2017-2018 All Cobb County Teams
The 2017-2018 regular season ended about a week ago. And with region championships in the books, it is state tournament time. With regular season ending, the All Cobb County player of the year and teams are to be announced, for public schools only. Below you can take a look at the player of the year, 1st team, 2nd team, and honorable mentions.
Note: Regular season indicates before region tournament play
2017-2018 Cobb County Player of the Year – 2018 C EJ Montgomery – Wheeler High School
2018 center EJ Montgomery of Wheeler High School receives our 2017-2018 Cobb player of the year award. EJ had a dominating senior season racking up 15 double doubles and also led Cobb in scoring at the end of the regular season averaging 24.5 ppg. Montgomery was also named a McDonald’s All American earlier this season. EJ led Cobb County with seventeen 20+ point games and seven 30+ point games. His season is not over yet as EJ will try to lead his Wheeler squad to it’s first state championship since 2015.
2017-2018 All Cobb 1st Team:
2020 PG Sharife Cooper – McEachern High School
What a breakout sophomore year it has been for the future McDonald’s All American Sharife Cooper. Cooper is one of the leaders of this year’s McEachern’s team. His first break out game of the season was against Holy Spirit Prep as he hit the game tying shot to send the game into overtime and finished with a team high 27 points. It did not stop there for the young sophomore. McEachern participated in the 2017 City of Palms Classic where they defeated national powerhouses Hudson Catholic (NJ), Ranney (NJ), and Simeon (IL) and where Sharife averaged 27 points per game. Cooper continued his great season and was named to 1st team all region for Region 3 class 7A. Sharife ended the regular season averaging 19 points per game.
2018 G DJ Murray – Pebblebrook High School
2018 guard DJ Murray has been one of the leaders of this seasons Pebblebrook squad due to his experience with varsity. It has been a exciting senior season for Murray. He started off his senior campaign with a bang averaging 23 points per game in the first four games. He is a big reason Pebblebrook has won 22 straight games, including what could be called the game winning steal in the Region 2 7A championship. DJ has had 15 games where he had at least 15 or more points in a game, including five 20+ point games. Murray also finished 1st team all region in Region 2 7A.
2018 G Grant Howard – Pebblebrook High School
If you did not know who Grant Howard was before his incredible game winning floater against Wheeler in the Region 2 7A championship you were definitely missing out. Grant transferred to Pebblebrook High School for his senior season after attending Alexander High School, where he averaged 17.7 points per game. His game has improved over the season since he has been at Pebblebrook and has become a main scorer for his squad. Grant, like DJ, has 14 games this season where he had at least 15 or more points. He also has four 20+ point games this year. No doubt that Mr. Howard is a key piece to Pebblebrook’s success this season. Grant has also made 1st team all region in Region 2 7A.
2019 F Isaac Okoro – McEachern High School
2019 forward Isaac Okoro was named Region 3 7A player of the year and that was no surprise. From what I seen all season, Isaac has been unstoppable of getting to the rim and finishing. He has very good size for a kid at his position and has been one of the better defensive players in the country. Isaac finished the regular season averaging 18.5 points per game. Okoro ranks second behind 2018 center EJ Montgomery (Wheeler) with two 30+ point games this season, one of those coming against national powerhouse Christ School (NC) who feature nationally ranked 2019 point guard Jalen Lecque in the 2017 Holiday Hoopsgiving where Isaac dropped 32 points.
2018 WG Mervin James – Pebblebrook High School
The Canisius commit Mervin James has made his statement clear that he is a top 5 wing in the state of Georgia. Playing the 5 spot in Pebblebrook’s offense, Mervin has took advantage of his skills against bigger opponents and actual centers or forwards. James has the potential to knock down the mid range shot with ease. He is a very lengthy wing and that helps his strength on the defensive end of the floor. Mervin is also a tremondous rebounder as well. He has been a huge part of Pebblebrook’s success this season, including their 22 game winning streak. He has also made 1st team all region in Region 2 7A. Mervin finishes out our 2017 1st team All Cobb County team.
