Category Archives: Girls Basketball

Girls Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Spring Showcase Girls Evaluations

The Sandy’ Spiel Spring Showcase housed 72 prospects from all across the state of Georgia looking to improve their game and boost their exposure before diving into travel ball. Schools from nearly all levels were in attendance as JUCO, Prep, NAIA, D-III and D-II programs traveled to Chestatee High School to evaluate prospective student-athletes. With the help of our established eight-coach staff, here are our player evaluations sorted by team.

TEAM 1

Emma Lightsey2025 5-5 G Emma Lightsey – White County – L.E. Elite
High IQ guard that shot the ball great off the catch. Has deep range but proved she was more than just a shooter. Was able to handle the ball in traffic and create for others with her passing.

Averie Jones2024 5-7 G Averie Jones – Lumpkin County – Peak Performance Webb
State champ used her strength to attack both sides of the rim. Has a good first step and scores through contact with either hand. Three-level scorer with a great three-point shot. Takes pride in her on-ball defense and turns opponents over. Gets the ball out in transition with speed and floor vision.

Markayla Lockhart2023 5-7 G Markayla Lockhart – Hapeville Charter – 3SSB 17U Gold
Lockhart stood out as a good teammate. She is long and rangy which helps her make an impact with her defense both on-ball and in passing lanes. Plays with a solid motor. Likes to slash to the basket. Isn’t afraid to do the dirty work.

Emma Hempker2024 5-9 W Emma Hempker – Denmark – ATL Cagers BlueChip ‘24
Smooth sophomore that broke out to average 14.3 points per game this season. Righty does a good job getting to her left hand and finishing downhill. Has a soft touch from the perimeter and is a threat to score at all levels. Can drive and kick for others. Uses her length on defense to earn deflections.

Kylie Watkins2025 5-11 F Kylie Watkins – White County – L.E. Elite
Long lanky forward that can play inside and out. Advanced footwork in the low post. Uses her pivot to set up post moves. Long arms rebounds and alters shots without fouling. Effective in the high post. Has range out to the three-point line.

Loretta Parks2022 5-8 W Loretta Parks – Grayson – Team Nite Nite
Made plays off the bounce as a slasher. Finished with her left hand in traffic. Provided energy on the glass as a rebounder and was a physical defender that guarded multiple positions.

India Sheats2023 5-9 F India Sheats – Athens Academy
Strong post player that could also step outside. Skilled on the low block. Finished well around the rim. Was able to switch onto guards in pick-and-rolls. Showed good hands on defense, stripping opponents when going up for layups.

Ayanna Blanco2023 5-9 W Ayanna Blanco – River Ridge – ATL Cagers BlueChip
High-energy swingman. Long and athletic. Valuable perimeter defender. Growing consistency on offense. Can get to the basket off the bounce and has a pull-up jumper that keeps defenders off balance.

Kendall Emener2023 6-1 F Kendall Emener – First Presbyterian Day – Southeast All-Stars
Physical forward that splits time on the block and on the wing. Is a foul magnet inside. Sets up with a wide base and carves out space when sealing. Can overpower opponents to score through contact. Good hands. Loves the mid-range and three-point shot. Doesn’t hesitate to shoot from the perimeter if open. Capable of handling the ball in transition.

TEAM 2

Courtney Davis2024 5-5 PG Courtney Davis – Fannin County – Peak Performance Webb
Dynamic scorer with a great outside shot. Region 7-2A Player of the Year is a fluid athlete that scores off the dribble with her jumper and can also slice her way inside. Comfortable playing at a high tempo. Tough to corral with her quickness. Scrappy on-ball defender.

Skyler Brady2025 5-7 G Skyler Brady – Jefferson – North GA Magic
Long and athletic guard that still has more growing to do. Provides energy especially on defense and has the traits of a future 3&D standout. Should thrive in Jefferson system.

Sanai Chisholm2023 5-7 G Sanai Chisholm – Woodville-Tompkins – Fernwood Lady Falcons
Strong lefty guard that can make plays with the dribble. Uses a hesitation move to get into the lane. Is creative in transition. Has a reliable pull-up. Tough-nosed defender that can guard bigger players.

Jada Hyman2025 5-2 G Jada Hyman – Social Circle – The Basketball Academy
Quick wiry young guard. Likes to create when the ball is in her hands. Adding strength will help her over the duration of her career. Knocked down multiple three-point shots throughout camp. Active hands on defense.

Ariel McCarter2025 5-7 W Ariel McCarter – Union County – EOTO
Was able to knockdown perimeter jumpers when she had her feet set. Solid athlete that gets physical with her on-ball defense. Saw major playing time as a freshman.

Jaden Young2025 5-8 G Jaden Young – Morgan County – The Basketball Family
Good size for a perimeter player. Mixes it up on the boards. Takes pride in her defense and has switchability. Moves well and can get in the paint.

Riley Black2024 5-8 W Riley Black – Chestatee – DL Impact
Physical downhill attacker that uses her strength to overpower opponents. Spins in traffic and can score with both hands. Has improved her ball handling immensely since Year 1. Has the ball in her hands often. Three-point shot has developed into a weapon. Aggressive rebounder that won Class 4A Most Improved after averaging 18 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Riley Simmons2024 5-11 W Riley Simmons – Cherokee – ATL Cagers BlueChip 17U
Eye-opening prospect that caught media and colleges’ attention. Long and strong wing that loves the three-point shot and converts at a high clip. Will dribble out to the three-point line to fire over smaller defenders. Made an impact on the offensive glass, collecting rebounds at their highest point and finishing without bringing the ball down. Breakout season on the horizon.

Janiyah Heyward2023 5-8 W Janiyah Heyward – Woodville-Tompkins – Lady Warriors
Powerful combo-forward. Aggressive rebounder that uses her strength to outmuscle bigger opponents. Attacks off the dribble with spin move toward the basket. Can play 3-5 on offense. Defends post players effectively.

TEAM 3

Paige Fears2025 5-4 PG Paige Fears – New Manchester – Georgia Pearls
Undersized guard has a strong compact build. Very good three-point shooter that doesn’t get much lift on her jump shot. Changes speeds well and uses her quickness to create advantageous opportunities for teammates.

Ansley Coogler2023 5-2 G Ansley Coogler – Model
Can play either on or off the ball. At her best offensively as a spot-up shooter that can drill threes off the catch. Finishes with both hands at the rim. Does a good job moving her feet defensively.


Addison Boyd2025 5-4 PG Addison Boyd – Chestatee
Still nursing an ankle injury, didn’t get to compete in game play. Started as a freshman. Confident three-point shooter that scores off the catch and off the dribble. Steady ball handler and a capable one-on-one defender.

Kyia Barrett2024 5-11 PG Kyia Barrett – Habersham Central – EOTO
Big guard was extremely impressive with her ability to create off the dribble. Shifty driver that avoids charges by slinking her way to the rim. Smooth playmaker in transition that makes tough one-handed passes on the money. Hits the pull-up jumper. Has the length to disrupt opposing offenses. Earned high marks as being a great leader that makes her teammates better.

Riley Bryan2022 5-9 W Riley Bryan – Lanier – ATL Cagers
Unsigned senior helped her stock by consistently knocking down open jumpers. Hits the mid-range and can stretch the floor out to the three-point line. Takes what the defense gives her and will attack the rim when available.

Kenzie Wyman2025 5-8 W Kenzie Wyman – Lassiter – FBC Supreme Team
Sturdy wing that excels at getting to her left hand. Does the little things well. Is a physical defender that can guard multiple spots. Very coachable.

Ashley Hill2025 5-10 PF Ashley Hill – George Walton Academy – North GA Magic
Impressive young post with patient footwork. Strong frame that is equipped to bang with seniors. Does a good job working for position when getting on the offensive glass. Has a nice up-and-under which she converts with a soft touch. Battle against some of the more established big men in Georgia and more than held her own.

Mackenna Nix2025 5-11 F Mackenna Nix – Temple – Team Tre
Rugged rebounder that snatches caroms and outlets to start fast breaks. Multidimensional offensive threat. Will score with her back to the basket, but also likes to put the ball on the floor and attack from the perimeter and high post. Converts through contact around the rim. Stretches the floor and shoots the corner three. Good motor. Physical presence that defends without fouling. First Team All-Region 5-2A as a freshman.

TEAM 4

Emeri Billings2025 5-4 PG Emeri Billings – Jefferson
High motor guard that sees the floor well. Hustles on defense. Good in a fast pace tempo. Plays aggressive and is a solid shooter. Has a nice polished feel already.

