Let's meet the No. 1 seeds in the 2023 GHSA 4A 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

Westover (19-7) 

NOTABLE WINS: Dougherty, Monroe, Valdosta, Sumter County, Hillgrove, Bainbridge

NOTABLE LOSSES: Monroe, Sumter County, Valdosta, Dougherty, Bainbridge (x2), Shaw

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Kavon Johnson, Kemari Leverette

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Westover made a deep run to the 4A championship game a season ago, and they’re back in the position to make more noise. If they win their first game, they’ll have had back-to-back 20-win seasons. 

 

REGION 2

Baldwin (16-10) 

NOTABLE WINS: Tucker, Westside

NOTABLE LOSSES: Warner Robins, Lithonia, Lee County, Westside (x2), Washington County (x2), Tucker, Spalding, Perry

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Jacobi Nixon (2-4A Co-Defensive Player of the Year), Tremarious Lawrence (All-Region), Jordan Webb (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Baldwin looks to be getting hot at the right time. They’ve won five in a row and made it through their region tournament against tough teams like Westside and Perry. The Braves should see their winning ways continue for another game at least. 

 

REGION 3

Benedictine (15-5) 

NOTABLE WINS: Hilton Head Prep (SC), Burke County (x2) 

NOTABLE LOSSES: Calvary Day, Statesboro, Archbishop Moeller (OH), Bishop Kenny (FL), New Hampstead

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Cadets are a bit of an under-the-radar group, but they’ve been taking care of business down in the Savannah area. They took some Ls in holiday tournaments, but outside of those, their record is pretty pristine. They’re undefeated at home, and their non-holiday-tournament loss was an OT loss on the road to a region rival. 

 

REGION 4

Fayette County (22-5) 

NOTABLE WINS: St. Francis, McIntosh, Whitewater (x2)

NOTABLE LOSSES: East Coweta, Sandy Creek (x2), Whitewater, South Cobb

NOTABLE PLAYERS: RJ Kennedy (4-4A Player of the Year), Keith Gillespie (All-Region), Christian McCallister (All-Region), Sean Van Dorn (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: RJ Kennedy has emerged as the star for the Tigers now that Kaleb Banks has moved on to Bloomington to be a Hoosier. If you thought that they’d take a step back after losing a superstar, guess again. Fayette County is operating as well as ever. 

 

REGION 5

Lovett (19-9) 

NOTABLE WINS: Buford, Buckhorn (AL), Kenwood (IL), McDonough, Pace, Walnut Grove, 

NOTABLE LOSSES: Pace (x2), McDonough (x2), GAC, Butler, Christ School (NC), Crossroad Academy (FL), Williston (FL)

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Christian Anderson (Michigan), Kyle Walters (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Taking down McDonough and Pace en route to a region tournament championship and a No. 1 seed. The Lions are led by Michigan-committed Christian Anderson who has been lighting it up for years, and he’s on a heater right now with multiple 40-point games recently. He could go Shabazz, he could go Kemba. Look out for this man. 

 

REGION 6

Southwest Dekalb (25-2)

NOTABLE WINS: Columbia, Holy Innocents’ (x3)

NOTABLE LOSSES: Eagle’s Landing, Columbia

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Savion Mathis (All-Region), Messiah Mergan (All-Region), Xzaviah Taylor (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Not many teams had a heater of a season like the Panthers did. They only lost twice, and the two opponents they lost to have a combined two losses. The Panthers went undefeated in their region and have won 13 in a row. 

 

REGION 7

Sonoraville (20-7)

NOTABLE WINS: Gilmer, Adairsville, Central-Carrollton

NOTABLE LOSSES: Adairsville, Gilmer, Lassiter, Cartersville, Southwest Whitfield, Central-Carrollton

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Donovan McDaniel (All-Region), Elijah Woods (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Sonoraville had a down year a season ago, but they bounced back and got to the 20-win mark again. Along the way, they faced talented players and good teams, and they’ve shown to be able to go toe to toe with those guys. 

 

REGION 8 

Walnut Grove (16-12)
NOTABLE WINS: North Oconee, Madison County, Seckinger (x2)

NOTABLE LOSSES: Parkview, Tri-Cities, Social Circle, North Oconee (x2), Western (KY), Lovett, Walton, Buford, South Gwinnett, Madison County (x2)

NOTABLE PLAYERS: Alex Cannon (Hampden-Sydney), Deston Christian (All-Region), Marcus Smith (All-Region)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: This team is better than their record indicates. They have good roster balance, and they’ve been out and about playing a tough in-state schedule. Look out for Marcus Smith in this tournament. He’s a dynamic young guard who can make a statement on a big stage.