As the top boys basketball teams in the state make their playoff pushes, teams from the metro area continue to dominate in the AJC’s weekly polls, especially in the larger classifications. Every No. 1 ranked team (with the exception of Class A) is inside or within shouting distance of I-285.

Milton remains in Class 5A’s top spot after beating No. 3 Wheeler 77-59 on Saturday night. With the emergence of Walton to the ninth spot, every Class 5A team is from metro Atlanta.

Seven ranked teams in Class 4A are locals. Miller Grove has only one loss this season, to Florida’s Dr. Krop, and remains No. 1.

Columbia lost, but was still able keep the top spot in Class 3A. Their loss came against highly regarded (but unranked) Tucker from Class 4A, 62-54. Read more >

Several of the state’s most highly ranked teams competed in tournaments and invitationals over weekend, despite being knee-deep in region play. One of the most high-profile of those events was the Marriott Invitational, which as held at Norcross over the weekend.

At Norcross, Miller Grove was beaten for the first time this season by Dr. Krop (Fla) 70-63. Read more >

It’s time for the second edition of the basketball Score 44! In our list of the top 22 boys and girls players in the state, we take into account which senior hoopsters are the best in the state of Georgia. In this week’s edition, Saah Nimley of Collins Hill replaced Tyrone Brown of Jenkins County while, in the girls’ list, Danielle Gazaway of Warner Robins took the spot of Sydney Wallace of Northview.

Highly ranked boys squads like Milton, Miller Grove, Walton, Norcross and Wheeler each had players ranked in the list as did girls squads like Wesleyan, Redan, Whitefield Academy and Marist. Also, unranked squads like the Greenville and Hillgrove boys as well as girls teams from Parkview, Walton, Berkmar, Chattahoochee and Whitefield Academy had players that made the list.

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Milton’s win over perennial national power Oak Hill (Va.) on Saturday was the talk of the national high school basketball scene. Oak Hill was ranked No. 1 in the nation prior to the game, but the loss has cleared a path for another Georgia team to potentially take the top ranking. Class 4A’s Miller Grove, who defeated Milton earlier in the season, has been Georgia’s top-ranked team in most national polls and now stands a shot at winning the national championship. Read more >

South Georgia has the tradition, but this year, Gwinnett wears the crown in terms of playing the state’s best football.

After Friday night’s quarterfinals action, Gwinnett teams had taken four games from opponents from South Georgia, including two out of three in Class 5A from programs in the esteemed Region 1. And, even more impressively, all three 5A Gwinnett squads were on the road against their South Georgia, Region 1 foes.

Despite South Georgia teams routinely taking home state titles throughout history in Georgia high school football, Gwinnett County has become a serious factor in all classifications on a yearly basis. While reaching the level of consistency over decades, as South Georgia has, Gwinnett is certainly at the forefront of Georgia high school football now. Read more >