The second round of the GHSA Class AAAAAAA playoffs are set and the match-ups get bigger and better. We break down all eight games in Georgia’s biggest classification and make our picks on the winners. We encourage you to do the same. 

THE GAMES 

Jonesboro (21-8) at Brunswick (25-3): Arguably, one of the best games in the second round of all of the games in the state across all classifications. Jonesboro takes their trademark toughness and end-to-end defense to the coast and will face a formidable foe in Brunswick, a legit contender for the state title game. Jonesboro’s Jamari Smith is playing as good as any player in the state (he scored 31 points in the first round win over Evans) while Marcus Scott leads the Brunswick guard attack. Expect this game to be pack, loud and energetic from start to finish. - Justin Young 

Justin Young’s pick: Brunswick 
Tai Young’s pick: Jonesboro
Your pick:

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Lanier (20-9) at Langston Hughes (22-5): Lanier won on the road, beating a good Cambridge team to get to the second round. Senior guards Adrian Martin and Alex Walker combined for 15 made three-pointers in the win over Cambridge. Langston Hughes put away a good defensive minded Allatoona to advance. Expect a lot of three balls to fly in this game. In the end, there is a reason why Langston Hughes is the defending state champs and there is a reason why Sanchez Nolley is a contender for Mr. Georgia Basketball. - Justin Young
Justin Young’s pick: Langston Hughes  
Tai Young’s pick: Langston Hughes
Your pick:

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Douglas County (21-6) at North Atlanta (20-9): Look for a fun game here with lots of guards that can take over the game. DC comes in with a three-headed monster of Malik Battle, Ricky Clark and Cam Copeland, who combine for 41 points. North Atlanta leans on Messiah Thompson, who is having a terrific junior season. - Justin Young
Justin Young’s pick: Douglas County
Tai Young’s pick: Douglas County
Your pick:

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Tri-Cities (20-9) at Dacula (16-10): Tri-Cities, a No. 4 seed out of Region 5, knocked off No. 1 seed South Cobb to advance to the Sweet 16. Senior guard Eli Lawrence (22 points a game) and company take on a guard-heavy Dacula squad that beat Alpharetta 87-50. The Falcons had 49 combined points from junior guards Mekhail Bethea and Brendan Tucker in the opening round win. - Justin Young 
Justin Young’s pick: Dacula 
Tai Young’s pick: Dacula
Your pick: 

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Bradwell Institute (20-7) at Heritage (15-8): Bradwell will make the long four-hour drive for a second round match-up against a good Heritage squad. The Hinesville school Heritage is always a versatile group and paced by sub six-footer Trelan Scott. The junior is averaging 15 points a game this season. Bradwell has good guards with size in senior Khalyn Weekley and juniors Isaiah Scott and Javonte Lecounte. Don’t be surprised to see this one go down to the final buzzer. - Justin Young 
Justin Young’s pick: Bradwell Institute 
Tai Young’s pick: Heritage
Your pick: 

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Alexander (16-11) at Gainesville (20-6): Gainesville started off the season rocky but it looks like the bruises and bumps may pay off late. Led by MTSU commit KJ Buffen, this Gainesville group is surging at the moment winning their past seven games by a double-digit margin. Alexander has a big man in Brady Spence that messed around and got a triple-double during his teams first-round win against Sprayberry. - Tai Young
Justin Young’s pick: Gainesville
Tai Young’s pick: Gainesville
Your pick:

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Grovetown (13-12) at Coffee (19-7): Coffee leans hard on juniors Jayce Moore and Mackenzie McFatten, two of South Georgia’s best sleepers, and rightfully so. They combine for 30 points and 20 rebounds a game. They are the anchors to Pernell Smith's squad. Keep an eye on them moving forward. Grovetown has been in several close games this season and put away an always-scrappy Tucker squad in the first round. When you have a roster full of seniors, it is hard to be shaken. They’ll need to lean on that experience for a road game three hours from home. - Justin Young
Justin Young’s pick: Coffee 
Tai Young’s pick: Coffee
Your pick: 

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

Lakeside Evans (14-12) at Richmond Hill (16-11): Kalen Williams leads Lakeside with 22.8ppg as a junior guard. Promising freshman guard Rickey Mcghee will have to grow up fast as things get more competitive in every round that goes by in the tournament. Richmond Hill has two do it all guards in Sheldon Lewis and Sam James that are top 3 on their team in points, rebounds, and steals. - Tai Young 
Justin Young’s pick: Lakeside Evans 
Tai Young’s pick: Lakeside Evans
Your pick: 

Who wins this AAAAAA 2nd round match-up?

— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) February 19, 2018

NOTABLE PLAYER MATCH-UPS

Landers Nolley (Sr. 6-5, Langston Hughes) vs. Adrian Martin (Sr. 6-3, Lanier) 

Two of the best bucket getters in the state of GA matchup in what should be an entertaining matchup. Adrian is coming off a 33 point performance while Landers is in contention for Mr. Basketball. Both defenses will be geared to shut down the others primary scorer so expect a lot of difficult shots to be made. 

Brady Spence (Jr. 6-7, Alexander) vs KJ Buffen (Sr. 6-5, Gainesville)
Spence is coming off a game where he recorded a triple-double and the 6-foot-8 forward just keeps getting better. He now draws his toughest assignment of the year, guarding all-state forward KJ Buffen. The MIddle Tennessee State forward is the rock of the Red Elephants and can beat match-ups inside and out. 

Messiah Thompson(Jr.5-8, North Atlanta) vs. Rickey Clark (Sr. 6-4, Douglas County)
Messiah has been on a rampage lately putting up ridiculous numbers, averaging 16 points per game and rebounds per game this season. What he lacks in size he makes up for in production, scoring and assisting on a lot of his team’s possessions. Rickey Clark is a big guard capable of penetrating defenses and making them pick their dose of poison. The future Lincoln Memorial guard is full of potential.