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Newton basketball trio named to GACA all-state, Atlanta Tip-Off Club teams
JD Notae
Newton senior J.D. Notae was named the GACA Class AAAAAAA North's 2016-17 Player of the Year. (File Photo)

COVINGTON, Ga. -- The postseason accolades are beginning to roll in for the Newton Rams boys basketball team. 

When the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association released its all-state team Thursday afternoon, the Rams found three players on the squad, including Jacksonville signee J.D. Notae who was named the Class AAAAAAA North Player of the year. 

In addition, sophomore point guard Ashton Hagans and senior Isaiah Miller were named to the all-state roster. Also, Notae, Miller and fellow senior Darvin Jones were selected to participate in the GACA Senior All-Star Game in Brunswick on Saturday April 1. But due to that day being Newton High’s senior prom, the three athletes will not participate. Newton basketball coach Rick Rasmussen, however, will serve as the North squad’s head coach. 

Newton is the only school to place three players on the AAAAAAA roster.

The Atlanta Tip Off Club has also plucked several Rams for its postseason superlatives. Notae (second team All-Atlanta Metro), Hagans (third team All-Atlanta Metro) and Miller (Honorable Mention All-Atlanta Metro) we’re chosen to adorn it’s 2016-17 All-Metro Team roster. It’s a prestigious designation that only fell upon 30 players in the entire Atlanta metro area, regardless of classification. 

The trio of Notae, Miller and Hagans, along with the sharpshooting of Jones, helped Newton to a 28-2 season, a Region 8-AAAAAAA championship and an Elite Eight appearance while being nationally ranked by MaxPreps and USA Today for virtually the entire season. 

Rasmussen said the accolades were just further proof as to how valuable and vital these players were to his program’s success. 

“We are so proud of all these players,” Rasmussen said. “They definitely played a huge role in the success of our team this season.” 

Only one other player in Newton County found a spot on the GACA all-state roster. Eastside senior Keiodre Perry was named to the Class AAAA South all-state team after averaging 23 points per game for the Eagles, including a 49-point explosion in his final high school game that almost singlehandedly lifted Eastside past Mary Persons in the first round of the Class AAAA state tournament. 

The postseason hoops accolades are just getting started, however. Make sure to pick up a copy of Sunday’s print edition of The Covington News to see our 2016-17 basketball Players of the Year and All-County teams.