The Georgia high school basketball tournament, in its 90th year, got underway this week with four preliminary games.
The first round begins Friday for the girls and Saturday with the boys. Championships in the five boys and girls classifications will be played March 10-12 at the Gwinnett Place Arena and the Macon Centreplex.
Here is a look at each classification with the teams to beat and the best storylines.
BOYS
MaxPreps Georgia boys basketball playoff brackets
AAAAAMilton, ranked No. 3 nationally in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 boys basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard, can stake a claim as one of Georgia's greatest teams in history by successfully defending its title. The team has four Division I signees in forward
Julian Royal (Georgia Tech) and guards
Shannon Scott (Ohio State),
Dai-Jon Parker (Vanderbilt) and
Jordan Loyd (Furman). Milton's major rivals are
Norcross and
Wheeler (Marietta), schools that have won seven state titles between them in the past eight seasons. The balance of power in AAAAA leans heavily toward metro Atlanta's northern crescent, which means the north-south bracket design is uneven. Wheeler and Norcross, both region champions, would meet in the quarterfinals. Two relatively unheralded teams are going to make the semifinals. Candidates include region champions
Hillgrove (Powder Springs),
Savannah,
Newton (Covington) and
Tift County (Tifton). If the champion isn't Milton, Norcross or Wheeler, it would be the biggest surprise in the highest classification in over a decade.
AAAAMiller Grove (Lithonia), ranked No. 9 nationally in the MaxPreps 25, is the defending champion and team to beat despite losing to Southwest DeKalb last week in the Region 6-AAAA final. Miller Grove is led by
Tony Parker, a 6-foot-9 center with several SEC and ACC offers.
Southwest DeKalb (Decatur) has one of the best junior pairs in the state in
Jordan Price and
William Goodwin.
Fayette County (Fayetteville) (26-2) is the other team that could have the firepower and size to match up with Miller Grove. UNC-Wilmington recruit
Adam Smith of Fayette is one of the state's premier scorers.
Sequoyah (Canton) (28-0) is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in one poll, but a relatively weak schedule and no history of success in the state tournament make the Chiefs an underdog. Sequoyah would meet Miller Grove in the second round. Also watch for
Bainbridge (26-2), probably South Georgia's best team.
AAAColumbia (Decatur) (25-3) is the defending champion and solid favorite. Its backcourt of
Tahj Shamsid-Deen and
Algie Key, III is among the state's best. Columbia has not lost to a Class AAA opponent since the 2009 final against South Atlanta and Derrick Favors. There is no team that stands out as a prime contender. Region champions
Murray County (Chatsworth) (last state playoff win 2006),
Persons (Forsyth) (1968),
Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough) (never),
Carrollton (2003) and
Butler (Augusta) (2006) have little recent success in the state playoffs.
West Hall (Oakwood) was ranked No. 2 but lost to
Franklin County (Carnesville) on a 3-point shot in the final seconds of the Region 8-AAA tournament.
AAGreater Atlanta Christian (Norcross) (23-5) is the defending champion, and its victory over South Atlanta (26-2) in the Region 6-AA final last week solidified that position. GAC's losses are to four out-of-state teams, plus Milton of AAAAA. GAC's top player is
Malcolm Brogdon, a Virginia signee who is scoring 25 points per game.
South Atlanta is led by Alabama signee
Nick Jacobs.
Thomasville, the 2010 runner-up, has one of the state's top juniors in 6-7 forward
Willie Clayton.
Laney (Augusta) (25-1) was undefeated until a surprising loss to
Swainsboro in the 3-AA final last week.
East Hall (Gainesville) is probably the best of the rest among region champions that include
Tattnall County (Reidsville),
Lamar County (Barnesville),
Rockmart and
Kendrick (Columbus).
AThe most unpredictable boys bracket lies in this classification. Defending champ
Wesleyan (Norcross) had to win a preliminary game Tuesday to reach the first round and now faces last year's runner-up
Whitefield Academy (Mableton) in the first round Saturday. Whitefield was ranked No. 1 until it lost last month to
Greenville, which boasts
Kentavious Caldwell, the class's top-rated player.
Wilkinson County (Irwinton), the 2007 champion, is the only unbeaten boys team in Georgia.
Wilcox County (Rochelle) has a top player in Nick Marshall, who has signed with Georgia to play football and basketball. Region champions
Pace Academy (Atlanta) and
North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw) should be watched closely in a class in which private schools have won five of the past eight titles.
Continue reading for girls previews