Around Georgia
Naismith and Morgan Wootten National Player of the year, Kate Harpring.
A Southeast regional wrap of the 2025-2026 high school season with looks toward next season
May 14, 2026
In this piece, matters around Georgia (within state and in states bordering it) related to high school girls’ basketball will be discussed. Not every class in each state will be given the same detail.
I wish to thank Peter London of Carolina Girls Hoops Report and Tim Lownsdale of The Tennessee Report, who specifically contributed to this article. I also would like to thank the many club and high school coaches along with various media and ‘friends of the game’ whose input over the last year was also helpful in putting this together.
Below we list our picks for top performer(s) in each class in Georgia and surrounding states. In some cases, a top-level prospect who was not the top performer is listed. Do note that some years a state’s top performing player may not be a Power 4 prospect. At the bottom of each list a salute to that state’s best team(s) is given with brief mention looking toward next year.
Starting in Georgia and then circling around to touching states.
Georgia
2026 Kate Harpring of Marist School: Our pick also for Player of the Region
Signed with the University of North Carolina, Harpring’s list of accomplishments is quite lengthy. She was the only senior from these six states selected as a 2026 McDonald’s All-American as well as being a member of the FIBA 2025 U19 gold medal winning USA team and consensus 2025-2026 player of the year in Georgia. She was also honored by receiving the 2026 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls’ High School Player of the Year award and Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year award. During her high school career, Marist won two state titles (2024 & 2026) and in the state final this March, Harpring set the GHSA-recognized girls basketball career scoring mark of 3435 points (averaging 29.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 3.9 apg her senior year). In an era when so many players often switch high schools and club teams, she played for only one of each. Whether the opposition was weak or strong, Kate Harpring was a master problem solver, usually overcoming the obstacle to be successful when all was said and done.
2027 Kie’Aundria Acree of Albany Monroe High School
Averaging 30.6 ppg, Acree led her team to a 27-4 mark losing in the state 3A semi’s to Sandy Creek. She has numerous Power 4 offers.
Prospect: C’India Dennis of Creekside High School missed almost the entire season due to knee surgery. Another Power 4 prospect, assuming a full recovery, she will be a contender along with Acree for Georgia’s top player honors in the 2026-2027 season.
2028 Morghan Reckley of Sandy Creek High School
Ranked #6 in her class by ESPN SportsCenter Next, Reckley (averaging 23.9ppg, 7.4 rpg and 5.4 apg) led Sandy Creek (26-7) to the Georgia 3A final losing in overtime to Heritage High School of Ringgold, Georgia. She was a member of the USA U16 team last summer.
2029 Carib Morris of South Forsyth High School
Morris was the dominant freshman in the state averaging 27.7 ppg in leading South Forsyth (25-5) to the GHSA 6A quarterfinals.
Top Team: Hebron Christian School of Dacula (30-1); MaxPreps SOS 17.5 (GHSA Private School Champion)
Although not considered the top Georgia team by the MaxPreps Computer rankings (6A champion North Paulding (30-2) was), most ardent observers following the sport in Georgia would tell you one-loss Hebron had earned the theoretical top spot with wins over strong out-of-state teams [South Pointe of South Carolina, North Mechlenburg of North Carolina and Winter Haven of Florida] plus wins over Georgia private school powers St. Francis and Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School.
Looking to next year, based strictly on projected returning players, 6A champions North Paulding could be viewed as favorite to be top team in the state particularly with the uncertainties brought on by change in coaching staff at Hebron Chistian.
“Power Points” system coming to all of Georgia basketball
In a move I was told was football-related [drives much of any high school sports change in the Deep South], the Power Points system will be fully implemented in the sport. Previously the larger classes used a very fair regional playoff system. Initial information about the power points system indicates that it strongly discourages out-of-state play (particularly losing) and for in-state play, construct the strongest schedule possible of opponents that you can beat. What I have seen elsewhere, the system does not reward striving for excellence instead winning. I fear a better system for striving for excellence has been exchanged for one perhaps more politically correct and maybe easier for administrators to deal with.
Alabama
2026 – split decision
Khloe Ford of Hoover High School.
Khloe Ford of Hoover High School
Ford (signed with the University of Missouri) averaged 18.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 2.6 blocks per game her senior year for 7A champs Hoover. She was named the MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year and Miss Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Lani Smallwood of Albertville High School
Signed with Mississippi State, Smallwood averaged 25.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 3.5 apg leading Albertville (28-5) to the 7A quarterfinals where they lost to Hoover. She was named Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year.
2027 Reece Davis of Deshler High School
Verbally committed to Ole Miss, Davis averaged 27.4 ppg and 3.3 apg leading Deshler (28-4) into the playoffs losing to class 4A champion Good Hope.
