GHSA Preseason Top 25 (#11-15)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#11. Holy Innocents</h2>   <p>Holy Innocents look to take a major jump this year after their '22-'23 season was riddled with injuries. As long as they're healthy this year, they'll have the talent to play with anyone in the state. 6'10 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1383017' first='Caleb' last='Wilson'] is one of the state's best players and he''ll be the driving force for the Golden Bears. [player_tooltip player_id='1459961' first='Will' last='Hopkins'] is a big, physical guard that loves to attack the rim and he returns for his senior year. [player_tooltip player_id='1696172' first='Devin' last='Hutcherson'] looks like a much more polished point guard now and I expect his scoring numbers to increase in year 2. This talented trio at Holy Innocents will be a tough matchup for anyone and they should challenge Pace for the state championship in 4A.</p>   <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 18th vs. #19 Tucker, Nov. 24th vs. Wheeler, Dec. 9th vs. North Mecklenburg (NC), Jan. 15th vs. #21 Osborne</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#12. Sandy Creek</h2>   <p>Sandy Creek was finally able to get over the state championship hump last year and they return several key pieces from that squad. James Madison commit [player_tooltip player_id='1050448' first='Micah' last='Smith'] will certainly be playing to end his storied career at Sandy Creek on a high note. The 6'8 stretch forward pairs with senior point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1204748' first='Amari' last='Brown'], to make for one of the best inside-out duos in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='2328847' first='Kani' last='Rashied-Henry'] adds more rebounding and rim protection next to Smith while [player_tooltip player_id='2633658' first='Jared' last='White'] provides another strong ball-handler. Sandy Creek will be tested early with three top 15 matchups against Grayson, Milton, and Mount Vernon but they could ascend the rankings with a few big wins.</p>   <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 18th vs. #14 Mt. Vernon, Nov. 21st vs. #8 Milton, Nov. 25th vs. #2 Grayson, Jan. 23rd vs. #24 Cedar Grove, Feb. 9th vs. #24 Cedar Grove</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#13. Dutchtown</h2>   <p>Dutchtown may have been the most impressive team in the state throughout the June live periods, showing us that this year's group is ready for the state's best competition. [player_tooltip player_id='1793653' first='Austin' last='Mosby-Weems'] should have a breakout year as he takes over the point, possessing a unique combination of brute strength and ability to shoot it off the bounce. [player_tooltip player_id='1319337' first='Jamir' last='Russell'] and the Grissom brothers give Dutchtown more ball-handling and shot creation. Nonetheless, Dutchtown's identity will be in the front court with [player_tooltip player_id='1300737' first='Joah' last='Chappelle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1300745' first='Matthew' last='Hinton']. Both Chappelle at 6'8 and Hinton at 6'10 are long, high-motor guys they can play the high-low game really well together. The Bulldogs have all the pieces to battle for a state championship in 5A and they'll make for an extremely tough out come February.</p>   <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 11th vs. #3 Wheeler, Nov. 25th vs. #1 McEachern, Dec. 1st vs. #15 Eagle's Landing, Jan. 12th vs. #15 Eagle's Landing, Jan. 13th vs. #5 Alexander</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#14. Mt. Vernon</h2>   <p>Mt. Vernon looks like the early favorite to win it all in 1A-D1 and they'll be out to prove something this year after falling in the semifinals last season. Dennis Scott and [player_tooltip player_id='1125607' first='Xavier' last='Shegog'] provide a terrific 1-2 punch on the inside. Scott can step out and shoot it from deep or score with his back to the basket while Shegog is a physical slasher that lives above the rim. They also add KJ Garris to the picture, one of the best 2025 guards in the state. He'll initiate a lot of the offense from the perimeter. 6'5 athlete, Shayah Goba makes for a versatile role piece and 2025 sharpshooter, [player_tooltip player_id='1790743' first='Pace' last='Bottoms'] will be a key piece to the puzzle as well. Mt. Vernon is a team worth following this year as they hunt for their first state championship under coach Tarrik Mabon.</p>   <p><strong>Notable Games: </strong>Nov. 18th vs. #12 Sandy Creek, Dec. 8th vs. King's Ridge, Dec. 12th vs. Wilson Academy, Jan. 26th vs. St. Francis</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#15. Eagle's Landing</h2>   <p>Eagle's Landing graduated some key pieces from the group that took them the back-to-back title games but this year's team will be talented enough to keep up the winning ways. [player_tooltip player_id='1054799' first='Clark' last='Mastin'] returns at point guard and his experience will go a long way with this young group. [player_tooltip player_id='1501775' first='Dwight' last='Brown'] transfers in from Newton and provides a mobile, rim-running big. His athleticism and size at 6'6 will certainly help them compete inside. Sophomores, [player_tooltip player_id='2085759' first='Bobby' last='Buggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1597727' first='Maddox' last='Melancon'] will step into major roles. Buggs had an excellent first year at Heritage and Melancon showed us some impressive flashes as a freshman. Eagle's Landing has a number of notable names as usual but they're young and these underclassmen will need to grow up fast if they want to make it back to Macon.</p>   <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 24th vs. Mater Lakes Academy (FL), Nov. 25th vs. Sagemont (FL), Dec. 1st vs. #13 Dutchtown, Jan. 12th vs. #13 Dutchtown</p>