What’s up with Wheeler as Milton game looms?
There’s no shame in losing to Campbell, which won at Wheeler last week in Region 6-AAAAA. But there’s little doubt that Wheeler’s boys – the defending champion in Class AAAAA – are vulnerable heading into their showdown Friday against No. 1 Milton.
In fact, this might be the first time Wheeler has been an underdog in its gym since McEachern had Josh Smith and Morris Almond.
Wheeler also has lost to Centennial, ranked No. 3 in AAAAA. Yes, Wheeler lost to Centennial last season and later to Walton and still won state, so there’s no reason to panic on Holt Road.
The real concern is Milton. Yes, Milton lost a game last week too, but that was the championship of a national tournament in Missouri. Milton is unbeaten in Georgia.
Milton actually had a 15-2 lead against White Station of Memphis on Saturday but couldn’t hold on. Story here. Milton had wins over Chaminade (defending Class 5A champion in Missouri) and Christ of the King (No. 1-ranked team in New York, according to MaxPreps) earlier in the week. Julian Royal and Evan Nolte made the all-tourament team.
Wheeler, meanwhile, is still trying to figure out how to replace Richard Howell (N.C. State) and Ari Stewart (Wake Forest). Jelan Kendrick, who has signed with Memphis, is Wheeler’s new top gun, a transfer from Westlake. Phil Taylor, Karl Cochran and Joey Jerome started much of last season. Chemistry takes time.
Meanwhile, Westlake – the team that Kendrick left – is ranked No. 2. One would’ve thought Wheeler would be there, if not No. 1.
I’m not picking Wheeler on Friday night. But I’ll point this out: Josh Smith and Morris Almond didn’t win that game at Wheeler in 2002 or the state title during that 2002-03 season. Wheeler did.
Here are the rankings for this week:
BOYS
Class AAAAA
1. Milton
2. Westlake
3. Centennial
4. Norcross
5. Walton
6. Central Gwinnett
7. Wheeler
8. McEachern
9. Mill Creek
10. Newton
Class AAAA
1. Rockdale County
2. Chamblee
3. Miller Grove
4. Tucker
5. Richmond Academy
6. Cass
7. Fayette County
8. Hillgrove
9. Bainbridge
10. North Clayton
Class AAA
1. South Atlanta
2. Columbia
3. Liberty County
4. Monroe
5. LaGrange
6. Elbert County
7. Dunwoody
8. Westover
9. Franklin County
10. North Hall
Class AA
1. Greater Atlanta Christian
2. Northeast-Macon
3. Decatur
4. Dublin
5. Laney
6. Southwest-Macon
7. Dade County
8. Thomasville
9. Putnam County
10. Jefferson
Class A
1. Whitefield Academy
2. Wilkinson County
3. Wesleyan
4. Lanier County
5. Claxton
6. Wilcox County
7. Terrell County
8. Bowdon
9. Pace Academy
10. Greenville
GIRLS
Class AAAAA
1. Redan
2. Parkview
3. Norcross
4. Mill Creek
5. Stephenson
6. Campbell
7. McEachern
8. Westlake
9. Bradwell Institute
10. Douglass
Class AAAA
1. Fayette County
2. Rome
3. Southwest DeKalb
4. Northwest Whitfield
5. Douglas County
6. Madison County
7. Bainbridge
8. Statesboro
9. Forest Park
10. Osborne
Class AAA
1. Kendrick
2. Washington County
3. Carver-Atlanta
4. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
5. Columbia
6. Pickens
7. Rutland
8. Chestatee
9. Stephens County
10. Franklin County
Class AA
1. Buford
2. Laney
3. Rabun County
4. Vidalia
5. Northeast-Macon
6. Greater Atlanta Christian
7. Fannin County
8. Lovett
9. Henry County
10. Dodge County
Class A
1. Wesleyan
2. Taylor County
3. Randolph-Clay
4. Calvary Day
5. Paideia
6. Gordon Lee
7. Southwest Atlanta Christian
8. Holy Innocents’
9. Savannah Christian
10. Bryan County
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63 comments Add your comment
TheOne132
January 21st, 2010
1:56 pm
Hey, if you all must know the truth, Columbia Eagles are the best. SW Atlanta sucked last year and this year too. I don’t understand how on earth they are still ranked number 1, but somebody in the big blue sky must like them. As for the worst team ever, try Clarkston High School. Their Varsity Girls could bearly match Druid Hills Jr. Varsity.
TheOne132
January 21st, 2010
1:59 pm
Hey all I’m back b’s…..Here is the real deal on all the games. I love to travel around and view different schools. South GA, you got it. Good win. We all know Wilkinson County players are not from their county, some yeah, I’ll give them that, but the coaches there are not stupid. They know how to shop around, and make a sell.
