Georgia high school boys basketball playoffs: Best potential matchups, star players, predicted champions

By Zach Shugan

Round 2 of the Georgia high school boys basketball playoffs tips off today.

We break down the bracket for each classification in boys basketball from the sweet 16 to the championship.

Best Potential Matchups: East Coweta at North Gwinnett (sweet 16); Milton at Pebblebrook, Berkmar at Grayson (elite eight)

Star Power: Kami Young, Jaiun Simon, Andre Young, Jordan Brown (Pebblebrook); Stephon Castle, Jakai Newton, Marquavious Brown, Daniel Pounds, Marcus Whitlock (Newton); Bruce Thornton, Kanaan Carlyle, Chase Cormier, LT Overton (Milton); Malique Ewin, Jameel Rideout, Jermahri Hill (Berkmar); Chauncey Wiggins, Tyrese Elliott (Grayson); London Johnson, Jerry Deng, Samarion Bond (Norcross); RJ Godfrey, Thomas Allard, Dylan Gary (North Gwinnett); Delrecco Gillespie, Sammy Moss (East Coweta); Christian Drummer (Archer); Izaiyah Nelson (Marietta); Luke Flynn (Walton); JC Riley (Lowndes)

Final Four: Milton vs Berkmar, Newton vs Norcross (games played in Buford)

Championship Prediction: Berkmar takes down Newton in a showdown between two top-notch programs. The experienced Patriots get past Milton in the semifinals, avenging a loss to the Eagles in last year’s state championship game.

Class 6A

Best Potential Matchups: Westlake at Wheeler, Buford at Statesboro (sweet 16); Kell at Sequoyah, Effingham County at River Ridge (elite eight)

Star Power: Isaiah Collier, Kyle Burns, Arrinten Page (Wheeler); Peyton Marshall, Dylan Cambridge, Aaron Smith (Kell); Dylan Wolle, Kyle Keener (Sequoyah); Jared Russo, Braden Pierce (River Ridge); Jaylon Taylor, Alahn Sumler (Buford); ; Kobe Davis (Langston Hughes); Zocko Littleton, Cristian Carroll (Osborne)

Final Four: Centennial vs Kell, Wheeler vs River Ridge (games played at University of West Georgia)

Championship Prediction: If you want a bold prediction for Class 6A, you’ll have to look somewhere else. Wheeler is too talented, and the Wildcats have been there and done that. They do it again in 2022, defeating Kell in a rematch of last year’s state title game to complete the three-peat.

Class 5A

Best Potential Matchups: Lithonia at Tri-Cities, Walnut Grove at Eagle’s Landing (sweet 16); Chapel Hill at Tri-Cities, Calhoun at Clarke Central (elite eight)

Star Power: Spencer Elliott, Eamon Kenah (St. Pius X); AJ Barnes, David Thomas (Eagle’s Landing); Walter Matthews, Jayden Clark (Hiram); Chi Shannon, Peyton Weathersby (Chapel Hill); Simeon Cottle, Kory Mincy (Tri-Cities); Dylan Faulkner, Peyton Law (Calhoun); Tajh Williams, DJ Wright, Aaron Jones (Veterans)

Final Four: St. Pius X vs Eagle’s Landing, Tri-Cities vs Calhoun (games played at Fort Valley State University)

Championship Prediction: After knocking out St. Pius X in a close semifinal game at Fort Valley State University, Eagle’s Landing goes to Macon and beats Calhoun to repeat as the 5A state champion. The Eagles’ backcourt of AJ Barnes and David Thomas prove too much to handle for teams in their path.

Class 4A

Best Potential Matchups: North Oconee at Spencer, Monroe at Central-Carrollton (sweet 16); Fayette County at Spencer, Jefferson at Westover (elite eight)

Star Power: Kaleb Banks, RJ Kennedy (Fayette County); Brodie Scott (North Oconee); Domonik Henderson, Andrico Jackson (Monroe); Joseph “JoJo” Bell, Brian Bain (Central-Carrollton); Rudolph Satcher, Shatavious Hogan, Christian Burnett (Baldwin); Keshawn Evans (Druid Hills); Da’Avian Thomas, Amon McDowell, Keenan Gray (McDonough); Christiaan Neely (Benedictine); JT Fulkrod, Dalen Gales (Jefferson); Keshay Walton, Effrin Smith (Westover)

Final Four: Fayette County vs Baldwin, Westover vs McDonough (games played at Fort Valley State University)

Championship Prediction: In the fourth meeting this season between Fayette County and McDonough, it’s the Tigers who come out on top and send Kaleb Banks off to Indiana with a ring. After falling just short in recent years, Fayette County claims the first state championship in program history.