Denim Goddard2024 5-5 G Denim Goddard – Oglethorpe County – Lady Aces
Quick shifty guard that loves to slash to the basket. Covers ground with her eurostep. Gets to her right hand often and has room for growth with her left. Has good court vision when pushing the ball. Provides on-ball pressure defense.

Athena Vachtsevanos2025 5-8 W Athena Vachtsevanos – North Hall – SI Queens
Wiry off-guard talks on defense. Can get to the hoop quickly with her long strides. Handles the ball well. Likes the three-point shot. Mid-range pull-up could develop into a weapon.

Jayda Jackson2024 5-6 PG Jayda Jackson – North Paulding – Wood Elite
Strong compact point guard that handles the ball well and can set up the offense. Has good shot selection and balances her drives with her pull-up jumper.

Hannah Cail2023 5-7 CG Hannah Cail – Calvary Day – Southeast All-Stars
Came out aggressive hunting her offense from multiple levels. Great three-point shooter that can pile in points in bunches. Plays with confidence. Was effective when getting into the paint as both a scorer and distributor. Has a big offseason and senior season ahead after being named Class A-Private All-State.

Sadie Raughton2025 6-0 PF Sadie Raughton – Model – Elite 77
Has a strong solid frame and good feet. Mobile post presence runs the floor well and can position herself to protect the rim and cut off drives. Finishes dump offs and putbacks. Will takeoff once she identifies her signature post move.

Lucy Hood2024 5-9 PG Lucy Hood – Rabun County – EOTO
All-State guard shined as a playmaker. Changes directions and shifts gears in a blink with a quick crossover. Gets downhill and looks to create. Gets teammates open looks with drive and kicks. Has a pretty mid-range and three-point shot when she looks to score. Can improve on getting all the way to the rim instead of stopping short. Moves her feet well on defense and cuts off drives. Holds D-I interest.

Erin Whalen2023 5-10 W Erin Whalen – North Forsyth – North GA Magic
Versatile do-everything wing that can play 1-5 at the high school level. Ignites fastbreaks with rebounds and pushes the ball up the floor where she facilitates off the dribble. Elite playmaker from the high post with her mid-range jumper and ability to dump off to bigs. Strong body allows her to rebound in traffic and defend multiple spots. Great decision maker that is very unselfish.

Brianna Pelote2024 6-2 C Brianna Pelote – Woodville-Tompkins – Fernwood Lady Falcons
Elite rim protector that swallows up shots inside with her great length and physicality. Hardly has to jump to block shots. Anchors the interior and never has her back turned to the ball. Very good hands help her clean up misses. Can hit the mid-range jumper. Very coachable.

Kayla Wilkins2026 5-8 F Kayla Wilkins – Athens Academy – Classic City Ballers
Runs the floor and looks to bang in the paint. Held her own on defense. Converts up close. Doesn’t need the ball in her hands to be an effective player.

TEAM 5

Kitali Youmans2025 5-7 PG Kitali Youmans – Mt. Paran – TSF
Extremely skilled floor general that saw key minutes during Mt. Paran’s state championship run. Fierce competitor that uses a rocker dribble to get downhill. Slick finisher that has a floater and scoop layups with either hand. Playmaker manipulates defenses and delivers on-target passes with both her left and right hand.

Ter'Nazia Elvine2024 5-5 G Ter’Nazia Elvine – Bleckley County – Blazers Exposure
Good athlete that does the little things well. Follows her own shot, blocks out and is a willing defender. Fit into the team well. Finishes at the rim. Makes winning plays.

Martha Vachtsevanos2026 5-4 PG Martha Vachtsevanos – North Hall – SI Queens
Highly skilled. Quick with the dribble, breaks down her man and gets into the paint. Has an easy release on her three-point shot. Should see solid varsity minutes as a freshman. High upside scorer.

Caroline Bull2025 5-4 PG Caroline Bull – Chestatee
Doesn’t try to do anything out of her game. Plays good defense and competes at a high level. Will knockdown open threes. Sneaky offensive rebounder that will crash the glass in spots. Getting better as a ball handler vs. pressure.

Kindra Coker2024 5-2 G Kindra Coker – Dawson County – EOTO
Takes great pride in her defense. Stood out in one-on-one with her closeouts and active hands. Keeps opponents in front and contests shots even though she is undersized. Sparkplug defender knocks away steals and can drill threes.

2024 5-6 CG Addison Hoard – Banks County – EOTO
Multi-level scorer who impresses each and every time. Has a good feel for the game. Gets to the basket and scores through contact. Jump shot is a major weapon. Gets to her spots in the mid-range and drains the three-ball. Capable of playing either guard position. High motor perimeter scorer has no issue going coast-to-coast.

Carley Segars2024 6-0 C Carley Segars – Banks County – EOTO
Great frame to work with. Long and strong. Is at her best when she plays with an aggressive mindset. Effective offensive rebounder. Has quality footwork in the low post, able to keep her pivot alive and step through the defense.

Samara Saunders2023 5-10 PF Samara Saunders – Grayson – Team Huncho Nxt Gen
Physical post presence that defends bigger opponents extremely well. Gets after it on the glass. Converts putbacks inside. Will occasionally put the ball on the floor. Showed off extended range, stretching the floor to the three-point line.

TEAM 6

Janiyah Jones2025 5-9 G Janiyah Jones – Stockbridge – TSF
Thrives in transition as both a scorer and facilitator. Quick athlete gets into the paint and causes defenses to collapse. Knocks down outside shots when her feet are set. Has upside as a defender.

Jasmine Perez2024 5-6 PG Jasmine Perez – Centennial – ATL Cagers BlueChip
Well-rounded three-level scorer. Missed her sophomore season after transferring from Chattahoochee. Creative handle. Gets to her spots. Can go both left and right equally well. Slices her way to the basket and has a step-back jumper which is tough to guard. Brought great energy as an on-ball defender.

Payton Cable2025 5-9 F Payton Cable – Chestatee
Long and athletic build. Has stretch-four capabilities. Soft touch with the short jumper and can pull-out defenders to the three-point line. Has room to grow as a low block scorer. Has shown promise as a future defensive anchor. Draws charges and is a solid rebounder.

Kayla Whitner2025 5-10 G Kayla Whitner – Woodward Academy – TSF
One of the best scorers in camp. Knockdown three-point shooter that scores off the catch and off the dribble. Creates separation with her crossover, getting her downhill. Finishes with either hand. Put on a show in the one-on-one station. Moves well without the ball. Great length helps her harass smaller ball handlers. Big guard with big upside.

Sally Bullard2024 5-7 W Sally Bullard – Athens Academy – Lady Aces
Physical perimeter player that uses her size to get into the paint. Knocks down the baseline jumper and has three-point range. Getting to the rim more efficiently will be an area of growth over her next two seasons. Showed promise with a strong spin move downhill. Stood out with her toughness on the backboards.

Kirklyn Porter2023 5-9 G Kirklyn Porter – Dawson County – Peak Performance Webb
Strong body with deep three-point range. Spaces the floor extremely well. Shoots the ball off the bounce and can torch teams on catch-and-shoot looks. Vocal leader for her team. Tough-nosed with high IQ.

Kate Jackson2023 5-11 PF Kate Jackson – Lumpkin County – EOTO
Skilled low post presence that scores with either hand. Seals deep in the paint. Has good footwork whether drop stepping into the lane or using an up-and-under. Soft touch inside.  Uses her body to her advantage, playing a physical brand of basketball. Blocks out well. Stretch-four with her three-point range.

Alison Hiddema2023 5-11 F Alison Hiddema – East Forsyth – North GA Magic
Class 3A Most Improved Player averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and nailed 75 threes this year. Strong downhill when attacking from the wing, drawing fouls and converting through contact. Fundamentally sound and communicates on both ends of the floor. Rugged combo-forward wins 50/50 balls with her toughness.

Jaleia Robinson2025 5-11 PF Jaleia Robinson – Woodland-Stockbridge – FBC Supreme Team
Bright young post with a strong body. Sets heavy screens and moves very well for her size. Will put the ball on the floor and attack from the high post. Scores with her back to the basket and is an effective offensive rebounder that earns her team second chances.

TEAM 7

Alex McElroy2024 5-5 G Alex McElroy – Harrison – E33 Eagles
Quick and athletic lead guard. Did a good job mixing in her own offense with getting others involved. Shot the three well over top of screens. Defended without fouling. Will see an increased role at Harrison next season.

Lexi Pierce2023 5-5 PG Lexi Pierce – Lumpkin County – EOTO Black
Great three-point shooter with a quick release. Scores the ball off the bounce and off the catch. Likes to pull-up in transition from beyond the arc. Active defender earns steals. Smart decision maker in transition that sees the floor well. Finishes around the rim with both hands. D-II and D-III schools had her name circled.

