After watching 680 The Fan acquire local flagship radio rights to the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks over the last few years, Sports Radio 790 The Zone got into the game and snagged the rights to the NFC South Champion Atlanta Falcons for the next four years. It was announced on 790’s Pollack & Bell last Monday that the Falcons would be moving to WQXI 790 on the AM dial and to Star 94.1 WSTR on the FM dial. The games had been airing on 92.9 Dave FM, with 790 talent providing the pregame and postgame talent for Dave FM. The Zone and Star 94 will broadcast all of the preseason and regular season games as well as the pregame and postgame on both stations in a simulcast.
In a piece found on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s website, Vice President and General Manager of 790 Andrew Saltzman said, “We are thrilled to be partners with the pre-eminent sports franchise in Atlanta. Both Star 94 and 790 The Zone have always been part of the fabric of Atlanta and with the passion for the Falcons at an all time high right now, we are very excited about our future together.”
790 The Zone’s Wes Durham will continue to call play-by-play and Zone fill-in Dave Archer will continue his role with color commentary. Zone talent will also help with the halftime show and pre- and postgame as well, just like before. The Falcons also partnered up with CBS Atlanta 46 and the local station will air Falcons preseason games and will integrate 790 talent into the Falcons branded programming, according to the article from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
This is a big get for The Zone as the mantra of “Football Lives Here” was beaten into the heads of listeners all football season long. Now, much like 680 has jumped full-bore into baseball with its Braves coverage, expect EVEN MORE football talk on 790, especially with Pollack & Bell, who seem to talk nothing but football on the drive home. Football is king in the South and you can get away with talking football twelve months a year, but I wonder if the “Matty Slushy” talk will cease now that 790 is the Falcons’ flagship. You can boast that you’ll still be objective all the day long like Mike Bell did about ten minutes after it was announced that The Zone was the new home of the Dirty Birds, but I wonder if push comes to shove, if the Zone personalities’ will have to clean up some negative thoughts after a rough game.
Is it just me or does NO ONE else care about the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement talks and having to hear about the progress being made, or not, everyday leading every radio show on Atlanta sports talk? Sorry but I just don’t give a rip about the billionaires and the multi-millionaires arguing over the last $850M after the first $8.1B has been split up favorably for both sides. Do I want football next year? Yes. But I don’t care about hearing that the owners want 61% while the players want 48%, whatever. Split it how you want to but please stop treating these discussions with such importance. Like many football fans, I don’t care. In fact, it makes me like EACH side much less and will push me farther towards the college game with each new day that leads to SportsCenter and The Fan and The Zone beginning each show talking about the discussions.
I think it is say to say that there is one lady that the eternal-Ladies Man Mike Bell of 790 The Zone doesn’t like: Doris Burke. The ESPN basketball color analyst was in town to do the Hawks/Knicks game for ESPN last week and Bell ripped on her for several segments on last Monday’s show, once opining that there were one million dudes who could do what she did. He wants someone who once played the game to call color commentary, and while I can see how someone would want that point of view, I also point out that it is nice NOT to have a Dick Vitale in the booth, which is sometimes what you run into in those cases where you simply want someone who has been around the game. I am not defending Burke; I don’t like Pam Ward calling football games either. But she does bring a certain style to the games, even if you don’t believe that she’s ever been in an NBA locker room, which she hasn’t. If given my choice between Vitale and Burke, as crazy as it sounds, I’d take Burke.
Finally, the Georgia High School basketball playoffs are coming to an end this weekend and Georgia Public Broadcasting will be all over it. After GPB.org/sport webcast all of the Class 4A and 5A boys and girls semifinal games live from the Arena at Gwinnett Center this past Wednesday and Thursday, GPB-TV will hit the airwaves will all of title tilts, both boys and girls. Not many states across the country can boast that all of the football championship games AND all of the basketball championship games can be seen live on television. Georgia Public Broadcasting hits about 96% of the state so you can be anywhere from Calhoun to Savannah, Augusta to Columbus and check out the games. GPB and the GHSA recently agreed to extend its partnership several more years into the future so look for more high school activities to hit the airwaves over the next few years. The GHSA and GPB aired the Traditional Wrestling championships last month and could grow to include a few more sports in the near future. Of course if you cannot watch all of the basketball championships, GPB.org/sports and gaprepnews.com have you covered as both sites will keep the archived games.
Can You Believe He Said That
“It tends to get lost amid the swarm of bitter folks who seemingly are taking glee in Hewitt’s demise: The man is not an idiot.”
That was Jeff Schultz of the AJC. See Mark Bradley, you CAN talk about Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt’s potential firing without getting gleefully personal and attacking the man who led Tech to an appearance in the NCAA championship game but never to probation. Way to backtrack though, Mr. Bradley and call Tech a potential sleeper in the NCAA tourney. Feeling the Seth Davis heat a touch?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Who totes until Crowell gets to Athens
Isaiah Crowell has been called the best high school Peach State tailback since Herschel Walker. Like Walker, Crowell will be a Georgia Bulldog and Georgia fans are hoping that Crowell’s first year on campus mirrors Walker’s freshman season, culminating in an undefeated national championship. While the expectations may be through the roof once Crowell steps on campus this summer, this spring several backs will be looking to make enough of an impact that Crowell also starts the season the way Walker did: on the bench.
