GHSA Preseason Top 25 (#11-15)
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#11. Holy Innocents 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…
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Continue Reading#11. Holy Innocents
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 Caleb Wilson Caleb Wilson 6'10" | PF Holy Innocents | 2025 State #3 Nation GA is one of the state’s best players and he”ll be the driving force for the Golden Bears. Will Hopkins Will Hopkins 6'5" | SG Holy Innocents’ | 2024 State GA is a big, physical guard that loves to attack the rim and he returns for his senior year. Devin Hutcherson Devin Hutcherson 6'4" | SG Holy Innocents' | 2026 State GA 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.
Notable Games: Nov. 18th vs. #19 Tucker, Nov. 24th vs. Wheeler, Dec. 9th vs. North Mecklenburg (NC), Jan. 15th vs. #21 Osborne
#12. Sandy Creek
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 Micah Smith Micah Smith 6'7" | SF Sandy Creek | 2024 State #144 Nation GA 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, Amari Brown Amari Brown 6'3" | PG Sandy Creek | 2024 State GA , to make for one of the best inside-out duos in the state. Kani Rashied-Henry Kani Rashied-Henry 6'7" | PF Sandy Creek | 2024 State GA adds more rebounding and rim protection next to Smith while Jared 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.
Notable Games: 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
#13. Dutchtown
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. Austin Mosby-Weems Austin Mosby-Weems 6'3" | CG Dutchtown | 2025 State GA 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. Jamir Russell Jamir Russell 6'1" | CG Salem. | 2024 GA and the Grissom brothers give Dutchtown more ball-handling and shot creation. Nonetheless, Dutchtown’s identity will be in the front court with Joah Chappelle Joah Chappelle 6'8" | SF Dutchtown | 2024 State GA and Matthew Hinton Matthew Hinton 6'9" | C Dutchtown | 2024 State GA . 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.
Notable Games: 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
#14. Mt. Vernon
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 Xavier Shegog Xavier Shegog 6'6" | PF Mt. Vernon | 2024 State GA 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, Pace Bottoms Pace Bottoms 6'3" | SG Mt. Vernon | 2025 State GA 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.
Notable Games: Nov. 18th vs. #12 Sandy Creek, Dec. 8th vs. King’s Ridge, Dec. 12th vs. Wilson Academy, Jan. 26th vs. St. Francis
#15. Eagle’s Landing
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. Clark Mastin Clark Mastin 5'11" | PG Eagle's Landing | 2024 State GA returns at point guard and his experience will go a long way with this young group. Dwight Brown Dwight Brown 6'6" | PF Eagle's Landing | 2024 State GA 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, Bobby Buggs Bobby Buggs 6'0" | PG Eagle's Landing | 2026 State GA and Maddox Melancon Maddox Melancon 6'5" | SF Eagle's Landing | 2026 State GA 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.
Notable Games: Nov. 24th vs. Mater Lakes Academy (FL), Nov. 25th vs. Sagemont (FL), Dec. 1st vs. #13 Dutchtown, Jan. 12th vs. #13 Dutchtown