By Lee Wilson
MaxPreps.com
Derrick Favors is considered to be the top basketball recruit in the country, and the South Atlanta High School product had narrowed his wish list of colleges down to Memphis, Georgia and Georgia Tech. Last Wednesday, he made his choice: Geogia Tech.
Favors made the announcement in front of local and national media on ESPN at thee ESPN Zone in Buckhead, just outside of Atlanta. Though Favors chose the Yellow Jackets, which is right around the corner for all of his family and friends, the center said it was not an easy choice.
It was even reported that Georgia was his favorite campus after his official visit to Athens last summer. In the end, proximity, history and the lure of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball won over Favors.
“I wanted to play in the ACC,” Favors told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I love Georgia, but when I was at home thinking about it, I’d rather be at Georgia Tech.”
The commitment also means that Tech head coach Paul Hewitt has recruited probably his best class which includes guards Glen Rice Jr. of Walton, Mfon Udofia of Miller Grove, and forwards Kammeon Holsey of Hancock Central and Brian Oliver of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.
Even his high school basketball coach suggested Favors' time at Tech could be brief.
“He’s headed to the next two levels,” South Atlanta head coach Michael Reddick told the AJC. “College for sure, and if he keeps developing, I think it will be a very short college stay. I can see him playing in the NBA for a long time.”
Boys Basketball: South Atlanta falls to Alabama’s LeFlore on ESPN2
One day after Derrick Favors committed to Georgia Tech on national television, he got a chance to show off his game to the country as his South Atlanta Hornets took on LeFlore of Alabama on ESPN2.
Favors finished with 36 points and 14 rebounds in competition with LeFlore big man and heralded recruit DeMarcus Cousins, who finished with 21 points. But in the end it was LeFlore that came out with the 78-66 victory.
The Alabama squad took off an a 20-0 run in the second half that put things out of reach for South Atlanta.
The Hornets will get another crack at a national television game. Next they will take on Oak Hill in Virginia. Oak Hill has produced players like Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks.
Oak Hill features a 6-8 center in Keith Gallons and a 6-6 guard Brian Oliver who, like Favors, has committed to Georgia Tech.
Wrestling: Lafayette earns third state title
The class AAA wrestling championship was decided by a single point, and in the end it was Lafayette that outlasted Eastside 31-30 for the state title.
With the victory, Lafayette set a unique record by earning a title in its third classification – this year in Class AAA, Class AAAA in 2004 and last year in class AA.
More Wrestling: Jefferson makes eight look great
After seven straight Class A state titles, Jefferson was preparing for its first ever run in Class AA. It is safe to say the powerhouse belongs in its new classification with a 49-14 win over Lovett for the state title, its first in AA.
When asked if winning state titles ever got old, Jefferson head coach Doug Thurmond had a perfect answer.
“It never gets to be old hat because if it did, you’re in the wrong business,” Thurmond told the AJC. “It’s all about the kids; it ain’t me. A coach is only as good as the kids he has.”
With Jefferson out of the way, Bremen defeated Wesleyan 29-24 for the Class A title.
The Blue Devils, runners-up five different times, including last season at the hands of Jefferson, got a 7-5 decision from Dylan Sheppard to clinch the school’s first state title.