The University of Georgia entered the 2010 season with two backs and a veteran offensive line, but the Bulldog running game never got going. The current roster does have a small stable of backs though that could certainly give Mark Richt something to think about heading into the 2011 season before Crowell likely enters the depth chart as the top back. As a true freshman Washaun Ealey did not start immediately but eventually led the team in rushing once on the field. Ealey struggled when on the field last season, losing fumbles in critical situations, however it is impossible to not see a runner capable of dominating if given enough carries. Against Georgia Tech, Ealey was handed the ball 13 times and games 118 yards including two scores. Against Kentucky he toted the rock 28 times for 157 yards and tallied five rushing scores. Against Vanderbilt, Ealey rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries. Ealey has the body and the speed to excel for Richt’s 2011 edition if given the carries and if he can stay out of trouble. Ealey was briefly suspended from the team but he has since been allowed back in the team. As a rising-junior Ealey is the back with the most experience that could keep Crowell off of the field and he will, assuming he stays on the straight and narrow, grab most of the carries before Crowell arrives in Athens.
Carlton Thomas has been something of a mystery through his redshirt sophomore year at Georgia. Thomas was seen by some as the second-coming of Tyson Browning, who had several important moments for Richt’s Bulldogs teams in the past. Thomas has been a workout fiend during his run in Athens and gets carries during games because he is a weekday warrior. He scored two touchdowns in 2010 with 272 yards on 64 carries. While he isn’t a threat to start, he will likely get some carries during the spring as a change-of-pace back. Thomas probably shouldn’t be used as a between-the-tackles runner but he can hit the corner and if he continues to impress the coaches enough, Thomas will certainly get some totes this spring.
The last running back that will see plenty of action this spring before Crowell’s arrival is redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome. According to reports, Richt weighed stripping Malcome’s redshirt several times last season, looking for a spark, however Richt decided to leave Malcome on the sidelines to learn. Malcome has the burst that will remind some of Knowshon Moreno, who dazzled with his athletic ability. Wearing Moreno’s old No. 24, Malcome has the speed, having been a track sprinter in high school but also the moves to bring back the memories of Moreno, circa 2007.
These three backs will likely get the most carries this spring before Isaiah Crowell arrives. Crowell was one of the top backs in the country and who knows if Richt promised him the starting spot against Boise State, but he is coming to Athens with plenty of expectations. If Malcome, Ealey or Thomas hope to carry the ball first against the Broncos in the Georgia Dome to open up 2011, each would need to rock spring drills and the spring game. Even then though it may still not be enough. Bulldog fans are hoping Crowell drives the bus in 2011; look for these three to simply start the ignition and keep the seat warm.
The University of Georgia entered the 2010 season with two backs and a veteran offensive line, but the Bulldog running game never got going. The current roster does have a small stable of backs though that could certainly give Mark Richt something to think about heading into the 2011 season before Crowell likely enters the depth chart as the top back. As a true freshman Washaun Ealey did not start immediately but eventually led the team in rushing once on the field. Ealey struggled when on the field last season, losing fumbles in critical situations, however it is impossible to not see a runner capable of dominating if given enough carries. Against Georgia Tech, Ealey was handed the ball 13 times and games 118 yards including two scores. Against Kentucky he toted the rock 28 times for 157 yards and tallied five rushing scores. Against Vanderbilt, Ealey rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries. Ealey has the body and the speed to excel for Richt’s 2011 edition if given the carries and if he can stay out of trouble. Ealey was briefly suspended from the team but he has since been allowed back in the team. As a rising-junior Ealey is the back with the most experience that could keep Crowell off of the field and he will, assuming he stays on the straight and narrow, grab most of the carries before Crowell arrives in Athens.
Carlton Thomas has been something of a mystery through his redshirt sophomore year at Georgia. Thomas was seen by some as the second-coming of Tyson Browning, who had several important moments for Richt’s Bulldogs teams in the past. Thomas has been a workout fiend during his run in Athens and gets carries during games because he is a weekday warrior. He scored two touchdowns in 2010 with 272 yards on 64 carries. While he isn’t a threat to start, he will likely get some carries during the spring as a change-of-pace back. Thomas probably shouldn’t be used as a between-the-tackles runner but he can hit the corner and if he continues to impress the coaches enough, Thomas will certainly get some totes this spring.
The last running back that will see plenty of action this spring before Crowell’s arrival is redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome. According to reports, Richt weighed stripping Malcome’s redshirt several times last season, looking for a spark, however Richt decided to leave Malcome on the sidelines to learn. Malcome has the burst that will remind some of Knowshon Moreno, who dazzled with his athletic ability. Wearing Moreno’s old No. 24, Malcome has the speed, having been a track sprinter in high school but also the moves to bring back the memories of Moreno, circa 2007.
These three backs will likely get the most carries this spring before Isaiah Crowell arrives. Crowell was one of the top backs in the country and who knows if Richt promised him the starting spot against Boise State, but he is coming to Athens with plenty of expectations. If Malcome, Ealey or Thomas hope to carry the ball first against the Broncos in the Georgia Dome to open up 2011, each would need to rock spring drills and the spring game. Even then though it may still not be enough. Bulldog fans are hoping Crowell drives the bus in 2011; look for these three to simply start the ignition and keep the seat warm.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Dawgs want Ogletree to be closer to the ball
When a player changes a position during spring practice, usually it isn’t that newsworthy as the player was likely struggling at his old spot or not getting enough reps and the staff though to utilize him in a different spot. The Alec Ogletree move from safety to linebacker is a not one of those cases. As a true freshman in 2010, Ogletree appeared in twelve games, starting five, and made enough of an impact that he was crowned Newcomer of the Year on defense by Georgia and the SEC placed him on the All-SEC Freshman team.
