A peek ahead at Georgia's class of 2020
We’ve looked at the high school classes in Georgia with final rankings for 2017, updated rankings for 2018 and our first go round for the 2019 rankings. Now it is time to dive into the 2020 class.
There is still plenty of time ahead for this bunch and players will grow, skills will develop and more players will join the conversation. Things will most certainly change from now until then. So, getting to caught up in subjective rankings at this stage of the game is a moot point.
That said, the class has already revealed a nice group to watch over the coming years.
Buford, GA
THE BIG THREE
Norcross/Georgia Stars wing Brandon Boston (pictured above) has all of the tools of a major prospect. The 6-foot-6 multi-positional prospect was one of the studs at our Elite Preview and one of the best overall prospects we saw at the Norman Parker Showcase. He’s on the high-major, national prospect trajectory.
The battle between Dwon Odom (St. Francis/Atlanta Celtics) and Anthony Edwards (Holy Spirit/Atlanta Xpress) will be fun to watch at the two guard spot. The pair are two of the best scorers in the class of 2020. Both are wired to score and are consistently reliable as point producers. They will compete for the same scholarships over the next three years.
BIG MAN PECKING ORDER IS SETTLING
There is a nice baseline for big men in the 2020 class. From my perspective, there are four players who have jumped out early on at the four/five position.
Ebenezer Dowuona is the most intriguing of the bunch. The 6-foot-9 paint protector from Heritage School/Game Elite has a natural inclination to try and block every shot that comes his way. He’s one of the premier rim protectors in the state regardless of class.
Josh Taylor of Columbia/Georgia Stars is a high ceiling guy. He’s a nimble big man that can go inside and out. Like several other players in this report, his best days are long ahead of him.
Jordan Meka of Mount Paran/Atlanta Celtics made a nice impression at our Elite Preview in mid-March with his high-energy and above the rim game. He’s an active 6-foot-8 forward that should only keep getting better.
Walker Kessler of Landmark Christian comes from a basketball family and had a great season for the private school on the south side. The 6-foot-8 forward should be one of the most consistent big men in the state moving forward.
MEET THE SPECIALISTS
Milton, GA
Christian Wright impressed me quite a bit at our Elite Preview. The Milton guard has a great feel for the point guard position and great size for the spot, too. Wright actually reminded me a lot of Shannon Scott, the former Milton star who went on to play at Ohio State. Wright has the tools to be one of the most complete players in the class.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Parkview/Atlanta Xpress wing forward Toneari Lane take a similar path that Josh Okogie took before he became a freshman stud in the ACC for Georgia Tech. Lane is a hard-playing match-up problem that just wills his way to wins. Like Okogie, Lane was MVP of the 15U division of the Norman Parker Showcase and on path to winning a lot of games at Suwanee Sports Academy over the next three years.
Sharife Cooper is the pilot to the ultra-talented McEachern and A.O.T. squad. The 5-foot-8 guard is a quality passer and one of the quickest players in the class. He’s already battle-tested in his young career and should rack up 100 wins during his career as a high school starter.
Chase Ellis of St. Francis/Atlanta Celtics is one of the most versatile players in the bunch. He can burn you as a four man but then guard the point on defense.
Kevon Eskridge is the most productive shooter in the bunch. The Columbia guard is a sniper from deep and plays a big role for the talented Georgia Stars 15 and under bunch.
