After reaching the Elite Eight last season, the Putnam County boys basketball team enters the summer facing a challenge every successful program eventually encounters: replacing key pieces.
The War Eagles graduated leading scorers Tamaud Woodson and Jmari Green, along with defensive anchor Shamar McClendon, leaving behind a sizable void in production, leadership, and experience.
However, head coach Patrick Marshall believes the foundation remains in place as Putnam County begins preparations for the 2026-27 season.
“We’re trying to find some leadership like the seniors that we lost,” Marshall said. “Tamaud and Jmari were leaders, and Shamar was our physical presence and defensive leader. Losing all three of them is kind of big, so we’re trying to have people come in and fill those roles this year.”
Among those stepping into larger roles are Jeremy Banks and Jaylen Nelson, whom Marshall identifies as the team’s current leaders. The War Eagles also welcome back a familiar face in Koleman Foster, who missed last season.
Another player expected to make an immediate impact is Jaden Hillsman, a Lake Oconee Academy transfer the GHSA ruled ineligible last season.
“Jaden has had a good summer, too,” Marshall said. “We’re just trying to get these guys used to new roles and play hard, run, and play basketball.”
The War Eagles are participating in summer leagues at Eagle’s Landing, giving players opportunities to compete multiple times each week. The team also recently competed in the Swiss Scouting Report Tournament at McDonough, finishing with a 2-2 record.
Marshall intentionally packed the summer schedule with games in an effort to accelerate the team’s development.
“My thing is, I wanted the guys to get some chemistry together,” he said.
Putnam County’s summer schedule continues with league play before heading to LakePoint for a live-period event, where coaches and scouts will have opportunities to evaluate players.
While developing chemistry remains a priority, Marshall said one area has received particular emphasis during offseason workouts: defense and rebounding. That stems from reviewing film from last season’s playoff loss to Fitzgerald. Marshall saw a statistic that stood out.
“We gave up 22 second-chance points,” he said. “That’s big in a game of that magnitude. If we give up just half of them, maybe we win that game.”
That realization has shaped the team’s offseason focus.
“We need to be better on the defensive end and rebounding,” Marshall said. “That’s been our stress.”
The War Eagles may have lost key contributors, but the expectation remains the same as Putnam County looks to build on last year’s postseason success.