Suddenly Ogletree’s move makes you scratch your head considering now the safety position loses perhaps its fiercest hitter and its best player down the stretch. If you really want the reason for the switch though, maybe it is best to open up the Georgia history books and read about one Thomas Davis. Like Ogletree, Davis was a huge-hitting safety during his time in Athens. However Davis was a liability on coverage, with no better example being the 2004 Tennessee game where Davis was exploited early in a Volunteer upset. With Ogletree’s size, 6’3, 225, he has the height and speed of a safety but the size of a linebacker. With that rare combination, as good as he is a safety, speed kills at linebacker and in the 3-4 he can help out in coverage and well as jump up to stop the run. In the “let’s get faster on defense” era of defense, moving a safety with Ogletree’s size to LB will only help the Bulldogs adapt quicker to the 3-4.
Even in high school, you could tell that Ogletree would likely end up at linebacker. He usually walked up from the safety spot to help stop the run. Now he can certain cover a tight end or a slot receiver if need be for Todd Grantham’s defense. Ogletree didn’t do anything wrong. The coaches simply saw a player with a unique blend of size and speed and decided to move him closer to the ball to take advantage of his abilities. The gaping hole at safety? Worry about that later.
Ogletree will certainly surpass the tackles he racked up last year, likely in the first four games of the year. Thomas Davis was moved from safety to linebacker in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the draft. The Georgia coaches are just speeding up the eventual move for Ogletree. If history repeats itself, that just means Ogletree will crush heads for another few years in Athens before becoming a first round draft pick. I think the coaches will take that.
Suddenly Ogletree’s move makes you scratch your head considering now the safety position loses perhaps its fiercest hitter and its best player down the stretch. If you really want the reason for the switch though, maybe it is best to open up the Georgia history books and read about one Thomas Davis. Like Ogletree, Davis was a huge-hitting safety during his time in Athens. However Davis was a liability on coverage, with no better example being the 2004 Tennessee game where Davis was exploited early in a Volunteer upset. With Ogletree’s size, 6’3, 225, he has the height and speed of a safety but the size of a linebacker. With that rare combination, as good as he is a safety, speed kills at linebacker and in the 3-4 he can help out in coverage and well as jump up to stop the run. In the “let’s get faster on defense” era of defense, moving a safety with Ogletree’s size to LB will only help the Bulldogs adapt quicker to the 3-4.
Even in high school, you could tell that Ogletree would likely end up at linebacker. He usually walked up from the safety spot to help stop the run. Now he can certain cover a tight end or a slot receiver if need be for Todd Grantham’s defense. Ogletree didn’t do anything wrong. The coaches simply saw a player with a unique blend of size and speed and decided to move him closer to the ball to take advantage of his abilities. The gaping hole at safety? Worry about that later.
Ogletree will certainly surpass the tackles he racked up last year, likely in the first four games of the year. Thomas Davis was moved from safety to linebacker in the NFL after being selected in the first round of the draft. The Georgia coaches are just speeding up the eventual move for Ogletree. If history repeats itself, that just means Ogletree will crush heads for another few years in Athens before becoming a first round draft pick. I think the coaches will take that.
Monday, March 7, 2011
BIG B’s Top 10 Most Talented Seniors Still Remaining
Brian Jones of Score Atlanta Fame drops another Top Ten list, this time the most talented seniors remaining in the GHSA playoffs. 4A and 5A Semifinals can be seen on gpb.org/sports. I'll have the second two games Wednesday and Thursday LIVE from the Gwinnett Arena.
10) Brianna Banks: 5-9 Point guard out of Fayette County. Tremendous ball skills and scoring ability. McDonalds All-American. Will play Chattahoochee in Final Four on Wednesday in Gwinnett. I think Brianna leads her team to another victory. Singed with UCONN;
9) DeArica Hamby: 6-3, forward out of Norcross. Can be a really effective scorer, but sometimes doesn’t start. Signed with Wake Forest. She gets a top Campbell team on Thursday;
8) E. Victor Nickerson: 6-6, 175-pound SF out of Norcross. Committed to Charlotte. Great body, can shoot, and take his man off the dribble, also a top defender. Shutdown Ronald Wamer of PT Ridge, but needs to improve skills with the ball. Norcross gets a No. 2 seed in Valdosta on Thursday;
7) Devon Provost: 6-3, 175-pound SF out of Miller Grove. Athletic guy who can defend and score in transition, and attacking the rim. No offers. Has a great battle with James White, Arkansas Little Rock commitment, and Rasham Suarez, who’s going to Georgia Southern;
6) Kevin Ware: 6-4, 167-poung SG out of Rockdale. Committed to Tennessee. He gets Fayette County on Wednesday, which means he gets top scorer/SG Adam Smith (North Carolina Wilmington);
5) Malcolm Brogdon: 6-5, 200-pound SG out of GAC. Committed to UVA. Good all-around player. Gets Swainsboro, a No. 1 seed, down in Macon on Thursday;
4) Shannon Scott: 6-2, 175-pound PG out of Milton. Committed to Ohio State. Does it all. Milton gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday. Tift has victories of 13, 4, and 14 points so far;
3) Dai-Jon Parker: 6-3, 170-pound SG out of Milton. Committed to Vanderbilt. Gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday;
2) Julian Royal: 6-8, 225-pound PF out of Milton. Committed to Georgia Tech. Gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday. Who’s the best of the three?
1) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 6-6, 185-pound SG out of Greenville. Committed to Georgia. He gets an epic showdown with top-ranked Wilkinson County in Macon on Wednesday at 5:30. Had 40 in last outing.
10) Brianna Banks: 5-9 Point guard out of Fayette County. Tremendous ball skills and scoring ability. McDonalds All-American. Will play Chattahoochee in Final Four on Wednesday in Gwinnett. I think Brianna leads her team to another victory. Singed with UCONN;
9) DeArica Hamby: 6-3, forward out of Norcross. Can be a really effective scorer, but sometimes doesn’t start. Signed with Wake Forest. She gets a top Campbell team on Thursday;
8) E. Victor Nickerson: 6-6, 175-pound SF out of Norcross. Committed to Charlotte. Great body, can shoot, and take his man off the dribble, also a top defender. Shutdown Ronald Wamer of PT Ridge, but needs to improve skills with the ball. Norcross gets a No. 2 seed in Valdosta on Thursday;
7) Devon Provost: 6-3, 175-pound SF out of Miller Grove. Athletic guy who can defend and score in transition, and attacking the rim. No offers. Has a great battle with James White, Arkansas Little Rock commitment, and Rasham Suarez, who’s going to Georgia Southern;
6) Kevin Ware: 6-4, 167-poung SG out of Rockdale. Committed to Tennessee. He gets Fayette County on Wednesday, which means he gets top scorer/SG Adam Smith (North Carolina Wilmington);
5) Malcolm Brogdon: 6-5, 200-pound SG out of GAC. Committed to UVA. Good all-around player. Gets Swainsboro, a No. 1 seed, down in Macon on Thursday;
4) Shannon Scott: 6-2, 175-pound PG out of Milton. Committed to Ohio State. Does it all. Milton gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday. Tift has victories of 13, 4, and 14 points so far;
3) Dai-Jon Parker: 6-3, 170-pound SG out of Milton. Committed to Vanderbilt. Gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday;
2) Julian Royal: 6-8, 225-pound PF out of Milton. Committed to Georgia Tech. Gets Tift County in Gwinnett on Thursday. Who’s the best of the three?
1) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 6-6, 185-pound SG out of Greenville. Committed to Georgia. He gets an epic showdown with top-ranked Wilkinson County in Macon on Wednesday at 5:30. Had 40 in last outing.
IS this Milton boys team the best ever in GHSA history?
The 2010 Class 5A boys champion Milton Eagles returned nearly all of its roster in tact, having lost zero seniors and even added a huge piece off of the bench to give the Milton faithful hope of a mythical national championship. Despite two losses early on in the season, Milton is still the top ranked team in the state’s highest classification and top five in several national polls as the team enters the 2011 GHSA state semi-finals. The Eagles boast six players with Division I offers and a coach with five state titles and have to be considered the one of the best collections of talent ever to be assembled in the history of Georgia high school basketball. But are they THE best ever?
The Milton Eagles attack is headed up by Shannon Scott, a dominating point guard that at 6’2 can see the floor well and has enough size to post up a defender as well as break him down. ESPN.com’s recruiting service has him receiving a grade of 96 and calls him “an excellent floor general that does a good job of running the team.” Scott is headed to Ohio State, where he should slide right up the list of top point guards during Thad Matta’s tenure with the Buckeyes. Scott has been hailed as the top college prospect in the state of Georgia by Score Atlanta and GPB recruiting expert Scott Janovitz, who likes Scott’s ability to glide to the hoop and the nice mid-range game Scott brings every night. Every strong team needs some one fearless enough to bring the ball up the floor and at 6’2, Scott has a size advantage over nearly every defender he sees matching up against him. He will play in the McDonald’s All-American game on March 30
Who does Scott dump the ball to once the offense is initiated? For starters, how about Georgia Tech-bound power forward Julian Royal? Standing 6’8, Royal can face up to the basket like few other high schoolers with his size, and this season Royal has added a few back-to-the-basket moves that will benefit him at the next level. Royal is one of the top 60 players in the country and he alone would be enough to make folks come out to the games if not for his uber-talented teammates hooping it up beside him.
Scott is joined in the backcourt by a defensive whiz who is heading to Vanderbilt next year in Dai-Jon Parker. The 6’2 off-guard has amazing athleticism and can jump out of the building. Parker had offers from most SEC programs and even had Duke’s Coach K interested before he decided upon Vanderbilt. The defensive dynamo can score in bunches too if his team needed it, but his intensity as a defender may very well lead to a stellar career in Nashville where he could wind up being one of the best Commodores ever.
Jordan Loyd is another senior on the team and the self-less guard is headed to Furman. Loyd is sometimes forgotten about with Royal, Scott and Parker trotting around the court, but if you forget about him for too long, he makes you pay. It was Loyd that led the team in points and rebounds in its quarterfinal victory over Mill Creek.
Then you get to the juniors, who might be even better than the seniors. Shaquille Johnson is the first player off of the bench for Milton and Johnson is known across the south for his “prowess at leaping and dunking” according to one writer from the Huntsville Times. A YouTube video of Johnson breaking a backboard in an AAU game was also very popular earlier this year. Johnson is headed to Auburn and has grown into an all-around player, not just a thunder-dunker during his time with Milton.
