Boys basketball High School Top 25 team preview: No. 2 Wheeler

Video: Wheeler photo shoot
New-look Wildcats open Nov. 25 against Jonesboro.



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

2015-16 record: 22-6

State Association: Georgia High School Association

Enrollment: 2,100 (9-12)

In 25 years as the head coach at Wheeler, Doug Lipscomb has done it all.

He's won 567 games and six state titles – 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2015.

Lipscomb's Wildcats have played in virtually every big tournament and showcase event in the country.

Current and former NBA players Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jaylen Brown, Jermareo Davidson, J.J. Hickson and DeQuan Jones have all worn the program's blue and gold.

But a national title has eluded Lipscomb.

Behind the All-American play of Boston Celtics rookie Brown, Wheeler looked poised for a serious run in 2014-15 after upsetting Montverde Academy in the final of the City of Palms Classic. But a loss a week later to Oregon power West Linn wiped out hopes to finish No. 1.

Two years later, the Wildcats are reloaded and look ready to make another push in the national rankings. Highly-touted transfers from Florida and New York join Louisville-bound point guard and senior leader Darius Perry (6-2), who averaged over 15 points per game last season.

Perry is one of four seniors already committed or signed with Division I programs.

Here's a prediction for Wheeler's national championship quest: If the Wildcats get it done, it won't be with an undefeated record.

Gallery: Wheeler preseason photo shoot

There are two other nationally-ranked teams in Wheeler's own league in Pebblebrook and Westlake, plus Lipscomb will take his team on the road for major showcases in Maryland, South Carolina and West Virginia.

MORE 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

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

KEY DATES

Nov. 25 – vs. Jonesboro (Ga.) @ Holiday Hoopsgiving

Nov. 26 – vs. Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) @ Holiday Hoopsgiving

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 Holiday Classic

Jan. 7 – vs. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) @ 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