Class 3A

Best Potential Matchups: Windsor Forest at Sandy Creek, Cross Creek at LaFayette, Greater Atlanta Christian at Groves (sweet 16); Sandy Creek at Sumter County (elite eight)

Star Power: D’ante Bass (Windsor Forest); Vic Newsom (Sandy Creek); Kyric Davis (Sumter County); JC Curry, Tahj Johnson (Hart County); Jahkiaus Jones, Lavonta Ivery (Thomson); Aidan Hadaway (LaFayette); Josh Fulton, Eddie Page (Greater Atlanta Christian); Tremaine Johnson, Jerald Colonel, Ikeen Johnson (Groves); Jadon Yeh (White County)

Final Four: Sandy Creek vs Thomson, Greater Atlanta Christian vs White County (games played at Georgia College and State University)

Championship Prediction: After losing three times to Sandy Creek this season by a combined total of 11 points, Greater Atlanta Christian finally gets past the Patriots in round four at the Macon Coliseum. The Spartans add more hardware to their trophy case with their ninth state title and first since 2018.

Class 2A

Best Potential Matchups: Lovett at Vidalia, Columbia at Westside-Augusta, Butler at Pace (sweet 16); Pace at Washington County (elite eight)

Star Power: Christian Anderson (Lovett); Ty Dalley (Vidalia); Jaylon Johnson (Chattooga); Mason Lockhart (Columbia); Khalon Hudson (Westside-Augusta); Kedar Bodie (Butler); Josh Reed, Bryson Tiller (Pace); Willie Henderson, JT Thomas (Washington County); Connor McKay (Rabun County)

Final Four: Vidalia vs Columbia, Pace vs Rabun County (games played at Georgia College and State University)

Championship Prediction: Pace three-peats and prevents Vidalia from winning its first state championship. The combination of talent and playoff experience proves invaluable for the Knights, as they claim their fifth state title in program history, all of which have come since 2016.

Class A Public

Best Potential Matchups: Towns County at Charlton County (sweet 16); Warren County at Dublin, Social Circle at Calhoun County (elite eight)

Star Power: Zy’Juan Gray, Travion Jackson (Manchester); Lorenzo Johnson (Warren County); Zion Davis, Dayshun Peacock, Qua Ashley (Dublin); Ja’Kobe Strozier, Cedric Taylor (Drew Charter); Elijah Coleman (Portal); KJ Reid, Tyrhell Branch, Cam Gaither (Social Circle)

Final Four: Manchester vs Dublin, Drew Charter vs Calhoun County (games played at Valdosta State)

Championship Prediction: In the showdown between teams that begin with the letter D and lost only one game during the regular season, Drew Charter is victorious over Dublin and claims its first state championship.

Class A Private

Best Potential Matchups: Mount Vernon at First Presbyterian Day (sweet 16); Galloway at Greenforest, Providence Christian at King’s Ridge (elite eight);

Star Power: Jalen Forrest, Gai Chol, DK Manyiel (Greenforest); Albert Wilson, Josh Dixon (North Cobb Christian); Isaac Martin, Micah Hoover (King’s Ridge); Tony Carpio, Chance Thacker (Providence Christian); Jase McCullough (St. Francis); Dennis Scott III, Keith Williams (Mount Vernon); Julius King (First Presbyterian Day)

Final Four: Greenforest vs North Cobb Christian, King’s Ridge vs Mount Vernon (games played in Buford)

Championship Prediction: Greenforest takes the crown, winning its first state title since 2017 and fourth in program history. The Eagles’ size inside combined with the play at guard is too much for King’s Ridge to handle in the championship game. 

—

Georgia high school boys basketball brackets