Sandy's Spiel Showcase Top Wings/Forwards
Girls Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Top Wings/Forwards


Store Banner

The 2024 Sandy’s Spiel Showcase was sponsored by Redline Girls Basketball Club and Kings and Gents.

Katie Elder

2027 5-10 F Katie Elder – Marist
It was hard to envision giving the Player of the Game to anyone other than Katie Elder with how much she stepped up in support of superstar Kate Harpring. If you told opposing coaches that they held Harpring to under 20 points, that often would sound like a recipe for success but on Saturday it was the other Katie that ensured a Marist victory as Elder finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in a 50-46 win against Creekview. Elder is a long and strong combo-forward. She does the little things well, blocking out and helping front the post. Her shooting touch helped draw the Grizzlies out of their triangle-and-two defense after the first quarter which saw two defenders face guard Harpring all over the floor even without the ball. With the War Eagles playing 4-on-3 and later an attempted 4-on-4, Elder capitalized. Katie knocked down three mid-range jumpers and two corner threes including a critical shot from the high post where she pump faked a defender and took one-dribble to get into her shot. With her length and perimeter shooting touch, Elder smoothly fills the role left behind by Abby Lindsay as a stretch forward with defensive versatility. If Katie can hit shots like she did on Saturday and emerge as a consistent number two scoring option, the War Eagles will be extremely tough to beat.

Amilya Taft
2025 6-3 C Amilya Taft – Creekview
When Creekview was able to get the ball inside to Amilya Taft, Marist had no answers. The Anderson-signee went to work in the third quarter, scoring nine of her game-high 17 points to go with her 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. Taft sealed deep in the paint to catch lobs overtop of the defense and sank a fadeaway jumper out of the post. Amilya does a good job of keeping the ball high while scoring inside. When she gets position, she is extremely effective.

Nakhai Worthy
2027 6-2 F Nakhai Worthy – Holy Innocents’
Munchie’s unique blend of size, skill and quickness make her a mismatch all over the floor. Worthy is a guard in a post’s body. She has nimble feet and a soft shooting touch. She netted two mid-range jumpers, scored on a pair of putbacks and converted a left-hand drive while going 6-6 from the foul line. Nakhai can identify advantages and do damage inside and out as a combo-forward. Worthy has a quick second leap which lets her play volleyball on the offensive glass before scoring while opponents are stuck to the floor. Munchie put up 16 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks in a 53-28 win against Hardaway, winning the battle against the Hawks’ long and explosive frontcourt. Worthy holds numerous Power 5 offers as one of the best sophomores in Georgia.

Loriel Murray
2028 6-3 C Loriel Murray – Holy Innocents’
I was very impressed with Loriel as she contributed 8 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. Murray has great size but also quality mobility which allows her to defend inside and out without fouling. She used her size to her advantage, getting on the offensive glass for putbacks, scoring twice. Murray drew fouls inside as the Hawks had to hack her to prevent her for scoring in the paint. Loriel has good form from the foul line, a compact repeatable stroke. She shot 4-7 from the line. Murray will attract plenty of D-I attention over the course of her career.

Rhianna Boynton
2027 6-0 PF Rhianna Boynton – Hardaway
Although it wasn’t her or Hardaway’s best game, you can’t help but take notice of Rhianna Boynton. The breakout sophomore clashed with Holy Innocents’ massive front line and came away with 9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Rhianna is long and bouncy, a great athlete that rebounds and blocks shots. While she and the rest of her teammates struggled to score inside against the Holy Innocents’ bigs, when Boynton did, she converted with both hands, scored an And-1, finished a lob and showed touch on a 5-foot putback. Boynton’s tools and growing game will firmly entrench her on D-I recruiting boards. Buy stock now in the double-double machine.

