SUGARLOAF, GA: Ultimate Hate Steals the Win|Week 1 Power Rankings

1. ULTIMATE HATE - The Hate looked good in this season’s opener against the Huskies. It was a hard fought-battle in which the Hate won courtesy of a last-second tip in by Brandon Christopher. If they can keep up their trademark defensive intensity and put some more points on the board, it’s going to be hard for any other team to beat them this season.

2. THE SPARTANS - The Spartans are a newly assembled team who won their season opener against the Defending Champs. The Spartans’ GM, Dominique Bland, really put together a nice quality team, picking up Steve Spann, a big man that will really help fill a void in the paint. If Julien Wilson can knock down the three from long range, he can give their heady guards some driving lanes to attack the basket.

3. RAINMAKERS - Coming off their loss in the championship game, this team played like they had something to prove. Dawayne “Primetime" Burton” led the way with 41 points in a blowout win over the Finest. If Burton can continue to play like this and get some help from the big man down-low, John Avery, this team will continue to win games.

4. RUN-N-GUN - This team looked to do just that with this week’s rout over Something Serious. This team has really picked up their ability to score with the addition of Steve Yi knocking down those long-range three pointers that always excite the crowd. They will be a team to make the playoffs this season.

5. THE DAWGS - The Dawgs, a new expansion team to the league, got their first win over the Cereal Killers. This team is led by father and son duo of Bernard Davis and Jordan Davis. Jordan channeled his namesake as he dropped 30 points in highlight reel form. If they can get that kind of production from him and get the big man, Adam Sowinski, going they can continue to make some noise in the league.

6. HUSKIES - They took a loss against Ultimate Hate in the last seconds of the game, but I love the moves that they made in the off-season, picking up some good pieces that can take this team back to the finals. If Monte Britt can keep his composure on the sidelines and keep everybody engaged in the game, this could be a great season for the Huskies.


7. DEFENDING CHAMPS - They took a loss in the opener but in all fairness, they were without Brande and Stering Whitworth two of their teams best players. I'm expecting this team to bounce back and contend for their third-straight title.


8. THE FINEST - At one time this franchise team competed for championships, but now it seems like just another free agent Roster. Duc Nguyen will need to add some serious talent to this team in order for them to be able to win even four games this season.


9. CEREAL KILLERS - They lost two of their best players from last season leaving them with no inside presence and also lacking the scoring punch that Patrick White provided. This team will need to pick up some cheap free agents to have any chance to make the playoffs.

10. SOMETHING SERIOUS - They will need to make some serious changes and play some defense. They were unable to stop anybody in their season-opening 33 point loss. If they don’t address this, it is going to be a seriously long season for them.