2025 GBCA GIRLS LIVE EVENT: Hoover Came, Saw, Conquered!
Hoover High School Girls’s Basketball Team.
Recap of the Georgia Live High School Event in June
July 5, 2025
At LakePoint Sports in Emerson, Georgia, GBCA (Georgia Basketball Coaches Association) conducted its annual live (meaning all college coaches can attend) event with 160 high school teams (mostly from Georgia) taking to the 12 courts at this state-of-the-art facility. This is the third year of the event at LakePoint and the fourth overall. A total of 95 college coaches representing 77 colleges (mostly NCAA Division 1) attended one or more days of the event which ran June 12-14. Sponsors included SUV TV, Leading Edge, Pro Elevation, Longhorn Steakhouse, Hudl, Playwell Merch, 2T Water, Shoot Away, Noah and Baller’s Bridge.
Note: Although publication has been delayed from event date, this piece is still most relevant as it pertains to the high school season starting in November.
Please don’t!
Reports are filtering in of players participating in their state’s “live event” with rumors of transfer to a different high school for next season. I URGE PLAYERS TO SKIP THE “LIVE EVENT” IF THEY CANNOT PLAY FOR THE SCHOOL YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN THE FALL! It is not fair to the players and coaches who are preparing for next season (which the “live events” are the kickoff to, so to speak).
Format: Teams were placed in 16-team brackets giving all teams four games. Some brackets ran over the three days while others were Thursday/Friday or Friday/Saturday. The featured Purple bracket ran Thursday through Saturday forcing a few quality teams (unable to play all three days) to opt for a lesser bracket.
Run to the scoresheet!
This was the second event I attended (Adidas in Texas in May) that used electronic scoresheets rather than the traditional paper. Unlike Adidas in Texas with Sportsroadmap.com (note no “www” to get to that web address), the “swish by nbn23” app only posted the basics of points and fouls. If you raced to the scorer’s table quickly, you could look at the electronic scoresheet (looked like your normal scorebook). However, once the send button was hit, the data was no longer available having been dispatched to this Spanish company’s server. The control room was supposed to have been given a free subscription to look at data, but the company never did and thus (unless you bought a subscription) the points/fouls data was no longer available for that game. As media, it was hard to get detailed information on more than one game (if that) during the round. Thus, this writer strongly prefers Sportsroadmap.com with detailed (shooting percentages, assists, rebounds and more) free data still available over two months from the event!
This marked the second time within a year where there was significant difficulty getting any official basic data on a game. At the NCAA Basketball Academy (otherwise a quality event), the NCAA reps in charge forbid any media or participating team coach from viewing scoresheets during and post-game, claiming that information was only to be available to college coaches. In recent years, the general rule has been media or participating club coaches could look at or photo the final scoresheet assuming a box score would not be posted online as NIKE EYBL did for 17U annually and this year 16U as well.
Hoover dominates!
The defending Alabama 7A state champions won each of its four games by double digits (not close down the stretch) with Georgia defending private school champions Holy Innocents’ losing 56-40 and Geogia 4A champions Creekside 50-33. Hoover’s first two contests were far less competitive.
The team is led by Kristen Winston (5-10, point guard, 2029) who is one of the top players nationally in her class with a game which would be more associated with a quality rising junior than rising freshman. She was impressive playing in 16U in NIKE EYBL and even more impressive here with a total all-around game. She was supplemented by Aaliyah Blanchard (5-11, small forward, 2026) who plays with a high motor and physical style in and out of the paint. The third weapon is Khloe Ford (6-4, center, 2026) who is a strongly built lefty who can go right but prefers to operate on the left block. All three should be getting major D1 consideration at some level. It is hard to believe Hoover (if healthy) is not a national top 25 pre-season and probably one of the top 10 public school teams for 2025-2026.
Kristen Winston of Hoover HS | AL Southern Starz.
So, who is good in Georgia team-wise?
A lot of teams are “works in progress” with the always looming late summer transfer able to change the equation. Let us make a brief mention of a few that looked most promising, but none may be pre-season nationally top 25 depending on your criteria (state-series participation, non-reclasser).
