Hoops4Hunger Girls Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Hoops4Hunger: Girls Top Performers


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2029 6-0 F Safari Underdue – Langston Hughes
ELCA had no answers for Safari Underdue in the opening game of Hoops4Hunger. The D-I recruit with offers from the likes of St. John’s, Mercer and Mississippi State is a superb athlete with a motor that allows her to dominate around the rim. Safari has fast-twitch athleticism. When she caught at the high post, she immediately looked to attack the defense using a quick first step to the basket while also posing the threat of knocking down jumpers. When Safari got to the hoop, she used her elite bounce to elevate all others for easy finishes. Underdue didn’t just out-athlete the opposition though. She showed legitimate skill as she pushed coast-to-coast and was comfortable getting to pull-ups and shooting turnaround jumpers. In a 54-36 win over ELCA, Safari recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Underdue has all the tools and the easy-to-see upside to cement herself as a High Major prospect and one of the best 2029s in Georgia.

2027 5-8 G Jazmine Lopez – ELCA
Jazmine got aggressive in the second half after a two-point first half against Langston Hughes. Lopez looked to get to the rim, finding success drawing fouls and finishing through contact. The goggled-guard went 5-9 from the free throw line while three other buckets came via drives including an And-1 floater. Lopez posted a team-high 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Schools of all levels outside of D-I have offered, headlined by Shorter and Piedmont.

2028 6-4 C Avantey Gilreath – Columbia
The blossoming big with multiple D-I offers commanded the paint as Columbia pulled away from Villa Rica 74-44. Gilreath was a load to handle inside. She’s an intimidating physical presence with the amount of space she occupies on both ends of the floor. Columbia did a great job including her in high-low duck-ins, scoring twice. What I liked about Avantey is how patient she is. She doesn’t get sped up when she catches in the post and makes decisive moves with strength while finishing with touch. Gilreath scores with both hands, scoring twice on Saturday with her left. When she drop steps, she leads with her elbows to carve out space. Gilreath maybe isn’t an explosive athlete when it comes to springing off the ground, but she’s a reliable rebounder who high-points caroms and is a great shot blocker who is always second off the floor, letting shooters commit before timing her leaps perfectly to swat away shots with ease. Avantey racked up 14 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 blocks in the win.

2028 5-3 PG Janise McCoy – Columbia
Janise helped Columbia land the kill shot against Villa Rica, turning a 40-27 halftime lead into a commanding 69-39 advantage after three quarters. McCoy was the tone setter in the press, putting her fingerprints all over the final 16 minutes. Janise picked off passes while rotating for steals, showcasing her terrific hops and quick reaction time which allows her to play so much taller than 5-foot-3. The lefty has great effort on defense which sparks her offense. She sank a corner three, converted a putback and went 2-2 from the foul line to finish with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals.

2028 6-0 W Dessiah Merrill – Villa Rica
Coming off a season in which she poured in 22.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, there is so much potential Dessiah is flirting with. Merrill, only a junior, has great blood lines playing for her older sister Deasia, now an assistant coach and likely the best player in school history, leading Villa Rica to a state title game appearance back in 2019 and going on to play High Major basketball for a variety of D-I programs. With that being said, Dessiah might not be quite as tall as Deasia, standing close to 6-foot, but she’s more athletic while still maintaining a strong frame which has the physical versatility to play both inside and out. Merrill handles the ball for her size and can catch opponents off balance with how quick she is. Expanding her offensive arsenal will be key to reaching her ceiling, not just by lengthening her shooting range but developing a left hand. In a loss to Columbia, Dessiah almost exclusively went to her right. She would catch deep on the left side of the floor and try to dribble all the way around the lane to get to her right hand instead of setting up a spin move back with her left which could be deadly. Adding counter moves and working on not only attacking the left side of the floor but even shooting with her left hand inside will really round out her game. Merrill should start popping up on college radars quickly. I love how hard she goes to the rim and the types of mismatches she can create with the ball in her hands. In the 30-point loss, Dessiah went for 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, scoring on putbacks, jumpers and drives. Merrill is close to breaking out in a major way.

