BOYS PLAYERS TO WATCH

PLAYER	SCHOOL	COMMENT
Shawn Allen	Glenn Hills	Sixth man on last year's state title team; well-rounded and skilled
Ricardo Glenn	Richmond Academy	The 6-foot-7 senior is a key player on region contender
Cedric Boatner	Harlem	Top player in Columbia County could contend for region honors
Jahmad Saleem	Cross Creek	PG will try and push Razorbacks into the region's top four
Jim Hull	Augusta Prep	Area's leading scorer a year ago back for one more season

STORYLINES

GLENN HILLS RELOADS: New coach and a new starting five will try and keep defending Class AAA champions on top in Class AAAA

LANEY REGROUPS: With co-region player of the year Harold Doby in a Florida prep school for his senior season, Laney will look to players like Santrez Hall to reach the postseason

NORTH AUGUSTA: Ineligible for preseason and postseason play because it violated state rules with an off-season workout, Yellow Jackets need to prove they still have the spirit to compete

REGION 3-AAAA JUMBLE: Glenn Hills, Richmond Academy, Evans, Hephzibah look like the playoff-bound four, but Josey and Cross Creek are among a litany of contenders that could leap to the top of the standings

ABUNDANCE OF BIG MEN: There's no shortage of back-to-the-basket talent this year, including Burke County's Martaveous Smith (6-foot-9), Richmond Academy's Glenn and Evans' Jaleel Roberts (6-10)