North Georgia Showcase Girls Top Performers
Girls Analysis

North Georgia Showcase: Girls Top Performers


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2026 5-6 PG Emyrie Combs – Lakeview Academy
While the GIAA can’t nearly stack up to the GHSA top to bottom, there are still some very noteworthy players that can play at the next level. With Coach Ken Huffman now in place and able to bring players over from his AAU program, Lakeview Academy is in a perfect position to roll their way to a state title. Landing Emyrie Combs from Habersham Central this offseason was the first domino to fall and paid dividends immediately as she was the best player on the floor in the Lions’ 64-56 win over Jefferson. In an exciting back-and-forth affair that didn’t see any separation on the scoreboard until midway through the fourth quarter, it was Combs who made every play throughout. The strongly built playmaker has the ball on a string. Emyrie weaved her way through the press and surveyed the floor with advanced vision. Combs thrived as a drive-and-kick creator, hitting her shooters for open looks in the corners. Emyrie also showed great touch with her lob passes over the defense when getting the ball inside to Taliah Gaither.  The high-motor point guard displayed great instincts and was involved in almost every play, even on the rare occurrences when the ball wasn’t in her hands. Combs crashed in for rebounds and picked off passes. Everything ran through Emyrie offensively, trusting her decision making as to when to balance her scoring with her facilitating. Combs knocked down a pair of threes and a mid-range jumper to go with her slashes to the rim. Emyrie shot 6-8 from the foul line and finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. The Lions will be a handful to deal with throughout the season. College coaches will want to keep tabs on Combs. She looks like a future next level point guard.

2025 5-7 G Dynesty Putman – Lakeview Academy
The beneficiary of many Emyrie Combs assists was Dynesty Putman. The dynamic combo-guard was able to score on and off the ball. She sank a pair of corner threes but primarily assaulted the paint, scoring on four drives. Dynesty went 6-7 from the free throw line, all coming in the fourth quarter part of her 10-point final frame that proved to be the difference. Putman’s quickness and aggressive offensive mindset kept Jefferson in retreat. Dynesty poured in a game-high 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. D-II programs and below will want to evaluate Putman her final two seasons.

 

2025 6-1 C Taliah Gaither – Lakeview Academy
With Eve Knight sidelined, Jefferson had no size to combat Gaither inside. Taliah scored on lobs, dump-offs and ran the floor for three baskets. In the half court, Gaither was hacked whenever she got the ball up close but managed to make the defense pay with a soft touch at the line shooting 8-9. Gaither did a nice job defensively, drawing the assignment of trying to stay in front of Michel Robbins on numerous possessions. Continuing to develop back-to-the-basket post moves will help Gaither reach her ceiling. She posted 20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block in the win.

Michel Robbins2027 5-8 G Michel Robbins – Jefferson
Michel is shot out of a cannon with her energy and athleticism. Her quickness sprung her to countless deflections and loads of steals. Offensively, Robbins scored in transition twice and on a baseline out of bounds. She shot 5-9 from the foul line. Michel tallied 11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals. Expect more robust stat lines throughout the season. Robbins has a chance to quickly cement herself as one of the best defenders in the state with her cat-like reflexes.

Skyler Brady2025 5-7 G Skyler Brady – Jefferson
Skyler was aggressive on offense, attacking the basket and living at the line. Brady shot 6-10 from the stripe and netted a three-pointer. She did a good job mixing it up on the glass and was able to create some offense for others as a distributor. Skyler finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Emeri Billings2025 5-4 PG Emeri Billings – Jefferson
I liked how Emeri shot the ball, netting a pair of threes to go along with a floater. Billings has improved each year as a ball handler and decision maker, cutting down on her turnovers. With her improved three-point shot, driving lanes will continue to open throughout the season. Billings had 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the 64-56 loss, scoring seven points in the first quarter to jolt Jefferson.

Ellison Steinhauer2026 5-9 G Ellison Steinhauer – Pickens
With Pickens knotted up in a tight see-saw game, it was Ellison Steinhauer who emerged as the closer in the fourth quarter, netting 10 of her team-high 22 points in the final frame to pull away from Rabun Gap 54-47. Steinhauer sank four threes, two in the fourth quarter including a banked-in desperation heave to beat the shot clock. Ellison scored from all levels and used both hands to finish. When winning plays had to be made, it was Steinhauer who got the job done.

