PLETHORA OF GUARDS/WINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON
by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP

                        The Peachtree State has produced more than its share of great players over the years with phenomenal athleticism and/or excellent size - i.e. 6'9 Derrick Favors from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA in 2009; 6'9 Al-Farouq Aminu from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'8 Chris Singleton from Dunwoody (H.S.) GA, 6'8 Wesley Witherspoon from Lilburn (Berkmar) GA, 6'7 Tony Mitchell from Swainsboro (H.S.) GA, 6'6 DeQuan Jones from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'10 Tony Woods from Rome (H.S.) GA, and 6'8 Howard Thompkins from Norcross (Wesleyan) GA in 2008; 6'9 James Hickson from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'8 Gani Lawal from Norcross (H.S.) GA, 6'4 Chris Allen from Lawrenceville (Meadowcreek) GA, and 6'2 Senario Hillman from Irwinton (Wilkinson County) GA in 2007; 6'6 Javaris Crittenton from Atlanta (Southeast Atlanta Christian) GA and 6'4 Jodie Meeks from Norcross (H.S.) GA in 2006; 6'2 Louis Williams from Snellville (South Gwinnett) GA, 6'3 Lewis Clinch from Cordale (Crisp County) GA, 6'7 Korvotney Barber from Manchester (H.S.) GA, and 6'3 Michael Mercer from Snellville (South Gwinnett) GA in 2005; 6'11 Dwight Howard from Atlanta (Southeast Atlanta Christian) GA, 6'11 Randolph Morris from Fairburn (Landmark Christian) GA, 6'9 Josh Smith from Marietta (McEachern) GA, and 6'2 Toney Douglas from Jonesboro (H.S.) GA in 2004; 6'9 Brent Petway from Griffin (H.S.) GA, 6'3 Vincent Banks from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6'9 Jemario Davidson from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, and 6'8 Alex Weeks from Lilburn (Berkmar) GA in 2003; 6'10 Alexander Johnson from Albany (Dougherty) GA and 6'8 Al Thornton from Perry (H.S.) GA in 2002; 6'11 Kwame Brown from Brunswick (Glynn Academy) GA and 6'4 Anthony Rice from North Clayton (College Park) GA in 2001, 6'4 A.J. Moye from Atlanta (Westlake) GA in 2000; 6'6 Donnell Harvey from Cuthbert (Randolph Clay) GA in 1999; 6'4 Ronald Blackshear from Camilla (Mitchell Baker) GA and 6'0 Tony Atkins from Lilburn (Berkmar) GA in 1998; 6'4 Dion Glover from Decatur (Cedar Grove) GA and 6'8 Jumaine Jones from Camilla (Mitchell-Baker) GA in 1997; 6'9 Anthony Dent from Edison (Calhoun County) GA and 6'11 Pablo Machado from Tifton (Tift County) GA in 1996; 6'9 Shareef Abdur-Rahim from Marietta (H.S.) GA, 6'3 Vonteego Cummings from Thomson (H.S.) GA, and 6'2 Ricky Moore from Augusta (Westside) GA in 1995; 6'2 Michael Spruell from Albany (H.S.) GA in 1994; 6'8 Dontonio Wingfield from Albany (Westover) GA in 1993; 6'9 Carlos Strong from Athens (Cedar Shoals) GA and 6'1 Octavious Thomas from Atlanta (George) GA in 1992; 6'7 James Forrest from Atlanta (Southside) GA, 6'10 Sharone Wright from Macon (Southwest) GA, and 6'8 Al Pinkins from Camilla (Mitchell-Baker) GA in 1991; 6'6 Darrin Hancock from Griffin (H.S.) GA and 6'7 Greg Minor from Saundersville (Washington County) GA in 1990; 6'9 Wayne Buckingham from Atlanta (Southside) GA in 1989; 6'9 Stanley Williams from Alma (Bacon County) GA in 1988; 6'6 Eric Manual from Macon (Southwest) GA in 1987; 6'4 Brian Oliver from Smyrna (Willis) GA and 6'6 Derrick Miller from Savannah (Bible Baptist) GA in 1986; 6'9 Pervis Ellison from Savannah (H.S.) GA in 1985; 6'9 Cedric Henderson from Marietta (Wheeler) GA and 6'9 Cedric Jenkins from Dawson (Terrell County) GA in 1984; 6'2 Gerald White from Augusta (Richmond) GA in 1983, 6'8 Kenny Walker from Roberta (Crawford County) GA in 1982; 6'7 Richard Corhen from Albany (Dougherty) GA in 1981; 6'6 James Banks from Atlanta (Smith) GA in 1980; 6'7 Dale Ellis from Marietta (H.S.) GA, 6'7 Terry Fair from Macon (Southwest) GA, and 6'4 Michael Hunt from Macon (Southwest) GA in 1979; 6'5 Derek Smith from Hogansville (H.S.) GA and 6'7 Wylie Brown from Sylvester (Worth County) GA in 1978; 6'6 Al Wood from Gray (Jones County) GA in 1977; et al.