TOP SPORT
January 21st, 2010
2:49 pm
WHO CARES ABOUT BASKETBALL. WHEN THE SOUTH WIN IN FOOTBALL, ITS MOSTLY HOMETOWN KIDS. ITS NOT LIKE IN BASKETBALL, WHERE ALL THE SCHOOLS RECRUIT. ITS EVIDENT BY THIS BLOG THAT THE TOP SPORT IN GEORGIA IS FOOTBALL, WHICH THE SOUTH DOMINATES WITHOUT A QUESTION. LET THE NORTH HAVE THE STATES SECONDARY SPORT, BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER HAVE FOOTBALL, THAT YOU ALL SO DESPERATELY WANT. YOU DOMINATE BASKETBALL, THAT I WILL GIVE YOU, ITS CALL RECRUITING, NOT DEVELOPING TALENT IN YOUR PROGRAM, ITS A BIG DIFFERENCE. 6 OF THE LAST 7 SOUTH BABY. WE DOMINATE IN THE STATES NUMBER 1 SPORT IT FOOTBALL BABY, ITS FOOTBALL. HAVE BASKETBALL YOU WILL NEVER GET FOOTBALL.
Todd Holcomb
January 21st, 2010
3:18 pm
Decatur 4 Life: I know that Columbia also is unbeaten in its Georgia games. You ask if South Atlanta has done enough to keep its No. 1 ranking. Well, they’ve won all their games. I know they’ve barely survived a couple of them. I’m keeping an eye on them.
“so todd chamblee beats tucker and they move up to number 2? but tucker beat millergrove so why would we fall under millergrove?”
Tucker also has lost to another AAAA team (McIntosh) and been blown out by Columbia. It’s not just head-to-head among those three teams that determines how those three teams are ranked.
Nice win over Walton, though. That could make a big difference next week.
“South Atlanta ranked number one over Columbia is the biggest joke of the year. Columbia would beat South Atlanta by 30. I honestly believe that the AJC just fills in slots for the last three spots in every poll. They never look to see that a team like Newton County has played NOBODY and is average at best.”
Perhaps Columbia would beat South Atlanta worse than that. But I’m comfortable with South Atlanta, the defending champ, keeping the No. 1 spot for now. If they continue to struggle against not-so-good teams, then perhaps they’ll drop. We’ll see.
TheOne132
January 21st, 2010
3:30 pm
You are correct Todd, they would drop. And yes I agree that AJC fills in the slots, as you can see for yourself, some of the better schools are not rated very well. As for Columbia, they are the best! You can put your money on it and I believe they have the title this year too!
Miltonmania
January 21st, 2010
11:32 pm
any o y’all want some of the milton/wheeler action tomorrow nite? I will take milton and lay 7 all day. want some?? didn’t think so
Decatur 4 Life
January 22nd, 2010
9:03 am
CVStamp Jr.
I hear u but dude it’s 2010, I already said the only ball being played south of Atlanta is in Albany and Savannah. To be honest with they don’t even compete anymore, I’ll give you the late 80’s and early 90’s but after that I need a pulse rate to see if you guys still exsist. We’ve (Columbia) been doing it since then and still going. You’re right the number don’t lie!
Decatur 4 Life
January 22nd, 2010
9:10 am
Taylor Wooten
Come on with the “gay” stuff, that has more to do with all your friends wanting to move here more than anything else. Anybody who truly was born and raised here can tell you that midtown Atlanta has been getting progressively worse for quite sometime now in those regards. I’m not surprised about that information, try to find something else to rag on us about.
Decatur 4 Life
January 22nd, 2010
9:27 am
TOP SPORT
To be honest with you, I’m glad you brag about winning six of the last 7. The reason why it’s funny is because that only accounts for two schools, really one(Camden). Take them out of the equation and it doesn’t really sound as good. You guys brag on 1AAAAA but they only have one school that has had some success and head to head with Camden they never win. (Close but no cigar) For the sake of the argument, I hope you’re a Camden fan
wheelerfan
January 22nd, 2010
10:41 pm
i saw milton play tonight, i wasnt that impressed. maybe yall were ranked #1, but none of that matters until you finally beat the defending champs
and for all the jelan kendrick bashers out there, there is no way wheeler would be anywhere without him
W/E
January 22nd, 2010
10:41 pm
I’ll take Wheeler 78-72 haha. Great game and atmosphere.
Miltonmania
January 24th, 2010
1:37 am
ok ok, eatin crow here. I went to the game. barely got in hostile environment. Wheeler played great. Milton was a little rattled. first time i’ve seen that happen with this group. ton of offensive rebounds killed milton. Milton came back and looked like they would restore order in the 2nd half, but Wheeler wouldn’t have it hats off. looking forward to the state. Please note: Milton was playing without Nolte. He was missed greatly, especially on boards and from the arc. Lets see what happens with hardware at stake and on neutral floor. this is good stuff, no matter what side you fall on.
Bucky
July 1st, 2011
10:56 pm
I’m not easily impressed. . . but that’s ipmriessng me!