Four defending state champions are No. 1 in their classifications in the first AJC girls basketball rankings of 2020.

One of those teams – three-time defending Class AAAAA champion Buford – is perfect through the first two months of the season. The Wolves are 14-0 overall (2-0 in Region 8-AAAAA) and have five victories against ranked opponents and four wins against teams from the highest classification.

Another No. 1 team – two-time defending Class AAAAAAA champ Westlake – is undefeated against Georgia teams. The Lions’ only loss came on Dec. 7 against Paul VI, the top-rated team in Maryland and a top-15 team nationally, according to MaxPreps.

The other No. 1-ranked defending champions are Carver-Columbus (AAAA) and Johnson-Savannah (AAA). Carver is 11-3 with losses to Westlake, St. Francis and McEachern. Johnson is 10-1, its only loss coming against Glynn Academy 52-44 on Nov. 25.

The No. 1 teams in the other four classifications are Lovejoy (AAAAAA), Rabun County (AA), St. Francis (A Private) and Central-Talbotton (A Public). Rabun County, at 15-0, is the only undefeated No. 1 team besides Buford. Lovejoy’s only loss came against Westlake, 55-52 on Dec. 14.

Three of the other four defending state champions remain in the top 10. Class AA Douglass is ranked No. 7 and has a 10-5 record against a schedule made up almost entirely of region opponents and higher-classification teams. Holy Innocents’ is No. 4 in Class A Private with a 10-5 record against a rugged schedule. Marion County is No. 8 in Class A Public sporting a 4-3 record as it prepares to enter the bulk of its schedule.

Class AAAAAA Lanier is the only unranked defending champion. The Longhorns started the season 3-6 but have since won four of six games and have a chance to move into first place in Region 8-AAAAAA with a victory against Dacula this week.

Class AAAAAAA

1. Westlake (14-1)

2. Collins Hill (17-0)

3. Cherokee (14-2)

4. West Forsyth (14-1)

5. Campbell (14-3)

6. North Forsyth (14-2)

7. Pebblebrook (13-3)

8. Woodstock (15-2)

9. North Paulding (13-3)

10. Tift County (10-4)

Class AAAAAA

1. Lovejoy (14-1)

2. Valdosta (13-2)

3. Dacula (14-2)

4. Harrison (14-3)

5. Forest Park (12-5)

6. Glynn Academy (13-4)

7. Stephenson (13-4)

8. Alexander (13-2)

9. Brunswick (10-5)

10. Northside-Warner Robins (9-3)

Class AAAAA

1. Buford (14-0)

2. Kell (16-0)

3. Villa Rica (15-2)

4. Wayne County (13-0)

5. Statesboro (12-3)

6. Veterans (13-2)

7. Rome (13-3)

8. Arabia Mountain (14-1)

9. Jones County (14-3)

10. Southwest DeKalb (11-6)

Class AAAA

1. Carver Columbus (11-3)

2. Americus-Sumter (12-0)

3. Woodward Academy (14-1)

4. Marist (14-0)

5. Spalding (11-4)

6. Luella (12-4)

7. Troup (11-0)

8. St. Pius (12-2)

9. West Laurens (10-4)

10. Central-Carrollton (13-2)

Class AAA

1. Johnson-Savannah (11-1)

2. Jefferson (14-3)

3. Beach (11-5)

4. Fannin County (12-3)

5. Cedar Grove (8-3)

6. Greater Atlanta Christian (7-9)

7. Dawson County (10-6)

8. Sonoraville (11-5)

9. Coahulla Creek (13-2)

10. Pierce County (11-2)

Class AA

1. Rabun County (15-0)

2. Early County (9-4)

3. Laney (12-2)

4. Southwest-Macon (12-1)

5. Washington County (12-2)

6. Union County (11-3)

7. Douglass (10-5)

8. Josey (11-3)

9. Vidalia (12-3)

10. Rockmart (10-5)

Class A (Private)

1. St. Francis (11-3)

2. Hebron Christian (17-0)

3. Wesleyan (11-2)

4. Holy Innocents' (10-5)

5. Mount Paran Christian (12-2)

6. Greenforest (10-4)

7. Calvary Day (12-3)

8. Galloway (12-3)

9. Stratford Academy (11-2)

10. Trinity Christian (12-4)

Class A (Public)

1. Central-Talbotton (12-1)

2. Wheeler County (15-1)

3. Greenville (11-3)

4. Clinch County (8-1)

5. Calhoun County (9-4)

6. Pelham (8-1)

7. Macon County (9-3)

8. Marion County (4-3)

9. Bowdon (9-4)

10. Turner County (8-5)

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC