Hardy’s Warhawks soar into the New Year: Williams and Jones amongst best in Georgia

Coach Brett Hardy is the coach of the fine-oiled machine of a basketball team at Veterans High School. Since the New Year has begun, the Veteran Warhawks have been on a two-game win streak. Up-to-date, the Veterans Warhawks have allowed 1,020 points, but have outscored their allowed with a total of 1,130 points. The Warhawks have lost to Grovetown, Baldwin (Milledgeville), Mays (Atlanta), River Ridge (Woodstock), Cedar Shoals (Athens), First Presbyterian Day School (Macon) & Cumberland Christian Academy (Austell).

Following the Warhawks’ most recent 28-point win against the Coffee Trojans, Veterans became the number one team in region 1-AAAAA. The Warhawks beat the Coffee Trojans 83-55. Behind the Warhawks in second place, is the Wayne County Yellow Jackets, with a 9-4 record. The Warner Robins Demons team is holding onto the third place spot in the region, ahead of the Gators from Waycross. Douglass, Georgia fans are excited in spirit as the Trojans maintain their last place spot in GHSA region 1-5A, with a 4-7 record.

The Warhawks are tough on both ends of the hardwood, as Coach Hardy teaches the fundamentals, which produces the beautiful game of basketball. Tajh Williams, Aaron Jones, DJ Wright and Jeremy Sams are just a handful of the smart basketball players that Brett Hardy is generating a pipeline of talent from. Senior, Tajh Williams has made a name for himself as one of the most prolific scorers in the Peach State. As of now, Williams has played in all nine of the Warhawks’ games, in which he has started at a Guard spot. Tajh Williams is the 16th best scorer in Georgia. Williams is averaging 15.8 points, 1.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. He has a season-high in scoring of 20 points, but is shooting 34% from the floor and 65% from the free-throw line.

On another note, junior forward Aaron Jones is having himself a stellar campaign as well. The six-foot-ten-inch Jones has made a name as one of the most dominant and skilled centers in Georgia. Jones is the 41st best scorer in class 5A, averaging 11.2 points per game. Alongside scoring for the Warhawks, Coach Brett Hardy is using Jones in a very unique way. Jones is 7th among Peach State hoopers in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per game. He has a total of 54 defensive rebounds and 23 offensive rebounds. Aaron Jones also has the 4th most double doubles in the state of Georgia. He is behind Northside (Columbus) Kameron Hill.

The junior, Kameron Hill has a total of eight double doubles in 11 games played. Aaron Jones has also played in all nine of the games for the Veteran Warhawks and has a total of five double doubles. The versatile Jones is also 4th best in blocks. He is averaging 3.4 blocks per game, but has a total of 31 in nine games. Jones is shooting 54% from the floor and 41% percent from the free-throw line. DJ Wright and Jeremy Sams combine for 17 points per game, which helps the Warhawks.

Veterans have four players in the top 10 in scoring in region 1-5A. Seniors, Tajh Williams, DJ Wright and Jeremy Sams, along with junior, Aaron Jones, are leading the Warhawks in 2022. Tajh Williams and Aaron Jones may be the best duo in Georgia, but their supporting cast may be the difference maker. Like many other sports influencers who cover this team, I expect this talented group of young men to flourish during this post-season.

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