GIRLSMaxPreps Georgia girls basketball playoff bracketsAAAAANorcross, which began the year nationally ranked, is the defending champion and team to beat, though its two regular-season losses to
North Gwinnett (Suwanee) are proof of vulnerability. Norcross' top player is
Diamond Deshields, perhaps the county's No. 1 sophomore. North Gwinnett also has a top-flight sophomore in guard Lexie Brown, who has committed to Maryland.
Bradwell Institute (Hinesville) is the only undefeated team in the classification, but the Tigers' most noteworthy victory was against a Class A team (Taylor County) that finished third in its region tournament. Other region champions are
Campbell (Smyrna),
Stephenson (Stone Mountain),
Roswell,
Brookwood (Snellville) and
Etowah (Woodstock).
AAAAThe No. 1-ranked team after the regular season,
Chamblee, was upset in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AAAA tournament and failed to make state in a classification that is now anybody's guess. Also decked in Region 8 was Southwest DeKalb, the 2010 champion that will not defend.
Redan (Stone Mountain), champion of Class AAAAA in 2008 and 2009 and runner-up in 2010, is the most proven program, though largely rebuilt from last season.
Douglas County (Douglasville) is unbeaten, but against a lesser schedule.
Fayette County (Fayetteville) (25-3, won 14 consecutive games) and No. 4
Forest Park (22-5, undefeated against Georgia teams) are hot. Also watch for
Chattahoochee (Alpharetta), which could be boosted by the return of Georgia-signee Erika Ford, out since December with a leg injury.
AAA
Defending champion
Columbia (Decatur) (22-6) was probably the favorite until losing in its region final to
St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta) on a buzzer-beating shot. No one would be surprised if Columbia wound up with the trophy again, but top-ranked
Washington County (Sandersville) (27-0) has a player of the year candidate in sophomore Allisha Gray, and
Dalton, led by Louisville-bound center Quaneisha McCurty, is 28-0 and seeking its first state title. Other region champions are
Rutland (Macon),
Drew (Atlanta),
Dougherty (Albany),
LaGrange and
Franklin County (Carnesville).
AAThe brackets are aligned for a title match between
Kendrick (Columbus) (27-0) and two-time defending champ
Buford (24-3), but Kendrick must face
Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross) – the team that beat Buford in the Region 6-AA final – in the quarterfinals to get there.
Vidalia (27-0) also is in the Kendrick-GAC side of the draw. Also look out for
Laney (Augusta) (26-1) and
Thomasville (23-2). Despite its loss in the region playoffs, Buford still might be the favorite. Its top players are junior
Andraya Carter and sophomore
Kaela Davis, who have committed to Tennessee.
A Wesleyan (Norcross) (26-2) has won state titles in seven of the past nine seasons, and the latest team is potentially Georgia's best in any classification. Its losses are to Norcross and Spring Valley, the top-ranked team in South Carolina. Wesleyan has beaten North Gwinnett, which beat Norcross twice. Wesleyan's top players are
Holli Wilkins (daughter of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins) and 1,000-point scorer
Grace Leah Baughn. An average margin of victory of 20 points per game through the state tournament would not be surprising. Teams that could put up a good fight are
Taylor County (Butler),
Bryan County (Pembroke),
Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta) and
St. Francis (Alpharetta).