Promising 2nd Half For Braves?
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Atlanta Braves rebounded from a paltry and powerless 15-36 record through the first two months of the 2016 season to play competitive baseball in June and July, heading into the All-Star break with a 31-58 record.
Still, with multiple trades already completed and host of options remaining, the Braves figure to be one of the more active teams in the second half; both on the trade market and with intriguing minor-league decisions.
Let’s take a peek at some of the storylines we’ll be keeping an eye on through the next few months of Braves baseball.
2016 Brunswick Preview
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is football time in Coastal Georgia, and with all of the hype in Glynn County pointing to the south end of town the Brunswick High Pirates located on the north side of Brunswick are left wondering where is the love.
The Pirates coming off a very disappointing 3-7 season in 2015 look to rebound in 2016 returning 18 starters who started at one time or another in 2015.
Southeast GA Recruits
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Here at the Southern Sports Edition, we have long been writing about the level of football talent in our area.
We have seen a tremendous uptick in the attention that our kids are receiving from both the national media as well as the college coaches.
It’s not only in the Brunswick area, but this talent boost also includes our surrounding areas too. Other schools in the 912 area are just as loaded with amazing talents.
Places like Liberty County, Pierce County, and Toombs County will be similar to Glynn County in the fact that the eyes of the college football recruiting world will be watching to see how and where some of these high school players will continue their education and playing careers. Let’s take a look at a few of the standouts in our surrounding area.
Liberty County High School is no stranger to being in the football spotlight. Just a couple of years ago, Raekwon McMillan was one of the top high school players in the country. Now his cousin, Richard LeCounte, finds himself in the same spotlight.
LeCounte is one of the top playmakers in the country. While LeCounte plays on both sides of the ball, his best position seems to be safety.
Not only is LeCounte a stand out on the gridiron, but he was also a vitally important player on the basketball court. It is this kind of athleticism and playmaking ability that is needed to take the Bulldogs from really good to elite in the college football world. The newly awarded LeCounte was the first recruiting commitment for new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.
Smart made him a priority in this 2017 recruiting class. LeCounte has been one of the most vocal and active leaders of the recruiting class and has played a big-time role in helping to recruit more in-state kids to stay home and play for the home state Dawgs. Look for LeCounte to maintain his commitment to Coach Smart and Georgia.
Over in Pierce County, Coach Sean Pender has the Bears rolling. The player who Coach Pender trusts to lead his high-octane offense is quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Bennett is able to make all of the throws in the spread offense that Coach Pender utilizes, but also has enough athletic ability to make plays with his feet when a play breaks down.
Bennett reminds me a little bit of former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. While rated a two star, when you take a look at his game film, his playmaking ability shows up time and time again.
Bennett currently holds offers from Georgia Southern, Mercer, and Middle Tennessee State among others. Bennett could be a great fit for new Eagles head coach Tyson Summers, or with the expected great season look for Central Florida coach Scott Frost to possibly come in with an offer. Bennett would be a great fit in Frost’s high-octane offense.
Over in Vidalia, there is linebacker Nate McBride. Usually it is the onions that make opponents cry, now it is McBride.
Simply put, McBride is an athletic freak. The top rated linebacker in the country is 6’2” 225 pounds and was timed at 10.68 seconds in the 100 meters. McBride was forced to sit out last season after breaking a bone in his left hand, and then he broke his right wrist after an auto accident.
McBride has offers from virtually every power five school in the country. Georgia, Alabama, and Oregon appear to be the top schools, but it seems that Georgia has edged just ahead in recent weeks. McBride would be a major cog in the class of 2017 for the Bulldogs.
So, that is a few more of the amazing talents here in the 912 area code. When Friday night high school games arrive, if your local school has a bye week, make plans to go see some of these big-time talents this season.
Grayson To Win State Title?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We’re one week closer to the start of football season. July 25th is the earliest date for football conditioning practice. August 19th is the beginning of the regular season.
Loved or Hated?
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As a society we love our polls. As sports fans polls have almost become as important as the actual sports themselves.
There are preseason polls, in-season polls that entire shows are built around, way too early to predict polls, and numerous ones polling who is the best such and such at whatever. I’m pretty sure there’s even a poll that polls which polls should be polled.
Waving To Wade
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is still impossible to believe.
After 13 seasons, the best and most important player in the Miami Heat’s 28-year history is gone. Dwyane Wade is a Chicago Bull.
It’s a painful reality to contemplate, but Heat fans have reason for hope.
Glynn Academy Preview
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Red Terrors have had several months to contemplate the State Title game loss to Allatoona last season.
At this point Glynn Academy has moved on from the sting of losing that game and are focused on 2016 and getting back to Georgia Dome.
With that being said the Red Terrors did lose some key pieces from last year’s squad they will have to find a way to replace if that title run is going to happen.
The Brunswick Beef
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The position group that will be the primary key to the 2016 season for Brunswick High on offense will be the Pirate offensive line. All 5 starters return in a group that came into its own at the end of the 2015 season.
Recruiting The 912
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Even when it is not football season, it is still football season.
In addition to spring camps, summer workouts, and fall camps leading up to the regular season for colleges all over the country, recruiting is a vital aspect of the offseason as well.
Recruiting is the lifeblood for any good college football program, and the summer is often when recruits will make their decisions public, or the ground work is laid by the coaching staffs to the recruits, their families, and advisors, in order to help the young men decide which school feels like “home.”
Time For Justise
Time For Justise
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There are a lot of great things to love about the NBA free agency period, such as seeing which players end up where and for how much.
This year has been extremely interesting in that regard. One of the things that I always look forward is the aftermath once all the dust has settled. For all those teams that make a big splash and get the guys they’re looking for there are those teams that miss out on their targets and are left with a drastically different team than the previous year.
If Miami’s fortunes so far are any indication what the rest of the summer will hold, they need Justise Winslow to step up and quick.