Maliha Harris
2028 5-6 G Maliha Harris – Creekside
With C’India Dennis out and Jacy Mitchell and Sydnee Hunter coming off the bench to start, it was up to Maliha Harris to get Creekside going against Starr’s Mill. It was a sluggish open for both sides as the Seminoles led 8-2 after quarter one and 22-14 at the half, but from there Harris and the rest of Creekside eventually wore down the Panthers. Even when things were disjointed at the start, Harris proved to be a calming force scoring five points in the opening frame. Harris may be the biggest benefactor from last year’s season-ending injury to Dennis, really elevating her game and becoming a go-to option in the Auburn-commit’s absence. Maliha cranked it up again to start her junior season, this time with a handful of D-I offers in her back pocket. Harris poured in a game-high 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assist and 4 steals to cruise to a 58-37 win. She hit a pair of threes, utilized floaters, got out in transition consistently and mixed in mid-range pull-ups as she attacked from all levels. Her on-ball pressure defense not only wilted the opposition but got in their head, at some points making opposing ball handlers quit in the middle of plays after getting stripped or throwing an errant pass. Harris’ stock continues to climb.

2027 5-5 G Jacy Mitchell – Creekside
Once Jacy got into the flow of the game off the bench, she proved to be a dynamic game-wrecker with her speed and anticipation defensively. Mitchell was tremendous when it came to playing the backside of the defense, flying in over the top to steal lob entries when Starr’s Mill tried to work it inside. Jacy also was a pest on the perimeter using her lateral quickness and active hands to frustrate the Panther guards. Offensively, Jacy scored thrice in transition, finished a baseline drive, sank a pull-up jumper and swished a three to finish with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 8 steals.

2027 6-1 W Ava Glover – Starr’s Mill
D-III schools are hot after Ava Glover. At 6-foot-1, Glover is loaded with intrigue and translatable skills to the next level. In a 58-37 loss to Creekside, Ava was a tremendous bright spot, burying four threes and going 7-8 from the foul line. Glover is a prototypical 3&D wing with how well she shoots the ball and how effective she is using her length defensively, both inside and out. Glover has extremely deep range, drilling two long balls from the wings and splashing a straightaway triple from the volleyball line. She’s the definition of a floor stretcher. On defense, she did a really good job coming in to finish possessions with a rebound. When guarding, her wingspan played exceptionally well, especially against the smaller Creekside guards as she was able to challenge shots and even block a handful of jumpers. In total, Ava pumped in 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks. The 4.32 GPA student holds offers from Piedmont, Oglethorpe and Guilford. With her measurables and shooting touch, I wouldn’t be surprised if D-II programs start to circle.

Lindsey Kopacek
2027 6-2 C Lindsey Kopacek – Starr’s Mill
Starr’s Mill struggled to get the ball inside to their Tennessee Tech-commit, but unsurprisingly when they did, they were successful. Kopacek battled for 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks. The rugged forward was on the floor often as she drew fouls and tried to set the tone physically in the paint. Lindsey scored on lobs and seals. I liked seeing her attack from the high post where she netted a floater off the bounce. In order for Starr’s Mill to go far this year, they will need to play inside-out establishing a heavy dose of Kopacek inside to open up even more outside shots for Ava Glover and teammates. Playing Creekside’s tenacious speed will likely pay dividends moving forward.

2028 6-0 F Ava Raford – KIPP Atlanta
Woodward Academy simply had no answers for Ava Raford. Saddled with two fouls at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter, it seemed as if Ava would spend much of her day on the bench, but upon reentering in the second quarter, she kept her nose clean and began to dominate the War Eagles with her ability to get to her left hand. Raford made a living attacking from the high post as Woodward Academy struggled to adjust keeping her from getting to her strong hand. She would catch and take long strides to the rim for easy layups. The wiry athletic forward also got active on the backboards, scoring on three putbacks in the third quarter alone. Raford totaled 21 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in the statement 60-57 win. Ava’s physical tools and motor are noteworthy. If she can continue to add to her game and use her gifts to disrupt on defense, her stock should explode.

2028 5-8 G Chasity Woods – KIPP Atlanta
KIPP Atlanta simply played harder than Woodward Academy in order to knock off the War Eagles. The leader for the Warriors was Chasity Woods. A physically strong guard, Woods played with a chip on her shoulder as she proved she was willing to do whatever it took to secure the victory. Chasity was tough on the glass and her last-second defensive stand was fitting, poking away a steal to end it. Woods finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. She saved her best quarter for crunch time, scoring six points in the decisive frame including a mid-range jumper off a steal, a transition hoop and a reverse putback. Piedmont offered in August marking her first bid.

