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PREP BASKETBALL: Newton County's boys "starting five"
Myles Rice
With Myles Rice leading the way, the Eagles could go far in state playoffs. Photo by Anthony Banks.

COVINGTON,Ga - Alcovy, Eastside and Newton have a wide arrangement of talent on each of their teams, so picking just five guys to represent the county as the best players in the area was no easy task.

However tough this task may seem to be, the list has been narrowed down to these five remarkable athletes with many others that are just as deserving.


Myles Rice

Rice exploded onto the scene last year as an effective scorer and leader for the Eastside Eagles. He seems to be Mr. Clutch for this Eagles squad and should be the game manager for the team in easy and tough situations alike. 

Rice prides himself on his scoring ability, something that he said he has been proud of since the days of his youth. Rice has a blend of talent that allows him to not only drive the lane but also hang outside and shoot the three-ball effectively. 

Opposing defenses will have to hone in on Rice if they hope to have any chances of defeating the Eagles this season as he is the key cog in making Eastside's offense go. 


Caleb Byrd
Caleb Byrd should put Newton county on notice as one of the better shooters and all-around players in the area. Photo by Michael Pope.

Caleb Byrd

Byrd, the talented transfer from Rome and Georgia Southern commit, is one of the most-talented guards that I have seen to date at the high school level. Byrd very well may be the county's most deadly scorer and can get the job done from all over the court. 

In the Rams scrimmage, one thing that stood out about Byrd was his hustle and handles. With the ball in his hand, Byrd can glide past defenders and make them look just plain silly in some situations. Without the ball, he hustles for plays and goes up and grabs rebounds.

Byrd brings senior leadership to the Rams and should create a deadly one-two punch with another Ram who has made our starting five.


Shawn Smith
Junior point guard, Shawn Smith was back in action for Newton Saturday, knocking down this 3-pointer early in the Rams' Peachtree Ridge win. -photo by Anthony Banks

Shawn Smith

If there was any question if Shawn Smith should be on this list, then there should not be. Smith is the other half of the one-two punch that is mentioned above, and the Smith-Byrd combo should give opposing teams nightmares to defend. 

Smith is another outstanding scorer and has drawn comparisons from others to Russell Westbrook. This should be high praise for the Newton senior guard, who should play a key role in the Rams gameplans for the remainder of the season.

With the Rams lacking some size, Smith will be relied on heavily, and his ability to get to the basket and grab rebounds will be counted on throughout the season. 

Oliver Gerard
Alcovy senior Oliver Gerard averaged 16.6 points per game with AAU squad Team Strap during this weekend's HoopSeen Best of the South showcase, including 25, 21 and 17-point performances in his last three games. The 6-foot-4 combo guard is looking to lead the Tigers back to the state tournament for the first time in three years. -photo by Bailey Stevens

Oliver Gerard

Oliver Gerard is a high-flying prospect that can most impressively pull down boards and get to the basket. Gerard should be the main focal point in the Tigers offense and will most likely spend a lot of time with the ball in his hands. 

Gerard has great size at 6-foot-3 and is hoping to expand his game more like Lebron's and be a facilitator in the Tigers offense this season. Gerard has a knack for scoring, but if he can become an elite playmaker, then opposing teams could be in for a long night.

Chauncey Wiggins
Chauncey Wiggins inside and mid-range game should make him an offensive powerhouse for the Eagles this season. Photo by Charles Moon.

Chauncey Wiggins

Arguably the most sought-after prospect in the Covington area for quite some time, Wiggins can spend this year proving to everyone that he is worth the hype. Eagles' head coach Michael Gerald complimented his hard-work and versatility in the offseason and knows his brightest days are ahead of him.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore is already piling up offers from across the nation, but if he proves to be an elite rebounder that can score from all over, then more programs will make the trip to 10245 Eagle Drive to get a glimpse of one of the nation's elite.