Head coach: Eric Holland
2011-12 record: 20-8
The addition of Brannen Greene makes Tift County the team to beat in Georgia.
Photo courtesy of adidas
(6-7, Sr., G/F),
Tadric Jackson (6-2, Jr., G),
Donell Tuff (6-5, Sr., F),
Austin Pickett (5-10, Sr., G),
LaDarius Stewart (6-0, Jr., G),
Rashawn Canady (6-4, Jr., G/F)
Strengths: A young group of Blue Devils were up and down last winter, beating eventual Class AAAAA state champion
Milton but losing some headscratchers along the way and getting bounced in the first round of the state tournament. But Tift County has all five starters back and got a huge transfer in Kansas-bound wing Greene. Jackson gave up football this fall to concentrate on hoops and is a flat-out winner. The burly guard is a little reminiscent of Florida Gator quarterback Jacoby Brissett when he was playing basketball at
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
Question marks: Though Greene and Jackson have experience playing and winning at an elite level on the adidas and Nike summer circuit, respectively, neither has a particularly distinguished resume in high school ball. But they haven't had the luxury of leaning on one another to this point in their careers. If the pieces fit, Tift County should be tough to beat.
