About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2024)
SPORTS THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - 13, 2024 • PAGE 10 Greenforest head coach Rory Griffin wants to change the narrative surrounding Greenforest won a title in 2022 and reached the championship game again this season, but results were his program, which has competed for two of the past three state titles. File unknown at press time. photos Greenforest makes statement with dominant Final Four sweep BY JAY PHILLIPS JAY@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Greenforest McCalep Christian Academy is a small school with a recent basketball history as rich and successful as anyone in DeKalb, and boys' head coach Rory Griffin said recent history proves the Decatur area school can compete with anyone. However—due to its small size—the school isn't mentioned in the same way that the county's other basketball powerhouses are, but Greenforest's accomplishments rival anyone's in the county. "This is the year that we want the program to receive the notoriety for the culture we've built and the system we have for developing and training. I want people to see that we're onto something; this school knows how to win and get kids into college," said Griffin. A recent addition to Greenforest's list of accomplishments was its girls' and boys' basketball teams winning Final Four games by more than 20 points each - advancing the teams to state title games on March 6, which results were unknown at press time. On its way to the title game, the boys' team won its playoff games by an average of 38 points per game. It's not just the four state championships under three different coaches that speak to the boys' program's success — but also the regular season success, region championships, and college scholarships paired with the next level success seen from the program's alums. Greenforest doesn't play in the toughest classification, considering the school is the smallest public school in DeKalb that participates in athletics, but Griffin has made up for that with brutal non-region schedules. This season, Griffin had his team play against powerhouses in the state's top classifications such as Kell, Pebblebrook, Meadowcreek, Grayson, Berkmar, and Milton. Greenforest also regularly competes in the southeast's top showcase events—such as Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta—where some of the best teams from across the country compete. "The way we've responded this year [after losing seven-foot seniors Dhiaukuei "DK" Dut and Gai Choi, among others], we haven't scaled back our schedule. We played all the powerhouses and still won some," said Griffin. According to Griffin, the schedule and results show Greenforest is a program capable of competing with anyone in the state and not just a dominant lA-classifcation school. The recent success also transfers from coach-to- coach, which is another impressive feat considering several DeKalb programs dropped off after losing storied coaches. Griffin has been an assistant or a head coach for all four of the state title wins, which David Jones and Larry Thompson led the school to before Griffin took over. When comparing his program to other DeKalb powerhouses, Griffin noted that those schools' coaches mentored him. "I'm able to have the success I've had because I was in the gym learning from those guys, taking notes," said Griffin. "Look at my style, I mimic [Tucker head coach] James Hatrty. I mimic [Columbia head coach] Phil McCrary. Those guys are like family." As a head coach, Griffin has led Greenforest to five consecutive region titles, made the final four in three out of the last four seasons, and is now returning to the state title game after last winning it in 2022. "I think it's time for us to change the narrative," he added. "Regardless of who is here, we've built something at Greenforest that is true, it's consistent, it's sound, and it works." Another mark of a powerhouse is the college scholarships that are offered and the success the alums have. Greenforest requires all its students to have a college acceptance letter to graduate. The basketball program is no different, but it earns a few athletic scholarships on top of the acceptance letters. Alums such as Lamar Oden started every game for Drexel last season and Jalen Forrest averaged 11 points per game as a freshman at Presbyterian before transferring to Georgia Tech. Dut and Choi joined college teams at Georgia State and Mississippi State this past offseason, and the list goes on with the school regularly sending multiple athletes to the college ranks every season. Visit thechampionnewspaper. com for results from Greenforest's championship games. WWW.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM NOTICE OF 2023 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2024 BUDGET OF THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA The Urban Redevelopment Agency (the “URA”) of the City of Chamblee, Georgia (the “City”) has filed its Annual Report for calendar year 2023 with the Mayor and Council of the City, as required by O.C.G.A. Section 36-61-18. Additionally, a copy of the proposed 2024 Budget for the Urban Redevelopment Agency (the “URA”) of the City of Chamblee has been prepared. The 2023 Annual Report and the Proposed 2024 Annual Budget are available for inspection during business hours or by appointment at City Hall and in the office of the URA located at 3518 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341. The report is also available on the city website at www.chambleega.com. The URA will meet on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 5:50 p.m. to review and vote to adopt the Annual Report, as well as the 2024 Budget. The meeting will be held at Chamblee City Hall located at 3518 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341. Please check the city website for regular updates.
