Takeo Spikes, a recently retired 15-year NFL veteran linebacker, was Georgia's all-class player of the year in 1994 with Washington County.
Twenty years later, Spikes was the fourth-highest vote-getter for "best player I ever saw" among Georgia head coaches in GHSF Daily's Four Questions feature. Spikes trailed only Greg Reid, Jamal Lewis and Eric Berry, all younger players who probably were seen more by modern coaches.
Said J.B. Arnold of Jefferson County: "Just dominating on both sides of the ball. Played with great intensity that he still has today." Scott Jackson of Decatur added: "He was a man amongst boys and played the game with relentless abandon."
Spikes is the most prominent of the best players ever to play at current Region 3-AA schools.
But, give it a few years and perhaps Leonard Floyd will have a say. The former Dodge County star was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft last year and is entering his second season with the Chicago Bears.
Also notable is Joe Dupree of Southwest. He is the Macon school's current head coach and was The Macon Telegraph's All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year in 1989.
And Jeremy Wiggins, an assistant on Warner Robins' staff, is the best-player choice at Northeast. He was named to the Telegraph's Middle Georgia All-Decade team for 2000-09.
*Bleckley County: Zeke Rozier (2009)
*Dodge County: Leonard Floyd (2011)
*Dublin: Rashard Smith (2008)
*East Laurens: Chris Plummer (1991)
*Northeast: Jeremy Wiggins (2002)
*Southwest: Joe Dupree (1989)
*Washington County: Takeo Spikes (1994)
Best player in school history series
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