                        But the Class of 2010 in Georgia lacks both depth and size, as the top eight players in the state - 6'6 Jelan Kendrick from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'0 Ryan Harrow from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, 6'4 Jordan McRae from Hinesville (Liberty County) GA, 6'2 Trae Golden from Powder Springs (McEachern) GA, 6'4 Jeremy Lamb from Norcross (H.S.) GA, 6'4 Rion Brown from Hinesville (Liberty County) GA, 5'8 Phil Taylor from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, and 6'4 Jershon Cobb from Decatur (Columbia) GA - are all guards.  We do suspect that Kendrick and Harrow will be named to play in the McDonald's All-American Game next spring and we currently have Kendrick, Harrow, McRae, Golden, Lamb, Brown, and Taylor all ranked among our top 100 seniors nationally.  However, there is a big drop after that and, as a result, the pickings for college recruiters are pretty slim, especially with the verbal commitments earlier this week by Golden to Tennessee and Lamb to Connecticut, as only one of the above mentioned players is still on the board.  And 6'6 Jalen Kendrick from Marietta (Wheeler) GA, who is recruited by schools like Memphis, Georgia Tech, UCLA, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgetown, Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas, is not expected to make a decision until spring. 
                        The Class of 2011 has a lot more depth and is a lot more versatile, as 6'8 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'8 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, and 6'9 Jr Tim Dixon from Columbus (Kendrick) GA are legitimate inside players and 6'7 Jr Dominick McCoy from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA and 6'7 Jr Henry Brooks from Lithonia (Miller Grove) GA are both capable of playing either forward spot.  We also think it is really telling that the junior class is a lot like the Class of 2007 was in Georgia, as there are a dozen players - 6'4 Jr Kevin Ware from Conyers (Rockdale) GA, 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'3 Jr Daj Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'4 Jr Kentavious Caldwell from Greenville (H.S.) GA, 6'8 Jr Nick Jacobs from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6'8 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'7 Jr Dominick McCoy from Atlanta (South Atlanta) GA, 6'3 Jr Nick Marshall from Rochelle (Wilcox County) GA, 6'3 Jr Algie Key from Atlanta (Lakeside) GA, 6'7 Jr Henry Brooks from Lithonia (Miller Grove) GA, 6'9 Jr Tim Dixon from Columbus (Kendrick) GA, and 6'0 Jr Jaquez Motley from Ludowici (Faith Baptist Christian) GA - who currently project as high major recruits.  And to make things even more interesting is the fact that nobody has really stepped up and clearly established himself as the best player in the class.  However, 6'2 Jr Shannon Scott from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, 6'3 Jr Daj Jon Parker from Alpharetta (Milton) GA, and 6'8 Jr Julian Royal from Alpharetta (Milton) GA will all get a chance to make their case in front of all of the national scouts who will be in attendance at this year's City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, FL. 
                        The next great class in the Peachtree State promises to be the Class of 2012, which features four legitimate McDonald's All-American candidates in 6'8 Soph Tony Parker from Lithonia (Miller Grove) GA, 6'7 Soph Willie Clayton from Thomasville (H.S.) GA, 6'5 Soph William "Shaquille" Goodwin from Decatur (Southwest Dekalb) GA, and 6'5 Soph Jordan Adams from Lawrenceville (Central Gwinnett) GA.  And that number would be five, if 6'4 Soph Jordan Price, who was the #1-ranked player in the state in his class, hadn't transferred from Decatur (Columbia) GA to Chattanooga (McCallie) TN.
                        Our Georgia Editor Horace Neysmith tells us that it is not yet been determined how good the Class of 2013 is in the state, although there is a good mix of guards and post guys with players like 5'11 Frosh Tadrick Jackson from Tifton (Tift County) GA, 6'6 Frosh Chris Davenport from Atlanta (Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy) GA, 6'1 Frosh Delano Spencer from Lilburn (Parkview) GA, 5'6 Frosh Tahj Shamsid-Deen from Decatur (Columbia) GA, 6'3 Frosh Burse from Alpharetta (H.S.) GA, 6'7 Frosh Desmond Ringer from McDonough (Eagles Landings) GA, and 6'6 Frosh A.J. Davis from Norcross (Great Atlanta Christian) GA.  And that doesn't even include 6'6 Frosh Terrence O'Donohue, who was one of the top players in his class in the state, but has followed Jordan Price to Chattanooga (McCallie) TN. 
                        There also some special middle school players in the state like 6'4 8th Grader Ali Vaughn from Columbus (Middle) GA, 5'11 8th Grader Justin Jefferson from Powder Springs (McEachern) GA, 6'5 7th Grader Kewan Johnson from Atlanta (Sandtown Middle) GA, and 5'5 6th Grader Christian Turner from Tyrone (Burch Elementary) GA.  Especially noteworthy is the fact that Johnson, who played up two years on the J-Smoove Allstars in the AAU 14-Under Nationals, where he was ranked #81 by the HOOP SCOOP a-month-and-a-half ago, is one of the top two or three players nationally in his class.