Mayzie Nelson2026 5-7 W Mayzie Nelson – Lanier
Young wing that also plays around the rim. Provides toughness. Plays hard and can help defend multiple positions. Showed an understanding of how to feed the post. Runs the floor.

Brinkley Kate Reed2023 5-8 G Brinkley Kate Reed – Coahulla Creek – North GA Thunder
Aggressive slasher that uses her quickness to slice through the defense. High motor hustler shoots well from the outside. When defenders step out to guard her from beyond the arc, she blows by and draws fouls. Had a breakout junior season averaging 21.3 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

Ellie Cook2023 5-9 W Ellie Cook – Fannin County – North GA Thunder
Wiry athlete that makes an impact with her defense. Can defend any perimeter position on the court. Runs the floor in transition and can catch and finish on the move. Will hit the outside jumper and can play make for others on drives.

Brooke Moore2023 5-11 W Brooke Moore – North Cobb Christian – FBC Bouncenation
College coaches identified Brooke Moore as a high upside prospect right away. The Class A-Private All-State wing has all the tools to take over games in a variety of ways. Moore shot the ball well off the bounce and was able to turn corners to finish all the way at the rim. Brooke is a reliable three-point shooter. She’s a smooth slasher that can drive and kick to open shooters. Defensively, she can guard 1-5 with her elite length and athleticism.

Ellie Southards2024 5-7 G Ellie Southards – Rabun County – EOTO
Back from an ACL tear that cost her her entire sophomore season sans a brief appearance in the Elite Eight, Ellie Southards was one of the most dynamic scorers in camp. The strongly built guard showed off a tight handle when combatting pressure, going between the legs and behind the back in one fluid motion. She got to her spots with the mid-range pull-up and dropped in tear drop floaters against bigger defenders. Southards used her strength to battle for position on the offensive glass and converted multiple putbacks. Defensively, Ellie was able to body up and play a physical style. For her first extended game action in months, Southards looked incredibly impressive with her robust offensive display.

Greta Kaper2023 6-1 C Greta Kaper – Mt. Vernon Presbyterian
Solid post presence with great length and a good frame. Runs the floor well. Rebounds and has the ability to push the ball up the floor herself. Isn’t afraid to attack off the dribble. Alters shots around the rim.

Kaliya Walker2025 5-10 PF Kaliya Walker – Vidalia – ATAP
Young southpaw with a strong body. Can play a power game in the low post and on the glass but also has a soft finesse touch. Seals well and scores with baby hook.

TEAM 8

Shannon Niles2022 5-6 CG Shannon Niles – Brookwood – Team Nite Nite
Can play either on or off the ball. Creates off the dribble with her speed, leading to drive and kick looks. Gets into the teeth of the defense and can dump off to posts. Plays hard with a great motor. Extremely coachable and a great teammate.

Lilly Purcell2025 5-8 W Lilly Purcell – Prince Avenue
Strong lefty with good shoulders. Played with poise and toughness. Physical finisher that gets into the lane as she bumps off defenders. Mature feel and a good understanding of defensive principles.

Amelia Shoemaker2023 5-9 SG Amelia Shoemaker – North Hall – DL Impact
Long guard. At her best in catch-and-shoot scenarios. Good three-point range. Runs the floor. Adding weight will help her get to the basket more consistently. Can disrupt passing lanes.

Kendall Davis2024 5-8 G Kendall Davis – McIntosh – Georgia Pearls
Big guard that uses her strength to get into the paint. Does a good job seeking contact. Spends time at both point guard and shooting guard. Responded well to tough coaching. Has upside as a playmaker.

Kennedi Jones2025 5-9 W Kennedi Jones – Harrison – Team Tre
Freshman with a versatile future. Uses her strength well to defend bigger posts. Brings toughness to the floor. Improving her ball handling and perimeter shot will help her transition to the wing full-time over the course of her career. Scored around the rim and got on the glass.

Mary Mullinax2023 5-10 W Mary Mullinax – Lumpkin County – Peak Performance Webb
Class 3A Player of the Year made more believers out of everyone at camp. The state champ was a vocal leader for her team, making sure everyone was matched up defensively. Swiss Army Knife played with an elite motor, defending the entire length of the floor and getting on loose balls. Attacks well off the dribble, gets into passing lanes and distributes efficiently. Averaged 17.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.6 steals and shot 35% from three during her breakout junior season.

Kayla Cleaveland2025 5-11 F Kayla Cleaveland – River Ridge – Team Tre
Polished inside-out freshman that can score all over the floor. Strong hands help her collect rebounds in traffic and finish with her powerful frame through defenders. Helps handle the ball on the perimeter and consistently hits the three. High IQ and receptive to coaching. High upside as a future mismatch double-double machine. Multisport standout averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in Year 1.

Gaby LoPresti2024 5-9 W Gaby LoPresti – North Cobb Christian – Wood Elite 2024
Aggressive scorer didn’t try to do too much. Was able to get into the lane with a sneaky good first step and finish with floaters in traffic. Did a great job offensive rebounding from her guard position. Uses her physicality to defend multiple frontcourt spots.

Tylia Kemp2022 5-10 W Tylia Kemp – Grayson – FBC Legacy
3&D unsigned senior. Plays physical on both ends of the floor as a defender and rebounder. Cashes in the corner three at a high rate. Brings toughness and experience. A bit of a tweener between being a wing or a stretch-four. Combo-forward will provide value wherever she lands.

Aaliyah Hunt2023 6-3 C Aaliyah Hunt – Peachtree Ridge – ATL Cagers BlueChip
Physically imposing post with D-I future. Sets up shop on the low block and can bury opponents underneath the rim. Has a soft touch and does a good job earning multiple chances on the offensive glass. Deceptively nimble in the open court when pushing the ball. Maintaining her stamina will help her dominate consistently. Arguably the best center in Class 7A this past season averaging 18.3 points, 14 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. All-State selection.

Girls Analysis

#PRO: Spring Showdown Girls Top Performers

Jayla Cook2022 5-5 PG Jayla Cook – Redan
All gas, no breaks. That is what you get with Jayla Cook. The playmaking guard with the elite motor zoomed around the floor on both offense and defense, impacting games consistently. Cook’s sparkplug play had college coaches circling her name. The stat sheet stuffer didn’t just score downhill, she created for others dropping off no-look passes all throughout camp. Cook’s hustle will go a long way at the next level. She’s a plug-and-play guard that will immediately bring an infectious energy when on the court.

Jada Morgan2023 5-8 CG Jada Morgan – Warner Robins
No one wanted to get in the way of Jada Morgan when she decided to get to the rim. The physical guard bulled her way to the basket, scoring through contact with ease. Morgan excels at getting to her right hand. She challenges shot blockers by going right into their chest. Jada’s pitbull mentality is a hallmark of her game. Not many guards attack the glass like she does. Morgan won’t ever be out-toughed.

Gabby Hudson2022 5-6 PG Gabby Hudson – Pace Academy
There was a buzz around camp surrounding the Region 6-2A Player of the Year. Hudson has a polished game. She pushes the ball and sees the floor well, wrapping passes around defenders to find the open man. Hudson is a crafty finisher that can get shifty downhill. Gabby embraces contact and can kiss floaters off the glass when stopped short. Hudson is a well-rounded scorer that shot 36% from three over the course of her senior season. Expect D-III schools to make a hard push.

Tylia Kemp2022 5-10 W Tylia Kemp – Grayson
Tylia’s play at camp landed her a Carver College offer. Kemp is an inside-out presence. She makes a living in the corners with her three-point shot but is also strong enough to muscle her way to hoops in the paint. Kemp is an impactful rebounder and a capable defender that can help guard multiple positions.

Shakiria Chaney2022 5-9 W Shakiria Chaney – Tift County
Lil Sis came to play on Sunday. Chaney is a strong athlete with an aggressive mindset. She pursues rebounds with vigor and plays bigger than her size. Shakiria has a quick first step. She drives hard and can finish with spins in traffic. When needed, she can knock down the open outside shot but loves trying to get to the paint first.

Marlo Simms
2023 6-2 C Marlo Simms – Decatur
The size and length of Marlo Simms immediately jumps out. She’s a mobile post presence that does a nice job altering shots. Simms cleans up misses and can hit the mid-range jumper. Keep an eye on her development. Simms could be a popular prospect come next year.

Alison Hiddema2023 5-11 F Alison Hiddema – East Forsyth
One of the most improved players in the state, Alison Hiddema quickly made a name for herself after averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and hitting 75 threes her junior season. Hiddema is a combo-forward that spends a vast majority of her time attacking from the wing. She shoots the three exceptionally well and loves to punish defenders on drives to the basket, powering her way to the hoop while drawing fouls. Hiddema will be a highly sought-after prospect at the D-II/D-III levels.

