Blue Devils look to return to state championship form, extend streak of eight seasons with 26 wins or more.
BACK TO NO. 9 – PRESEASON XCELLENT 25 – CONTINUE TO NO. 7
8. Norcross (Norcross, Ga.)
Head coach: Jesse McMillan
2009-10 record: 27-3
Key returnees: Chris Bolden (6-2, 185, Jr., G, Miami), Brelan Butler (6-3, 180, Sr., G/F), Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (6-8, 200, Sr., F, Richmond), E. Victor Nickerson (6-6, 175, Sr., G/F, UNC-Charlotte), Josiah Moore (6-5, 185, Sr., G, Nebraska), Nate Sims (6-3, 190, Jr., G)
Keep an eye on: Rod Booker (6-7, 190, Sr., F), Derrick Herbert (6-1, 165, Jr., G)
Scouting report: Picking Norcross this high was a bit of a conflict. The Blue Devils are loaded with talent and tradition, but the schedule isn't designed to produce a glossy record.
Thankfully, McMillan isn't worried about national rankings.
"If we were new to the scene and new to success, we might be worried about that stuff," McMillan said. "But we have been there for a decade and people know our program. It's really about preparing for the state playoffs. We want to see where we are and keep the guys focused."
With a roster featuring four players already committed to Division I schools, Norcross opens against Florida powers Oldsmar Christian and Arlington Country Day at the Iverify Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. Games against in-state juggernauts Milton and Wheeler will be in the books before Christmas break. Add in the Chick-Fil-A Classic, Memphis vs. Atlanta Shootout, Hoops in Overdrive Shootout and the program's own Marriott Invitational and the Blue Devils have their hands full.
It's all by design as state championships won't come easy in Georgia this year with at least five programs on the national Top-50 radar. And Norcross is still stinging from a controversial, 52-51 loss to Milton in last year's playoffs.
"It is a motivator," McMillan said. "It wasn't easy for Milton to win state, but they won it convincingly. Now we want the opportunity to do that. It helped to illustrate the point with our guys, it's little things that count."
In addition to Bolden, Nelson-Ododa, Nickerson and Moore, McMillan is expecting big things from transfer Herbert.
"He is perfect for what we are trying to do," said McMillan, entering his third year as head coach of the program. "He will be a big key for us. He is really the only true point guard on the roster so we expect big minutes and a lot of our success will hinge on him."
BACK TO NO. 9 – PRESEASON XCELLENT 25 – CONTINUE TO NO. 7
