GHSA Preseason Top 25 (#16-20)

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#16. Hiram</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hiram looks primed for another deep run under coach Keyon Boyd but their tournament success will rely heavily on [player_tooltip player_id='1501793' first='Chase' last='Tyler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1442610' first='Walter' last='Matthews'], both Power 5 football commits that could potentially enroll early. They add two huge pieces to the puzzle by way of transfer, [player_tooltip player_id='1059110' first='Ryan' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1264032' first='Jaiden' last='Mann']. [player_tooltip player_id='1059110' first='Ryan' last='Williams'] has yet to have a bad game since throwing on the Hiram purple this summer and he's been gaining steam quickly in recent months, lighting the scoresheets left and right. Mann is a 6'5 wing that plays plays above the rim and thrives in transition. If all the pieces are in tact come February, Hiram will be a serious contender in 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 28th vs. #25 Chapel Hill, Dec. 5th vs. Carrollton, Jan. 6th vs. Campbell, Jan. 15th vs. #7 Pace Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#17. Woodward Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodward Academy enters the new season as one of the most talented squads in 6A and their backcourt can certainly pack a punch. Zac Foster and [player_tooltip player_id='1485227' first='Brandon' last='Peters'] will share the ball-handling duties, each guy capable of creating off the bounce. Together, they'll be one of the state's more lethal scoring duos. 6'6 forward, [player_tooltip player_id='1383026' first='Deke' last='Cooper'] returns with another year of experience in his belt. He'll provide a healthy dose of scoring and rebounding as well. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='2426678' first='Payton' last='Waites'] and Quintin Tookes provide solid perimeter depth and they proven to capable of contributing in some recent camp settings. Guard play has proven to be key come playoff time and that's an area where Woodward excels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 11th vs. Douglass, Nov. 18th vs. #2 Grayson, Nov. 25th vs. #11 Holy Innocents, Dec. 9th vs. Pinson Valley (AL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#18. [player_tooltip player_id='2297280' first='Maynard' last='Jackson']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2297280' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] will look to raise the bar this year as they bring back the talented trio of Turner, Watkins, and Bowyer. Kennesaw State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1223239' first='Mekhi' last='Turner'] will be one of the more dominant forwards in the state, a two-way force around the rim that's expanded his arsenal out to the perimeter. Watkins will run the point and he can pick apart defenses so easily with his aggressive, downhill attack. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='1654188' first='Yusef' last='Bowyer'] can release a barrage of three-pointers on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='2281462' first='Cam' last='Dover'] joins the picture as well this year, a 6'7 stretch 4 coming from Woodward. [player_tooltip player_id='2297280' first='Maynard' last='Jackson'] has the firepower to hang with the best this year. Only time will tell if they're a contender or a pretender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Games: </strong>Nov. 11th vs. Carrollton, Jan. 2nd vs. #25 Chapel Hill, Jan. 26th vs. #25 Chapel Hill, Feb. 6th vs. Tri-Cities</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#19. Tucker</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucker will be dangerous this year, returning a an experienced core that knows how to play together. [player_tooltip player_id='1131776' first='Josiah' last='Lawson'] has put together a career for the books at Tucker and he'll be looking to go out with a bang. At 6'7, Lawson can beat you up inside or break you down with his perimeter skills. [player_tooltip player_id='1458271' first='Khayri' last='Dunn'] will once again be the floor general and he's the kind of leader that will do whatever it takes. [player_tooltip player_id='2343909' first='Jamar' last='Graham'] provides a dominant presence on the interior with his sturdy 6'9 frame but he can also step out and hit the three-ball if defenses don't step out. Expect defense and consistency out of this year's Tucker squad, both valuable traits to have in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 14th vs. Mays, Nov. 18th vs. #11 Holy Innocents, Dec. 16th vs. #25 Cedar Grove, Jan. 13th vs. Langston Hughes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#20. Riverwood</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There seem to be good spirits surrounding the Riverwood Raiders as the enter the final year of the [player_tooltip player_id='1145563' first='Karris' last='Bilal'] era. This looks like the best Riverwood team we've seen in years and with the talent spread thin in 6A, they have a legitimate chance to fight for a title. [player_tooltip player_id='1145563' first='Karris' last='Bilal'] and JR Leonard could very well be the most electric 1-2 punch in the state. Each guy possesses their own deep offensive bag and they're equally capable of carrying the scoring load. It will be up to the role players around them to step up to the challenge. We could see the younger Bilal brother, Kaleb step up. Riverwood vs. Pace on January 13th is one to circle as two of the best backcourt duos in the state will square off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Games:</strong> Nov. 25th vs. #9 Newton, Dec. 11th vs. St. Pius, Jan. 12th vs. Marist, Jan. 13th vs. #7 Pace Academy, Jan. 23rd vs. St. Pius, Feb. 6th vs. Marist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->