Jonesboro Cardinals

Region 4-AAAA
Head Coach: Daniel Maehlman
Last Year’s Record: 32-1 (15-0)

Top Returning Players: MJ Walker (Jr.), Jamari Smith (So.), Tariq Jenkins (Sr.), Kenneth Qualls (Sr.)
Key Games: Lincoln (NY), Norcross, Douglass (TN), Memphis East (TN), MaxPreps National Tournament (CA), @ Henry County, Oak Hill Academy

Team Preview: Daniel Maehlman has built Jonesboro into a state power that has gotten some national love over the course of the last couple of years. They have become known for an aggressive style of play that has benefitted them to the tune of back-to-back state championship seasons. This year, they look for their third in a row, and returning for them is a big piece from both of the state title teams in MJ Walker. Walker is a potential five-star prospect that has all of the blue blood basketball programs taking a look at him. He has also recently decided to focus on basketball, as he was also a big time football player. With him maturing even further, Jonesboro will again be a force to be reckoned with. Joining him as another key returner is sophomore forward Jamari Smith. Smith showed good signs as a freshman last season, and he provides a lot of size and strength down low, which is something that Jonesboro has not had a lot of, with wing and now Kennesaw State Owl Tracy Hector providing it out of position in the past. Other than these two, he rest of the Jonesboro roster does have unknowns. They are losing a lot from last year’s team including Hector as well as Austin Donaldson, now at Georgia State, and scorer Deantre Mack and forward Jyair Mincy. However, it always seems like the Cardinals find guys who want to play their hard-nosed style and have a knack for making plays. Who will it be this year? It’s still hard to tell. A couple of candidates could be senior guards Tariq Jenkins and Kenneth Qualls, who played spot minutes on last year’s team. Their roles will expand this year as seniors and they could be vital pieces and x-factor’s if Jonesboro is going to make another run at Macon.

Overall, the Cardinals have a nice core of returning players despite still having questions only because they lost so much to graduation. Still, they will be a factor in the AAAA state championship conversation as they have been the last couple of years. Look for Dan Maehlman to have his squad ready to go with the same intimidating style that they have become accustomed to.