As the basketball season heats up, here’s a list — in no particular order — of some of the top basketball players to watch in Class AA. This list is far from complete and other players will emerge to earn statewide recognition, so feel free to leave your picks for AA players to watch in the comments section.
Boys
Ja’Queze Kirby
School: Jeff Davis
Class: 2020
Position: PG
Height: 6-4
Notes: Arguably the best player in AA, Kirby was the only non-senior AJC Class AA first team all-state selection, and was selected as a sophomore. He has the Yellow Jackets off to a 7-4 start after helping them to the second round of last year's state playoffs. He is considered a 3-star among recruiting services and has interest from Georgia Tech and South Florida.
Darius Dunn
School: Northeast-Macon
Class: 2019
Position: G
Height: 6-2
Notes: An AA AJC all-state second team selection last year as a junior, when he guided the Raiders to a playoff berth. Dunn is averaging 17.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.2 steals through 11 games for the Raiders, who are off to a 9-2 start and ranked No. 4.
Preston Crisp
School: Woodville-Tompkins
Class: 2019
Position: G/F
Height: 6-4
Notes: Crisp was only non-senior selection among the A-Public's AJC all-state first team last season as a junior, when he guided the Wolverines the quarterfinals. This season, he has the Wolverines off to a 9-0 start in their first season after being reclassified to AA, and they are currently the No. 1 ranked team in the state.
Girls
Makayla Timpson
School: Early County
Class: 2021
Position: C
Height: 6-2
Notes: Timpson was named to the AJC AA all-state second team as a freshman, when the Lady Bobcats reached the second round of the state playoffs. This year, the Lady Bobcats are off to a 7-1 start and are ranked No. 6, with Timpson averaging 15 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2 steals and 3.6 blocks. She is rated as a 3-star by ESPN and the most coveted recruit in AA, with a plethora of offers including Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Houston, Purdue and FSU.
Dynesha Brown
School: Swainsboro
Class: 2019
Position: G
Height: 5-7
Notes: Brown was an AJC AA all-state first team selection last year, when she helped lead the Lady Tigers to the second round of the playoffs. Through six games this season, she's averaging 18.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.3 steals and 2.2 blocks — all team highs. The Lady Tigers are 6-2 and ranked No. 9.
Georgia Stockton
School: Rabun County
Class: 2019
Position: G
Height: 5-8
Notes: Stockton was an AJC AA all-state first team selection last year, when she helped lead the Lady Wildcats to the quarterfinals. This season, she's helped the Lady Wildcats to a 7-1 record, good for a No. 7 ranking. In November, Stockton signed her NLI to play for Presbyterian. She is the elder sister of Wildcats football standout quarterback Gunner Stockton.
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