Perhaps the best player currently on Milton’s roster is junior small forward Evan Nolte, who as a sophomore was receiving interest from Duke, UNC and a host of other colleges. Nolte earned his stripes by knocking down three after three in last year’s playoffs and he can move without the ball to get into a better position. At 6’8 he is a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches and he has a very special skill-set that is hard to match on the prep level. Nolte admitted recently that Milton is the best high school team in the nation. “We are playing well right now.”
But is this team, coached by one of the nation’s best in David Boyd, the greatest ever in Georgia history? Royal thinks you’d have to consider the team to be because of its success against the tough schedule. “We (played) more of a national schedule, perhaps even (competed) for a ‘national title.’”
Some recent teams might have an argument or two though. The 2006 Norcross boys team went 28-4 en route to the school’s first of three straight state titles in Class 5A. The squad was coached by the legendary Eddie Martin and starred eventual Kentucky standout Jodie Meeks, Georgia Tech star Gani Lawal and future NBA lottery pick Al-Farouq Aminu.
Another team from the 2006 season was Columbia, which went 32-1, including winning its last 31 games to take a GHSA state crown. Jeremy Price and Travis Leslie went on to Georgia and Lance Storrs plays in the ACC for Georgia Tech.
There would have to be some girls teams also to enter the discussion as best ever. The 2007 Collins Hill girls team went undefeated and was led to the school’s third straight title by senior Maya Moore, who has since gone on to star at UConn. The 2010 Norcross girls were buoyed by two sensational freshmen Kaela Davis and Diamond DeShields as well as a fine supporting cast of juniors and seniors.
The Wesleyan girls program has also been a force for the last decade, winning at both the Class AA and A level. It is hard to single out one team but the 2009 Wesleyan girls were led by Anne Marie Armstrong, Grace Leah Baughn, Erin Hall, and Holli Wilkins, which might have been the most talented roster the Lady Wolves have ever assembled.
But perhaps one of the two teams to beat Milton this season should also be in the discussion for best ever. The 2011 Miller Grove Wolverines are bursting with talent including Devon Provost, Henry Brooks, Brandon Morris and the dynamic junior center Tony Parker. Of course the 2009 Miller Grove team featured these players plus Mfon Udofia, Stephen Hill and Donte Williams that went on to the team’s first of two straight state titles.
The 2011 Milton Eagles have one of the greatest collections of talent in Georgia basketball history. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can finish off a repeat and stake claim to perhaps the greatest ever tag.
The Milton Eagles attack is headed up by Shannon Scott, a dominating point guard that at 6’2 can see the floor well and has enough size to post up a defender as well as break him down. ESPN.com’s recruiting service has him receiving a grade of 96 and calls him “an excellent floor general that does a good job of running the team.” Scott is headed to Ohio State, where he should slide right up the list of top point guards during Thad Matta’s tenure with the Buckeyes. Scott has been hailed as the top college prospect in the state of Georgia by Score Atlanta and GPB recruiting expert Scott Janovitz, who likes Scott’s ability to glide to the hoop and the nice mid-range game Scott brings every night. Every strong team needs some one fearless enough to bring the ball up the floor and at 6’2, Scott has a size advantage over nearly every defender he sees matching up against him. He will play in the McDonald’s All-American game on March 30
Who does Scott dump the ball to once the offense is initiated? For starters, how about Georgia Tech-bound power forward Julian Royal? Standing 6’8, Royal can face up to the basket like few other high schoolers with his size, and this season Royal has added a few back-to-the-basket moves that will benefit him at the next level. Royal is one of the top 60 players in the country and he alone would be enough to make folks come out to the games if not for his uber-talented teammates hooping it up beside him.
Scott is joined in the backcourt by a defensive whiz who is heading to Vanderbilt next year in Dai-Jon Parker. The 6’2 off-guard has amazing athleticism and can jump out of the building. Parker had offers from most SEC programs and even had Duke’s Coach K interested before he decided upon Vanderbilt. The defensive dynamo can score in bunches too if his team needed it, but his intensity as a defender may very well lead to a stellar career in Nashville where he could wind up being one of the best Commodores ever.
Jordan Loyd is another senior on the team and the self-less guard is headed to Furman. Loyd is sometimes forgotten about with Royal, Scott and Parker trotting around the court, but if you forget about him for too long, he makes you pay. It was Loyd that led the team in points and rebounds in its quarterfinal victory over Mill Creek.
Then you get to the juniors, who might be even better than the seniors. Shaquille Johnson is the first player off of the bench for Milton and Johnson is known across the south for his “prowess at leaping and dunking” according to one writer from the Huntsville Times. A YouTube video of Johnson breaking a backboard in an AAU game was also very popular earlier this year. Johnson is headed to Auburn and has grown into an all-around player, not just a thunder-dunker during his time with Milton.
Perhaps the best player currently on Milton’s roster is junior small forward Evan Nolte, who as a sophomore was receiving interest from Duke, UNC and a host of other colleges. Nolte earned his stripes by knocking down three after three in last year’s playoffs and he can move without the ball to get into a better position. At 6’8 he is a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches and he has a very special skill-set that is hard to match on the prep level. Nolte admitted recently that Milton is the best high school team in the nation. “We are playing well right now.”
But is this team, coached by one of the nation’s best in David Boyd, the greatest ever in Georgia history? Royal thinks you’d have to consider the team to be because of its success against the tough schedule. “We (played) more of a national schedule, perhaps even (competed) for a ‘national title.’”