Taiylor Williams2023 5-7 G Taiylor Williams – Brookstone
A prolific scorer out of Columbus, Taiylor Williams thrived offensively. Williams is svelte of build, but the wiry guard gets to her spots consistently. She’s a three-level scorer that has wiggle off the bounce. She hits the pull-up jumper and has three-point range. Williams finishes with both hands around the rim. Taiylor packs a scoring punch. Colleges will want to get familiar ASAP.

Laila Battle2022 5-7 PG Laila Battle – Campbell
Never doubt Laila Battle. As she has proven throughout the course of her career, Battle simply knows how to get the job done. She’s a dangerous three-point shooter and a smart driver that gets into the paint at will. Laila has an effective eurostep in traffic and sweeps the ball low and strong when gathering herself to finish, avoiding any strip attempts by defenders. During gameplay, she was face-guarded the full length of the floor – something you don’t see often in camp settings. Battle is a tough-nosed defender with quick hands. Laila committed to LaGrange following camp.

Alyssa Mullholand2025 5-6 G Alyssa Mullholand – Valor Christian
Baby James Harden. Alyssa Mullholand is the complete package offensively. She is highly skilled, able to create off the dribble and dissect defenses. Mullholand has a tight handle with a crossover that gets her into the paint. Alyssa uses her size and strength to her advantage as she knows how to draw fouls and finish in traffic against length. Mullholand demands attention from the three-point line as well. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see her eclipse the 1,000-point mark in her high school career.

Kitali Youmans2025 5-7 PG Kitali Youmans – Mt. Paran
A true point guard with a mature feel, the state champ was able to dictate the tempo whenever the ball was in her hands. Youmans has a smooth approach and understands how to run an offense. She looks to set up teammates first before hunting her own shot. Kitali weaves into the paint and can draw defenders before dishing to open teammates. Youmans makes passes off the bounce with either hand and is slick when driving to the hoop.

Shannon Niles2022 5-6 G Shannon Niles – Brookwood
The savvy senior pushes the ball well in transition, keeping her head up as she hits teammates in stride for open layups. Niles plays at a nice pace and can shift gears accordingly. She has a good-looking jump shot with three-point range. Shannon uses a crossover to beat her first defender and also implements a hesitation dribble. Niles is a good decision maker that can play either on or off the ball.

NeKaya Williams2022 5-9 G NeKaya Williams – Brookwood
NeKaya Williams blends skill and athleticism together. She’s an electric slasher that gets to the rim and finishes with both hands. Her defensive instincts on the perimeter help blow up plays and disrupt flow. Williams can crank her motor to where few can go. Her energy helps her impact games on both ends of the floor. Southern just recently became the first D-I to offer.

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Girls Honors

2021-22 GHSA Girls Basketball All-State Honors

DISCLAIMER: These are Sandy’s Spiel All-State Selections. The GHSA does NOT select All-State Teams in any sport ever.

All-Georgia

Sandy’s Spiel Ms. Basketball: Kara Dunn, Mt. Paran, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
G – Diana Collins, Brookwood, Jr.
G – Danielle Carnegie, Rockdale County, So.
G – Sydney Bowles, Woodward Academy, Sr.
G – Flau’jae Johnson, Sprayberry, Sr.
W – Kara Dunn, Mt. Paran, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Bridget Utberg, Woodstock, Sr.
G – Bryanna Preston, Lovejoy, So.
G – Chit-Chat Wright, Wesleyan, So.
F – Zaria Hurston, Norcross, Sr.
F – Olivia Hutcherson, Holy Innocents’, Jr.

Honorable Mention
G – Tianna Thompson, Galloway, So.
G – Kaleigh Addie, GAC, Sr.
G – Mataya Gayle, River Ridge, Jr.
G – Sydney Bolden, Loganville, Sr.
G – Jania Akins, Norcross, So.
G – Crystal Henderson, Kell, Jr.
W – Courtney Ogden, Westminster, Jr.
W – Mary Mullinax, Lumpkin County, Jr.
W – Natalia Bolden, Jefferson, Sr.
F – Xaviera Dyer, Maynard Jackson, Sr.
F – Kharyssa Richardson, New Manchester, Sr.

Class AAAAAAA

Coach of the Year: Terry Kemp, Harrison (27-4; State Runner-Up; Most Improved Team; Won 21-straight; Beat three ranked teams in state)
Player of the Year: Zaria Hurston, Norcross, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Tatum Brown, Grayson
Best Scorer: Diana Collins, Brookwood, Jr.
Best Shooter: Anna Gernatt, Harrison, Sr.
Best Rebounder: Zaria Hurston, Norcross, Sr.
Best Passer: Sophie Smith, Denmark, Sr.
Best Shot Blocker: Aaliyah Hunt Peachtree Ridge, Jr.
Most Underrated: Laila Battle, Campbell, Sr.
Most Improved: Erin Whalen, North Forsyth, Jr. (Improved from 2.8 ppg/3.6 rpg/0.5 apg/1.8 spg/34.1% 2PT FG to 9.2 ppg/6.4 rpg/1.4 apg/1.8 spg/60.9% 2PT FG)
Most Improved Team: Harrison 27-4 (Improved from 8-14; State Runner-Up; Outright Region 3 Champs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Bridget Utberg, Woodstock, Sr.
G – Diana Collins, Brookwood, Jr.
G – Jania Akins, Norcross, So.
G – Erin Rodgers, Grayson, So.
F – Zaria Hurston, Norcross, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Tatum Brown, Grayson, Fr.
G – Chloe Sterling, Marietta, Sr.
G – Cayla Cowart, West Forsyth, Sr.
W – Letiya Reeves, East Coweta, Sr.
W – Anna Gernatt, Harrison, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – Sophie Smith, Denmark, Sr.
G – Caelan Ellis, McEachern, Sr.
G – Nekaya Williams, Brookwood, Sr.
G – Nia Bozeman, Campbell, Sr.
G – Sharon Tolliver, South Forsyth, Jr.
W – Toni Warren, Cherokee, So.
W – Aliyah Washington, North Paulding, Sr.
W – Erin Whalen, North Forsyth, Jr.
W – Taniya McGowan, Archer, Jr.
W – Shakiria Chaney, Tift County, Sr.
C – Aaliyah Hunt, Peachtree Ridge, Jr.

Class AAAAAA

Coach of the Year: Cedric King, Lovejoy (28-3; State Champs; Outright Region 4 Champs; Beat four ranked teams in state)
Player of the Year: Danielle Carnegie, Rockdale County, So.
Freshman of the Year: Sophia Pearl, River Ridge
Best Scorer: Flau’jae Johnson, Sprayberry, Sr.
Best Shooter: Sophia Pearl, River Ridge, Fr.
Best Rebounder: Halle Verkerk, East Paulding, Sr.
Best Passer: Mataya Gayle, River Ridge, Jr.
Best Shot Blocker: Essence Cody, Valdosta, Jr.
Most Underrated: Alaya Grane, Northside-Warner Robins, So.
Most Improved: Halle Verkerk, East Paulding, Sr. (Improved from 9 ppg/8.5 rpg to 13 ppg/14.1 rpg)
Most Improved Team: Bradwell Institute 22-6 (Improved from 8-10; Elite 8)

FIRST TEAM
G – Mataya Gayle, River Ridge, Jr.
G – Crystal Henderson, Kell, Jr.
G – Danielle Carnegie, Rockdale County, So.
G – Bryanna Preston, Lovejoy, So.
G – Flau’jae Johnson, Sprayberry, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Ava Grace Watson, Buford, So.
G – Elle Blatchford, Sequoyah, Jr.
G – Jordy Griggs, Osborne, Jr.
F – Lazaria Spearman, Dacula, Sr.
C – Essence Cody, Valdosta, Jr.

Honorable Mention
G – Eghosa Obasuyi, Carrollton, Jr.
G – Taniyah Bowman, Bradwell Institute, Jr.
G – Sophia Pearl, River Ridge, So.
G – Jada Peterson, Kell, Jr.
G – D’Mya Griffin, Grovetown, Sr.
W – Jordynn Dudley, Cambridge, Jr.
W – La’Nya Foster, Lovejoy, Jr.
F – Raven Thompson, Langston Hughes, Sr.
F – Keona Curtis, Grovetown, Sr.
F – Grace Ridley, Dalton, So.
C – Shane’ Jackson, Brunswick, Jr.