2017-2018 All Cobb 2nd Team:
2019 PG Terrell Burden – Campbell High School
I believe if it was not for Sharife Cooper’s success this season, this kid here will be on the 1st team but either way he is an incredible player. Terrell Burden first impressed me when his Campbell team hosted Wheeler back on Dec. 15th and where the junior point guard put up 21 points. Terrell is one of the better ball handlers in the state and also has a pull up jump shot where he can get off. He is able to get by his defenders and take them to the basket and can take the contact and finish. Terrell is not afraid of contact and the physical play. He might have the performance of the year, from what I seen, when he finished with 31 points on the road against South Cobb in a very hositle and live environment. Burden is also locked in on the defensive side of the ball as he has at least 9 games with at least 2 steals in a game. Terrell finished the regular season averaging 17.3 points per game and made 1st team all region in Region 2 7A.
2018 G Josh Strong – Kennesaw Mountain High School
One of the most not talked about players this season has been Josh Strong of Kennesaw Mountain. Josh has quietly averaged 19.7 points per game in the regular season, which ranks 2nd behind 2018 center EJ Montgomery (Wheeler). Josh also ranks 2nd behind EJ in 20+ point games where he racked up 10 for the year so far. Strong is one of Cobb’s best shooters and has made 1st team all region in Region 3 7A.
2019 WG Donovan Grant – Campbell High School
Here is another quiet performer we do not pay enough attention to. Donovan Grant finished the regular season averaging 16.7 points per game for Campbell and making 2nd team all region for Region 2 7A. Donovan is tied for 5th in 20+ point game performances with 7 in the season so far. Donovan might not be the most coordinated, but he is a hustler and great rebounder. He, along with Terrell Burden, will tried to lead their Campbell squad pass the defending class 7A champs Tift County.
2019 WG Jayln McCreary – Kennesaw Mountain High School
After sitting out on varisty for his sophomore year due to GHSA rules, Jalyn McCreary has bounced back with an impressive junior year with Kennesaw Mountain. McCreary finished the regular season averaging 18.3 points per game, which ranks 5th in Cobb County public school scoring. Jalyn is one of the improving wings in the state. Like 2018 wing Mervin James (Pebblebrook), Jalyn plays the 5 for his team in Kennesaw Mountain’s offense. He is able to beat his defenders off the dribble and he is an excellent floor runner. His long arms helps him on the defensive end and is one of the better rebounders we have in Cobb. Jayln is tied for 2nd with his running mate Josh Strong for the most 20+ point games this season in Cobb County racking up 10 this season. Jayln also finished the season making 1st team all region for Region 3 7A.
2019 F Kevin Hester – North Cobb High School
Kevin Hester rounds out our 2nd team all region team for Cobb County public schools. Hester has had an improving junior season and has led North Cobb to an improving 14-12 record after going 3-20 the previous year. Kevin can literally be a force in the inside and the paint. He ranks 2nd in double doubles this season in Cobb County behind EJ Montgomery (Wheeler). His finishing abilites are impressive and with his big hands he is able to snatch down rebounds on offense and defense. Kevin finished the regular season averaging 16 points per game and making 1st team all region for Region 3 7A.
2017-2018 All Cobb Honorable Mentions:
2018 shooting guard Josh Graham – Pebblebrook High School
2018 wing Brandon Younger – Wheeler High School
2019 center Babatunde Akingbola – McEachern High School
2019 point guard Jalen Harper – Pebblebrook High School
2019 shooting guard Isaac Martin – Wheeler High School
2019 forward Jared Jones – McEachern High School
2018 wing Kiya Randolph – Campbell High School
2019 wing Brandon Deravaine – Campbell High School
2018 poing guard Roscoe Spurill – South Cobb High School
2018 combo guard Micah McCuen – Sprayberry High School
2018 wing Khadim Samb – Sprayberry High School
2018 wing Jackson Baylark – Pope High School
2018 forward Blaine McDonough – Walton High School
2019 point guard Orry Owens – Hillgrove High School
2018 poing guard Jahwan Smith – Kell High School
2018 combo guard Sayvon Delgado – Kell High School