With summer ball winding down, here’s an early preview of some of the top players in the GHSA’s newly formed Class 2A.

2028 6-0 F Ava Jenkins – ACE
ACE is a state title contender now that Ava Jenkins is no longer ineligible upon her move from Bleckley County. Jenkins is one of the most consistent front court producers in all of Georgia. The double-double machine is a springy finisher with more than just God-given gifts. Jenkins has great footwork inside, always playing with loaded balance. She’s quicker off the floor than any one else, allowing her to high-point rebounds. While Ava can dominate down low with her athleticism and size alone, it’s her shooting touch that really raises her ceiling. Jenkins is consistent from the mid-range and is comfortable shooting the open three. Mix in her quickness to the rim and her shot blocking ability on defense and you have what I feel is a sleeper prospect good enough to draw D-I recruitment. Ava should put forth an All-State level campaign after averaging 13.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks back as a freshman in 2024-25.

2027 5-2 G Marnay’jah Reynolds – Bacon County
Apple has been an electric scorer since her freshman season, closing in on over 1,500 points entering her senior season. Reynolds pumped in 21.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 steals as Bacon County improved from 12-11 to 26-3. Marnay’jah thrives at using her speed and lower center of gravity to get past defenders, often times drawing fouls in the process. She shot 125-177 (71%) from the foul line. If her three-point shot becomes more consistent (29-142; 20%), Reynolds could become even more explosive of a scorer while drawing college recruitment.

2029 5-10 F Garyunna Mitchell – East Laurens
Garyunna has the traits of becoming the next big thing to come out of a Middle Georgia frontcourt. The state champion posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead the Falcons past Elbert County 63-55 for the program’s first-ever state title. Mitchell is a long, lean athlete, quick to alter shots and clean up misses. Her agility gives her upside to attack from the high post and baseline upon facing up. If she can master finishing around the rim on her first attempt, she could become a special talent. Mitchell averaged 13.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 40% from the field.

2028 5-11 F Layla Mincey – Bryan County
Layla has begun to transform her body and expand her game, upping her production as a freshman from 4.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game to 15.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as a sophomore. Auburn Montgomery offered in July. Mincey’s strength in the paint as a rebounder and shot blocker coupled with her soft touch from beyond the arc gives her upside as a stretch big.

2027 5-8 W Jaliah Roberts – Screven County
A powerful downhill attacker, Jaliah loves to grab-and-go in transition. When Roberts gets a head of steam, the burly guard is difficult to slow down. Roberts is no stranger to recording double-doubles as a power wing, averaging 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a junior. The three-year starter has slowly drifted away from attempting threes, dwindling her attempts from 143 to 72 to 26, seeing her efficiency rise from 20% to 21% to 27% while shooing a career-high 37% from the field in total last season.

2027 5-6 PG Journey Waller – Putnam County
Journey’s activity on defense and knack for making big plays on offense gives Putnam County a chance to build even further upon last year’s 21-3 campaign. Waller averaged 12.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.6 steals. She’s tenacious in the full court press, getting up under ball handlers and quick to breakup passes to bigger players with her ball-hawking athleticism. Waller routinely fills up the box score with her motor and feel for the game. She’s a capable shooter but is at her best when breaking down the defense as a slasher.

2027 5-6 G Chabria Tate – Laney
Alabama State offered in August of 2025. Chabria is an explosive scorer coming off a season in which she averaged 24.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.6 steals. With her physical frame, the stout guard can play bully-ball in traffic without problem. Her repertoire features an accurate jump shot which scores from all levels. While her offense is her calling card, Tate is also a sneaky good passer and a competitive rebounder. Her toughness should translate well to the next level.

2028 5-9 W Azhia Kendall – Heard County
Coming off a Longwood offer in June, Azhia has momentum heading into Year 3. Kendall’s game has grown, her development apparent as she has handled lead guard duties over the summer on the travel ball circuit. Kendall’s motor is her great separator. Azhia plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. Her long arms make her a suffocating defender with versatility, able to guard 1-4. Azhia’s nose for the ball leads to rebounds and coast-to-coast takes. Her long strides get her to the rim quickly. Azhia’s jump shooting is ticking up as her game continues to round out. Don’t be surprised if Kendall becomes more of a household name across Georgia by the end of her junior season while drawing more looks from schools of all levels.

2027 5-5 PG Izzie Jabaley – Fannin County
UPike offered in December 2025 while Oglethorpe popped a bid this July. The veteran playmaker is a winning floor general. Jabaley raises others around her. She’s a high IQ table setter who finds cutters and shooters while really excelling as an outlet passer leading to transition layups. Izzie is strong with the ball. Her sturdy physical frame allows her to play with balance, staying off her heels when defenders close in. Jabaley penetrates with a pass-first mentality but she’s a good shooter off the dribble and can stretch the floor with her three-point range.

2029 6-2 Niya Daniels – Commerce
Niya has elite length, a rail thin forward who plays with a high motor. Daniels runs the floor exceptionally well and is a solid ball handler who can push it up the court herself. Her wingspan alters countless shots on defense and helps shut down easy passing lanes. Daniels needs to add more weight to her frame, but she’s good at finishing around the rim when shooting over smaller defenders. Niya averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2 blocks per game as a freshman. Anderson has offered.

2029 5-7 PG Millie Southards – Rabun County
The reigning Class A D-I Freshman of the Year averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.1 steals per game while shooting 37.4% from beyond the arc. Millie is a rock-solid playmaker, physical and sharp with her agility. Southards is a top-notch facilitator who surveys the floor and delivers on the money passes with one-hand off the bounce, capable of creating going both left and right. Millie’s toughness extends to the defensive side of the ball, moving her feet and using her strength to bump ball handlers off their line. Southards crashes in for rebounds from her guard position in order to start fastbreak opportunities where she finds her shooters running to their spots. Millie does a good job balancing when to score and when to pass but an aggressive Millie is often times the most dangerous Millie as she knows how to make the right reads whenever defenses collapse.

2027 5-6 G Adelyn Thompson – Rabun County
Adelyn should be a priority target for D-III and NAIA programs if D-II offers don’t materialize. Thompson has major experience with deep postseason runs under her belt with plenty of big games and big shots already logged. Thompson’s three-point shot has been one of the most consistent weapons in North Georgia, averaging 13 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2 steals while cashing in on 34.3% of her long balls. While she doesn’t have to shoulder as much point guard duties as she did as a sophomore, Adelyn has value as a playmaker. I like how she operates out of high ball screens, displaying great touch on how she can both float and bounce passes to rollers through traffic. Her distributing and defense are both underrated areas of her game.