{"id":164880,"date":"2018-10-31T12:54:02","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T19:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilcomprd.wpengine.com\/?p=164880"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:26:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T21:26:53","slug":"preseason-2018-19-fab-50-teams-no-16-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/preseason-2018-19-fab-50-teams-no-16-30\/","title":{"rendered":"Preseason 2018-19 FAB 50: Teams No. 16-30!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We continue our 2018-19 preseason FAB 50 national team rankings powered by Ballislife.com countdown with an in-depth look at teams No. 16-30. We began with teams No. 31-50 on Tuesday evening and our final installment will be teams No. 1-15 on Thursday, November 1.
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Note: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 19 years ago.<\/em><\/p>\n

Preseason 2018-19 FAB 50 National <\/strong>
\nTeam Rankings Powered by Ballislife.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Ronnie Flores<\/em><\/p>\n

(Final 2017-18 ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included; Look for preseason Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings on Wednesday, November 7 and for the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker on Monday, November 19.)<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Preseason 2018-19 FAB 50 (1-15)<\/a> | Preseason 2018-19 FAB 50 (31-50)<\/a> | Preseason East Region Top 20<\/a> | Preseason Southeast Region Top 20<\/a>  | Preseason Midwest Region Top 20<\/a> | Preseason Southwest Region Top 20<\/a> | Preseason West Region Top 20<\/a><\/p>\n

16. (32) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 26-3<\/strong>
\nKey Players:<\/strong> SF Isaac Okoro 6-5 2019 (No. 31 Hoop Scoop, Ballislife Underclass All-American, Auburn commit), PG Sharife Cooper 5-11 2020 (No. 3 Hoop Scoop, Ballislife Underclass All-American), C Jared Coleman-Jones 6-9 2019 (No. 132 247Sports.com, Northwestern commit).
\nWhy This Ranking:<\/strong> The Indians\u2019 preseason ranking is a perfect example of why what happens in prior seasons and a program\u2019s pattern of success is relevant for the current team. McEachern had FAB 50 national title aspirations last season, but lost by 20 points to Norcross in the GHSA Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals. McEachern was No. 4 in the FAB 50 at that time and was No. 9 when it fell to Tift County in the 2016-17 state semifinals. The Indians have the talent and experience to be serious FAB 50 title contenders, but must start the season ranked behind the Norcross team it lost to with defending state champ Meadowcreek and Wheeler of Marietta other serious AAAAAAA contenders. Okoro and Cooper were two of the best underclass players in the nation and are more focused on the big prize. It\u2019s their jobs to keep everyone on the same page and ready for a championship run. Regardless, the coaching staff is confident there is something different about this year\u2019s team.
\nThe Skinny:<\/strong> Had McEachern won the state crown last year, it would likely be a preseason top three FAB 50 team this season. For now, we\u2019ll take a cautious ranking scenario for McEachern and let the Indians work up. This team has to replace the toughness and grit of graduated Brandon Suggs and took a rankings hit when it was revealed 6-foot-8 Auburn commit Babatunde Akingbola would not return to the team, forward Charles Smith IV transferred to Wheeler, and talented forward Christian Brown (6-6, 2019) left for Oak Hill Academy in late October. Needed depth is provided by Quinton Kight-McElroy (6-1, 2020) and Ayln Breed (6-3, 2020), an unsung shooting guard receiving D1 interest. McEachern gets a nice early test when it faces Anthony Edwards and FAB 50 ranked Holy Spirit Prep on Nov. 10. The Indians will play highly-regarded Findlay Prep and FAB 50 title contender Imhotep of Philadelphia at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia (Jan. 4-5), take on No. 24 Rancho Christian at the Hoophall Classic (Jan. 21) and play at the prestigious City of Palms Classic (Dec. 17-22). We\u2019re pretty sure a loss among one of those games won\u2019t mean much provided the Indians win their last game of the season.<\/p>\n