Class AAAAA

Coach of the Year: Kim Lawrence, Woodward Academy (29-2; Repeat State Champs; Outright Region 3 Champs; Won state title by 28)
Player of the Year: Sydney Bowles, Woodward Academy, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Cornelia Ellington, Decatur
Best Scorer: Sydney Bowles, Woodward Academy, Sr.
Best Shooter: Yasmine Allen, Forest Park, So.
Best Rebounder: Xaviera Dyer, Maynard Jackson, Sr.
Best Passer: Trinity Barrow, Greenbrier, Jr.
Best Shot Blocker: Caitlin Staley, Greenbrier, Jr.
Most Underrated: Tamia Boone, Stone Mountain, Sr.
Most Improved: Emaya Lewis, Loganville, So. (Improved from 5.7 ppg/6.1 rpg/1.8 bpg to 14.9 ppg/10.6 rpg/2 bpg)
Most Improved Team: Stockbridge 21-7 (Improved from 9-14; Sweet 16)

FIRST TEAM
G – Sydney Bolden, Loganville, Sr.
G – Sydney Bowles, Woodward Academy, Sr.
G – Carrington Wilson, Stockbridge, So.
F – Kharyssa Richardson, New Manchester, Sr.
F – Xaviera Dyer, Maynard Jackson, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Trinity Barrow, Greenbrier, Jr.
G – Jayda Brown, Forest Park, Jr.
G – Jada Morgan, Warner Robins, Jr.
F – Zy Thompson, Griffin, Jr.
C – Emaya Lewis, Loganville, So.

Honorable Mention
G – Taliah Cornish, Maynard Jackson, So.
G – Jordan Brooks, Union Grove, So.
G – Britiya Curtis, Calhoun, Jr.
G – Yasmine Allen, Forest Park, So.
W – Aaliyah Duranham, Griffin, Jr.
W – Keara Collins, McIntosh, Sr.
W – Sara Lewis, Woodward Academy, Jr.
W – Claire Davis, Cass, Sr.
W – Kaela Ward, Villa Rica, Sr.
F – Erial Owens, Hiram, Sr.
C – Caitlin Staley, Greenbrier, Jr.

Class AAAA

Coach of the Year: Kim Hixon, Marist (28-3; First State Championship; Outright Region 6 Champs; Allowed 32.3 ppg; Finished on 16-game winning streak)
Player of the Year: Natalia Bolden, Jefferson, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Jatiana Chambers, Dougherty
Best Scorer: Natalia Bolden, Jefferson, Sr.
Best Shooter: Ellie Kinlaw, Jefferson, Sr.
Best Rebounder: Veronica Sierzant, Islands, Jr.
Best Passer: Jatiana Chambers, Dougherty, Fr.
Best Shot Blocker: Akilah Shelton, Hardaway, Fr.
Most Underrated: Kaitlyn Robinson, Druid Hills, Sr.
Most Improved: Riley Black, Chestatee, So. (Improved from 6.6 ppg/5 rpg to 18 ppg/10.7 rpg/3.7 apg/2.3 spg)
Most Improved Team: Fayette County 16-11 (Improved from 0-17; State Playoffs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Evelina Davlakou, Luella, Sr.
G – Avery Fantucci, Marist, Sr.
W – Natalia Bolden, Jefferson, Sr.
W – Alexcia Murphy, Troup County, Jr.
F – Ariana Dyson, Luella, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Malaya Jones, Arabia Mountain, So.
G – Madison Ruff, Baldwin, So.
G – Caroline Mullins, Pickens, So.
W – Riley Black, Chestatee, So.
F – Veronica Sierzant, Islands, Jr.

Honorable Mention
G – Jatiana Chambers, Dougherty, Fr.
G – Myori Pruitt, Arabia Mountain, Jr.
G – Ellie Kinlaw, Jefferson, Sr.
G – Kelli Finkley, Stephenson, Sr.
G – Ashley Lester, Cedar Shoals, Jr.
W – Milani Smith, Luella, So.
F – Ashlyn Mesidor, Carver-Columbus, Sr.
F – Emma Allen, Northwest Whitfield, Sr.
F – Lexy Faklaris, Marist, Sr.
C – Janaye Walker, Baldwin, Fr.
C – Detavia Salter, Bainbridge, Sr.

Class AAA

Coach of the Year: David Dowse, Lumpkin County (30-1; First State Championship; 29-0 as Head Coach; Outright Region 7 Champs; No seniors)
Player of the Year: Mary Mullinax, Lumpkin County, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Christen Collins, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Best Scorer: Courtney Ogden, Westminster, Jr.
Best Shooter: Averie Jones, Lumpkin County, So.
Best Rebounder: Amani Hamilton, Johnson-Savannah, Sr.
Best Passer: Jayla Cook, Redan, Sr.
Best Shot Blocker: Allejah Moultry, Beach, Sr.
Most Underrated: Brinkley Kate Reed, Coahulla Creek, Jr.
Most Improved: Alison Hiddema, East Forsyth, Jr. (Improved from 0.8 ppg/1 rpg to 17 ppg/10 rpg/75 3PTM; 38%)
Most Improved Team: Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 28-2 (Improved from 0-19; Elite 8; Outright Region 6 Champs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Natalie Herrin, Pierce County, Sr.
G – Averie Jones, Lumpkin County, So.
G – Kaleigh Addie, GAC, Sr.
W – Mary Mullinax, Lumpkin County, Jr.
W – Courtney Ogden, Westminster, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Micheala Bogans, Cross Creek, So.
G – Jayla Cook, Redan, Sr.
G – Jaci Bolden, GAC, Sr.
G – Christina Collins, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Jr.
W – Mattie Nuckolls, Murray County, Jr.

Honorable Mention
G – D’yanna Maxey, Douglass, Sr.
G – Christen Collins, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Fr.
G – Antonia Pittman, East Jackson, Jr.
G – Taniya Prior, Central-Macon, Sr.
G – Lexi Pierce, Lumpkin County, Jr.
G – Rickayla Johnson, Cedar Grove, Sr.
G – Dakota Phillips, Hart County, So.
W – Amani Hamilton, Johnson-Savannah, Sr.
F – Alison Hiddema, East Forsyth, Jr.
F – Kate Jackson, Lumpkin County, Jr.
C – Trinity Jackson, Sumter County, Sr.

Class AA

Coach of the Year: Josh Jones, Elbert County (28-4; First State Championship; Beat four ranked teams in state; No senior starters)
Player of the Year: Aaniyah Allen, Elbert County, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Lyric Green, Dodge County
Best Scorer: Jakia Little, Northeast-Macon, Sr.
Best Shooter: Courtney Davis, Fannin County, So.
Best Rebounder: Ava Hunter, Union County, Sr.
Best Passer: Lucy Hood, Rabun County, So.
Best Shot Blocker: Brianna Pelote, Woodville-Tompkins, So.
Most Underrated: Jalexia Taylor, Bleckley County, Sr.
Most Improved: Brianna Pelote, Woodville-Tompkins, So. (Improved from 6.9 ppg/6.9 rpg to 15.5 ppg/10.5 rpg/5.7 bpg)
Most Improved Team: Northeast-Macon 23-7 (Improved from 9-8; Final 4; Outright Region 3 Champs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Aaniyah Allen, Elbert County, Jr.
G – Jakia Little, Northeast-Macon, Sr.
F – Gracie Deetz, Rabun County, Sr.
C – Ava Hunter, Union County, Sr.
C – Kamryn Grier, Banks County, Jr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Courtney Davis, Fannin County, So.
G – Niya Moon, Elbert County, Jr.
G – Carley Haban, Rabun County, Sr.
W – Ashley Gray, Washington County, Sr.
C – Brianna Pelote, Woodville-Tompkins, So.

Honorable Mention
G – Becca Ledford, Fannin County, Sr.
G – Lucy Hood, Rabun County, So.
G – Makiya Parrish, Chattooga, Jr.
G – Gabrielle Johnson, Callaway, Sr.
G – Tamya Blasingame, Lamar County, Sr.
G – Jayden Boykin, Heard County, So.
G – Terrace Hester, Elbert County, Jr.
G – KayKay Mobley, Toombs County, Sr.
W – Kiara Turner, Laney, Jr.
F – Aqoyas Cody, Josey, Sr.
C – Lyric Green, Dodge County, Fr.

