Region 3-6A Semifinals Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Region 3-6A Semifinals Top Performers


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2024 5-9 PG Danielle Carnegie – Rockdale County
It lived up to the hype – four-seed No. 7 Rockdale County vs. one-seed No. 2 Lovejoy. With Vic Schaefer (Texas), Kellie Harper (Tennessee) and Nell Fortner (Georgia Tech) sitting courtside, Danielle Carnegie cemented herself as Georgia’s best in an entertaining 70-61 upset victory. Already regarded as one of the nation’s top players, ranked No. 26 by ESPN, Carnegie showcased her mature game as she went toe-to-toe with fellow Power Five recruit Bryanna Preston. The Lovejoy star drew the assignment of defending Carnegie but it was for not, as Danielle piled in 28 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal. What makes Carnegie special is her IQ and calming influence. She plays at her own pace. Danielle had no issue slowing the game down when Rockdale had a lead late and was able to counter Lovejoy’s double teams by splitting traps and identifying where the open man was. I see a lot of talented young guards stuck on full throttle, but Carnegie’s willingness to play at different speeds was special on Tuesday. The under-control playmaker was able to get wherever she wanted to go. She nailed four threes, pulling up from deep numerous times before the defense was ready to engage. Danielle thrived at getting into the teeth of the defense, using a jab step off the dribble before falling back into a soft floater, creating enough space to get consistent clean looks against Lovejoy’s length. In the fourth quarter, it was Carnegie’s spin move that freed her, bouncing off defenders before hitting pull-ups from the mid-range. In total, Danielle sank four mid-range jumpers, three floaters and added a tough left-handed finish to her ledger. Aside from her scoring, Carnegie’s ability to elevate those around her was apparent. She dropped dimes on downhill drives and spoon-fed her teammates whenever the defense collapsed on her. Class 6A is a gauntlet, but no one will want to see Rockdale County come state tournament time with the ball in Danielle Carnegie’s hands.

2023 5-9 W Nylah Williams – Rockdale County
Missing Lia Edwards, Rockdale’s second leading scorer, Nylah Williams stepped up in a big way. I loved how aggressive she was, matching Lovejoy’s toughness. Williams made plays attacking from the wing and high post. She was a physical finisher off the dribble and powered her way through contact on putbacks and post touches. Nylah has nimble footwork using spins in traffic. She also hit a mid-range jumper. She finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. Williams has some versatility to her game as a potential combo-forward. Small schools should check in.

2023 5-10 W La’Nya Foster – Lovejoy
Danielle Carnegie got the win and was terrific, but La’Nya Foster was nearly equally as masterful in defeat, putting forth a jaw-dropping performance over the first three quarters as she carried the Wildcats. The Austin Peay-signee poured in 30 points – over the first 24 minutes – 12 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks. It wasn’t just the point total that was eye-popping, it was how La’Nya got her buckets. Foster had no cheapies, netting 12 of her 13 baskets via the perimeter. She buried four three-pointers and scorched the field from the mid-range hitting pull-up after pull-up. Maybe her most impressive bucket was her last, taking her man into the post, backing her down before creating space and leaning back into a fadeaway. Foster is a High Major player. I couldn’t say that heading into the season, but I have seen enough to tell that her development has been stark. La’Nya’s outside shot has become wildly accurate, especially from the mid-range. She’s still a tank in the paint, a physical specimen with her wide shoulders and nose for the ball, outrebounding bigger opponents in traffic. Listed at 5-foot-10, Foster plays so much bigger when you take into account her versatility defensively able to defend 1-5. La’Nya’s performance on Tuesday should not get brushed under the rug because the Wildcats lost. Foster is a legitimate workhorse (19.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2 spg, 1.1 bpg). She is going to be an absolute nightmare in the A-Sun.

2024 5-10 PG Bryanna Preston – Lovejoy
Over the first three quarters, Preston looked to facilitate more than hunt her shot. She had a solid first half with nine points, a scoreless third but finished strong in the fourth quarter as her final stat line read 16 points, 9 assists and 2 steals. Preston had the burden of defending Danielle Carnegie on one end of the floor and tasked with orchestrating the offense on the other. Many would wilt under the pressure but even though it wasn’t Bryanna’s best game, she still showed flashes throughout and nearly recorded a double-double. Preston’s best moments came when she got into the paint, scoring on an And-1 left-handed layup and later spinning her way into a short-range jumper. Preston netted a three off the dribble but probably her smoothest move was a crossover into a pull-up. Bryanna’s athleticism and wiry length make scouts drool. She has a terrific synergy with La’Nya Foster, attacking the paint and wrapping around assists to her safety blanket. The tandem is a dynamic duo that overwhelms most teams.

2025 6-0 SG Kameron Herring – Woodward Academy
Three-seed No. 3 Woodward Academy blew the doors off two-seed No. 6 Forest Park 74-52 thanks to Kameron Herring’s three-point binge. Herring erupted in the second quarter with four of her five threes as the War Eagles decimated the Forest Park zone, netting 11 threes on the day. The long-armed shooter finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Herring isn’t just a one-trick pony, her first hoop came on a baseline And-1 floater and she also scored on a one-dribble pull-up and a high-low layup. Herring’s value extends to the defensive side of the ball. She can guard multiple positions and knows how to use her wingspan to take away passing angles and alter shots. Herring is prime to sky rocket up recruiting boards. She’s averaging 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1 block per game while hitting 59-184 (32%) of her three-point attempts. Kameron is trending upward as a High Major player, already with a UCF offer in tow.

2023 6-1 W Sara Lewis – Woodward Academy
The George Washington-signee set the tone early, finishing with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal as she netted 12 points in the first quarter. Lewis aggressively looked to score in the high post against the Forest Park zone. She attacked the heart of the defense with floaters and drives while staying active on the glass for putbacks. Lewis is a habitual stat sheet stuffer. She has a knack for doing a little bit of everything using a quick first step and a nose for the ball to put herself in the mix.

2023 6-0 G Jayda Brown – Forest Park
St. John’s is getting a good one in Jayda Brown. Foul troubles and injuries plagued Brown against Woodward Academy but she still managed 16 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Jayda checks a lot of boxes. She has great size on the perimeter paired with explosive athleticism and a smooth game. Brown breaks down her man using combo moves before deciding whether to pull-up or plant her foot and get downhill. Her most impressive bucket came off a behind the back move into a three-pointer. Brown netted two threes, two floaters, converted a drive and went 2-4 from the foul line.

2024 5-11 SG Yasmine Allen – Forest Park
Allen posted 19 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist. Yasmine hit two of her three three-pointers in the fourth quarter as Forest Park threatened with a late rally that ultimately fell short, Woodward Academy responding with a 13-1 run to finish the game. Allen is an incredibly talented jump shooter. Adding a downhill attack and improving her floor game will help her stock immensely.