GHSA Sweet 16 Girls Basketball Top Performers
Girls Analysis

Sweet 16 Girls Top Performers


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Danielle Carnegie2024 5-9 PG Danielle Carnegie – Grayson
The Georgia Tech-signee is the best player in Georgia. I’ve been saying it for years now, but it almost feels like it is indisputable and that is saying something considering how rich the state is with talent, especially in her own class. The McDonald’s All-American Game is a popularity contest, but even if that may be, Carnegie was a snub. The best player on the best team in not only the state, but a top program nationally. Danielle was a wrecking ball on Saturday, beating McEachern by herself – literally. In just three quarters of work, Carnegie recorded 34 points, 16 rebounds and 3 steals, netting five threes in a 76-31 demolition of McEachern. Carnegie 34, McEachern 31.  The score was 34-26 in favor of Dani in the three quarters she played. Carnegie was outstanding in all facets. Danielle has the ball on a string when splitting traps, able to seamlessly go behind the back in traffic. She was smoothly stroking threes off the bounce but what really impressed me was how good she was at reading the ball off the rim, quicker than everyone else to grab rebounds. Danielle collected boards and was off to the races, pushing in transition. In the halfcourt, she made things look easy with her accurate nonchalant behind the back passes. Defensively, she helped hold Arkansas-signee Jada Bates to four points on one made field goal. It is possible Carnegie was underappreciated her first three seasons at Rockdale County if that is at all imaginable. Danielle is the best player in Georgia. I think most have come to realize that this season, but now it’s time for the national media to give her her flowers too.

Lucy Hood2024 5-9 PG Lucy Hood – Rabun County
Lucy has done everything you could ask for out of a prospect – improve each and every season. The LadyCats are on the precipice of another Final Four berth after the Western Carolina-signee orchestrated another three-point barrage, Rabun County netting 13 in a 70-57 win over Mt. Pisgah. Following a scoreless first quarter, Lucy erupted, sinking a pair of threes but doing so much more than stretching the court as she compiled 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal. Hood is so good at seeing the floor and creating for others. She directs traffic and physically gets downhill where she will either score through contact or whip an assist to a shooter in the corner. Hood finishes with both hands and is able to deliver accurate passes with both her left and right. With over 100 made threes on the season, Lucy has carried the LadyCats throughout the season and has made her teammates around her better. Her toughness and consistency rank her among the all-time greats in Rabun County history.

2024 5-3 G Mili Watts – Rabun County
When Mili Watts is hitting threes the opposition is in trouble. The defensive sparkplug signed to play softball at Winthrop has developed into a dangerous outside shooter. Watts buried three threes in the first quarter and finished with four long balls en route to posting 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. What stands out most about Mili is her tenacious hustle. She can sometimes be a kamikaze of an on-ball defender, ducking in and swooping into the ball carrier to steal their dribble mid bounce and take it the other way. Watts was relentless on the backboards against Mt. Pisgah, digging out rebounds out of opponents’ hands and chasing loose ball caroms. You can always count on Watts to bring energy – she doesn’t back down.

Adelyn Thompson2027 5-5 G Adelyn Thompson – Rabun County
The freshman found her confidence and was huge off the bench for Rabun County drilling three threes finishing with 13 points and 3 rebounds. Adelyn made plays off the dribble, attacking the basket from the corners getting to her floater. In the fourth quarter Thompson landed the daggers with a pair of three-pointers, part of a 16-6 run to open the frame. When Adelyn is playing with confidence, she is one of the best offensive freshmen in the area. Thompson has major upside as a perimeter scorer.

2027 5-4 PG Tobi Owolabi – Mt. Pisgah
Tobi was terrific and kept the Patriots in the game for three quarters. The freshman was in attack mode and proved the stage wasn’t too big for her as she tallied a team-high 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals against Rabun County. Owolabi changed speeds well, utilizing her quickness to get downhill. She finished with her left hand and showcased a stop-and-pop game, hitting a pull-up three and dropping in three floaters in traffic. Owolabi is a really good-looking prospect that will continue to make a name for herself. Don’t be surprised in she blossoms into one of the better guards in the 2027 class. She has the intangibles to become an All-State performer.

Ryleigh Murphy2025 5-8 SG Ryleigh Murphy – Banks County
In a game where offense was at a premium, Ryleigh Murphy’s three-level scoring was the difference in a 43-29 Banks County win over Model. Tied 21-21 at the half after a 15-2 Blue Devil run, the third quarter saw both teams clamp down defensively. The Leopards went to their trusty flex offense and found Murphy on a pair of cuts to slowly extend the lead. Murphy scored eight of her game-high 14 points in the second half and added 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals. Ryleigh showcased her deep three-point range in the opening quarter, sinking a pair of long balls. I liked what I saw from Murphy defensively. She looked quick, aggressive and was not afraid to be physical.

Addison Hoard2024 5-6 PG Addison Hoard – Banks County
The engine that makes Banks County go, Addison Hoard helped the Leopards jump out 15-3 in the first quarter, picking up steals and creating as a drive-and-kick facilitator. The North Georgia-signee had sharp footwork when attacking the rim, utilizing a eurostep to slide by defenders. Addison netted a three in the second quarter and ended up with 8 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 3 steals. Hoard’s competence in handling pressure, organizing the offense and being active on defense, often times kicking away passes, gives the Leopards confidence and a grizzled leader to turn to in times of adversity.

2027 5-7 G Ella Kate Shedd – Banks County
Ella Kate Shedd was the closer in the second half. Her energy and effort on defense wilted Model. The hard-playing freshman crashed in for rebounds, got on the floor for loose balls and made play after play with her hard-nosed hustle. Shedd is willing to run through a brick wall. She finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Her motor and the toughness she plays with can be infectious.

Sadie Raughton2025 6-0 F Sadie Raughton – Model
North Georgia’s premier stretch-four scored the first 11 points of the game for Model. Raughton is a unique player. She’s got a strong frame with wide shoulders that can clear out space underneath the basket, but she is far from just a capable banger. Sadie is a lethal three-point shooter that plays zone buster with her shooting from the corners. Raughton sank a pair of corner threes and nailed one from the top of the key. She also scored on a putback and was Model’s main source of offense throughout a sluggish night. Even though she was held scoreless in the second half, Raughton led Model with 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Sadie has upside as a floor spacer in college that can be used in the pick-and-pop game.