Best Backcourts
Good guard play often defines a team’s success. As we look toward the 2021 season, here are some of the best returning backcourt duos in the GHSA, in no particular order. Westlake Raven Johnson Raven Johnson 5'10" | PG Westlake…
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Continue ReadingGood guard play often defines a team’s success. As we look toward the 2021 season, here are some of the best returning backcourt duos in the GHSA, in no particular order.
Westlake
Raven Johnson
Raven
Johnson
5'10" | PG
Westlake | 2021
State
#20
Nation
GA
& Ta’Niya Latson
The crème de la crème. The two blue-chip guards play well off each other. Johnson is the lead distributer and playmaker while Latson is a flash of speed and power when attacking the basket. Where one player might have their deficiencies, the other excels to make this the best backcourt tandem in Georgia and arguably the Southeast. Latson averaged 16.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.7 steals while Johnson, the two-time reigning Class 7A Player of the Year posted 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.3 steals. Heading into her senior season, Johnson has yet to lose to an in-state opponent.
McEachern
Denim DeShields
Denim
DeShields
5'7" | CG
McEachern | 2021
State
GA
& Caelan Ellis
The lethal combination of 2021 Denim DeShields Denim DeShields 5'7" | CG McEachern | 2021 State GA and 2022 Caelan Ellis put teams on notice as DeShields ranked second in the state in assists with 6.8 per game while Ellis placed second in all of Georgia with 92 made threes, connecting at a 40% clip. DeShields added 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3 steals per game while Ellis netted 13.5 points and contributed 1.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 steals to her ledger.
Archer
Taniya McGowan
Taniya
McGowan
5'10" | SF
Archer | 2023
State
GA
&
Cazia Nelson
Cazia
Nelson
5'4" | PG
Archer | 2021
State
GA
The two-man wrecking crew of 2023 Taniya McGowan Taniya McGowan 5'10" | SF Archer | 2023 State GA and 2021 Cazia Nelson Cazia Nelson 5'4" | PG Archer | 2021 State GA lifted Archer to a Sweet 16 appearance. McGowan’s size, physicality and ability to play multiple positions earned the 5-foot-11 star Class 7A Freshman of the Year honors in a hotly contested race. She averaged 14.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Nelson chipped in 15.3 points, 2.3 assists and 3 steals.
Carrollton
De’Mauri Flournoy
De’Mauri
Flournoy
5'7" | PG
Carrollton | 2021
State
#69
Nation
GA
&
Kehinde Obasuyi
Kehinde
Obasuyi
5'5" | PG
Carrollton | 2022
State
GA
Vanderbilt-commit De’Mauri Flournoy De’Mauri Flournoy 5'7" | PG Carrollton | 2021 State #69 Nation GA is the complete package. She averaged 19.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals while going 84-216 (39%) from behind the arc. Her savvy and winning ways makes her the ultimate Batman and Kehinde Obasuyi Kehinde Obasuyi 5'5" | PG Carrollton | 2022 State GA isn’t bad for a Robin. Coming off an ACL tear which cost her her sophomore season, Obasuyi could be a revelation now that she’s healthy. The lefty is a speed demon and scores all over the floor. The playmaking ability of both should open up the offense for the rest of a talented Trojan roster.
Woodward Academy
Sydney Bowles
Sydney
Bowles
6'1" | CG
Woodward Academy | 2022
State
#17
Nation
GA
& Kai Lanier
It’s hard to ignore the numbers Sydney Bowles Sydney Bowles 6'1" | CG Woodward Academy | 2022 State #17 Nation GA has put up over the course of her young career. She poured in 25.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 5 steals as a sophomore as the War Eagles improved from 9-19 to 27-4. Teams can’t solely focus on stopping Bowles anymore with her improved supporting cast. Lanier is the opposite of Bowles, a small yet scrappy bundle of energy which helps the War Eagles go. She averaged 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 4.5 steals. Her tenacious defense and infectious spirit gives Woodward a spark every night.
Woodstock
Bridget Utberg
Bridget
Utberg
5'6" | PG
Woodstock | 2022
State
GA
&
Karson Martin
Karson
Martin
5'8" | CG
Woodstock | 2023
State
GA
The youngest duo on the list. A late injury to Karson Martin Karson Martin 5'8" | CG Woodstock | 2023 State GA ruined Woodstock’s terrific season and saw the Wolverines bounced in the first round after failing to handle Campbell’s full court pressure. A healthy Martin could have alleviated the pressure and taken a load off high-usage playmaker Bridget Utberg Bridget Utberg 5'6" | PG Woodstock | 2022 State GA . She averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and made highlight plays a thing of regularity. Martin, when healthy, chipped in 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.5 steals, playing with a maturity and swagger advanced for her age.
Jefferson
Livi Blackstock
Livi
Blackstock
5'7" | CG
Jefferson | 2021
State
GA
&
Deshona Gaither
Deshona
Gaither
5'8" | SG
Jefferson | 2022
State
GA
Prolific winners in up north, North Georgia-commit Livi Blackstock Livi Blackstock 5'7" | CG Jefferson | 2021 State GA and Deshona Gaither Deshona Gaither 5'8" | SG Jefferson | 2022 State GA head Jefferson’s aggressive full court press which wilts nearly every opponent they face. Blackstock pitched in 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists while Gaither used her athleticism and toughness to pile up 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 steals a night.
GAC
Kaleigh Addie
Kaleigh
Addie
5'7" | PG
Greater Atlanta Christian School | 2022
State
#66
Nation
GA
& Jaci Bolden
Kaleigh Addie Kaleigh Addie 5'7" | PG Greater Atlanta Christian School | 2022 State #66 Nation GA ’s ability to take over a game was on full display in the Class 3A State Championship. After stunning two-time defending champ Johnson-Savannah 52-50 in the Final Four with Addie scoring 22 points, she broke free again in the second half and poured in a game-high 28 points to lead GAC past Beach 54-44. Addie breaks down defenders with her combo dribble moves and scores the ball wherever and however she needs to. She averaged 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.8 steals. Fellow 2022 guard Jaci Bolden is her top runningmate, averaging 11.8 points.
Hebron Christian
Nicole Azar
Nicole
Azar
5'11" | CG
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
&
Carly Fahey
Carly
Fahey
5'8" | PG
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
Samford-commit Nicole Azar Nicole Azar 5'11" | CG Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA led Georgia with 107 made threes and averaged 19.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals. Carly Fahey Carly Fahey 5'8" | PG Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA led Gwinnett County with 6.6 assists per game to go with her 7.1 points and 3.5 steals. Both flourished in a loaded offense that played unselfishly and won 30 games.