It’s been a busy week on the sports desk.

In the last six days we’ve had enough basketball to appease even the most hardcore gym rats, the start of Major League Baseball spring training and the unofficial kickoff to the 2010 NFL season, also known as the scouting combine. There was even Olympic hockey, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Let’s empty the notebook.

There’s nothing wrong with Hall County basketball: Not that anybody thought there was, but when East Hall is still on the way back up after a down year, and last season’s only final four team (Gainesville) isn’t in the playoffs, a seed of doubt is understandable.

Consider that squashed.

All four Hall County boys teams won in the first round of the state playoffs, and three girls’ wins made it 7-for-7.

There may or may not be an elite team among them — the North Hall boys and East Hall girls get their chance to earn that status Saturday. But 7-AAA already has proven itself to be what we thought it was all season: exceedingly deep and balanced.

Remember, Gainesville defeated three of 7-AAA’s playoff teams at least once (the Red Elephants’ only game with region champ North Hall was snowed out). And Johnson, the region’s No. 4 seed, was within an eyelash of reaching the elite eight.

It won’t get any easier for the Hall County teams staying in Class AAA in 2010-11.

Take a look at next year’s Region 8-AAA:

Chestatee: Girls won 20 games this year

Franklin County: Boys reached second round, girls in the quarterfinals

North Hall: Boys in quarterfinals, girls won 15 games and lose only one senior

Stephens County: Girls reached second round

Gainesville: Boys won subregion, girls went to second round

Johnson: Boys reached second round

West Hall: Boys went to second round

Monroe Area: Boys went 17-8 in Class AAAA

Of course, attrition will happen, but at first blush, life in 8-AAA looks like a rough one.

Leave Jaybo alone: For some reason — maybe we’re part of it — no name still polarizes local high school football fans more than Jaybo Shaw.

Call it the Tebow effect. Shaw, a 2008 graduate, got at least his share of media recognition during his time at Flowery Branch. But what were we gonna do, not write about the guy who started at quarterback for four years and accounted for more than 120 touchdowns?

Whatever the reason, just the mention of his name is bound to get a response.

This week, when he announced he was transferring from Georgia Tech to Georgia Southern, the blowback from haters was as immediate as it was ignorant.

Nevermind that the move was motivated by equal parts athletics and academics (Shaw wants to go into coaching and Tech doesn’t offer an education degree), some adults seemed downright gleeful at what they saw as his failure in Division-I football.

I don’t know Shaw personally. But as part of the job, I’ve spoken with him on a few occasions and he’s always come across as humble and polite.

But even if he was an arrogant braggart, I have a hard time understanding how anyone over the age of reason can actively wish ill on another, much less a college kid they only know through their athletic exploits.

Get a life.

Meet the J-Hey Kid: I’m trying really hard not to let my expectations for Braves rookie Jason Heyward spin out of control, but the most-hyped MLB rookie since Alex Rodriguez is making it difficult.

In his first nine spring training at bats, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound 20-year-old has reached base six times. Bobby Cox compared him to Henry Aaron. Chipper Jones said he’d be shocked if he doesn’t start the season in big leagues.

While the journalist in me is screaming that it’s too much pressure, that performance can’t match hype, the fan in me is covering his ears.

One month till opening day.

Brent Holloway is the sports editor for The Times. Contact him at bholloway@gainesvilletimes.com.