Janaye Walker
2025 6-2 C Janaye Walker – Baldwin
Another game, another dominant performance for Janaye Walker. The top unsigned senior in Georgia posted 19 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 5 blocks in a 54-33 win over Lakeview Academy. Walker scored on two putbacks, a post up, a dump off, a mid-range jumper, a three-pointer off the dribble and ran the floor for another hoop while shooting 4-6 from the foul line. Walker’s overpowering strength and towering size get her into prime position in the paint while her soft hands vacuum up rebound after rebound. Walker’s game has grown over the offseason to incorporate the ability to stretch the floor with her outside shot which can only raise her stock. Janaye did a great lob clogging the lane, especially when she stood in and drew a charge on a drive attempt. Walker is the most consistent interior presence there is in the state. She is a D-I post.

Kassidy Neal
2025 5-10 F Kassidy Neal – Baldwin
Kassidy Neal piled in 18 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block with Head Coach Missy Tiber in attendance, committing to Georgia Southwestern two days later. The lefty powered her way to the basket, getting to her strong hand by backing down defenders and spinning off the them.  Neal uses her frame to carve out space on the offensive glass and scores against bigger opponents thanks to her wide shoulders which keep shot blockers at bay, unable to reach her attempts. Kassidy can still catch opponents off guard with how well she moves and the ball skills she possesses getting to the hoop and drawing fouls as she shot 4-9 from the foul line. Neal holds value at the next level as an aggressive combo-forward.

Taliah Gaither
2025 6-2 C Taliah Gaither – Lakeview Academy
Facing one of the biggest most powerful frontcourts in Georgia, Taliah Gaither impressed with her well-rounded skill set and effectiveness. Gaither has improved each and every season. She has now added a three-point shot to her arsenal. She drained a corner three and netted a mid-range jumper to soften Baldwin’s 2-3 zone. Gaither ran the floor for a post up in transition and was active on the offensive glass. Taliah collected 13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Gaither is good enough to be in play at the D-II and possibly D-I level. She holds offers from Anderson, LaGrange, Eastern and Shaw.

Ava Andrews
2025 6-1 W Ava Andrews – North Paulding
The Delaware-signee turned in one of her most complete performances, racking up 13 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks in a 62-52 win over Fayette County. Andrews has made strides towards reaching her ceiling, showcasing how dominant of a player she can be. With her length and elite athleticism, Ava has all the physical tools to become an impact maker in college. Her rebounding on Saturday was outstanding, skying in to snatch rebounds at their highest point – a human pogo stick. Andrews is comfortable with the ball in her hands as a distributor, able to elevate and see the floor before dropping off passes at the last second. Ava netted a mid-range jumper and cashed in on a pair of floaters, a shot that is difficult to even contest. Andrews can play 1-5 on both ends of the floor. Her versatility on defense disrupts offenses. North Paulding has two of the most dynamic front court players in Class 6A between Andrews and Morgan Landrum, two-way players that can lead the Wolfpack back to Macon come March.

Morgan Landrum
2027 6-0 F Morgan Landrum – North Paulding
Foul trouble was an issue for Landrum, picking up three fouls in the first half but when she was in the game she made a major difference. Morgan finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. The bouncy forward plays with great energy. Her shooting touch is steadily improving, scoring on a mid-range jumper and sinking a floater. Landrum is a great rebounder and another multi-positional defender with the wingspan and quick instincts to cover tons of ground. If Landrum continues to grow her guard skills, it wouldn’t be surprising to project her on a similar trajectory as Ava Andrews. Either way, whether she slants more towards the perimeter or stays more focused inside the arc, Landrum will draw plenty of D-I attention.

Megan Ohonde
2025 6-0 W Megan Ohonde – Fayette County
The New York University-signee did all she could to keep the Tigers in the game. Fayette County scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to knot the game up at 44 before a 14-0 run sunk the Tigers in a 62-52 loss to North Paulding. Megan did a little bit of everything throughout the day posting a game-high 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 1 block. Standing close to 6-foot tall, Ohonde has a quick first step to get to the basket. She loves getting to her right hand and will drop in floaters. With her size and speed, Megan is a talented coast-to-coast scorer. Twice she corralled rebounds and went the length of the floor for hoops. Continuing to extend her shooting range could help her really blossom at the next level.

