Let's meet the No. 1 seeds in the 2023 GHSA A-DII state tournament. Each of these teams won their respective region tournament and secured a number one seed in the bracket. Let's meet 'em. 

 

REGION 1

Calhoun County (23-4)

NOTABLE WINS: Dougherty, Charlton County, Wilkinson County, Mitchell County (x2), Macon County

NOTABLE LOSSES: Mitchell County, Thomasville, Terrell County

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Jasiyah Suber (1-A-DII Co-Player of the Year), Quincy Edwards (1-A-DII Co-Player of the Year), Darnell Echoner (All-Region), Zechariah Canidate (All-Region), Amajion Figgins (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Calhoun County is one of the top dogs—errr, uhh, Cougars rather—in A-DII. A game against them is a measuring stick for most of the classification. They’ve picked off several teams that ended up being No. 1 seeds this season, and they steamrolled teams by double-digits more often than not. 

 

REGION 2

Charlton County (25-2)

NOTABLE WINS: Hilliard (FL) (x2), Randolph-Clay 

NOTABLE LOSSES: Calhoun County, Clinch County

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Jarvis Wright, Elyiss Williams

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Way down in South Georgia, Charlton County has been taking care of business. They have a lethal 3-point threat in Jarvis Wright and a force down low in Elyiss Williams. While that duo is young, they’ve proven that they can win some ball games down in Folkston.

 

REGION 3

Portal (26-1) 

NOTABLE WINS: Effingham County, Wilkinson County (x2), Jenkins County (x3), Statesboro (x2) 

NOTABLE LOSSES: Effingham County

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Elijah Coleman (3-A-DII Player of the Year), Amir Jackson (All-Region), Joseph Thomas (All-Region), Marion Tremble (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Panthers are five points away from being undefeated this season. Their 26-1 run includes wins over some of the more fomidable opponents in the classification. When selecting an All-A-DII team, Elijah Coleman has to be included. He’s one of the best guards and players in the tournament. For those who may not be familiar with him, try to catch a Portal game because this guy’s a hooper.   

 

REGION 4

Dooly County (14-9)

NOTABLE WINS: Perry (x2)

NOTABLE LOSSES: Wilkinson County (x2), Macon County (x2), Crisp County (x2), Telfair County (x2), Treutlen

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Lorenzo Clayton (Team Captain)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Dooly County has taken some lumps on their way to a No. 1 seed, but that could have been beneficial for the Bobcats as they prepare for win-or-go-home situations. After winning their region tournament, they have momentum going into the A-DII tournament. 

 

REGION 5

Wilkinson County (21-6)

NOTABLE WINS: Dooly County (x2), Macon County, Swainsboro, Manchester, Social Circle

NOTABLE LOSSES: Johnson-Savannah, Thomson, Portal (x2), Manchester, Calhoun County

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Justin Stanley (5-A-DII Player of the Year), DeKarteyia Craig

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Whether it was in A or A-Public, Wilkinson County has been a force on the March to Macon in the past. The Warriors are a blue blood at this level, so they can never be counted out. They also tested themselves against good competition from other classifications, so they’re ready for the A-DII battles ahead of them. 

 

REGION 6

Macon County (25-2)

NOTABLE WINS: Chattahoochee County (x2), Dooly County (x2), Manchester (x2), Calhoun County

NOTABLE LOSSES: Wilkinson County, Manchester

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Montrezious Leggett

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: After back-to-back losses to Wilkinson County and Manchester—two top-10 teams in the classification—in early December, the Bulldogs ripped through their schedule unscathed. That run included avenging the loss to Manchester as well as beating some of A-DII’s other top teams. 

 

REGION 7

Greenforest (17-7)

NOTABLE WINS: Parkview, Etowah, Houston (TN), Gaston Christian (NC), McDonough, Dougherty, Christian Heritage (x2)

NOTABLE LOSSES: McEachern, Kell (x2), Wasatch Academy (UT), Windermere (FL), Grissom (AL), Eagle’s Landing

NOTABLE PLAYERS: DK Manyiel (Georgia State), Gai Chol (Mississippi State), Isaiah Lloyd (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The A-Private champions from a year ago are in position to win it all in their first A-DII season. This team has tested itself against top competition and has two DI bigs who both push the 7-foot mark. From a size perspective, this team is unmatched. 

 

REGION 8 

Warren County (21-5)
NOTABLE WINS: Towns County

NOTABLE LOSSES: Hephzibah, Aquinas (x2), Hancock Central, Jefferson County

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Justyn Burnett

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Screaming Devils are coming off of a season in which they made a run to the A-Public championship game. While they lost several seniors from that season, they’re a top-seeded team yet again. A run back to Macon would likely mean that the Devils would have to beat Charlton County and Greenforest. Crazier things have happened.