Sandy's Spiel Showcase Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Top Performers


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Akilah Shelton2025 6-1 F Akilah Shelton – Hardaway
The lefty controlled the painted area, blocking shots outside of her zone. Shelton didn’t get a ton of post touch opportunities but was able to convert whenever she received dump off passes. She showed a comfortability shooting the three, a growing aspect of her game. Akilah’s defense is her calling card. Not only does she alter shots with both hands, she is capable of moving her feet to defend on the perimeter.  Akilah showed quick reaction times, jumping into passing lanes out of a 1-3-1 zone to go coast-to-coast. Shelton finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 6 steals and 4 blocks in Hardaway’s 45-35 win against Brookwood. Akilah is on D-I radars and is a good option for teams looking to strengthen their interior defense.

Zayjah Knight2024 5-7 G Zayjah Knight – Brookwood
Knight was a bright spot for Brookwood. The southpaw is a strongly built compact athlete. She was able to get to the basket and finish off two feet. Zayjah liked to get to her lefty floater in traffic. Her defense was impressive, timing her jumps to block shots and deflect passes. Knight posted 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 3 blocks.

Jordan Brooks2024 5-5 PG Jordan Brooks – Union Grove
A true point guard, Jordan Brooks took a stranglehold of the game in the fourth quarter as Union Grove pulled away from Hillgrove 45-34. Brooks took over down the stretch with her speedy playmaking. Jordan excelled at getting penetration and spoon feeding her posts for easy buckets. Jordan’s shiftiness makes her extremely difficult to corral. She used sharp eurosteps in traffic and was lightning quick in transition after shooting gaps for steals. Brooks tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. D-III programs LaGrange, Southwestern University and Huntingdon have offered along with JUCO East Georgia State. All but Southwestern were in to see the 3.82 GPA student and BETA Club member shine on Saturday.

Nadea Smith2024 5-11 PF Nadea Smith – Union Grove
Hillgrove had no answers inside for the springy post. Nadea Smith worked a consistent two-man game with Jordan Brooks for the entirety of the contest, especially in the fourth quarter as the tandem connected multiple times to bury the Hawks. Smith is strong around the basket. While she doesn’t have elite size, Nadea’s tremendous leaping ability allows her to outjump taller opponents and explode up to finish. The bouncy forward doesn’t just rely on her athleticism however, she works hard to seal for position whether on post entries or when carving out space for rebounds. Smith finishes with both hands and is a nightmare to contend with once a shot goes up. Nadea recorded 14 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. Her recruitment has heated up over the past six months, picking up offers from Columbus State, Augusta State, South Carolina State and Alaska Anchorage.

Ashley Harris2027 5-7 G Ashley Harris – Hillgrove
After seeing limited action in the first half, Ashley Harris was unleashed in the second half, scoring the first 14 of Hillgrove’s 16 points over the final 16 minutes as the Hawks fell 45-34 to Union Grove. Shut out for nearly the entire third quarter seeing a 19-18 deficit expand slowly, Harris scored Hillgrove’s first points of the half with 14.4 seconds left in the period. Those free throws would spark an aggressive Ashley attack as she netted 12 points in the final frame, scoring in transition, on a putback, with a three-pointer and shooting 5-6 from the foul line. Harris is a bright freshman, one of the best in Cobb County. She uses skillful footwork to get to the rim and utilizes a well-rounded floor game highlighted by her court vision. In a crowded backcourt full of talented guards, Harris will get tested daily in practice and should improve rapidly over the course of her first season.

Ava Grace Watson2024 5-8 G Ava Grace Watson – Buford
With Buford on their heels in the first half, the Wolves turned to Ohio State-signee Ava Grace Watson to energize the rest of the team, turning a 35-32 halftime lead into a 77-55 runaway win against Central-Macon. Watson came out of the gates firing, hitting pull-up threes to loosen up the defense. Ava Grace netted a buzzer beater from just inside half court to give Buford a three-point advantage heading into the break, the start of an avalanche third quarter that buried the Lady Chargers 62-44. Watson’s speed and ability to identify plays quicker than anyone else makes the game move in slow motion for her. Ava Grace made a living picking off passes and ripping away steals as she set the tone defensively for the rest of the pack in the third quarter with four pilfers. She was able to tear up Central-Macon’s press in the second half becoming a distributor after netting 17 points over the opening 16 minutes, beginning to pitch ahead transition assists from midcourt as the game opened up. The sharpshooter flirted with a quadruple-double, recording 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 9 steals.

E'Miah Fields2027 5-9 G E’Miah Fields – Buford
It was an impressive showing from E’Miah Fields, the latest impact freshman in the Buford system. The lefty displayed a smooth feel for the game, calm with the ball as she got to her spots with limited hassle. She was able to get downhill twice, scored on a backdoor cut and netted a one-dribble pull-up to balance her attack. Aside from her offensive production, I loved the effort Fields brought to the backboards, leading all players in rebounding. In total, E’Miah racked up 10 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. Fields does a lot well on both sides of the ball. It won’t take long for her to pop up on D-I radars.