Kayla Cleaveland
2025 6-0 F Kayla Cleaveland – River Ridge
The Georgia Southern-signee came off the bench to compile 9 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Cleaveland was tenacious on the offensive glass, crashing in to steal extra possessions as she rebounded in traffic against Milton’s 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-3 frontline. Kayla blends strength, quickness and a nose for the ball. The southpaw filled up the box score on both ends of the floor. She hit a mid-range jumper out of the pick-and-roll, hit a pull-up off the dribble, scored on a dive to the hoop and ran the floor for her other bucket.

Finley Parker2027 6-3 F Finley Parker – River Ridge
The High Major prospect showcased why she is so highly regarded in River Ridge’s 62-52 win over Milton. Aside from hitting a three, Parker had the full package working. First of all, she looked stronger and more confident in Year 2 compared to her freshman season. She scored with both hands when she found herself in the paint, a lefty hook and a left-handed And-1 finish which she showed emotion by letting her defender hear it. Finley created offense with her shooting touch, backing down a defender before hitting a turnaround jumper, one of two mid-range shots she hit on the night. Parker did well battling for position inside, sealing for post feeds. She finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Her ceiling is as high as anyone’s in Georgia.

Caroline Young2026 6-0 F Caroline Young – Milton
I am a big fan of Caroline’s game. Young is a chess piece that can be utilized in a variety of ways. She can play inside and use her length and springiness to gobble up rebounds or she can space outside to the perimeter where her three-point shot has blossomed into a weapon while still maintaining the ability to attack the rim with her long strides. Caroline is strong and long with versatility aplenty. She can help guard 1-5 on defense, equipped with great switchability. Against River Ridge, Young’s effort stood out. She was active, drawing fouls to shoot 5-6 from the line. She ran the floor for two transition buckets, one scoring with her left hand. She also went coast-to-coast after clearing a rebound. Caroline finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. I fully expect Young to draw plenty of recruiting interest sooner rather than later. I think D-II programs could initiate her recruitment.

Miyah Holmes
2025 6-0 W Miyah Holmes – Carrollton
I’ve long been a fan of Miyah Holmes, the South Alabama-signee loaded with skills. The one question mark about her game when talking to college coaches over the summer was whether or not she shot the ball well enough from the perimeter. On Saturday against Hoover, that much-needed consistency was there in spades as Holmes drilled three three-pointers and hit a mid-range jumper to finish with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 1 block. Miyah was great, using her speed and functional strength to get to the hoop while scoring through contact converting two And-1s. Holmes led all players in rebounds, battling Hoover’s large frontcourt and stepping up with Columbus State-signee Madison Swint injured. Holmes has all the skills to be an All-State player on a top team in Class 6A. While the Trojans are balanced and its unlikely one player averages an eye-popping stat line, when push comes to shove, Holmes has the ability to be the X-Factor to help Carrollton to their first state title since 2009.

Khloe Ford
2026 6-3 C Khloe Ford – Hoover, AL
Seal, catch a lob, finish. Rinse and repeat. Carrollton had no answers for Khloe Ford inside who used her strength and size to earn prime real estate before catching perfect passes and finishing with both hands. The southpaw ended up scoring on seven lob entries, finishing with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks while shooting 3-4 from the foul line. Ford keeps it simple and converts everything up close. Power 5 schools are seeking her service.

Amorie Strachan
2025 6-0 C Amorie Strachan – New Manchester
Amorie was a bright spot for the Jaguars who were shorthanded coming into their game against Grayson. Strachan played hard for the full 32 minutes, banging inside for rebounds, drawing countless fouls. Amorie double-doubled with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists, hitting 9-12 of her free throw attempts.  Strachan is flying under the radar as a steady post presence. D-III, NAIA and JUCOs should all take a look while D-II programs may want to monitor as well.