Some recent teams might have an argument or two though. The 2006 Norcross boys team went 28-4 en route to the school’s first of three straight state titles in Class 5A. The squad was coached by the legendary Eddie Martin and starred eventual Kentucky standout Jodie Meeks, Georgia Tech star Gani Lawal and future NBA lottery pick Al-Farouq Aminu.
Another team from the 2006 season was Columbia, which went 32-1, including winning its last 31 games to take a GHSA state crown. Jeremy Price and Travis Leslie went on to Georgia and Lance Storrs plays in the ACC for Georgia Tech.
There would have to be some girls teams also to enter the discussion as best ever. The 2007 Collins Hill girls team went undefeated and was led to the school’s third straight title by senior Maya Moore, who has since gone on to star at UConn. The 2010 Norcross girls were buoyed by two sensational freshmen Kaela Davis and Diamond DeShields as well as a fine supporting cast of juniors and seniors.
The Wesleyan girls program has also been a force for the last decade, winning at both the Class AA and A level. It is hard to single out one team but the 2009 Wesleyan girls were led by Anne Marie Armstrong, Grace Leah Baughn, Erin Hall, and Holli Wilkins, which might have been the most talented roster the Lady Wolves have ever assembled.
But perhaps one of the two teams to beat Milton this season should also be in the discussion for best ever. The 2011 Miller Grove Wolverines are bursting with talent including Devon Provost, Henry Brooks, Brandon Morris and the dynamic junior center Tony Parker. Of course the 2009 Miller Grove team featured these players plus Mfon Udofia, Stephen Hill and Donte Williams that went on to the team’s first of two straight state titles.
The 2011 Milton Eagles have one of the greatest collections of talent in Georgia basketball history. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can finish off a repeat and stake claim to perhaps the greatest ever tag.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Stephenson's Jones says Dawgs may be too late
Every year the Stephenson Jaguars send double-digit players to the next level on football scholarships and on National Signing Day 2012, it will be no different. Running back Mike Davis has already pledged to the Florida Gators and he has four players on the defensive side of the ball that could join him in Gainesville, including perhaps the best defensive end in the state Jarontay Jones. The standout DE joined Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit last Monday to talk about his recruiting process and where he stands this “late in the game.”
With the calendar just having flipped over to March and with Jones still a junior at Stephenson, you’d think that this would be extremely early in his process, but according to Jones, it is actually too late for one local school. When talking about the Georgia Bulldogs, Jones admitted “right now they don’t matter.” He claimed that Georgia, which hasn’t offered a scholarship as of last Monday, would get consideration if they did offer but he would hold them potentially joining in so “late” in the process against the Dawgs.
When asked when the process started and when would have been considered “early,” Jones just laughed and said that he “will remember the people that took a chance on me early on.”
Three of those schools are Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech. Jones spoke about his recent trip to Florida with glowing remarks. “The competition was great and the weight room was great.” Jones went to Gainesville with several of his teammates and said that they all enjoyed their time at Florida. “I definitely want to go with my teammates (to college),” Jones revealed. He said he considered committing when Davis pledged, but it was hard to pull the trigger. “In the end, I don’t know how it’ll turn out but we want to go together.”
Auburn is tied atop Jones’ leaderboard, he says, because he really likes the Tigers coaching staff. “Everytime I go it feels like family.”
Georgia Tech would get positive marks for persistence. According to Jones, “Tech would be recruiting me the hardest. Jones says the he gets letters all the time from Paul Johnson and his staff.
Jones may well have Alabama atop his leaderboard after this weekend as he was scheduled to take a visit out to Tuscaloosa to tour the campus.
The whole debate on early versus late may not make sense to most folks, but Jones has moved up his timeline because he says he wants to graduate early and enroll early at his eventual choice. Jones says he wants to take his official visits early so he can quickly come to his decision. He revealed that location, playing time and the condition of the school (facilities) will factor into his decision. Obviously he wants to play early his first year on campus with his decision to enroll early and Jones believes that is a strong possibility. “I am explosive and in a one-on-one speed rush (situation), I am unblockable.” Stephenson has pumped out some incredible athletes over the last few years. Jones certainly has a great chance to be the next headliner.
With the calendar just having flipped over to March and with Jones still a junior at Stephenson, you’d think that this would be extremely early in his process, but according to Jones, it is actually too late for one local school. When talking about the Georgia Bulldogs, Jones admitted “right now they don’t matter.” He claimed that Georgia, which hasn’t offered a scholarship as of last Monday, would get consideration if they did offer but he would hold them potentially joining in so “late” in the process against the Dawgs.
When asked when the process started and when would have been considered “early,” Jones just laughed and said that he “will remember the people that took a chance on me early on.”
Three of those schools are Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech. Jones spoke about his recent trip to Florida with glowing remarks. “The competition was great and the weight room was great.” Jones went to Gainesville with several of his teammates and said that they all enjoyed their time at Florida. “I definitely want to go with my teammates (to college),” Jones revealed. He said he considered committing when Davis pledged, but it was hard to pull the trigger. “In the end, I don’t know how it’ll turn out but we want to go together.”
Auburn is tied atop Jones’ leaderboard, he says, because he really likes the Tigers coaching staff. “Everytime I go it feels like family.”
Georgia Tech would get positive marks for persistence. According to Jones, “Tech would be recruiting me the hardest. Jones says the he gets letters all the time from Paul Johnson and his staff.
Jones may well have Alabama atop his leaderboard after this weekend as he was scheduled to take a visit out to Tuscaloosa to tour the campus.
