Basketball: Who is your player of the year?
The basketball season is done, and 14 teams are champions. All that’s left is the accolades. The AJC’s all-state team will be announced in less than two weeks.
Who were the players of the year?
On the girls side, the leading contender is Diamond DeShields of Norcross. She has won two national player of the year awards, and her team won a third state title in her four seasons as a starter. Other top players include DeShields’ teammate, Shayla Cooper; North Gwinnett’s Lexie Brown; and Asia Durr of St. Pius.
On the boys side, expect more debate.
Brandon Goodwin looked pretty good in the Class AAAAAA final against Hillgrove. He scored 22 points (7-for-11 from the field) and had seven rebounds.
Johnson-Savannah guard Tim Quarterman, who has signed with LSU, scored 21 in the victory over Savannah in the AAA final.
Eagle’s Landing has several blue-chip recruits on its AAAA championship team. Desmond Ringer had a monster championship game with 17 points (8-of-9 shooting) with 14 rebounds.
Columbia point guard Tahj Shamsid Deen scored 21 points in a losing cause. Deen’s record as a starter in the state playoffs was 19-1.
Another couple of players who looked good last week in the state finals was Greater Atlanta Christian’s Isaiah Wilkins and Tosin Mehinti of Greenforest Christian.
But playing for a state championship team is not a requirement. Top players whose teams were stopped short include Brannen Greene of Tift County, Ahmed Hill of Aquinas, Tadric Jackson of Tift County and Jakeenan Grant of Effingham County.
What do you think?
What players do you think should be first-team all-state?
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74 comments Add your comment
MC 12
March 12th, 2013
7:51 pm
Shaquan Cantrell from Gainesville is my POY. He willed his team to the Championship game in 5A.
On the Girls side Diamond Deshields got my vote. I must say the best Girls basketball player from Georgia is Maya Moore “Hands Down”.
ChapelHill2013
March 12th, 2013
8:12 pm
Kanesha Mixon and Earnicia Washington of Chapel Hill High School in Douglasville, GA. Final Four Team in AAA. A great 1-2 combo. I would put them up against anyone in the State.
fan of the game
March 12th, 2013
8:37 pm
Player of the year girls. Deshields
Boys Dean ….Columbia
5A. Boys. Bryant Mg or #1 on Mg
Girls 5A. #23 Martin SWD or Hunt or Weaver from MG
gakat1
March 12th, 2013
8:59 pm
I’d like to see Norcross and Eagles Landing play for the ‘real’ state championship. Saw all the champs in person and most of them a few times. Goodwin led Norcross but depth and great team defense won it. Eagles had the best overall talent in the state, bar none. All are D1 talent even the 6′ small forward, Dennis.
How about a game with top 2 teams each year. This year it’s an easy choice.
COBB
March 12th, 2013
10:23 pm
Tosin Mehinti of Greenforest Christian is garbage. Seriously, he sucks. Greenforest was blessed Kaiser Gates of Saint Francis had a off shooting night. The best shooter in GA regardless of class. Shoots like KD, Step Curry. Kobi Simmons, his teammate, best frosh in the state. The best 1, 2 combo in the state, maybe the country. Durant and Westbrook of high school basketball!
COBB
March 12th, 2013
10:25 pm
Majority of the kids are overrated. Only a handfull deserve it.
What do u expect
March 12th, 2013
10:28 pm
No one knows for sure how old Mehenti is anyways. Maybe that’s why he’s only going UAB. Gotta love them birth certificates from Africa. 18 years old….for life!
Fan
March 12th, 2013
10:33 pm
Didnt st francis lose like 8 games though? They also lost to GAC by like 40.
South Georgia Sports Reporter
March 13th, 2013
1:26 pm
Alexus Parker from Calvary Day Should be In the running for Player of the Year. She Averaged 22.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this year . Ranked 5th in the state in scooring. She is one of the most underrated players in the country. Alexus signed to play for Prairie View A&M but had major looks and offers from Ketucky, South Florida, Ga Tech, and Tennesse. Led her team to a 26-4 record this year with a birth in the Georgia Class A Private Final Four. A great talent with a great body standing 5′11 155 lbs. Big Sleeper in 2013 class.
South Georgia Sports Reporter
March 13th, 2013
1:27 pm
Alexus Parker from Calvary Day Should be In the running for Player of the Year. She Averaged 22.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this year . Ranked 5th in the state in scoring. She is one of the most underrated players in the country. Alexus signed to play for Prairie View A&M but had major looks and offers from Ketucky, South Florida, Ga Tech, and Tennesse. Led her team to a 26-4 record this year with a birth in the Georgia Class A Private Final Four. A great talent with a great body standing 5′11 155 lbs. Big Sleeper in 2013 class.
Mr. Martin
March 13th, 2013
1:30 pm
Collin Swinton. Most underrated player in AA – true PG and playmaker for GAC..
COBB
March 13th, 2013
2:48 pm
@Fan. They played that game, St. Francis, against GAC, without Kaiser Gates Top rated soph). In fact, he missed half the season. Thus, the record.
scoutslookingout
March 13th, 2013
2:56 pm
Much success to the Benjamin E Mays high school basketball team, you guys had a tremendous season. While watching other teams play in the tournaments, I noticed a few guys who played excellent offense and defense and I just want to say continue to play harder next year and for those of you who will be heading to college, give your best and nothing less. I dont know each player by name; however these players stood out to me. #4 #1 #15 #32 and #31.