2024 5-9 G Caroline Mullins – Pickens
The UVA Wise-signee did a little bit of everything as she’s done her entire career. Mullins hit some tough shots, including sinking a pull-up turnaround jumper and finishing with her left hand against Rabun Gap’s imposing front line. The always crafty Caroline did an exceptional job battling on the glass and defending in the post. Mullins tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.

2024 5-7 SG Bella Hopkins – Pickens
The Valdosta State-signee nailed four threes and scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half to go with her 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Hopkins did damage in the corners with a pair of triples and scored on an And-1 bucket.

2024 6-1 F Sofia McNabb – Rabun Gap
The Union County native was extremely impressive as a bright spot for the international-heavy boarding school. McNabb was great around the basket as an inside-out forward. I loved her mobility, motor and touch. Sofia was quick off her feet for offensive rebounds and showcased an advanced feel with her back to the basket. She scored on back downs, using a baby hook off the glass and was skilled enough to catch at the high post and drive downhill. McNabb knocked down a long baseline jumper and scored on three putbacks. Sofia finished with a game-high 23 points and 7 rebounds. She is a monster sleeper tucked away in no-man’s land at Rabun Gap in Northeast Georgia, up near the North Carolina border playing in the NCISAA Carolinas division. McNabb looked like a legitimate D-II prospect on Saturday if not higher. I would love to see more of Sofia – she’s intriguing.

2024 5-6 G Aiyanna Peavy – North Oconee
YaYa was a one-man team in the first half for North Oconee against Calhoun – literally. Peavy scored all 16 of the Titans’ first half points and finished with 26 points on six threes to pair with her 8 rebounds and 1 steal as North Oconee knocked off the Yellow Jackets 45-43, finally getting offensive contributions elsewhere after halftime. Aiyanna was locked in from the opening moments, splashing in three consecutive threes in the first quarter and netting four for the frame. The lefty kept North Oconee within striking distance, trailing 22-16 at the half as she bombed away from deep.  In the second half once others began getting involved offensively, Peavy transitioned to attacking the basket scoring on drives with her floater. If it weren’t for YaYa’s aggressive offensive mindset hunting her shot early, understanding the situation of missing two key starters (Kendall Wells & Lolly Willis) and 6-footer Brooklyn Henderson, the Titans would have been buried by halftime. The firepower of Peavy along with a healthy roster is more than enough to compete for a Region 8-4A title and win some postseason games.

Leslie Bradley2026 5-6 G Leslie Bradley – North Oconee
With North Oconee desperate for someone other than Aiyanna Peavy to score, sophomore Leslie Bradley stepped up in a major way with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Bradley drilled a pull-up three to open her scoring before mixing in a pair of drives finishing with each hand. Leslie showed a willingness to attack offensively and didn’t shy away from the moment or the major opportunity presented to her to make an impact with Lolly Willis injured.

2025 5-11 W Allie Duke – Calhoun
I thought Allie Duke looked smooth on the perimeter, a big wing that can play inside or out but is most known for her three-point expertise. Duke has a quick release on her pretty jumper. She shoots with a fluid motion. Allie did a good job getting her feet set coming off screens and curls to the top of the key. In small-ball lineups, she’s perfect to space the floor as a pick-and-pop shooter, something she loved to do on Saturday. Allie contributed 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks. It was a stock up performance for Duke who has gotten in tremendous shape since last seeing her. The quasi-stretch-four has developed into more of a full-time perimeter player and will catch the eye of college programs soon. Allie should be on D-II and D-III watchlists.

2025 5-6 PG Sa’Niah Dorsey – Calhoun
Sa’Niah provided a well-rounded offensive game, serving as point guard and attacking in multiple ways. Dorsey netted a pair of threes, scored on two drives including a baseline floater and converted defense into offense by taking a steal the other way for a transition layup. Dorsey collected a team-high 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

2025 5-6 G Kat Atha – Calhoun
You never have to worry about Kat Atha’s defensive aggression. The hard-playing guard can be foul prone, but never is one to shy away from contact, a loose ball or overall competition. The gnatty on-ball defender had some nice moments offensively. She got involved as a drive-and-kick creator and hit some shots on the perimeter including a corner three. Atha had some tough takes downhill on her way to 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals.