State’s best player: Let’s start with Harrow

My colleague Chip Saye wrote an article a few weeks back on the best college prospects in Georgia.

Jelan Kendrick of Wheeler came out No. 1 among boys. He’s the consensus choice of the recruiting services. I saw Kendrick play for the first time during the Milton-Wheeler game last month, and I can see why Memphis (to which he has signed) is eager to get him on campus.

But is he Georgia’s best player right now? In high school? Kendrick is outstanding, but is his status as the No. 1 recruit built partly on his upside potential? The season is still young. The state playoffs might decide that.

But here are is my choice: Ryan Harrow. Let these videos speak for the Walton point guard:

Ryan Harrow I

Ryan Harrow II

Another guy I like is Marcus Thornton Click on Marcus for some of his highlights. Not only a great talent (6-7 forward averaging 27 ppg), but a great student. Can’t remember if his coach told me 3.8 or 4.0 GPA.

I’ve seen Harrow, Kendrick and Thornton. I’ve seen the Milton juniors, Scott, Royal and Parker. I’ve seen Jeremy Lamb, Trae Golden and Jershon Cobb.

I’ve not seen the Liberty County guys, Rion Brown or Jordan McRae. I’ve not seen Kentavious Caldwell, who put up 57 points in a game last week for Greenville.

We’re five weeks away from choosing a Mr. Georgia Basketball. Who’s it gonna be?

And what about the girls? I haven’t seen as many of the top candidates. Never seen Khaalidah Miller of Douglass. I’ve seen Redan’s Nia Evans and Alisha Andrews. Briana Jordan of Norcross a couple of times. Watched Jordan and the Norcross freshman, Diamond DeShields and Kaela Davis, last week.

Meanwhile, we got rankings. Milton plays Centennial twice this week. … Whitefield loses a second game, but we stubbornly keep the Wolfpack at No. 1 in Class AA. Wilkinson is undefeated but struggled a bit last week. …

BOYS

Class AAAAA

1. Milton
2. Westlake
3. Centennial
4. Wheeler
5. Norcross
6. Walton
7. Meadowcreek
8. McEachern
9. Central Gwinnett
10. Groves

Class AAAA

1. Rockdale County
2. Miller Grove
3. Richmond Academy
4. Fayette County
5. Hillgrove
6. Chamblee
7. Bainbridge
8. North Clayton
9. Lithia Springs
10. Statesboro

Class AAA

1. Columbia
2. Monroe
3. LaGrange
4. Elbert County
5. South Atlanta
6. Dunwoody
7. Liberty County
8. Washington County
9. Hart County
10. Westover

Class AA

1. Greater Atlanta Christian
2. Northeast-Macon
3. Laney
4. Blessed Trinity
5. Thomasville
6. Decatur
7. Dublin
8. Dade County
9. Jefferson
10. McIntosh County Academy

Class A

1. Whtefield Academy
2. Wilkinson County
3. Wesleyan
4. Claxton
5. Wilcox County
6. Lanier County
7. Terrell County
8. Pace Academy
9. Greenville
10. Gordon Lee

GIRLS

Class AAAAA

1. Redan
2. Parkview
3. Mill Creek
4. Norcross
5. Westlake
6. Bradwell Institute
7. Campbell
8. North Cobb
9. McEachern
10. Stephenson

Class AAAA

1. Fayette County
2. Rome
3. Southwest DeKalb
4. Northwest Whitfield
5. Bainbridge
6. Statesboro
7. Mays
8. Osborne
9. Forest Park
10. Douglas County

Class AAA

1. Kendrick
2. Carver-Atlanta
3. Columbia
4. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
5. Washington County
6. Westover
7. Rutland
8. Pickens
9. Chestatee
10. Liberty County

Class AA

1. Buford
2. Laney
3. Rabun County
4. Vidalia
5. Greater Atlanta Christian
6. Northeast-Macon
7. Henry County
8. Fannin County
9. Dodge County
10. Thomasville

Class A

1. Wesleyan
2. Randolph-Clay
3. Calvary Day
4. Taylor County
5. Paideia
6. Gordon Lee
7. Southwest Atlanta Christian
8. Holy Innocents’
9. Savannah Christian
10. Emanuel County Institute