Class A-Private

Coach of the Year: Stephanie Dunn, Mt. Paran (25-4; First State Championship; Outright Region 7 Champs; Beat five ranked teams in state)
Player of the Year: Kara Dunn, Mt. Paran, Sr.
Freshman of the Year: Jessica Fields, Mt. Paran
Best Scorer: Kara Dunn, Mt. Paran, Sr.
Best Shooter: Chit-Chat Wright, Wesleyan, So.
Best Rebounder: Olivia Hutcherson, Holy Innocents’, Jr.
Best Passer: Tianna Thompson, Galloway, So.
Best Shot Blocker: Jessica Fields, Mt. Paran, Fr.
Most Underrated: Morgan Skipper, Our Lady of Mercy, Sr.
Most Improved: Chit-Chat Wright, Wesleyan, So. (Improved from 12.8 ppg to 21.9 ppg/5.1 rpg/4.5 apg/3 spg/71 3PTM – 60%/65% FG/95% FT)
Most Improved Team: Holy Innocents’ 27-3 (Improved from 12-7; Final 4; Outright Region 5 Champs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Tianna Thompson, Galloway, So.
G – Chit-Chat Wright, Wesleyan, So.
W – Kara Dunn, Mt. Paran, Sr.
F – Olivia Hutcherson, Holy Innocents’, Jr.
F – Jessica Fields, Mt. Paran, Fr.

SECOND TEAM
G – Zaynah Preston, Holy Innocents’, So.
G – Gabbie Grooms, Landmark Christian, So.
G – Mahkayla Premo, Calvary Day, Sr.
F – Jessie Parish, Hebron Christian, Sr.
F – Zsofia Telegdy, Trinity Christian, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – Hannah Cail, Calvary Day, Jr.
G – Taiylor Williams, Brookstone, Jr.
G – Aubrey Beckham, Hebron Christian, Fr.
G – Hailee Swain, Holy Innocents’, Fr.
G – Cate Hardin, Fellowship Christian, Sr.
W – Brooke Moore, North Cobb Christian, Jr.
W – Kyla Cain, Galloway, Jr.
F – Trynce Taylor, St. Francis, Jr.
F – Sa’Mya Wyatt, St. Francis, So.
F – Abby Nicholson, Savannah Country Day, Sr.
F – Kendall Emener, First Presbyterian Day, Jr.

Class A-Public

Coach of the Year: Ed Wilson, Lake Oconee Academy (26-1; First State Championship; Unbeaten in A-Public; 19.6-point average margin of victory in playoffs)
Player of the Year: Marley Bell, Montgomery County, So.
Freshman of the Year: Jesstynie Scott, Schley County, Fr.
Best Scorer: Tykhia Burgess, Turner County, Jr.
Best Shooter: Niyah Shuman, Bryan County, Sr.
Best Rebounder: Marley Bell, Montgomery County, So.
Best Passer: I’ziah McCutchins, Trion, So.
Best Shot Blocker: Terrianna Wilburn, Dublin, Sr.
Most Underrated: Amanda Ogletree, Greenville, Sr.
Most Improved: Tykhia Burgess, Turner County, Jr. (Improved from 17.6 ppg/8.8 rpg/1.4 bpg to 25.7 ppg/9.2 rpg/2.2 bpg)
Most Improved Team: Schley County 18-5 (Improved from 4-7; Sweet 16; Region 5 Tournament Champs)

FIRST TEAM
G – Tykhia Burgess, Turner County, Jr.
G – Jordan Kierbow, Mt. Zion-Carrollton, Sr.
G – Georgia Bosart, Lake Oconee Academy, So.
G – Jada Williams, Lake Oconee Academy, Jr.
G – Marley Bell, Montgomery County, So.

SECOND TEAM
G – Jesstynie Scott, Schley County, Fr.
G – Makyla Bell, Montgomery County, Sr.
W – Jordan Vernon, Charlton County, Sr.
F – Jaliyah Zackery, Taylor County, Jr.
C – Terrianna Wilburn, Dublin, Sr.

Honorable Mention
G – I’ziah McCutchins, Trion, So.
G – Tytiana Mathis, Seminole County, Sr.
G – Makaylah Garard, Charlton County, Jr.
G – Jameria Lawrence, Hancock Central, Sr.
G – Truth Wimberly, Pelham, So.
G – Lauren Massey, Commerce, Sr.
G – Kenzie Stucker, Bryan County, Jr.
G – Amiyeon Grady, Clinch County, Jr.
W – Ta’miya Tyler, Screven County, Jr.
F – Tashay Gay, Pelham, Jr.
F – Aniya Smith, Claxton, Jr.

Girls Rankings

2021-22 Final GHSA Girls Basketball State Rankings


Class AAAAAAA

1. Norcross (26-5)
2. Harrison (27-4)
3. Campbell (20-11)
4. Brookwood (23-5)
5. Grayson (22-6)
6. North Forsyth (24-4)
7. Archer (22-7)
8. Cherokee (23-6)
9. West Forsyth (21-8)
10. Woodstock (19-10)

Class AAAAAA

1. Lovejoy (28-3)
2. River Ridge (28-2)
3. Sequoyah (24-8)
4. Kell (27-3)
5. Rockdale County (21-8)
6. Brunswick (27-2)
7. Carrollton (24-5)
8. Langston Hughes (23-7)
9. Rome (22-5)
10. Sprayberry (20-8)

Class AAAAA

1. Woodward Academy (29-2)
2. Forest Park (22-7)
3. Warner Robins (25-6)
4. Maynard Jackson (18-5)
5. Greenbrier (26-4)
6. New Manchester (19-10)
7. Loganville (21-8)
8. Griffin (22-7)
9. Stockbridge (21-7)
10. Northside-Columbus (21-8)

Class AAAA

1. Marist (28-3)
2. Luella (27-4)
3. Baldwin (26-3)
4. Pickens (26-4)
5. Jefferson (25-4)
6. Carver-Columbus (25-4)
7. Chestatee (21-9)
8. Northwest Whitfield (21-10)
9. Arabia Mountain (19-7)
10. Dougherty (17-8)

Class AAA

1. Lumpkin County (30-1)
2. GAC (25-7)
3. Cross Creek (25-2)
4. Westminster (17-11)
5. Pierce County (24-6)
6. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (28-2)
7. Sumter County (23-7)
8. Central-Macon (23-6)
9. Murray County (21-7)
10. East Forsyth (20-9)

Class AA

1. Elbert County (28-4)
2. Rabun County (24-6)
3. Josey (24-6)
4. Northeast-Macon (23-7)
5. Fannin County (26-3)
6. Callaway (21-5)
7. Laney (17-8)
8. Swainsboro (20-3)
9. Dodge County (23-4)
10. Woodville-Tompkins (18-10)

Class A-Private

1. Mt. Paran (25-4)
2. Holy Innocents’ (27-3)
3. Hebron Christian (26-6)
4. Galloway (18-10)
5. St. Francis (26-4)
6. Trinity Christian (23-6)
7. Wesleyan (13-10)
8. Landmark Christian (21-9)
9. Deerfield-Windsor (20-5)
10. Calvary Day (19-6)

Class A-Public

1. Lake Oconee Academy (26-1)
2. Hancock Central (18-4)
3. Commerce (14-15)
4. Seminole County (18-12)
5. Montgomery County (25-3)
6. Taylor County (23-5)
7. Pelham (19-3)
8. Dublin (22-9)
9. Screven County (21-4)
10. Schley County (18-5)

State Championship Recaps

Girls Recaps, Recaps

2021-22 GHSA Basketball State Championship Recaps


 

MARCH 9

CLASS A-PUBLIC

Lake Oconee AcademyR8 #1 No. 3 Lake Oconee Academy 45, R7 #1 Hancock Central 29
After leading 7-4 following the first quarter, Hancock Central (18-4) was held scoreless for over five minutes as No. 3 Lake Oconee Academy (26-1) made their move and surged ahead for good to capture their first ever state title under first-year Head Coach Ed Wilson. Georgia Bosart, a sophomore, broke the game open with 10 of her 17 points in the second quarter and finished with 20 rebounds and 6 assists for the game as the Titans took a 22-14 lead into the half. The smaller Titans outrebounded the Bulldogs 48-35. 5-foot-5 junior Jada Williams contributed 4 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive), 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Jane Monachello and Hannah Heinen scored 9 points each. Hancock was held to 8-48 (16.7%) from the field. Jameria Lawrence and Sonovia Reynolds paced the Bulldogs with 8 points apiece.

Drew Charter
R6 #1 No. 2 Drew Charter 51, R7 #1 No. 6 Warren County 50: Drew Charter’s wild run to their first ever state title finished with fireworks as the Eagles (31-1) scored the final five points of the game to stun Warren County (25-4). Cam Johnson led Drew Charter with 17 points while Cedric Taylor dominated the paint with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 5 crucial blocks, including a late swat with 1:02 left, blocking a shot that could have pushed the Screamin’ Devils up to 50-45. Warren County led 39-36 after three quarters and led by three with 28 seconds left until Jakobe Strozier split a pair of free throws. Justyn Burnett pushed the Warren County lead to 50-46 with 23 ticks left but Kenyatta Bennett immediately nailed a corner three to trim into the lead with 16.8 seconds remaining.  Just moments later, Warren County turned the ball over on the press as a player fell down and Taylor picked up the steal and was fouled, converting both free throws to take a 51-50 lead with 8.6 seconds on the clock. Strozier had a chance to ice the game from the foul line but missed the front end of the one-and-one. The Devils raced down for a layup at the buzzer but was swallowed up by Strozier and Taylor at the rim. Warren County was led by Ken’vonte Brinkley’s 15 points and 9 rebounds and led by as many as nine points at the 5:27 mark of the third quarter, 33-24. Lorenzo Johnson finished his career with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks.