MacKenzee Williams2027 5-9 G MacKenzee Williams – Woodward Academy
MacKenzee fills up the box score with such ease. Williams can sometimes look like she’s in cruise control but a lot of that likely comes from how gifted of an athlete she is, able to change speeds in a blink, going from 0 to 100 as she slices through the defense for lay-ins. Zee gets to her spots with smooth handles and sharp directional changes. Her shiftiness garners her penetration whenever she wants it as she plants her foot and explodes downhill to elevate for buckets. In a 60-57 loss to KIPP Atlanta, Williams made a living in transition with coast-to-coast takes. Her first hoop of the game came via a step-back three. When MacKenzee is consistently knocking down outside shots and making plays for others as a passer, she is among the most effective players in the state. On Saturday, she racked up 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 1 block, helping spark a late comeback bid after trailing by 11 with 4:41 to play. Williams is a D-I guard in my book with her only published offer coming from Memphis last year.

2028 5-10 F Aleigha Parish – Campbell
Playing national juggernaut Hoover, not much went right as the Spartans trailed by 15 after the first period and 26 at the half before losing 86-62. Aleigha was a strong contributor for Campbell however, showcasing her brute strength and athleticism as she erupted off the floor for two-handed rebounds and powered her way to the rim for buckets. Aleigha scored on three putbacks and had a pair of finishes with her left hand. Parish posted 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Her aggression and top-notch athleticism have made her a popular target with D-I programs. Aleigha’s ball skills continue to improve as does her outside shooting which give her serious upside moving forward.

2027 6-2 C Aila Courtenay – St. Francis
My favorite post player to watch in Georgia put forth another sterling effort as St. Francis overwhelmed a shorthanded Kell team 75-54. The Florida Gator was outstanding with 29 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks. Of course Courtenay was unguardable inside with her physical seals and low post moves, punishing defenders with elbow-hooking drop steps but Aila didn’t just overpower the Longhorns with her strength, she flashed a fully blossomed offensive repertoire that has improved yearly with tremendous polish and versatility. Courtenay hurt Kell with how aggressive she was in the high post, catching and using her strong frame to barrel to the rim for And-1s with either hand. Aila shot 8-12 from the foul line, sank multiple mid-range jumpers and drilled a three for her final hoop of the night, a well-rounded demolition of the Kell frontline.

2028 5-10 W Emon Stephens – St. Francis
Emon made some splash plays throughout, especially in the second quarter where St. Francis gained separation for good, pushing a six-point lead into a 13-point halftime advantage. Stephens scored an And-1 in transition, hit a three and forced turnovers with her length. She was quick to track down offensive rebounds. Emon was ready to shoot upon the catch in the halfcourt and let her defense ignite easy scoring chances in the open floor. The toolsy guard has serious length to pair with feel which makes her a trending prospect. Stephens tacked on 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Offers aren’t far off.

2028 5-7 PG Peyton Mann – St. Francis
Peyton went about her business in ho-hum fashion collecting 13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. Mann scored nine points in the second half to help put the game on ice. She was able to get to the basket with her left hand while mixing in perimeter chances, stroking a three. Peyton does a good job letting the game come to her. She’s never one to force bad shots and is typically an efficient scorer when hunting her own shot. Peyton’s defense helps separate her from other guards as her quick hands and willingness to provide multiple efforts in a single possession often leads to stops. Mann and Georgia Tech-commit Giaunni Rogers combined for 16 assists, forming one of the state’s most reliable backcourt tandems.

Asiah Thompson
2027 5-10 G Asiah Thompson – Kell
With running mate Maliyah Gilbert sidelined with a boot on her right foot, the primary focus shifted squarely on St. John’s-commit Asiah Thompson who delivered admirably as she poured in 29 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in the 75-54 loss to St. Francis. Thompson was locked and loaded, draining four threes and showing craftiness toward the rim with nice footwork and the ability to finish with both hands. The big guard has takeover ability with her three-level attack and often provides energy and fire on the floor.

Lyric Watson2028 5-8 G Lyric Watson – Kell
I’ve become a major Lyric Watson believer over the past 12 months. I think she is getting close to playing her way onto D-I radars if she isn’t on them already. She is a legit two-way presence. Watson defends at a high level and is a sneaky good offensive player with three-point range and toughness downhill. Lyric netted a pull-up three off a steal and hit another long ball in the third quarter as part of Kell’s final run at St. Francis. Watson competes hard, often times the box score reflecting her effort. Lyric picked up 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks in the loss. Watson should be on the verge of busting out with college coaches.