North GA High School Showcase: Girls Notebook

North GA High School Showcase: Girls Notebook

Robert Alfonso Jr.

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – Basketball season is on the way in Georgia. The North Georgia High School Showcase held two events at Cherokee Bluff High and Buford High. Teams and players were ready to really showcase themselves on the hardwood after being quarantined for several months.

Below are some girls players who made an impact on the court.

2021 Taniya Alexander, Hart County – showed plenty of interior presence inside for the Bulldogs. She established positioning inside to secure the paint. Alexander’s dominance helped control the boards for most of the game. Offensively, she knows how to finish shots. Defensively, the unsigned senior is someone to follow throughout the season.

2021 Blair Wallis, Buford – is a champion competitor. This senior is one of the state’s premier shooters. There aren’t many shots she cannot knockdown. Wallis moves well without the ball to get opportunities. Whenever pressed up by a defender, she is skilled enough to blow by defenders for scoring opportunities.

2021 Kiona Lindsay, Winder-Barrow – is an electric spark plug on both ends of the floor. She is a small guard who played on the interior a few times. This did not hamper her ability to play with her heart. Lindsay attacked the glass and finished through contact. She stuck her nose into the chest of opposing players looking to stop them and succeeded a number of times.

2022 Calilie Jackson, North Oconee – does not shy away from any competitive matchup. She knows her way around the basket. Her biggest thing is to finish everything. Jackson is averaging about 15 points per game in this young season. She played solid against Buford High.

2022 Jacy Ayers, Banks County – is a high-efficiency scorer. This Lady Leopard establishes herself as a versatile player. She hits shots from all over the floor. Ayers does not settle for shots though. This young star is a willing defender and a shotmaker.

2022 Finley Millwood, Cherokee Bluff – is one tough matchup for some defenders. Her versatility allows her to post players and her range must be respected. Millwood gives coach Lindsey Justice a leader, who brings the team together.

2022 Maddy Dickens, North Oconee – has a stoic demeanor about her. She does not play any games when attacking the rim. Her hard nose defensive style helps contribute to her offensive output. Look for this Lady Titan to flex her will on opponents all season.

2022 Kamryn Grier, Banks County – is a rebounding machine, who can also fill it up on the offensive end. The best thing about Grier is her ability to adapt to adversity. While many interior players would sulk about not getting started on the offensive, she has a much different approach to the game. Grier will get to work on the glass. She prides herself on limiting opponents to a single shot.

2022 Timber Gaither, Cherokee Bluff – is an instant scorer when needed. This guard can get baskets in a variety of ways. She gets to the rim with ease and can drill the long-range jumper if the defender backs off. Gaither is capable of handling the pressure and level of expectations every guard is asked to do on the floor.

2024 Dakota Phillips, Hart County – is one special looking young player. She plays hard on both ends of the floor. Phillips is relentless in attacking the basket through traffic. Her ceiling is a high one because of Phillips’ will to compete.

2024 Ava Grace Watson, Buford – is one of the top players in her class nationally and it shows. This young guard was all over the floor defensively. She communicates well at the top of the Lady Wolves press. This is a rarity for many young players. Her effectiveness is solid on the offensive end knocking down jumpers or finishing through contact. Things will