The whole debate on early versus late may not make sense to most folks, but Jones has moved up his timeline because he says he wants to graduate early and enroll early at his eventual choice. Jones says he wants to take his official visits early so he can quickly come to his decision. He revealed that location, playing time and the condition of the school (facilities) will factor into his decision. Obviously he wants to play early his first year on campus with his decision to enroll early and Jones believes that is a strong possibility. “I am explosive and in a one-on-one speed rush (situation), I am unblockable.” Stephenson has pumped out some incredible athletes over the last few years. Jones certainly has a great chance to be the next headliner.
TheFletch back on track
Apparently the frustration of bored Atlanta newspaper readers has gone national. Many people in the Atlanta area have grown tired of reading column after column after blog after blog where the AJC’s Mark Bradley has gone after Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Paul Hewitt, seeking change and picking on the once-proud Tech basketball program. I’ve spent many column inches begging Mark Bradley to stop his incessant Fire Mark Richt/Paul Hewitt blogs and articles and come up with something else. CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated college basketball reporter Seth Davis finally had enough and went after Bradley for railing on Hewitt. Last Monday via Twitter, Davis remarked:
“I've never seen a sports columnist repeatedly attack a coach w/ venom like Mark Bradley of AJC attacks Paul Hewitt. I say Fire Bradley 1st “
Have I been critical of Hewitt on my radio show before? Yes. But do I do it EVERY time Georgia Tech plays? No. I keep the topics fresh, even when the inevitable deluge of Fire Hewitt calls starts, we steer the conversation to a fresh perspective. Do I have a personal problem with something Hewitt said about the Atlanta media the way Bradley seems to have? No. Just like I have my opinion, Hewitt is allowed to have his. He can say what he chooses the same way I do. But after a while it just gets tired, Bradley.
This is a piece of the blog/article/column he wrote after Virginia beat Tech last week:
“Another Tech loss, and at its end there came no cascade of boos. There was only more of the numbness that has come to enshroud this once buoyant program. I feel for Tech fans. I feel for Tech players, who are trying hard with not much to show for it. I feel for everyone involved in this bleak tableau. There’s nothing fun here.”
In speaking about the potential Twitter war (Bradley had not responded via Tweet as of Tuesday afternoon), 680 The Fan’s Sandra Golden gave an inside look at the potential start of the Bradley-Hates-Hewitt campaign. The newest member of The Rude Awakening revealed that several years ago Hewitt made the claim that he didn’t read the newspaper and when asked why, responded because of the columnist. Presumably he was speaking about Bradley and he has since taken more shots at Hewitt than he has at Mark Richt and the Atlanta Hawks combined. I guess Bradley should be flattered that he at least has one national reader. But I also guess he might want to let up a tad with the “venom” otherwise Davis’s more than 360,000 Twitter followers might weigh in with the AJC.
While it seems Sandra Golden has been fitting in quite nicely with 680 the Fan and her new Rude Awakening co-hosts, one of her former co-hosts took a head-scratching stand on the NFL non-guaranteed contracts. Steak Shapiro of Mayhem in the AM was discussing the non-guaranteed nature of contracts in the NFL vs. the guaranteed deals in the NBA and in Major League Baseball. He was attempting to argue (I am SURE this was strictly done to play “disagreeable radio host”) that the NFL should guarantee contracts like the NBA does and the MLB does. One of his co-hosts pointed out how the guaranteed deals hurt the NBA, but Steak retorted that the NBA is pulling in outstanding numbers. I must agree with Chris and Nick: the numbers in the NBA aren’t tied to the contracts and just so happen to be up because the superstars have finally turned into superduperstars. The NBA guaranteed contracts hamstring teams every year and while there are creative ways to sometimes get around the salary cap, bad deals cripple a team for years while an NFL “bad contract” can be immediately killed off. The NFL is popular BECAUSE of the contract situation with people always playing their way into one of potentially out of one. If a guy doesn’t work, cut him and pay the small guaranteed amount while going and getting a new guy. Yes it stinks for the football players that their contracts aren’t guaranteed, but sometimes that works both ways: the players like to holdout for more money too. Don’t forget that it sometimes works in their favor.
A quick congrats to 680 The Fan’s drive home show and its co-hosts Buck Belue and John Kincade of Buck & Kincade for its recent passing of the 2500 show-mark. These two are true professionals and can be serious or funny, casual or formal in the same segment and it is truly a treat to drive home to these guys five days a week. The pairing may seem unlikely: a Valdosta kid turned UGA quarterback turned talk show host with a Philly guy turned “carpetbagger” but these two really make it work. I hope that they will be rocking and rolling and talking sports for at least another 2500 shows.
680 The Fan and its family of networks have plunged right back into Braves baseball in its second season serving as the flagship of Atlanta baseball. Buck & Kincade, Chuck & Chernoff and The Rude Awakening will be rotating down in Orlando with Belue helping to call some spring training games. Hopefully with one year under his belt, he’ll be a little more comfortable in the baseball broadcast booth. Last year’s experiment was a bit rough. Here’s hoping 2011 is better.
Finally, Georgia State fans were probably sighing with a side of eye-rolling after finding out that the AJC finally gave its basketball program some publicity…only to find it was to announce that the head coach had received the boot. The Panthers fans shouldn’t worry though: even if the AJC decides not to really care about Georgia State, Score Atlanta will be right here, updating the web and featuring Dave Cohen in the paper. If the AJC lets you down, turn to us.