2028 Belle Hill of Mars Hill Bible School
Ranked #17 in 2028 by ESPN, Hill averaged 31.9 ppg and 11.0 rpg plus 4.2 apg, Hill took Mars Hill Bible (28-5) to the state 3A semifinals to lost to eventual state champion St. James School.
2029 Kristen Winston of Hoover High School
Recognized by MaxPreps as National Freshman of the Year, Winston averaged 13.8 ppg and 5.6 apg on a Hoover team which had multiple senior Division 1 signees.
Best team: Hoover High School (35-1) MaxPreps SOS 25.8 (AHSAA 7A champions and one of the top 5 public school teams in the USA as defined by our Hoops Review Poll of Polls). Hoover has won the last six Alabama large school state titles. Even with significant graduations, it is hard to bet against them for next season. Also keep an eye on a young Guntersville High School and private Saint James School (both won small classes this year)!
Florida
2026 Federation State series:
Jasleen Green of Grandview Prep
Signed with the University of Arizona, Green (17.8 ppg) led Grandview (26-4) to Florida’s 1A title (small schools) and perhaps more impressively #4 on MaxPreps Florida ranking with a 30.6 (super high) MaxPreps SOS. Green was named Gatorade and MaxPreps Florida POY.
Non-federation/Federation non-state series:
DME’s duo of Indiana signee GiGi Battle (from New Jersey;13.6 ppg) and Southern Cal signee Sara Okeke(from Spain; 15.2ppg) led their team to the Chipotle Nationals Championship in April and the top slot in MaxPreps National (preps/academies/federation non-state-series schools) plus a 4th place finish in the ESPN SC Next Top 25.
2027
Jalynn Belton of Miami Country Day
Having Power 4 offers, Belton averaged 13.1 ppg leading a balanced Miami Country Day to a Florida 2A title and national ranking in multiple polls (24th in Hoops Review Poll of Final Polls).
Prospect: IMG’sMiciah Fusilier (from Arkansas; ESPN #26) and Madeline Mignery (ESPN #37) battled injuries this season. Mignery is actually from nearby having led Cardinal Mooney to a state title before switching to IMG this year. I was asked how she should be considered as unlike so many non-Federation state series/academy/prep players, Mignery is home grown?
2028 (the three-headed monster; all strong Power 4 prospects)
Jada Clardy of Pensacola Booker T. Washington High School
Clardy led her team to the Florida 5A title.
Alana Pinnock of Somerset Academy – Canyons
Pinnock led her team to the Florida 3A title.
London Thomas of St Thomas Aquinas High School
Thomas led her team to the Florida 6A title.
2029 Leila Bryant of Holy Trinity Episcopal School
Having a Power 4 upside, Bryant led her team to the state 2A final losing to Miami Country Day. She averaged 19.0 ppg for the season. She logged impact minutes playing up two years in NIKE’s EYBL 17U April stop.
Prospect: Athiei Dhal of Freeport High School
This player is listed as 6-9 and is getting Power 4 offers. Dhal averaged 27.4 ppg for the year vs a lesser (SOS 7.8) schedule with developing skills and getting used to her massive height and build. At NIKE’s EYBL April stop she logged significant minutes playing up one year in 16U.
Top teams: Federation: Miami Country Day (28-2; MaxPreps SOS 28.9 (FHSAA 2A champion)
Academy/Prep/Federation non-state series: DME 25-4; MaxPreps SOS 32.2
Going forward, Miami Country Day returns most of its impact players and should again contend for high state honors and possible national ranking. On the non-state series/academy/prep side, things are always in flux into late summer. DME graduates a lot but like its competitors in ‘non-state-series’ land, they have a way of re-stocking quickly.
North Carolina
2026 Oshauna Holland of Stuart W. Cramer High School
A Wake Forest signee, Holland was the recipient of both Gatorade and MaxPreps North Carolina 2026 Player of the Year awards. She averaged 33.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 7.2 apg this season year ending as the state’s all-time leading scorer with 3252 career points while helping her high school team to a 28-2 finish at the state 4A quarterfinal.
2027 Lenise Joseph of North Mecklenburg High School
Having multiple division 1 offers, Joseph averaged 18.8 ppg and 10.9 rpg for North Mechlenburg (29-2), the North Carolina 7A champions.
Prospect:
Ashanti Taylor of Porter Ridge High School
Averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 4.0 apg, Taylor led her team to a 24-5 record losing in the state 7A quarterfinal to Lake Norman. A power guard, she should be getting Power 4 looks.
2028 Za’Miya Bynum of Queen’s Grant High School
A fine athlete with multiple Power 4 offers, Bynum averaged 18.6 ppg for Queen’s Grant (26-4).
