Preseason Teams to Watch: The Powerhouses
Preseason Teams to Watch: The Powerhouses When you talk GHSA Girls Basketball, these teams and these players are often where conversations start and stop. While there are many great teams, these four teams standout above the rest with their amount…
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Continue ReadingPreseason Teams to Watch: The Powerhouses
When you talk GHSA Girls Basketball, these teams and these players are often where conversations start and stop. While there are many great teams, these four teams standout above the rest with their amount of talent with 22 ranked players between them. These are teams that could be in the discussion to crack the national rankings.
McEachern
Notable Players
2021: #4
Jillian Hollingshead
Jillian
Hollingshead
6'4" | PF
McEachern | 2021
State
#17
Nation
GA
, #13
Denim DeShields
Denim
DeShields
5'7" | CG
McEachern | 2021
State
GA
, #43
Sianny Sanchez-Oliver
Sianny
Sanchez-Oliver
5'4" | PG
McEachern | 2021
State
GA
, #81
Kiarah Massiah
Kiarah
Massiah
5'10" | SF
McEachern | 2021
State
GA
2022: #44
Kristen Roche
Kristen
Roche
5'6" | CG
McEachern | 2022
State
GA
, #58
Kaela Ward
Kaela
Ward
5'11" | SF
Villa Rica | 2022
State
GA
, #60
Caelan Ellis
Caelan
Ellis
5'8" | SG
McEachern | 2022
State
GA
With the addition of Jillian Hollingshead Jillian Hollingshead 6'4" | PF McEachern | 2021 State #17 Nation GA , Kristen Roche Kristen Roche 5'6" | CG McEachern | 2022 State GA and Kaela Ward Kaela Ward 5'11" | SF Villa Rica | 2022 State GA , the Indians are back among the favorites in Class 7A. Hollingshead at 6-foot-4 is a four-star blue-chip prospect with the ability to do damage inside and out. Her shot blocking and rebounding inside solidifies McEachern’s front court. Indiana State-commit Denim DeShields Denim DeShields 5'7" | CG McEachern | 2021 State GA and Delaware State-commit Sianny Sanchez-Oliver Sianny Sanchez-Oliver 5'4" | PG McEachern | 2021 State GA anchor the backcourt along with the reigning three-point champion in 7A, Caelan Ellis Caelan Ellis 5'8" | SG McEachern | 2022 State GA . The Indians are a complete team that could emerge as the state’s best if everything comes together.
Collins Hill
Notable Players
2021: #8
Sacha Washington
Sacha
Washington
6'2" | PF
Collins Hill | 2021
State
#62
Nation
GA
, #16
Eden Sample
Eden
Sample
5'9" | SG
Collins Hill | 2021
State
GA
, #32
LaCambria Shakespeare
LaCambria
Shakespeare
6'4" | C
Collins Hill | 2021
State
GA
, #58
Aniecia Malone
Aniecia
Malone
5'6" | PG
Collins Hill | 2021
State
GA
, #92
Jailah Clark-Jones
Jailah
Clark-Jones
5'10" | SF
Collins Hill | 2021
State
GA
A senior-laden group leads Collins Hill. The Eagles will try to get over the hump after losing back-to-back title games to Westlake, who now has dropped to 6A. Purdue-commit Sacha Washington Sacha Washington 6'2" | PF Collins Hill | 2021 State #62 Nation GA is a double-double machine inside and one of the state’s most physical players. Old Dominion-commit Eden Sample Eden Sample 5'9" | SG Collins Hill | 2021 State GA is a lights out shooter on the perimeter while 6-foot-4 Alabama A&M-commit LaCambria Shakespeare LaCambria Shakespeare 6'4" | C Collins Hill | 2021 State GA is a raw talent with a high major body and solid ceiling. The Eagles have playmakers on the perimeter in Aniecia Malone Aniecia Malone 5'6" | PG Collins Hill | 2021 State GA (North Greenville) and 5-foot-10 Jailah Clark-Jones Jailah Clark-Jones 5'10" | SF Collins Hill | 2021 State GA (UNCG). With the ability to put five college players on the floor at one time – four being D-I – Collins Hill has the ability to overpower most opponents.
Westlake
Notable Players
2021: #1
Raven Johnson
Raven
Johnson
5'10" | PG
Westlake | 2021
State
#20
Nation
GA
, #6
Brianna Turnage
Brianna
Turnage
6'2" | SF
Westlake | 2021
State
#49
Nation
GA
, #91
Misia McKinney
Misia
McKinney
6'0" | PF
Westlake | 2021
State
GA
2022: #7
Ta’Niya Latson
Ta’Niya
Latson
5'8" | CG
American Heritage | 2022
State
#47
Nation
FL
With 78-straight wins against Georgia opponents dating back to South Carolina-commit Raven Johnson Raven Johnson 5'10" | PG Westlake | 2021 State #20 Nation GA ’s first game as a freshman, Westlake is still THE team to beat when it comes to GHSA basketball. The Lions lost some key players to graduation and transfer, but as long as Johnson is still in the Black and Blue, the Lions are nearly untouchable. The addition of Ta’Niya Latson Ta’Niya Latson 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2022 State #47 Nation FL last year immediately paid dividends. She led the team in scoring and is a dynamite athlete that thrives in transition. Virginia Tech-commit Snoop Turnage can play 1-5 as a defensive ace that can stop anybody. Her motor, length and athleticism give her elite upside. Look for Misia McKinney Misia McKinney 6'0" | PF Westlake | 2021 State GA to carve out some key minutes inside after long awaiting her turn. She’s a powerful player that can score with either hand.
Hebron Christian
Notable Players
2021: #9
Malia Fisher
Malia
Fisher
6'2" | PF
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
, #25
Nicole Azar
Nicole
Azar
5'11" | CG
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
, #34
Carly Fahey
Carly
Fahey
5'8" | PG
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
, #38
Carly Heidger
Carly
Heidger
6'3" | PF
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
, #79
Ella Heard
Ella
Heard
5'7" | SG
Hebron Christian | 2021
State
GA
2022: #21
Jessie Parish
Jessie
Parish
6'2" | PF
Hebron Christian | 2022
State
GA
With five players ranked in the Top 100 in the Class of 2021, Hebron Christian is locked and loaded, ready to avenge last year’s 30-1 season which ended in the Final Four. The Golden Lions have terrific versatile size. Malia Fisher Malia Fisher 6'2" | PF Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA (Rice), Nicole Azar Nicole Azar 5'11" | CG Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA (Samford), Carly Heidger Carly Heidger 6'3" | PF Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA (Samford) and Jessie Parish Jessie Parish 6'2" | PF Hebron Christian | 2022 State GA have great length. Fisher is a tough inside-out threat that can create mismatches while Azar was the state’s top three-point shooter a year ago, swishing over 100 threes. Heidger is a 6-foot-3 wing that can also block shots up close while Parish provides strength around the rim. Guards Carly Fahey Carly Fahey 5'8" | PG Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA (UNC Asheville) and Ella Heard Ella Heard 5'7" | SG Hebron Christian | 2021 State GA are top notch distributors. On paper, Hebron Christian is the team to beat in Class A-Private with their cohesion and chemistry.