Boys basketball preseason preview

A look at the top boys basketball teams and players (go to AJC.com for a review of smaller classifications): Class AAAAAAA Perhaps none of the eight state champions faces as many questions as Tift County, which lost 85 per- cent of its scoring to grad- uation and its coach, Eric Holland, who left to become principal at Rome. Chris Wade, who was an associate head coach under Holland and on the bench for the Blue Devils’ state titles in 2014 and 2017, was promoted. Senior Montae Terrel, the team’s sixth man a season ago, is back to run the floor as point guard. Third-lead- ing scorer Rashot Bateman, a 6-3 senior guard, is expected to provide strong perimeter shooting. Junior wing Marquavius Johnson is a strong all-around player.

Runner-up Norcross went 26-6 last season and came up three points shy of a state title. The Blue Devils return four key players, including 6-6 senior forward Joseph Toppin, who averaged nine points and four rebounds a year ago. Senior point guard Dalvin White is a three-year starter who made 41 per- cent of his 3-point attempts last year and averaged nine points and 2.5 steals per game. Junior guard Kyle Stur- divant averaged 12 points, three assists and 1.5 steals last season.

Sem i finalist Grayson returns five key players off a team that went 21-10. The Rams figure to rely heav- ily on 6-0 senior guard Travis Anderson, a Charleston Southern commit who aver- aged 21.4 points, four assists and 2.1 steals as a junior. Class AAAAAA Champi on Langston Hughes finished 25-8 and entered the state tourna- ment as a No. 3 seed from Region 5 before getting hot and winning three games decided by three points or less on the way to the title. The Panthers lost six seniors who are playing collegiately, coach Rory Welsh said, but they return some potent players, including 6-7 shooting forward Landers Nolley, a Virginia Tech commitment who averaged 25 points and seven rebounds.

Allatoona, a semifinalist at 21-9 last season, returns a trio of seniors in 6-4 wing player Rolan Wooden, 6-7 wing Tobi Adeyeye and 6-2 guard John Chester. Juniors Jeremia Sanabria, Devan Dixon and Izaiah Taylor figure to play key roles.

Semifinalist South Cobb, 23-8, graduated six players and lost Trevin Wade, who transferred to Florida, according to Eagles coach Greg Moultrie. He said South Cobb will have no players who played on the varsity team a season ago.

Class AAAAA State champion Buford went 29-2 and was unbeaten against teams from Georgia. The Wolves return four players who combined for 53.6 points per game last season. Leading the way is 6-6 junior forward Marcus Watson, 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. Seniors Alex Jons and David Viti averaged 13.4 points and 11.6 points, respectively.

Finalist Cedar Shoals, which finished 27-5 and made its third straight appearance in the state final four, returns seniors JaiVanni McDavid, KeiVasjay Ball and Darrien

Appling. The Jaguars could get a boost from sophomore transfers Quincy Canty and Tyler Johnson, and Deme- trius Glenn, who transferred from rival Clarke Central.