CLASS 4A

Marist War EaglesR6 #1 No. 5 Marist 56, R5 #1 No. 1 Luella 54 2OT
The late game heroics of Michigan softball-signee Avery Fantucci lifted No. 5 Marist (28-3) to their first ever state title, taking their first lead of the game since 15-14 at the 2:30 mark of the second quarter on Fantucci’s game-winning layup. No. 1 Luella (27-4) led 46-43 at the end of regulation and thought they had the game won, but Fantucci drilled a three from halfcourt to send the game to overtime. From there, Milani Smith did the heavy lifting for the Lions, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but Luella, who led 30-19 in the third quarter, could never put away the resilient War Eagles. Marist outscored Luella 10-4 in fast break points and pounded the Lions on the glass, outrebounding Luella 48-29, grabbing 24 offensive rebounds and scoring 15 second chance points. Lexy Faklaris posted 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while going 7-8 from the line. Marist as a team would shoot 17-21 from the stripe to Luella’s 6-8. The hero, Fantucci, piled in 18 of her 19 points in the second half and added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Luella received 10 points apiece from Trinity Layton and Jacksonville State-signee Evelina Davlakou, who fouled out at the 2:14 mark of double overtime with the Lions up 52-50.


Spencer GreenwaveR2 #1 No. 5 Spencer 62, R1 #1 No. 3 Westover 42
A 25-6 run spanning the third quarter into the fourth put No. 5 Spencer (30-2) ahead for good, clinching the Greenwave their first state title and avenging last season’s disappointing 50-49 buzzer beating loss to Westover (25-4) in the Sweet 16. Spencer led 20-16 at the half but fell behind 26-23 to open the third quarter as Westover opened on a 10-3 run. Defense ignited Spencer as their depth, speed and length overwhelmed the Patriots. Nine Spencer players scored as the entire roster saw significant minutes throughout. Tycen McDaniels led the charge on both ends of the floor, keying the press and finishing with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 5 blocks. Spencer held Westover to 28.6% shooting and shot 44.6% themselves. Randall Dixon scored 12 points followed by Tony Montgomery’s 11. Westover was led by Effrin Smith’s 11 points and 5 rebounds. Anthony Milton netted 12 points and Cam Ball scored 9.


MARCH 10

CLASS 2A

Elbert County Blue DevilsR8 #2 No. 2 Elbert County 52, R8 #1 No. 1 Rabun County 44
In a game heavily influenced by the officiating, whistling 56 total fouls, No. 2 Elbert County (28-4) claimed their first ever state title in a war of attrition against region foe No. 1 Rabun County (24-6).  The defense of the Blue Devils was suffocating all throughout, holding Rabun County to 23.9% shooting. Elbert County led 25-19 at the half and built a 39-27 lead before 19 fouls were called in the third quarter including a technical on Coach Josh Jones which breathed life into the LadyCats as Rabun County closed on an 8-0 run to head into the fourth quarter down just 39-35. In the wildness, Terrace Hester was fouled out with 12 points. The LadyCats trimmed the lead to 41-37 with 3:56 remaining but at the 3:01 mark Lucy Hood fouled out with 6 points and Rabun down 41-37. Leading scorer Carley Haban would eventually foul out as well with a game-high 18 points. The Blue Devils saw rim protector Brenasia Faust also foul out with 3 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block. Aaniyah Allen paced Elbert County with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, scoring 10 points in the second half. Niya Moon scored 7 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the deal.

Westside-Augusta PatriotsR4 #1 No. 4 Westside-Augusta 64,  R4 #2 No. 3 Butler 55
Trailing 22-11 after one quarter and 38-32 at the half, No. 4 Westside-Augusta (26-4) clamped down No. 2 Butler (22-7) to just 17 second half points to race past the Bulldogs for a state title. Jalexs Ewing powered Westside-Augusta with 16 points and 8 rebounds including a poster dunk in transition. AuMauri Tillman netted 14 points — 10 in the second half — to go with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.  Khalon Hudson kept the Patriots afloat in the first half scoring all of his 10 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.  The Butler offense slowed down in the third quarter, outscored 19-7. The Bulldogs trailed 51-45 after three. Butler was led by Gemaureon Belton’s 12 points off four threes, all in the first half. Elijah Martinez added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists while Chance Finklin picked up 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.

CLASS 5A

Woodward Academy War EaglesR3 #1 No. 1 Woodward Academy 72,  R3 #2 No. 2 Forest Park 44
Turnovers and early foul trouble quickly eliminated any hope of a No. 2 Forest Park (22-7) victory as No. 1 Woodward Academy (29-2) beat the Panthers for the seventh-straight time to repeat as state champs. Forest Park hung tough and trailed just 23-17 at the 3:58 mark, but at that moment Jayda Brown picked up her fourth foul and had to head to the bench. From there, Woodward Academy grew a 38-17 halftime lead, closing on a 15-0 run. UGA-signee and Gatorade Player of the Year Sydney Bowles finished her illustrious career with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal. Sara Lewis added 17 points, 3 rebounds and 6 steals. As a team, Woodward Academy forced 39 turnovers.  Yasmine Allen led Forest Park with 19 points. Jayda Brown scored 8 before fouling out early in the third quarter.


Tri-Cities BulldogsR3 #1 No. 3 Tri-Cities 67, R4 #1 No. 1 Eagle’s Landing 59
No. 3 Tri-Cities (23-5) packed it in with their 1-3-1 zone and held No. 1 Eagle’s Landing (27-4) to 2-18 shooting from the perimeter to hoist their second state title in four years, holding off a furious comeback bid. The Bulldogs used a 14-2 run to grab an early 22-15 lead and would never look back. Noricco Danner scored seven of his 13 points in the third quarter to build a 46-35 lead heading into the final stanza. From there, Eagle’s Landing could never get over the hump. The Eagles cut the lead to 58-56 with 35.3 seconds left on a tough Elijah Robinson And-1. Robinson missed the free throw and Kenny Brayboy collected the carom but his putback rolled off the rim and Ryan Mathieu cleared it. Mathieu, 0-4 from the line up until that point, banked in a pair of free throws to push the lead back out to 60-56.  Kory Mincy paced Tri-Cities with 19 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Kennesaw State-signee Simeon Cottle chipped in 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, scoring 12 points in the second half. AJ Barnes posted 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles while Jordan Fordyce finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Brayboy tallied 9 points and 8 rebounds. David Thomas was held in check with 5 points on 2-7 shooting, attempting just two shots in the second half as Tri-Cities hounded the star guard by running double teams at him.


MARCH 11

CLASS 3A

Lumpkin County IndiansR7 #1 No. 1 Lumpkin County 51, R5 #2 No. 3 GAC 47
No. 1 Lumpkin County (30-1) trailed the entire game until an Averie Jones floater at the 3:47 mark keyed a 12-0 run that gave the Indians a 46-40 lead that they would narrowly hold onto for their first ever state title. No. 3 GAC (25-7) came out of the gates hot, hitting three first quarter threes and forcing 10 first half turnovers. GAC led 22-19 at the half but Kate Jackson was able to keep the Indians afloat, scoring nine first half points as Coach David Dowse fed her inside consistently. Jackson would finish with 15 points and 13 rebounds after missing her sophomore season due to a torn ACL. After three quarters, GAC held a 40-32 lead as Xavier-signee Kaleigh Addie and Jaci Bolden did damage with their quickness. Addie finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals while Bolden added 13 points. Looking for a spark in the fourth quarter, Jones, Lumpkin County’s leading scorer on the season, got hot piling in 10 of her 17 points in the final frame. Known for their three-point shooting, the Indians never got on track shooting 3-11 but were able to find their offense in other areas. Lexi Pierce scored 12 points and added 5 assists. Lumpkin County had all the momentum at 46-40 but turnovers quickly reared their ugly head again as Kaleigh Addie converted two layups off a pair of steals to knot the game at 47 with 50 seconds left. On a set inbound play, Ciera Brooks threaded the needle to Jackson inside to regain the lead with 36 seconds to play. Bolden tried to drive inside but Jackson stuck her hand in to knock the ball and the referees called a travel on the Spartans. Region 7 Player of the Year Mary Mullinax iced the game with a pair of free throws with under four seconds left, finishing with 5 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.


