2025 Sandy's Spiel Tip-Off Classic Girls Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Tip-Off Classic Girls Top Performers


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The 2025 Sandy’s Spiel Tip-Off Classic was sponsored by Redline Girls Basketball Club


Ja'Ziyah Foster
2028 6-0 F Ja’Ziyah Foster – Lamar County
Trailing Pickens 24-23 at the half, Ja’Ziyah Foster came to life in the second half after five points in the first. The Trojans immediately looked to exploit their size advantage, pounding the ball inside as Ja’Ziyah finished with a game-high 22 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to help Lamar County pull away 61-46.Foster struggled to finish in the first half, getting post position but instead of going up strong over smaller players, electing to fade away from the rim. After the break, Foster started finishing toward the rim, playing with purpose as she converted through contact with both hands, scoring on hook shots and putbacks. In total, Foster had four hoops off second chance opportunities. She showcased her agile footwork and athleticism on the perimeter, attacking the basket for a pair of layups, going coast-to-coast with her left hand off a steal and even stretching outside to hit a three. Foster has tons of potential. Coming off a 41-point, 14-rebound double-double against East Coweta to open the season, more and more people across Georgia are learning about the reigning Class A D-I Freshman of the Year. D-I schools should track Foster over her final three seasons. Ja’Ziyah is among the top bigs in the state.

Makayla Watts
2027 5-7 G Makayla Watts – Lamar County
Makayla may start popping up on college radars. I’m a big fan of the energy that Watts plays with, always charged up on both ends of the floor. Listed at 5-foot-7, Makayla routinely plays bigger than her height. She has long arms and an aggressive mentality which seemingly always puts her in the middle of plays. While her athleticism and motor have stuck out the most in the past, I see her overall skill level improving as well. Watts has been polishing up her perimeter skill as both a shooter and a slasher. Watts knocked down an early three against Pickens and was effective getting to the rim with nifty maneuvers. Makayla went 7-8 from the line and scored three times in transition to finish with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.

Ellison Steinhauer
2026 5-10 G Ellison Steinhauer – Pickens
As expected, Ellison did all she could to keep the Nettes close with Lamar County, but a scoreless third quarter for the star Steinhauer doomed Pickens, seeing a 24-23 halftime advantage turn into a 46-32 third quarter deficit and eventual 61-46 loss. Ellison carried the load, dumping in 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. She sank a pair of threes including a pull-up in transition. The three-level scorer got to her signature mid-range pull-up out of spin moves and converted 5-8 from the foul line. Ellison is one of the best unsigned seniors left in Georgia. Her elite instincts, balance and ability to do everything makes her a signature recruit. North Georgia feels like the leader to land Steinhauer from an outsider’s perspective a million miles away.

Caitlyn Garcia
2028 5-8 G Caitlyn Garcia – Etowah
A day after recording an 11-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against Lassiter, Caitlyn Garcia shined once more in a 54-43 win over Hillgrove, collecting 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals and 3 blocks. The long-limbed guard has an incredible feel for the game. She is a bit unassuming off the bus, but immediately when she steps foot on the floor Caitlyn is able to put her fingerprints all over games. Listed at 5-foot-8, Garcia often plays like the biggest player on the floor. She is a true ball magnet. Caitlyn hunts down rebounds outside of her area, flashes into plays for steals and deflections and uses her length extremely well to block shots without fouling. Caitlyn is smooth with the ball, able to use her long strides to sneak her way to the rim to draw fouls on her scooping layups. Garcia went 11-13 from the free throw line including a perfect 6-6 part of an eight-point fourth quarter which helped ice the victory. Middle Georgia State offered back in July. As Garcia continues to add strength to her frame and gains more exposure in front of college coaches, the high floor prospect should start swimming in offers.

Savannah Aparicio2027 5-9 PG Savannah Aparicio – Etowah
With Etowah out in front over Hillgrove at the half 23-16, Savannah had just three points to her ledger. The final 16 minutes of action belonged to Aparicio as the crafty playmaker finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. A side-step three ignited Savannah’s 15-point second half which included three long balls highlighted by a pull-up. Aparicio utilized her strong frame on downhill drives, freezing defenders with change of speed euro steps and drawing fouls as she shot 4-4 from the line. Savannah took a stranglehold of the game after halftime with her mature feel on full display. It shouldn’t take much longer for Aparicio to pick up an offer. D-II programs should be first in line with D-I schools surveying the landscape.

2026 5-6 G Kierra Jackson – Hillgrove
The Savannah State-signee tried to inspire a furious comeback but ultimately Hillgrove fell short to Etowah 54-43. Jackson scored nine of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to go along with her 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Kierra was aggressive off the dribble throughout the day. She scored on four drives – an And-1, a transition layup, a halfcourt attack and a left-handed drive. Kierra’s savvy resulted in one of the top highlights of the game as she inbounded the ball off the back of a defender and converted an And-1. Jackson is off to a hot start her senior season carrying a heavy load along the perimeter with the likes of Tori Thompson and Ashley Harris among others injured.

Aeris Macon2026 6-0 C Aeris Macon – Hillgrove
Savannah State offered Aeris last week. Macon has emerged as one of the state’s most reliable post presences but at the same time, seemingly underrated. Named Class 6A Best Shot Blocker last season, Aeris is a sturdy interior defender who protects the rim, rebounds and can score inside, all while playing with a chip on her shoulder. Against Etowah, Macon tallied 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks, all her points coming after halftime. Aeris likes to play physical. She ducks her shoulders into defenders to clear out space on power moves. She also found success as a nimble driver along the baseline, finishing an And-1 in the fourth quarter. Aeris feels like a plug-and-play post at the next level.

Ella Casing
2027 5-2 PG Ella Casing – Sequoyah
Blinding speed and intense full court aggression proved to be the elixir for Sequoyah as Ella posted a career night against Jackson County accounting for 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Casing took full advantage of how the game was officiated, showing no mercy with her hustle on defense and displaying great court vision as she picked apart porous defensive rotations with her passing. Casing knocked down a pair of threes including one off the glass. She tossed in floaters, scored in transition off steals and mixed in high-arcing mid-range pull-ups. Ella’s energy was infectious as she paced Sequoyah with one of the Chiefs’ best overall team performances in recent memory.

Jayden Whelchel2029 5-8 G Jayden Whelchel – Sequoyah
Unleashed in the starting lineup due to injuries, Jayden did more than enough to stick in the rotation as her athleticism was overwhelming leading to 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and 1 block. Sequoyah’s new-look supercharged backcourt forced 27 turnovers as Whelchel was able to defend baseline-to-baseline, sideline-to-sideline. Her activity and vertical resulted in batted down passes and suffocating defense. Four of her five buckets came in transition.

Ka'Mya Washington2026 5-5 G Ka’Mya Washington – Jackson County
Ka’Mya was able to match the footspeed of Sequoyah’s backcourt and provided the Lady Panthers with periodic sparks throughout the game. The downhill attacker hit three jumpers including two three-pointers, one off the dribble and one banked in. Washington’s quickness led to trips to the line shooting 2-6. While turnovers were an issue against the press, Washington was able to get possessions back as she finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.

Madelyn Drucker2028 5-6 PG Madelyn Drucker – Jackson County
Not much went right for Jackson County outside of the first four minutes of the game but Madelyn Drucker turned in her most efficient shooting night of the young season going 5-9 from the field and 2-5 from three. Drucker posted 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Madelyn has quickly cemented herself as one of the best rebounding point guards in the state. She has a sneaky vertical leap but it is her instincts and large hands and sticky fingers that allow her to grasp 50/50 balls away from others.