One of the more prestigious groups of high school prognosticators has taken note of the talent on the Newton boys basketball team.

The Rams saw three of its five starters named to the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s All-Metro Boys’ Preseason Team which was released this week.

No. 2 Newton is one of just four schools to place three names on the All-Metro Team.

Seniors J.D. Notae and Isaiah Miller joined sophomore point guard Ashton Hagans on the preseason squad. Each are averaging well over 20 points per game as the Rams have raced off to a 5-0 start. For Notae, it’s the second time he’s found his name on the Tipoff Club’s All-Metro list. Last year he finished the season on the All-Metro Squad which recognizes the state’s best high school ballers, regardless of GHSA classification.

In this Sunday's print edition of The Covington News, we'll take a more in-depth look at how this Newton "big three" has energized the Rams in a unique way.

 Below is the entire 2016-17 All-Metro Atlanta roster:

Deaundre Ballard, Sr., Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy

K.J. Buffen, Jr., Gainesville

Wendell Carter, Sr., Pace Academy

Eva Cole, Sr., South Forsyth

Derrick Cook, Sr., Langston Hughes

Trey Doomes, Jr., Allatoona

Drue Drinnon, Jr., Pebblebrook

Aljami Durham, Sr., Berkmar

Victor Enoh, Sr., Greenforest Academy

Justin Forrest, Sr., Greenforest Academy

Ashton Hagans, Soph., Newton

Rayshaun Hammonds, Sr., Norcross

Elias Harden, Sr., Pebblebrook

Danny Lewis, Sr., Westlake

Jamie Lewis, Sr., Westlake

Thurman “TJ” Massenburg, Sr., Shiloh

Isaiah Miller, Sr., Newton

E.J. Montgomery, Jr., Wheeler

J.D. Notae, Sr., Newton

Ikechukwu Obiagu, Sr., Greenforest Academy

Alex O’Connell, Sr., Milton

Chuma Okeke, Sr., Westlake

Darius Perry, Sr., Wheeler

Collin Sexton, Sr., Pebblebrook

Lance Thomas, Sr., Norcross

Brian Thomas, Sr., Kell

Jordan Tucker, Sr., Wheeler

Jordan Usher, Sr., Wheeler

M.J. Walker, Sr., Jonesboro

Kane Wi Williams, Sr., South Paulding