Archive for March, 2009

VOTE ON IT: Which of Todd’s early Super 11s would make YOUR list? SEE OUR PHOTOS

The AJC won’t be selecting its annual football Super 11 team of high school seniors until late summer. But discussion begins today with you.

I’m going to throw out 11 names. I haven’t studied how all these guys are being recruited. Our Michael Carvell is the expert about that. I just follow high school football. That doesn’t mean I haven’t heard a few things about recruiting. But my picks might more influenced by the players I’ve seen or been told about by high school fans and coaches.

Tell me what you think about these 11. Who would you pick?

RB Ean Pemberton, Grayson: He won’t be a big recruit because he’s not, well, big. He’s 5-3. Pemberton rushed for close to 2,000 yards last season. Should a super high school player be Super 11 if he’s not a big-time recruit?

OL JaWuan James, North Gwinnett: James is almost the opposite of Pemberton. Good high school player, but not the best …

Continue reading Back to football: Here are some early Super 11 picks »

Miller Grove and Tucker are a couple of boys teams Take 10 files under "Me Likey." (Jason Getz / AJC)

The nets have been cut. The jerseys packed away. The hot dogs thrown in the freezer until next season. Basketball season is officially done. The champions have been crowned, but we know that’s not good enough for you.

We’ve examined the best boys and girls metro-Atlanta teams. It wasn’t easy or always fair. But we here at Take 10 Headquarters did what we could to ignore early tournament exits and consider the season as a whole.

Here are the metro Atlanta power rankings for the 10 best boys and girls teams this season:

10. Blessed Trinity (boys)/Mays (girls): The Titans fell short of a state title against Dublin but finished the season 26-7. The Raiders were a powerhouse in Class AAAA, only losing to Fayette County and Northwest Whitfield.

9. Whitefield Academy (boys)/Campbell (girls): Tyrone Johnson earned a long-awaited state championship after losing the crown in 2006 …

Continue reading Take 10: South Atlanta boys, Redan girls top metro Atlanta final basketball power rankings »

Would South Atlanta’s Derrick Favors make your team? (Jason Getz / AJC)

Two questions for the gallery:

What’s your all-class Top 10, and what’s your all-state team in each class?

The Georgia Sports Writers Association is collecting nominations for the basketball all-state teams this week. The AJC also will be selecting a team to be published later this month.

I’m going to throw five names in each class to generate some discussion. I haven’t talked to many coaches or others in the media yet, so these are debate-starters, not something that I’m ready to stake my reputation on. What reputation, you ask? Good question.

Here’s a look at the Class AAA boys state champion South Atlanta Hornets – and Georgia Tech commit Derrick Favors – taking the Region 4-AAA title. Check out these highlights.

VIDEO: South Atlanta captures the Region 4-AAA basketball title (2009)

Now, let’s rank the teams:

BOYS

1. Wheeler

2. South Atlanta

3. Miller Grove

4. Norcross

5. Centennial

Others: Columbia, …

Continue reading Georgia high school all-state basketball: Derrick Favors, then who else makes YOUR team? »