Can You Believe He Said That
“I see myself not just as a football player but as an entertainer and an icon.”
That was former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton right before his performance at the NFL combine. So you’re an icon? An entertainer? Wow, that is great info. Could this guy be anymore full of himself? As a fan of a team drafting in the top ten, I hope “my team” decides to go more for a QUARTERBACK than an entertainer. Last time I checked Madonna never threw a touchdown pass. Get a grip on reality Cam, otherwise your career is going to have the curtain dropped on it…in a hurry. Entertainer? Try just throwing an out route.
“I've never seen a sports columnist repeatedly attack a coach w/ venom like Mark Bradley of AJC attacks Paul Hewitt. I say Fire Bradley 1st “
Have I been critical of Hewitt on my radio show before? Yes. But do I do it EVERY time Georgia Tech plays? No. I keep the topics fresh, even when the inevitable deluge of Fire Hewitt calls starts, we steer the conversation to a fresh perspective. Do I have a personal problem with something Hewitt said about the Atlanta media the way Bradley seems to have? No. Just like I have my opinion, Hewitt is allowed to have his. He can say what he chooses the same way I do. But after a while it just gets tired, Bradley.
This is a piece of the blog/article/column he wrote after Virginia beat Tech last week:
“Another Tech loss, and at its end there came no cascade of boos. There was only more of the numbness that has come to enshroud this once buoyant program. I feel for Tech fans. I feel for Tech players, who are trying hard with not much to show for it. I feel for everyone involved in this bleak tableau. There’s nothing fun here.”
In speaking about the potential Twitter war (Bradley had not responded via Tweet as of Tuesday afternoon), 680 The Fan’s Sandra Golden gave an inside look at the potential start of the Bradley-Hates-Hewitt campaign. The newest member of The Rude Awakening revealed that several years ago Hewitt made the claim that he didn’t read the newspaper and when asked why, responded because of the columnist. Presumably he was speaking about Bradley and he has since taken more shots at Hewitt than he has at Mark Richt and the Atlanta Hawks combined. I guess Bradley should be flattered that he at least has one national reader. But I also guess he might want to let up a tad with the “venom” otherwise Davis’s more than 360,000 Twitter followers might weigh in with the AJC.
While it seems Sandra Golden has been fitting in quite nicely with 680 the Fan and her new Rude Awakening co-hosts, one of her former co-hosts took a head-scratching stand on the NFL non-guaranteed contracts. Steak Shapiro of Mayhem in the AM was discussing the non-guaranteed nature of contracts in the NFL vs. the guaranteed deals in the NBA and in Major League Baseball. He was attempting to argue (I am SURE this was strictly done to play “disagreeable radio host”) that the NFL should guarantee contracts like the NBA does and the MLB does. One of his co-hosts pointed out how the guaranteed deals hurt the NBA, but Steak retorted that the NBA is pulling in outstanding numbers. I must agree with Chris and Nick: the numbers in the NBA aren’t tied to the contracts and just so happen to be up because the superstars have finally turned into superduperstars. The NBA guaranteed contracts hamstring teams every year and while there are creative ways to sometimes get around the salary cap, bad deals cripple a team for years while an NFL “bad contract” can be immediately killed off. The NFL is popular BECAUSE of the contract situation with people always playing their way into one of potentially out of one. If a guy doesn’t work, cut him and pay the small guaranteed amount while going and getting a new guy. Yes it stinks for the football players that their contracts aren’t guaranteed, but sometimes that works both ways: the players like to holdout for more money too. Don’t forget that it sometimes works in their favor.
A quick congrats to 680 The Fan’s drive home show and its co-hosts Buck Belue and John Kincade of Buck & Kincade for its recent passing of the 2500 show-mark. These two are true professionals and can be serious or funny, casual or formal in the same segment and it is truly a treat to drive home to these guys five days a week. The pairing may seem unlikely: a Valdosta kid turned UGA quarterback turned talk show host with a Philly guy turned “carpetbagger” but these two really make it work. I hope that they will be rocking and rolling and talking sports for at least another 2500 shows.
680 The Fan and its family of networks have plunged right back into Braves baseball in its second season serving as the flagship of Atlanta baseball. Buck & Kincade, Chuck & Chernoff and The Rude Awakening will be rotating down in Orlando with Belue helping to call some spring training games. Hopefully with one year under his belt, he’ll be a little more comfortable in the baseball broadcast booth. Last year’s experiment was a bit rough. Here’s hoping 2011 is better.
Finally, Georgia State fans were probably sighing with a side of eye-rolling after finding out that the AJC finally gave its basketball program some publicity…only to find it was to announce that the head coach had received the boot. The Panthers fans shouldn’t worry though: even if the AJC decides not to really care about Georgia State, Score Atlanta will be right here, updating the web and featuring Dave Cohen in the paper. If the AJC lets you down, turn to us.
Can You Believe He Said That
“I see myself not just as a football player but as an entertainer and an icon.”
That was former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton right before his performance at the NFL combine. So you’re an icon? An entertainer? Wow, that is great info. Could this guy be anymore full of himself? As a fan of a team drafting in the top ten, I hope “my team” decides to go more for a QUARTERBACK than an entertainer. Last time I checked Madonna never threw a touchdown pass. Get a grip on reality Cam, otherwise your career is going to have the curtain dropped on it…in a hurry. Entertainer? Try just throwing an out route.
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