2029 Autumn Lacy of North Mechlenburg High School (late school year transfer to Mallard Creek High School)
Having offers from the Power 4 level down, Lacy averaged 7.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg over 28 games for a deep North Mechlenburg team that won the North Carolina 7A title.
Top Teams: Federation: North Mecklenburg High School 29-2; MaxPreps SOS 17.1 (NCHSAA 7A champion)
NFHS Affiliate: Grace Christian School of Sanford, NC (23-1); MaxPreps SOS 18.7 (NCISAA 3A champion)
Looking to next year,North Mecklenburg should again be one of the top public schools in the state. Assuming all eligible players return, Grace Christian (which may have been best overall in North Carolina this year) may have enough to be considered as top 10 nationally pre-season.
South Carolina
2026 Lakiara Ayona Alexander of Camden High School
A Tennessee State signee, Alexander (s physical player who can attack the rim) led Camden (23-4) to the South Carolina (SCHSL) 4A quarterfinals. On the season, she averaged 15.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg.
Prospect: Dyarri Braddick of First Baptist School of Charleston
Signed with Clemson University, at 6-6, Braddick has a high ceiling and could over four years at the next level be more impactful than her 12.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 4.0 blocks per game which she posted in her senior year.
2027 JaNyia Cunningham of South Pointe High School
With offers from the Power 4 level and down, Cunningham led South Pointe (26-3) to the SCHSL 4A semifinals. A power forward learning to move out, she averaged 20.5 ppg, and 11.5 rpg.
2028
Taelor Lee-Sutton of Keenan High School
Having division 1 offers, Lee-Sutton averaged 22.1 ppg and 3.3 apg in helping Keenan reach the SCHSL 3A final.
2029 (2 of significant Power 4 quality)
Madeline Dates of Goose Creek High School
Dates averaged 20.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg to lead Goose Creek (25-3) to the SCHSL Class 5A Division 2 semifinal.
Ashlyn Evans of James F. Byrnes High School
Averaging 14.9 ppg, Evans helped Byrnes to a 24-4 record in South Carolina’s 5A Division 1.
Top Team: North Augusta High School (28-1) MaxPreps SOS 12.9 (SCHSL 4A champions) This marks back-to-back state titles for this school.
Going forward, North Augusta loses three of its top four scorers while 4A finalist Anderson Westside and semifinalist South Pointe return a lot of key pieces along with 5A Division 2 champion Berkeley. Note:Recently the South Carolina Federation (SCHSL) expanded from four to 5 classes but hands out two championships (Division 1 and 2) in 5A.
Tennessee
2026 Kimora Fields of Bradley Central High School
Signed with Clemson University, Fields was the 2025-2026 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year and the state’s 4A Miss Basketball. Fields helped Bradley Central to 3 state titles prior to this season where Bradley Central (32-1) lost in state 4A QF to eventual champion Sevier County.
Haylen Ayers of University School of Jackson (Photo credit/ Jordan Smith).
2027 Haylen Ayers of University School of Jackson
Ranked #6 for the 2027 class, Ayers averaged 21.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg this season leading her team to the state final in its class. She was chosen the MaxPreps Tennessee Player of the Year this spring.
Prospect:Lauren Hassell of Clarksville Christian School
Averaging 25.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for non-federation Clarksville Christian School (21-4), Hassell also has a very high upside being slotted at #10 by ESPN SportsCenter Next in the 2027 class.
2028 Makynli Bacon of The Webb School (Bell Buckle)
Bacon averaged 17.9 ppg and 8.0 rpg for The Webb School (different from Knoxville Webb below).
Prospect: Kamora Moore of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
Averaging 21.5 ppg and 4.3 apg over 13 games for non-Federation Hamilton Heights Christian, Moore’s season was limited by injury. Regardless, her major division 1 upside needs to be noted.
2029 Wylie Kee of Huntingdon High School
During the 25-game regular season, Kee averaged 18.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg. She led Huntingdon (31-3) to its first state (2A) title.
Top teams:
Tennessee (TSSAA) holds 6 separate state championships (4 public and 2 private). Tennessee had no teams ranked national at season’s end, but the ball was very competitive and regardless of talent, more talented non-Tennessee teams often find it hard to beat these team-oriented Tennessee squads.
Privates:Knoxville Webb (26-6) MaxPreps SOS 23.9 (TSSAA Division II-AA champion)
Given Knoxville Webb beat Sevier County (see below) three times during the regular season, Webb can justifiably claim to have been the best in Tennessee this past year.
Looking forward, Knoxville Webb and Christ Presbyterian Academy (runners-up to Webb this year) have a lot back and should vie for private school honors.
Publics:Sevier County High School (29-5) MaxPreps SOS 21.5 (TSSAA 4A champion) The school has a good chance of repeating as all critical players were underclass.