Rashaad Crum
March 13th, 2013
4:41 pm
Jordan Lyons should be Freshman of the year and second or third team all-state
GHSA FAN
March 13th, 2013
7:15 pm
TIM QUARTERMAN (Johnson of Sav.) – without question. This kid can really play and led his team to a state title. If your player did not win the state they shouldn’t be mentioned. Coach Steve Smith of Oak Hill Acad. stated “Quarterman was the best player that he has seen in his gym over the past 3 yrs. Quarterman was so good, we had to double team him.”
Quarterman’s Resume
State Title
ESPNU – Nationally Ranked
State Ranked
SEC – D1 – Signee
Double/Double to a Triple Double almost every game
Recognition from well renowned, (NBA producing) national ranking head coach
This kid is definitely your – GHS PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!!
Eagle 1
March 13th, 2013
10:38 pm
@GHSA FAN Tim Quarterman may have had a good season but his resume is nothin compared to Tahj Shamsid Deen resume. Tahj has 3 State titles,3POY and a runner up with a 19-1 state playoff record. That’s more of Mr.Basketball.
B-Ball Fan
March 14th, 2013
7:23 am
Dear South Ga Sport Reporter, please ck your source before highlighting a player. Paker, left true competition to play with the little girls. When faced with higher levels of competition she gets Shut Down. A struggling Jenkins High School Beat them twice and in the big championship game she didn’t produce. They only scored 27 points and most was scub points at the end of the game. Please!, there are more talented girls in the area who are better than your pick. Do your homework and choose the best player, don’t choose with your feelings!
GHSA FAN
March 14th, 2013
8:26 am
@ Eagle 1 – Tahj accomplishments are good but not impressive. Let’s not talk from a personal fan perspective. Let’s simply talk basketball. The 3 state titles are good, the 3POY if it’s actually factual is good, but they must be 3 GA POY awards. However the MAIN POINT is this, we are talking (2012-2013 season), all of the other years have (PAST and GONE). Janet Jackson said it best (WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY). The 19-1 state playoff record well that can also be accredited to all the (recruits) that Eagle Landing’s have gained. I’m not being funny but (EL) recruit’s very well. But when you have a kid that can take his little area school to a win state, and in the same respect accomplish all of these things on a state and national level in his perspective year (2012-2013). Now you are talking Mr. Basketball for the State of Georgia. Remember the award is for (2012-2013) all other dates and accomplishments have past and gone. Now again I state, no dis-respect to Tahj Shamsid, he sounds like a good kid that has plenty of game, and my sincere congrat’s to (EL) on their state title. My vote is for Mr. Quarterman/Johnson of Sav. or Mr. Greene/Tift Co. But when it comes to representing Georgia, I wish for much success and want all of our GA kids to represent us well on the next level. GA. /B-BALL #1.
G-dub
March 14th, 2013
10:00 am
@GHSA FAN…You made some good points until you said Mr. Greene/Tift Co. last time I checked they did not even make it to the finals but based on his body of work he should win POY which justifies Tajh winning it based on his body of work and not winning state. You said Tajh resume was good but not impressive, name one player whose resume is better.
James
March 14th, 2013
2:22 pm
Isn’t Tahj from Columbia, who is in the middle of Decatur.
whathappenstotherest
March 15th, 2013
11:22 am
Seriously COBB? Whatdoyouexpect? You sound like sour grapes (from England). The young man in the semi-finals from Aquinas was clearly the best player on the court against St. Francis. There are several reasons kids pick colleges (relationships, degree choice, location, etc.). UAB’s program is better than you might think.
Mr. Wolverine
March 15th, 2013
4:34 pm
@Truth, the best female player from Georgia is a young lady by the name of Mya Moore.
@GHSA Fan, I wish I seen Quarterman play this season, herd nothing but great things about him. I also can say its good to see the Savannah get a championship, but my vote goes to Taj from Columbia.
He single handedly carried Columbia this season and led them to the Finals. He finished with a 19-1 record in the post-season and did it against one of the toughest schedules in the state.
The Auburn signee has the numbers and all intagibles to win Mr. Georgia.
While you say Mr. Georgia is about the regular season, its also a “popularity” contest also. Taj has been a household name across the Southeast since he was a freshman, while Quarterman has emerged into the spotlight recently.
Advantage Taj.
For Freshman of the Year, I’ll go with Alterique Gilbert of MG. This kid played big on the brightest stages.
How long will it take for MG to get a story on its (5) state championships in basketball?
Snakedaddy
March 15th, 2013
7:46 pm
I have been in the gyms and out in the fields. The best female highschool player in Georgia is Diamond DeShields. I am a basketball analysis you know what I mean? The best male basketball player in Georgia is Tahj Shamsid-Deen.
South Fulton Advocate
March 18th, 2013
8:18 am
KENNYA SIMMS (2016) PG from LANGSTON HUGHES…. The best ball handler and distributer this side of the Mason Dixon. She almost single handedly took a 7 win at best team to 25 – 3 and an appearance in the state 6A Final 4. You judge these things off of team worth and the value of a person to their team as well as the accomplishments of that team. WELL here you go!!!