Best Starting Five in Georgia: North Oconee’s ‘Titan 5’

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rarely does a basketball team has 5 "go-to' players. But for the North Oconee, it's true and it turned out to be special. This group of 5 starters were the most complementary group of starters to watch all season across the state of Georgia. They were incredibly cohesive, and they knew where each other were on the court. They played off each other's strengths and weaknesses. And when one or two struggled, there was another one or two to pick up the slack. They were so balanced in their scoring, all five guys averaged approximately 10-13 points per game, and all moments, throughout the season, when each of them had to step up and make plays, to get them into the winner's circle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> In addition, all five of North Oconee's starters received All-Region honors. They all played almost every second of their state title game. All five of them are now state champions. And all five should be getting more attention from college coaches, after their historic season. The Titans finished the season with a record of 30-3, with two of those losses coming from out of state teams, and finished their 2023-2024 season going 19-0, after the holiday break. Here's five reasons, and a few more, as to why the 'Titan 5' could be considered the Best Starting Five in the state of Georgia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1861277"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Floor General. The shiftiness and quickness, of [player_tooltip player_id='1861277' first='Justin' last='Payne'], made it hard for opposing defenders to stay in front of him all season long. He turned the corner very well, and his ability to get to the basket, finish around the rim, and knock down the mid-range and the deep ball, created opportunities for him to display is IQ, and his elite passing and playmaking ability. He was exceptional at changing the pace of play and did an extremely a great job finding the open man when he couldn't get an open look. Payne's leadership was paramount to this run, with one of his biggest highlights coming at the end of a game, when the 5'10u0022 guard went up for a dunk that sent fans went crazy.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5f0550ab8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1300680"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Senior Guard. [player_tooltip player_id='1300680' first='Byrd' last='Carter'] finished his Titan career as one of the most decorated Titan's in the history of the program. He has multiple all-region honors, he joined the 1000 Point Club this season, and now he's a state champion. Byrd's ability to attack the basket, hit shots from beyond the arc, and create his own shot is one of the reasons he led his team in scoring with 20 points, in the title game. He has been the consummate leader, and when the Titan's need a play to be made, Byrd was one of those guys they could count on to make the right play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5f0550b45"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2046364"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Freshman. [player_tooltip player_id='2046364' first='Justin' last='Wise'] is one the best Freshmen, in all of Georgia. He played with great confidence and poise and never backed down from any opponent. At 6'4u0022 he created a lot of matchup problems for opponents, all season long. He rebounds well, passes the ball well, drives the baseline well and finishes at the rim, and is another one of North Oconee's 3-point specialists. Justin had his biggest moment on the biggest stage. In the championship game against Holy Innocents Episcopal School, Justin pushed the lead, hitting 3 for 3 on consecutive attempts from deep, to help give the Titan's the biggest lead in the game. Shortly afterwards, he knocked down a 5th 3-pointer, in which the crowd went into a frenzy, and he and his teammates never looked back. In addition, to his offensive onslaught, he helped defend some of the best players on the opposing team. Wise's recruitment took a major leap, in the right direction, after his championship game performance and should get ready for a lot of high major schools to be reaching out.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5f0550ba3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1765473"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Mr. Versatile. [player_tooltip player_id='1765473' first='Khamari' last='Brooks'] was the Titan's utility player all season long. When the Titan's needed a big rebound, he was there. When they needed another ball handler, to help break the press, or if two of the three guards were struggling from behind the arc, he stepped up and knocked down 3's. If they needed to work the post, he'd play off the block, or if North Oconee needed their best defender, Brooks was the name they'd call on. At 6'4u0022 220 pounds, coaches were challenged how to game plan for him. His physicality played a major role in their championship, and the sophomore Forward, slowed down one of the top players in the country when it mattered most. Khamari has deceptively good ball-handling skills, which has shown coaches he has a true inside-outside game, and as he's further evaluated, scouts should consider viewing him as a Small Forward rather than a Power Forward.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5f0550bfd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1300715"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Ancher. [player_tooltip player_id='1300715' first='Evan' last='Montgomery'] was the centerpiece of the Titans this season. At 6'6u0022, the rim running Forward regularly found himself on the receiving end of an alley-oop. In addition to high flying dunks, Evan was tasked with getting rebounds, blocking shots, and altering shots. He played near the rim, throughout the season, getting tip ins, making the lead pass to a fast break, and he ran the floor extremely well. If the Titans needed a double-double, Evan was more than likely the one to deliver it. Smaller schools should be interested to bring on someone with his motor and athletic ability.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65eb5f0550c4e"} /-->