Is Georgia Football or Basketball Country?

Is Georgia football or basketball country?

When thinking of the state of Georgia’s high school athletics, we initially think of football.

Football has been a staple of the south for as long as we can remember.

Though I think football may have the slight edge over basketball, there is a fair divide and parity between the two.

There are so many schools in the Atlanta area that people may say that they own football.

But I don’t think so.

Football belongs to South Georgia in my opinion.

I say this because the area is smaller than Atlanta but the same schools stay on top of the standings.

Programs such as Colquitt, Lee County, Lowndes, Valdosta, Pierce County, and Fitzgerald all hold down the fort on the gridiron for South Georgia as they all finished in the Top 25 of the final 2020 Rankings by MaxPreps.

Even schools on the smaller level such as Brooks County, Irwin County, and Clinch County are top dogs in South Georgia football. 

Don’t get me wrong though because those Atlanta and Macon schools are not any slouches.

Schools like Grayson, Buford, Warner Robins, Norcross, Collins Hill, and Marist all finished in the Top 10 following the 2020 season with state championship wins and appearances coming from some schools listed.

You can even add in Westlake, Prince Avenue Christian, Cartersville, Blessed Trinity, Milton, and North Cobb who all saw success this season.

When it comes to basketball, there’s no question that Atlanta run things in that aspect.

Milton, Pebblebrook, Grayson, McEachern, Wheeler, Chattahoochee, Berkmar, Kell, and Pace Academy are nine of the ten teams in MaxPrep’s Top 10 this season with Southeast Georgia’s Richmond Hill being the only outlier.

The only school in South Georgia in the Top 25 is Monroe but Valdosta sits right outside at the 26 spot.

For Georgia, there’s no real drop off from sports.

South Georgia and Atlanta both have their difference making programs that have hoisted championships and made noise in the GHSA playoffs especially in football.

Since the focus is more on football with lesser the population in South Georgia, of course something will have to take the fall and basketball is the faltering option.

But that doesn’t mean that schools aren’t capable, it simply means that there’s a different focus.

There’s no shortage of talent in any sport in the state of Georgia.

Written by: Gerald Thomas, III