | 2025 State GA are up for the challenge.
- Rome is going to play a high-energy brand of basketball. They told me they’re going pressure the ball on defense and push the pace with an athletic group of guards.
- The culture is shifting at Trion. The players have a new level of confidence and believe in the things that first-year coach John Cornett has been implementing.
- Smaller schools are starting to jump on Austin Wilkerson Austin Wilkerson 6'3" | CG Unity Christian | 2023 GA from Unity Christian. He added a handful of offers over the summer and told me he’s been recently hearing from Bethel, Graceland, Shorter, and Judson as well.