Cross Creek RazorbacksR4 #2 No. 7 Cross Creek 60, R3 #2 No. 3 Windsor Forest 53
No. 7 Cross Creek (26-6) went back-to-back defeated a senior-laden No. 3 Windsor Forest (23-7) that could never get over the hump in the second half. Hot shooting gave Windsor Forest an 18-16 lead after one quarter, but a three-point second quarter let Cross Creek grow a 30-21 advantage heading into the break as Ahmad Hunt scored 11 of his team-high 14 points off the bench in the opening 16 minutes. The Razorbacks drained 6-13 from beyond the arc and would shoot 7-20 in total. Windsor Forest surged in the third quarter and cut the lead to 32-31 but the Razorbacks answered with a 9-2 run to close, taking a 41-35 lead into the fourth quarter. The Knights would threaten multiple times in the final period. Michael Cabellero sank a pair of free throws to tie it at 45 with 4:06 remining but the Razorbacks would answer with six quick points. Four Razorbacks reached double figures. Jayden Pack had 11 points and 6 rebounds followed by Jaquez Ellison’s 10 points and 5 rebounds. Antoine Lorick, who fouled out with 1:29 to play on a D’ante Bass And-1, finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Terrenice Streetman, another foul out casualty, collected 8 points. Bass, the Georgetown-signee, led Windsor Forest with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

CLASS 6A


Lovejoy WildcatsR4 #1 No. 2 Lovejoy 54, R7 #2 No. 8 Sequoyah 38
No. 2 Lovejoy (28-3) led wire-to-wire to clinch their second state title and first since 2018. The Wildcats shutdown the Chiefs, holding No. 8 Sequoyah (24-8) to 26.9%  shooting.  Lovejoy led 15-7 after one quarter and 23-16 at the half as Sequoyah held the Wildcats to 3-20 shooting in the quarter but the Chiefs could only muster 3-15 shooting themselves. Lovejoy dominated the glass, grabbing 27 offensive rebounds and outrebounding the Chiefs in total 53-35. Lovejoy broke the game open in the third quarter with a 17-9 frame. Mercer-signee Layla Hood totaled 14 points and 16 rebounds.  Region 4 Player of the Year Bryanna Preston notched 13 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Bryana Hardy collected 11 points and 11 rebounds while  Sequoyah was paced by Lee-signee Susanna Rodgers’ 10 points and 12 rebounds.  Elle Blatchford had 8 points and 5 rebounds.

Grovetown WarriorsR3 #1 Grovetown 66, R8 #2 No. 5 Buford 59
A 20-7 second quarter gave Grovetown (29-3) all the separation needed to claim the school’s first title.  The Warriors pulled ahead 12-6, but a 6-0 No. 5 Buford (25-7) spurt tied the game at 12 after eight minutes. In the second quarter EJ Kency came off the bench and drained three threes to extend the lead back out to 21-12. The Warriors would shoot 7-16 from deep including sinking six threes in the first half to hold a commanding 32-19 halftime advantage. In the third quarter Buford knotted the game up at 43-43 with 1:04 to play on an Alahn Sumler And-1 jumper, part of a 9-1 run, seven points via Sumler. After winning the quarter 24-15, the Wolves entered the fourth down 47-43. From there, Buford could never take the lead, their last coming at 6-3 in the first quarter. The Warriors ripped off a 7-0 run to put the lead at 54-45 and would never look back. The Wolves had possession down 61-59 with 17 seconds left but would turn the ball over. Grovetown was led by Frankquon Sherman’s 23 points and 13 rebounds. Buford received 17 points and 5 rebounds from Sumler.

 

MARCH 12

CLASS A-PRIVATE

Mt. Paran EaglesR7 #1 No. 2 Mt. Paran 54, R5 #2 No. 4 Hebron Christian 49
Senior-laden No. 2 Mt. Paran (25-4) finally climbed the mountain top to capture their first-ever state title, riding Georgia Tech-signee Kara Dunn to 30 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks to put away the defending state champs. Tied at 7 after one period as both teams were slow to figure each other out on defense, the pace quickened in the second quarter as No. 4 Hebron Christian (26-6) took a slim 24-22 lead into the half.  In the third quarter Dunn broke out with 12 of Mt. Paran’s 17 points, but Hebron held tough behind Wofford-signee Jessie Parish and freshman Aubrey Beckham. Parish finished her career with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Beckham tallied 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. At the 3:01 mark with the Eagles up 44-42, Dunn picked up her fourth foul but the Lions couldn’t capitalize. Mt. Paran would go on a mini 5-1 run keyed by a Dunn And-1 at the 2-minute mark to make it 49-43. West Georgia-signee Katelyn Dunning would help ice the game from the line going 6-10 from the stripe in the frame to finish with 9 points and 3 steals. Dunn shot 10-15 from the foul line, going 9-13 in the second half.

Greenforest EaglesR2 #1 No. 1 Greenforest 61, R6 #1 No. 3 King’s Ridge 52
No. 3 King’s Ridge (28-5) buried 10 threes, but it wasn’t quite enough for David to slay Goliath as No. 1 Greenforest (28-4) saw Jalen Forrest pile in 26 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals to secure the Eagles’ first state title since 2017. The towering Eagles trailed 13-12 after the first quarter and led 26-24 at the half as King’s Ridge let it fly from deep. Greenforest countered inside scoring 18 points in the paint in the first half and 38 for the game. The Eagles grabbed 14 offensive rebounds in the first half and 19 in total. King’s Ridge shot 10-23 from deep and 52.6% overall from the field, outpacing Greenforest’s 43.1% but the Eagles attempted 58 shots to the Tigers’ 38 and went 11-16 from the line. Florian Tenebay collected 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Isaac Martin led King’s Ridge with 18 points, draining six threes. Micah Hoover contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. The Tigers tied the game at the 4:53 mark at 50 when Liam Thomas drained a three, but Greenforest would close with an 11-2 run from that point on.

CLASS 7A

Norcross Lady BlueR7 #1 No. 4 Norcross 41, R3 #1 No. 5 Harrison 37
In a sluggish defensive battle, No. 4 Norcross (26-5) woke up with their man press in the fourth quarter and outscored No. 5 Harrison 22-14 in the final frame to hoist their state title since 2013 and fourth in program history. Trailing 17-12 at the half after shooting just 5-22 from the field and committing nine turnovers, Norcross managed to stay in the game by limiting Harrison’s three-point looks holding the prolific outside shooting team to 4-15 from deep. The Lady Blue found themselves down 23-19 after three quarters before sophomore Jania Akins exploded, sparking an 8-0 run to open the fourth. Akins drained a corner three at the 6:28 mark to give Norcross their first lead since a 9-8 advantage early in the second quarter. Eight seconds later Akins drilled another three from the right corner to push the lead to 27-23. Akins finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds, 11 points in the fourth after shooting just 1-11 through the first three quarters.  Norcross led 37-29 before Harrison made one last surge behind Alisha Foster who finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds. The Hoyas trimmed the lead to 37-35 with 58.6 to play. DePaul-signee Zaria Hurston split a pair of free throws and then got a breakaway layup to extend the lead to 40-35 giving Norcross the space needed to clinch the championship.

Norcross Blue DevilsR7 #2 No. 8 Norcross 58, R7 #1 No. 3 Berkmar 45
It took nine long years and heartbreak along the way, but No. 8 Norcross (26-6) was able to exercise their regular season demons against No. 3 Berkmar (26-5) to earn their sixth state title and first since 2013. After losing three times to the Patriots by a combined nine points, the Blue Devils were able to cooperate together and slowly pull away from Berkmar after leading 24-22 at the half and 40-34 after three. London Johnson scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to distance the Blue Devils from the Patriots. Johnson would also collect 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Jerry Deng double-doubled with 14 points and 12 rebounds while Samarion Bond supplied 13 points and 5 rebounds. Foul trouble hampered Berkmar in the second half as Jameel Rideout was saddled with his fourth foul at the 3:05 mark of the third quarter with the Patriots trailing 34-31. Berkmar trimmed the lead to 40-37 with 5:32 remaining but a personal 5-0 run from Johnson would extend the lead and eventually Ole Miss-signee Malique Ewin would foul out with 3:13 to play as Norcross led 47-40. Ewin finished his career with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Rideout scored 13 points and Brycen Blaine had 12. Berkmar was held to 31% shooting and made just 4-22 from beyond the arc. Norcross was outshot 58-37, but went 18-27 from the foul line.