2021 5-10 SG Lilly Hart – Parkview
Birmingham-Southern got a steal. There’s no other way to put it. In my first viewing of Lilly Hart, she put on a show, dropping 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals in a pounding of Class 2A No. 4 Josey 63-41. Hart has a pretty shot and gets great lift on her jumper. She buried 4 threes and did more than just pepper the defense from the perimeter. As a big guard with a solid body and nice athleticism, Hart was able to attack the rim with a tight handle and score in traffic or stop-and-pop. She’s an effective rebounder and can provide physical defense on smaller guards. Hart can step in right away and produce at the D-III level.
2021 6-2 C Sacha Washington – Collins Hill
In a star-studded showdown that pitted No. 1 McEachern and No. 2 Collins Hill in what could have been a state championship preview, Purdue-signee Sacha Washington was tasked with slowing down UGA-bound 6-foot-5 Jillian Hollingshead. The Eagles won on a last second free throw by Eden Sample, but they wouldn’t have been in a position to win if it weren’t for the defensive play of Washington. The physical post cleaned the glass and gobbled up shot attempts. While she didn’t have her best offensive game, she still made a major impact with 10 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks. She gave Hollingshead some problems when spacing the floor and taking her off the dribble. She used a powerful first step to get past her then barrel her wide shoulders into Hollingshead to draw fouls. Defensively, Washington helped hold Hollingshead to 15 points, 8 which came in the fourth quarter off two threes. These two teams will meet again and Part II of Washington-Hollingshead should be even better in Macon.
2022 5-7 PG Ta’Mia Stargell – Langston Hughes
Last year’s Region 5-6A Player of the Year made a positive first impression. Ta’Mia Stargell is smooth. She’s got a good body for a guard and can use her strength in a variety of ways. She plays at her own pace and doesn’t get sped up. Stargell was always under control and never let Troup County’s pesky guards rattle her. Ta’Mia can do a little bit of everything on the floor. She let the offense come to her and didn’t take any bad shots as she finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks. The junior is a good-looking prospect that could surge up recruiting boards by the time she’s a senior.
2021 6-2 W Brianna Turnage – Westlake
With graduation and a few transfers zapping Westlake of some firepower, Brianna Turnage has stepped up big time early on in the season as the Lions haven’t missed a beat. In a 76-35 throttling of Harrison, Turnage was the best I’ve seen her offensively. Even though the starters didn’t log big minutes, Snoop got straight to work. She was aggressive, attacking the basket and using her length to finish at the rim. It wasn’t just clean up buckets like she’s been accustom to, she created her own offense when she wanted – a great sign of development for the Virginia Tech-commit. Aside from her offense, she did everything else you’d expect. She finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks. As a player that can defend 1-5, Turnage is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife on defense.
2021 5-10 PG Raven Johnson – Westlake
Raven Johnson and “Top Performer” are synonymous with one another. It was a ho-hum performance for the South Carolina-signee, collecting 12 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals in the rout. Johnson has turned into an above average three-point shooter, giving her the ability to beat teams in every way imaginable offensively. On defense, she’s a lock down defender that will snatch steals and jump passing lanes. Hollywood is always must-see TV. Even if she’s not the flashiest player, she is the most consistent. Where else will you find backcourt mates tossing lobs to one another throughout the course of a game? Only at Westlake with Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson.
2022 6-0 W Aniya Palmer – Troup County
Aniya Palmer didn’t have her best game in a 49-43 loss to No. 4 Langston Hughes. The Tigers were unable to get her the ball consistently which means trouble. But whenever she did have the ball, good things happened. She finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. She hit a nice step-back jumper off the dribble and was unstoppable when she grabbed rebounds and pushed it coast-to-coast. Palmer’s growth in transition was apparent from when I last saw her. Her ball handling has improved and she’s got some developing creativity. Palmer is one of the best long-term prospects Georgia has to offer in 2022.