Monthly Archives: February 2022

Girls Analysis

Region 8-4A Quarterfinals Top Performers



2022 5-2 PG Deshauna Foote – Cedar Shoals
Trailing 21-20 at the half, the play of Deshauna Foote was the pinpoint reason why Cedar Shoals was able to surge in the third quarter and eventually secure a 56-47 win over East Hall to clinch a state playoff berth. Continue reading Region 8-4A Quarterfinals Top Performers →

Girls Analysis

Region 2-5A Semifinals Top Performers


2025 5-11 F McKayla Hosley – Northside-Columbus
The 2025 class has a new name soon to appear near the top of upcoming player rankings in McKayla Hosley. In a 63-45 loss to McIntosh, the long and athletic freshman was a major bright spot pouring in 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. At 5-foot-11, maybe closer to 6-foot, Hosley has the skill set to play all over the floor. She can play inside and score with either hand, using a quick power dribble to balance herself before finishing strong. The natural lefty springs off the ground to high-point rebounds with strong hands and finishes through contact. Hosley plays forward for the Patriots but has enough ability to play full-time on the wing. She drained four threes and showed a creative attack off the dribble, getting into the lane and scoring at the rim. McKayla sees the floor well when she gets downhill. She drops off assists over the defense that most players can’t see without her size. Hosley runs the floor like a gazelle and can defend every position thanks to her lateral quickness. SEC schools have already started to show interest. The sky is the limit.

2022 5-10 W Keara Collins – McIntosh
North Georgia might want to try and see if Keara Collins can split time between soccer and basketball. The midfielder uses her nifty footwork from the pitch as she maneuvers her way to produce at a high level on the hardwood. Collins, a UNG soccer-signee, has nice size on the perimeter and plays 1-5 for the Chiefs. When McIntosh needs a play to be made, the ball is in Collins’ hands. Keara doesn’t have blinding speed or elite leaping ability but her knowledge of the game and mastery of the subtleties make her a nightmare to defend. Collins has a solid handle and can push in transition after collecting rebounds. She uses hesitation moves to try and get her defender off balance before shifting gears and blowing past. Collins excels at finishing with either hand around the rim, expertly shielding the ball from shot blockers and squeezing her layups off the glass from tough angles. When left open, Collins can drill the three and is capable of beating opponents with her court vision, finding the open man in McIntosh’s offense which features constant screening and cutting. Collins piled up 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in a blowout of Northside-Columbus. Keara’s versatility and reliability make her one of the best players Region 2-5A has to offer.

2023 6-0 F Zy Thompson – Griffin
The Region 2-5A Player of the Year jumps off the court with her length and athleticism. Part of a Griffin attack that scores the vast majority of their points in the paint, many coming off second-chance opportunities, Thompson is a bouncy high motor forward that likes to get on the glass. When stationed at the high post, Thompson tries to catch and dive her way to the right block, finishing drives against helpless defenders overwhelmed by her quickness and size. Defensively, Zy drew the assignment of guarding Jherni Carter-Ransom part of a Triangle-and-Two defense. Thompson finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block, scoring the go-ahead putback with 12 seconds left to survive Harris County 42-40.

2022 5-11 F Jherni Carter-Ransom – Harris County
The senior leader for Harris County collected 13 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks battling the long frontline of Griffin. Carter-Ransom has a nice skill set. While she can bang down low and score in the paint, Jherni also has the touch and quick trigger to stretch the floor and knock down threes. She hit back-to-back longballs in the fourth quarter to fuel the Tigers’ upset bid. Carter-Ransom handles the ball well for her size and can attack downhill when creases open. Her sturdy size along with her well-rounded game make her an interesting prospect at the next level.

Analysis

Player Analysis: No. 3 Alexander 75, South Paulding 65


2022 6-3 G Zion Fruster – Alexander
There’s a lot to like about Zion Fruster’s game, a wiry guard with size that has started picking up serious interest, logging an offer from D-II UVA Wise just last week. Fruster is a consistent scorer on the perimeter. He gets great lift on his jumper, able to pull-up and elevate over defenders. He has an easy release and is good both off the catch and off the dribble. In the fourth quarter, he found his points at the rim, finishing in transition and through traffic. Fruster finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. He’s one of the better stock risers in Georgia, as a versatile guard that can play either the 1 or 2.

2022 6-6 W Jah’Kim Payne – Alexander
Jah’Kim Payne is a smooth multidimensional player that can play 1-5 at the high school level. Payne is a Swiss Army Knife. He can initiate the offense with his ball handling and court vision, serve as a slasher on the wing or anchor himself in the high post and decide whether to attack or distribute. Payne glides to the rim, scoring on finger rolls as he slices through the defense with his long strides. He came up big in the fourth quarter with eight points, six via drives while also making plays on defense. His length and mobility help him defend all positions, giving him great switchability whenever screens come into play. Jah’Kim finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. His combination of length, size, versatility and skill should put him squarely on college radars, especially D-II programs.

2023 6-5 W Marvin McGhee – Alexander
McGhee provided some timely buckets when South Paulding was threatening. He helped keep the Spartans at bay with a pair of threes and a drive. McGhee isn’t as long or athletic as Payne, but he’s a serviceable combo-forward that can spend time playing inside or out. He was effective on the glass and made a huge block in the fourth quarter in transition that led to a four-point swing, making the game 61-54 instead of 59-56. Marvin tallied 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

2024 6-2 SG Andrew LaVigne – South Paulding
The growth and confidence of Andrew LaVigne is shining through more and more often. The sturdy shooter caught fire in the third quarter to bring the Spartans to within one after trailing by as many as 12 points. LaVigne poured in three threes in the frame and hit five for the game. Andrew plays with good balance and gets his feet set and shoulders squared quickly when locating the rim. He has a pretty shot and moved well without the ball on cuts to the basket. LaVigne netted a team-high 22 points. If he is able to maintain his consistency and continue to improve, he could be South Paulding’s most dangerous scorer next season, part of what will be a veteran backcourt with major experience.

2023 6-2 SG Randy Harris – South Paulding
Randy Harris opened the game passing the ball exceptionally well, hitting cutters with sharp bounce passes as the on-ball pressure of Alexander forced the Spartans to initiate their offense far from the basket. Harris was able to calmly survey the floor and fit the ball to teammates when they had a window to score. After a scoreless first half, Harris started to hunt his offense as the game wore on, getting downhill using his leaping ability to score at the rim. Harris scored 13 points, 10 in the fourth quarter as he implemented floaters and scored in transition. South Paulding needs Harris to stay aggressive. Sometimes he can fade into the flow of the game without being a factor, but when he’s looking to attack, the Spartans are at their best. Harris’ energy led to 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

2023 6-2 CG Jeremiah Taylor – South Paulding
Coming off the bench as he recovers from an injury, Taylor provided a nice spark with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Typically South Paulding’s leading scorer and best player when healthy, Jeremiah was able to bring a change of pace as a sub. Going up against the length of Alexander was a tough task as Taylor’s offense primarily comes at the rim. He was able score all five of his field goals in the paint, but had to work extra hard to do so. Even while it wasn’t his best offensive production, Taylor was able to make positive contributions elsewhere, especially with his passing. Unlocking a consistent three-point shot is still the deciding factor as to how special Taylor can be.