With the Georgia high school football season now finished, basketball takes center stage as the premier source of high school entertainment. Georgia showcases some of the best basketball talent nationwide, and that production comes from several different teams, some of whom are off to unusually fast starts to the season. Here are seven teams who are turning heads with their early-season performances.
Oconee County
After back-to-back campaigns with exactly 18 wins and 10 losses, the Warriors have won eight of their first nine games this season. The Warriors have relied on good defense, holding seven opponents to 51 points or less. They currently stand as North Oconee’s only loss this year, and have picked up solid resume-building victories over Adairsville and Oglethorpe County.
Oconee County is the top-ranked basketball team in Georgia high school 3A, though that achievement may be overwritten as Sandy Creek (currently ranked No. 3 in our 1A-7A composite Top-25) defeats better opponents in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, a favorable region schedule may give the Warriors their first 20-win season since 2005.
Peachtree Ridge
A once-daunting Peachtree Ridge program experienced its two worst seasons in recent history in early 2021 and 2022, combining for only 18 victories. This season, though, has been refreshing, as the Lions are currently 8-1.
Blowout wins over Northview and Union Grove allowed Peachtree Ridge to build momentum, which they carried into a massive win over Berkmar, the defending 7A runner-up. With dates against North Gwinnett, Norcross, Meadowcreek, and Berkmar remaining, the Lions will have their toughness tested throughout region play.
Beach
The past few seasons for Beach have been a rollercoaster, ranging from over 20 wins to just seven in 2020. This season, the Bulldogs have found stability in a 7-0 start. A win over city rival Savannah stands as the closest margin of victory for the Bulldogs, but Beach has had its fair share of close games.
They defeated Lithia Springs in a tournament by just five and Griffin by only three early in December. With a new region this season featuring more private school opponents, Beach may have some work to do in order to keep their Georgia high school basketball playoff hopes alive.
Cedar Grove
The Saints have been abysmal over the past three seasons, winning a combined 15 games over that span. That has changed in a big way this season, evidenced by their 8-1 start. After an early loss to Stephenson, the Saints have picked up great wins over Dutchtown, Heritage-Conyers, and Rabun Gap. They also routed Stone Mountain and handled Starr’s Mill and Paideia with ease. High school basketball analyst Kyle Sandy now has Cedar Grove ranked second in 3A, a stark improvement over the last three seasons.
Riverwood
The Raiders won only six games last season but they have already topped that total in 2022. Triumphs over Holy Innocents’, Galloway, and Dunwoody highlight their seven wins, but even close losses to Westlake and Druid Hills exemplify improvement as a team.
Karris Bilal and Jalen Leonard form a deadly backcourt that has helped the Raiders average nearly 75 points a game. Bilal is a three-star prospect who averaged a whopping 30 points per game last season. Several talented opponents remain on the Raiders’ schedule, and that backcourt duo will have to fuel Riverwood to a victory nearly every time.
Mount Vernon
The Mustangs have been excellent this season, winning eight of their opening 11 games. Six of their wins have come by at least 44 points. Mount Vernon’s most recent loss came by way of Kell, arguably the best team in the state at the moment.
Xavier Shegog and Dennis Scott III have been dynamite in the frontcourt for the Mustangs, both averaging almost a double-double in points and rebounds. Center Keith Williams provides a fearsome defensive presence as he forces a combined three steals and blocks per game. Not many opponents have the size to match up to these talented upperclassmen.
Jones County
The Greyhounds have been respectable over the past several seasons, but a hot 8-1 start might be the foundation for a deep run in the Georgia high school basketball playoffs. Their biggest win came against Drew Charter, a team that won the state title last year with a 31-1 record.
The Greyhounds have a clear “big three” that they rely on for scoring: Jaylen Sanford, Daethan Harris, and Jaden Stanley. The trio combine for nearly 50 points per game, but are active on the defensive end more importantly, totaling 5.7 steals per game. That backcourt balance has allowed the Greyhounds to go on second- and third-quarter runs to put away their opponents.
