
Head Coach: Jon-Michael Nickerson
Region: 5-AAA
Last Season: 26-6 (6-0), 3A State Champions
Key Players: Micah Smith, Amari Brown, Kani Rashied-Henry, Jared White, PJ Green
Key Games: Nov. 18 vs. Mount Vernon, Nov. 21 vs. Milton, Nov. 25 vs. Grayson, Dec. 1 vs. Fayette Co., Dec. 9 vs. East Coweta, Jan. 19 vs. St. Pius X, Jan. 20 vs. Fayette Co., Jan. 23 vs. Cedar Grove, Feb. 3 vs. Etowah, Feb. 9 vs. Cedar Grove
Season Preview:
The Sandy Creek Patriots had been knocking on the State Championship door for quite some time and finally kicked that door down last year, winning the 3A state title, and with a ton of returning talent, they will certainly be one of the favorites in 3A again this season.
The Patriots are led by James Madison commit Micah Smith, who is one of the most versatile and productive players in the Peach. At 6-foot-8 he does a little bit of everything for this team and you can always count on him to put up numbers as well as make a couple of jaw-dropping plays in the process. Joining him in the frontcourt is Kani Rashied-Henry, who really made a name for himself as a notable guy last season and he could be poised for another jump forward this season. At 6-foot-6 he’s a very good presence in the paint with the ability to step out and knock down shots from the perimeter.
Leading the backcourt is senior guard Amari Brown. The 6-foot-3 lefty is a poised playmaker who can make things happen off the dribble and should draw a lot of eyes from college programs after a good travel season with AE5. Jared White also makes the transition from underclassman to upperclassman, and with that he should see increased responsibility and will be a key player if Sandy Creek wants to repeat.
The Patriots have a loaded non-region schedule, which should help prepare them for region and potentially postseason play with games against a lot of Georgia’s power programs.
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