Alaya Grane2024 5-5 G Alaya Grane – Central-Macon
As the game wore on, Alaya started to hunt her offense more sinking three second half threes in a 77-55 loss to Buford. In the first half, it was Grane’s court vision that really hurt the Wolves. Alaya zipped in assists, cutting through the defense as she found open teammates in position to score. The tough-nosed guard showcased her entire game, filling up the stat sheet with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks as the Lady Chargers made Buford uncomfortable in the first half with their physicality and aggressiveness. Grane, a 3.6 GPA student, has offers from Brewton-Parker, Fort Lauderdale and Talladega College, who was in to watch on Saturday.

Taliah Grier2024 5-6 G Taliah Grier – Central-Macon
The lefty found success especially early on against Buford. Taliah has mastered her favorite move, a spin into a short turnaround jumper from about 10-feet. Grier sank four jump shots on the day and dropped in a floater. She finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Taliah earned positive marks from a D-I coach in the building who said they could see her playing at the Low Major level. The 3.9 GPA student currently holds offers from Brewton-Parker, Fort Lauderdale, Talladega and Shorter.

Nya Smith2024 5-10 G Nya Smith – Milton
Back for her senior season after tearing her ACL, Nya Smith has made Appalachian State look smart for inking her. Showing no ill-effects, Smith carved up the Newton defense in a 62-42 win pouring in 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. The big athletic guard scored from all over, netting four threes to go with four downhill drives. Smith has a quick first step that helps her get by her defender quickly. She puts the defense in a precarious position with how well she shoots from the perimeter forcing them to pick their poison as to press up close and give up drives or sink back and allow Smith to strip the nets from deep. If there was an award for comeback player of the year, the 4.1 GPA student would win it.

Londyn Walker2025 5-8 G Londyn Walker – Milton
Londyn Walker has flourished in her new home, taking over lead guard duties orchestrating a dangerous Milton offense. Walker didn’t need to score much on Saturday to still have her fingerprints all over the game. Londyn is a powerful guard. She hits holes like a running back, bursting through the seams of the defense for penetration. Walker facilitates well, seeing the floor and putting the right amount of zip on her passes. Her floor game against Newton was masterful, filling up the box score with 4 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Thriving in her newfound role, I expect D-I and D-II programs to take a serious look at Londyn over the next two seasons.

Mya Perry2027 5-6 G Mya Perry – Newton
College coaches came away impressed with Mya Perry’s performance against Milton. The freshman did a nice job squirting her way to the bucket, finishing with floaters. She competed well on defense, converting a pair of steals into transition layups. Perry should only get better as she grows into her frame. Mya finished with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals.

Carrington Wilson2024 5-9 G Carrington Wilson – Stockbridge
CJ Wilson refused to let Stockbridge see a slim lead dwindle away as the Prairie View A&M-signee scored six points in the fourth quarter and made multiple timely plays on both ends of the floor to preserve a 60-56 win over Galloway. Wilson tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 steals, using her length and athleticism to turn defense into offense and get to the rim. Carrington scored on four drives and off three steals. In the halfcourt, if CJ wasn’t able to get to the rim she was able to drive and kick to open teammates. Her motor is a key attribute of her game. Wilson’s effort on defense helped thwart Galloway late. Adding a consistent outside shot to her already impressive defensive prowess could make Wilson the complete package a real steal for the Panthers at the next level.

Taryn Thompson2026 5-9 G Taryn Thompson – Galloway
With graduation hitting Galloway hard, Taryn Thompson has been asked to build upon her Class A D-I Freshman of the Year campaign. She has done so, so far this season and against Stockbridge was able to get to her lethal jumper, netting four threes including two pull-ups. Thompson’s three-point shot and improving off the dribble playmaking will force more D-I programs to jump in the fold over the course of her career. Taryn finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.

Chit-Chat Wright2024 5-4 PG Chit-Chat Wright – Wesleyan
The best player in the gym on Saturday was hands down Chit-Chat Wright, pound-for-pound possibly the best guard in the state of Georgia.  The Georgia Tech-signee caught fire in the fourth quarter, exploding for 16 of her game-high 36 points to pair with her 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals to come from behind and knock off River Ridge 69-65, ending the Knights’ 31-game winning streak against in-state opponents. Wright was unguardable with her nonchalant jumper, sinking five threes including three in the fourth quarter. Chit-Chat makes it look easy with how she is able to get to her spots and get the slightest lift off the ground to get into her pull-up jumper. While she doesn’t jump much on her shots, she skies for rebounds with a tremendous vertical, all but erasing the fact that she’s listed as just 5-foot-4. Aside from her scoring and rebounding, Wright was able to attack the River Ridge defense with her passing. She thrives as a playmaker, creating off the dribble to laser in one-handed assists crosscourt to open shooters. Wright’s performance on Saturday reminds us all that if you have a true superstar on your roster, if they get hot, you can beat anyone.

