Compelling 5A storylines

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>OUTSIDE OF LIKELY FAVORITES MILTON &amp; TRI-CITIES, WHO INTRIGUES?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After getting multiple close-ups of new-look <strong>Decatur</strong> under Rory Welsh this June, I'm fascinated with what they can be. Welsh brings a top-flight resume from Langston Hughes and is one of the best defensive tacticians I've seen in my 6 years on the scouting trail. The 2026 backcourt combo of [player_tooltip player_id='2047515' first='Bryce' last='Howson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2308804' first='Jason' last='Welborn'] were top headliners from June play, both showing off a wealth of skills across the court and at both ends, many times in spectacular fashion. The Bulldogs add 6-6 St Pius transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2046359' first='Tobias' last='Brinkley'], and interest from the likes of Auburn and Cincinnati alone tells you of the possibilities for this wing player. Can't sleep on [player_tooltip player_id='2879762' first='Quintavious' last='Strozier'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1617626' first='Hayden' last='Mikes'], two more juniors, who at times in June and at fall camps showed off possession-changing abilities from the backcourt and wing. Apparent truths all as to why the ceiling is so high and the enthusiasm so broad even in a highly competitive 5A division. Peachtree Ridge, South Gwinnett, and McEachern highlight a very challenging non-Region slate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A hot team on the lips of prognosticators has been <strong>Gainesville</strong>, since the Red Elephants added some serious firepower to their roster. And the high praise has plenty of merit, as Coach Charlemagne Gibbons enters season 2 with a proven system that goes back years to his highly successful stint at Newton. He played a lot of youth last season during an 11-18 run that didn't really speak to how solid they were, the team going 8-4 in Region play. 2026 6-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1543522' first='Charlie' last='Gersmehl'] enters the fray after sitting out last year as a transfer from South Forsyth, but his inside-out ability has been well documented and observed by folks like myself and others on the travel ball scene, first with Redline and then last summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2076604' first='Atlanta' last='Xpress']. He is good enough to be the first huge game-changing domino in play for Gibbons' reboot by the lake. [player_tooltip player_id='2471160' first='Jaxson' last='Jones'] comes over from Collins Hill, and the 6-7 jumping jack is a factor at both ends, he caught eyes during the June live period among sidelines observers more than once. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2046362' first='Kevin' last='White'] comes in from Newton and will team with really solid 2025 returnee [player_tooltip player_id='2385367' first='Brandon' last='Nelson'] to form a potent backcourt. A schedule that outside of the Region includes Wheeler, Winder-Barrow, Tri-Cities, and Pinson Valley (AL) among others will surely test the mettle of this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Cherokee County teams represent well the rapid growth of basketball talent compiled in that area, as it's been as a whole ascending for some time, but it's the continual replacement of quality talent to the rosters year in and year out that is the sign of the steady and overall top to bottom program development that has marked the six county GHSA high schools. <strong>Woodstock</strong> is the hot name in 5A with a future nationally-ranked level player to lead them, and other sound pieces around him under second-year Coach Eric Blair. The fiery Blair gets his guys to play hard, and 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2102289' first='Taj' last='Saragba'] may not yet have that national-ranked recruiting profile, but he's one of GA's best 2027's and the 6-7 force has all the tools to push his way onto a bunch of lists this winter. Add transfer guards Landon Duncan, coming from powerhouse Kell, and [player_tooltip player_id='2467350' first='Jahmar' last='Maurice'], one a senior with all kinds of experience and the other a freshman with a world of potential, and things are looking up for the Wolverines. They'll be tested by Etowah, Greenforest, Riverwood, and Pebblebrook in big non-region clashes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part 2 of that Cherokee County discussion is <strong>Sequoyah</strong>. This group of Chief 2025's has seemingly been waiting for this season to fulfill the promise, last year's 18-11 mark and first-round 6A playoff exit surely must have felt like shortfalls. Kennesaw State-signee [player_tooltip player_id='1444780' first='Brendan' last='Tousignaut'] is the trigger man, a serious sharpshooter who has improved his off-the-bounce abilities and is a much more lethal multi-level threat a year later. Underrated point man [player_tooltip player_id='2046356' first='Cade' last='Lomas'] steers the ship, he too can really get going from the perimeter, but I love the moxie and flair too he shows getting to the basket. Noted many times during my coverage of the OTP Fall League, 6-3 senior [player_tooltip player_id='2471139' first='Matlock' last='Gemberling'] can be an unsung key for them, he plays an interior role because the Chiefs lack a true post, but his athleticism off the deck and good frame allow him to be a factor at both ends. The return of Logan Parrott from injury and the continued progression of 6-5 [player_tooltip player_id='2724122' first='Noah' last='Givens'] are additional keys to a long playoff run, as both seniors have experience and the ability to affect change both offensively and defensively. Coach Scott Bracco left for Stetson, but in steps assistant Mike Paxton, he knows these guys well and is a young, up-and-coming coach known well in our circles. Cherokee, Berkmar, and Etowah are matchups to watch outside of the Region on their '24-25 slate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And let us not sleep at all on Final Four team <strong>Winder-Barrow</strong> from a year ago, who stayed in 5A after all the classification reshuffling this offseason and remains very much a serious contender to run the table fully this year. Back nearly intact, and led by dynamic scorer 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1696246' first='Jerrin' last='Samuel'] (pictured at top), this is an extremely well-coached team under Travis McDaniel, who got a taste of winning and looked hungry for more playing some good-looking basketball back in June. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2375375' first='JD' last='Estime'], [player_tooltip player_id='2722003' first='Jeremiah' last='Shealey'] and Jerrin's older brother Jordan (a 6-6 forward with high upside) are also back, so this will be a mature, exciting, and up-tempo group to watch all year. They get North Oconee, South Gwinnett, and Gainesville as non-Region tests to sharpen their iron.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->