High School Top 25 team preview: No. 2 Wheeler

There's no getting around saying it – the Wildcats hit the transfer jackpot during the offseason.

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Nov 9, 2016, 11:00am
Video: Breaking down the High School Top 25
Wheeler back in national title conversation after run at No. 1 in 2014-15.

2. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)

Head coach: Doug Lipscomb (567-124, 25th year as head coach at Wheeler)

2015-16 record: 22-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kenny Aninye (6-1, Sr., G) … Committed to Stetson

Austin Johnson (6-8, Jr., F) … Recent offer from Middle Tennessee

Isaac Martin (6-5, So., G) … Plays EYBL ball for Southern Stampede

E.J. Montgomery (6-10, Jr., F/C) … Committed to Auburn

Darius Perry (6-2, Sr., G) … Committed to Louisville

Jordan Tucker (6-7, Sr., G/F) … Arizona, Duke and Villanova all involved in recruitment

Jordan Usher (6-5, Sr., G) … Committed to USC

Brandon Younger (6-6, Jr., G) … Transfer from nearby Mount Pisgah Christian
New-look Wheeler is one of five Georgia teams in our preseason High School Top 25.
New-look Wheeler is one of five Georgia teams in our preseason High School Top 25.
Photo by Kyle Hess
STORYLINES

* The subject is a bit taboo in high school circles but there's no getting around it with this Wheeler team. The Wildcats absolutely hit the transfer jackpot over the offseason. Six new additions – Johnson, Martin, Montgomery, Tucker, Usher and Younger – joined the program and all of them are already committed to Division I schools or have offers. Lipscomb has to get them on the same page but seems like a good problem to have.

* New regional alignments have made things very interesting in Georgia. Class AAAAAAA Region 2 basketball is going to be incredible with Wheeler joining fellow preseason Top 25 teams Westlake – a defending state champion – and Pebblebook, who the Wildcats beat for a state title in 2014-15. Wheeler meets Pebblebrook twice in eight days late in the season.

KEY DATES

Nov. 25 – vs. Jonesboro (Ga.)

Dec. 3 – vs. Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.) @ Adidas Explosion

Dec. 9 – vs. Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.)

Dec. 10 – vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) @ National High School Hoops Festival

Dec. 20-23 – Chick-fil-A Classic

Dec. 28-30 – Tournament of Champions

Jan. 7 – vs. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) @ Cancer Research Classic

Jan. 21 – vs. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) @ Peachtree Corners Invitational

Jan. 24 – vs. Westlake

Jan. 27 – vs. Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.)

Feb. 3 – vs. Pebblebrook

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