Finley Parker2027 6-2 W Finley Parker – River Ridge
Though in a loss, it was the best I’ve ever seen Finley Parker play against a varsity opponent. From their scrimmage in just early November to now, it looks like Parker has improved by leaps and bounds, looking much more comfortable with the ball in her hands. Finley was decisive against Wesleyan, opening up with eight quick points hitting a three, scoring on a putback and finishing an And-1 drive. Parker was able to exploit mismatches, scoring around the rim when defended by smaller players and was able to consistently rebound throughout the game. The High Major recruit recorded 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. As I mentioned last month, Parker will get better and better as the season wears on. The bar continues to rise.

Makayla Roberson2026 5-9 G Makayla Roberson – River Ridge
Makayla landed her first offer from Columbus State in late November and should see more start piling in soon, eventually from the D-I level. Roberson is a true two-way guard. Night in and night out she is asked to defend opposing teams’ best player. Only a sophomore, she has already stifled multiple High Major guards through her young career.  On Saturday not only did she help hold Texas-signee Bryanna Preston to 12 points but she packed a punch offensively, finishing with 16 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists. Roberson is a very good shooter, especially off the catch. She sank a pair of threes and two mid-range jumpers while finding a pair of hoops in transition and one off a putback. If colleges haven’t already, they should buy stock now in Roberson.

Madison Ruff2024 5-8 PG Madison Ruff – Baldwin
The Mount St. Mary’s-signee emerged as the best guard on the floor in Baldwin’s 59-45 win over Holy Innocents’. Ruff got to wherever she wanted to go throughout the course of the game. The rim-seeking point guard converted two And-1 takes and lived in the lane, using her burst of speed to explode downhill. For good measure, Ruff even knocked down a mid-range jumper and a step-back three; outside shooting an area of her game where growth has been needed. The quickness and strength of Madison led to 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Her athleticism, energy and understanding of what she does best makes her incredibly dangerous.

Janaye Walker2025 6-3 C Janaye Walker – Baldwin
There aren’t many teams if any in Georgia that have any answers for Janaye Walker inside. The physically dominant post bullied her way to 17 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, scoring on six putbacks. Walker is too big to keep off the glass with her size and strength. Janaye is a signature bruiser on the low block, but did step outside to shoot a three, an area of her game which could pay major dividends at the next level if she can stretch outside and hit from at least the mid-range. 13 different D-I programs were in the building on Saturday to evaluate Walker.

Zaynah Preston2024 5-6 PG Zaynah Preston – Holy Innocents’
Zaynah was Holy Innocents’ most consistent scoring threat, adding to the box score each quarter as she finished with a team-high 14 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. The Anderson-signee knocked down three three-pointers, converted an And-1 baseline floater and went 3-3 from the foul line. Preston is capable of playing both on and off the ball. She got more three-point chances off the ball netting all three shots off the catch including one from the corner.

Nakhai Worthy2027 6-1 W Nakhai Worthy – Holy Innocents’
Tasked with having to battle with Baldwin’s massive frontcourt, Nakhai Worthy earned valuable experience banging inside. The highly-skilled wing has more of a finesse game with offers from North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia, Boston College and Georgia Tech. At 6-foot-1, Worthy has legitimate ball skills and moves well with nimble feet. Munchie attacked in transition, converted with both hands and knocked down a side-step jumper while managing to make an impact on defense and sacrifice her body to draw a charge. Worthy piled up 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. With her size, mobility and skill set, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Worthy grade out as a potential five-star prospect when all is said and done.

Danielle Carnegie2024 5-9 PG Danielle Carnegie – Grayson
In a game that snowballed from the opening tip, Georgia Tech-signee Danielle Carnegie was the maestro at the helm of Grayson’s well-oiled machine, leading the Rams to a 75-37 rout of North Paulding. After 25-7 first quarter, Carnegie put the game to rest by halftime, pushing the Rams lead to 52-17 at the break as she scored 10 points in the frame. Dani compiled 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. She scored at all levels, finishing a putback And-1, pro-hopping for a bucket, pulling up for a three, hitting a floater and scoring on two drives including craftily using her body to bump a defender out of the way. Carnegie went a perfect 4-4 from the foul line and as usual, made everything on the floor look as easy as possible.

Erin Rodgers2024 6-1 W Erin Rodgers – Grayson
Florida Atlantic got a steal in Erin Rodgers. Back from her ACL tear, Rodgers was relentless against North Paulding. High skill level aside, you will be hard-pressed to find anyone that plays harder than Erin. She ripped down rebounds, made hustle plays to save possessions and of course scored efficiently inside the arc. The talented finisher has always been able to score through contact and embraces the physicality. Erin had an And-1 putback, hit two mid-range jumpers and had a beautiful spin-back fadeaway from about 10-feet. Rodgers posted 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. The future Owl looks determined to remind everyone just how good she really is.

Kaden McCorvey2024 5-11 PF Kaden McCorvey – North Paulding
Kaden served as a bright spot for the Wolfpack, hitting some tough shots before busting her nose. McCorvey hit three jumpers including two post turnarounds. She finished with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Kaden has proven to be a reliable interior presence over the course of her career, a rugged rebounder with quality back-to-the-basket footwork. She is highly coveted by D-III programs. The 4.0 GPA student holds a Piedmont offer.