St. Francis High School (Alpharetta) has perhaps six NCAA D1 prospects (most talented team in Georgia), but the team is heavy to underclass players. Improved cohesion between wings and post operations seemed like it should be a high priority going forward. The team went 3-1 in the strong Purple Division losing only to Creekside (perhaps best public high school in Georgia),
Creekside High School finished 3rd with a 3-1 result in the Purple Division losing only to Hoover. With almost the entire team back they should be the pre-season favorite to repeat in 4A but probably does not have enough weapons on the team to likely figure into the national picture this year. The core is young (the top three all 2027 and 2028) led by C’India Dennis (#41 on HoopGurlz 2027 list; 5-5, point guard) who does a bit of everything in leading her team. By this writer, Dennis is top current player (as opposed to prospect) in Georgia’s 2027 class.
C’India Dennis of Creekside HS.
Second place Purple Division finisher Holy Innocents’ went 3-1 showing the outline of a potentially strong team with at least three D1 prospects (very strong front line). If the point guard situation (graduated top senior point guard Hailee Swain who won multiple post-season player-of-the-year awards in Georgia) can be solved, they could repeat in the Private School Division. With its top players being underclass, this team should be even stronger the following year.
Defending 6A champions Newton finished 2-2 in Purple and should be one of several contestants in a wide-open 6A race. North Paulding (strong last year) won the Orange Division (should have been in Purple) 62-49 over last year’s 6A runner-up Grayson. Both should be in the 6A hunt again this year as both have D1 talent but not the heavy artillery needed for national prominence. Cherokee has a solid veteran core and could make a deep post-season run. Another candidate in 6A is Buford which won the solid Blue Division and should be in the 6A hunt combining a couple of D1 mid-majors with a “we try harder” team attitude outworking similarly talented opponents. Marietta will also have a couple of D1 players, but the core of the team will be 2028 and 2029 players. That probably means it will need more experience (at least another year) to win the 6A.
Hebron Christian, which lost in the Private Division final to Holy Innocents’, is re-loading with younger players. Expect bumps early in the season until the young players get acclimated to high school varsity play and Gabby Minus (#44 on HoopGurlz 2026; 6-1, forward) returns from injury sometime after the start of the season. Making a deep post-season run cannot be ruled out!
Kell High School easily won the Yellow Division and should have been in a more challenging bracket. They should be a factor in 4A where they went out in the round of 16 last year.
One other team to mention
Cannon School of North Carolina rolled through the Lime Division. They were clearly top division merchandise but could not attend until Friday (Purple started on Thursday). They should be one of the top teams in the NCISAA (North Carolina NFHS Affiliate).
Players – three of best seniors and top sophomore not playing here
Kate Harpring (#4 on ESPN HoopGurlz 2026; 5-10, point guard, Marist School) and Bella Ragone (#28 on ESPN 2026; 6-2, forward, Mill Creek High School; verbal commitment to Notre Dame) were playing in Europe with an Adidas traveling team. Gabby Minus (mentioned above) was out with injury.
Also, Morghan Reckley (#16 on ESPN HoopGurlz 2028; 5-7, point guard, Sandy Creek High School) was in Mexico with the USA National U16 team. Of the schools of these four players, all but Marist participated minus these key players.
Top two overall performers at Georgia Live (mentioned separately above):
Kristen Winston (2029) of Hoover and C’India Dennis (2027) of Creekside
Taking a very brief look at some of the other players (not mentioned above) that stood out in at least one game at Georgia Live. Some that were written up in articles earlier this year may have been omitted below. Players are listed alphabetically by class with listed height, position, school (state if not Georgia). All should get looks at the D2 level or higher (if noted).
Players who may fall into the lower D1 to D2 level will need to be patient as many D2 schools are going to wait (reluctantly) on the D1 schools to make their signings and save some scholarship ammunition for portal transfers. Thus, many future D2 players may need to be more patient than they would have been 5 to 10 years ago.
2026
Peace Ashina, 6-0, wing, South Gwinnett High School
Quality athlete with bounce; skills not yet fully matured but at least G5 (just below Power 4) prospect is a decent guess.
Voldie Basana, 6-2, power forward, Athens Christian School
Power 4 athletic upside but skills not where they need to be; certainly mid-major prospect if not higher due to height.
Devin Bockman, 5-6, guard, Midtown High School
Can shoot the three; must improve in other areas
Martin Davis, 5-9, guard, Brunswick High School
Carried team to 2-2 in Orange Division; can shoot the three.
Lauryn Dennis-Cooper, 5-6, point guard, Woodward Academy
Decent athlete with handles; somewhere in D1 but probably below majors.
Camryn Golston, 5-5, point guard, St. Francis High School
Very well skilled; height/thin build likely to keep her below majors but solid D1 prospect.
Za’Miyah Jenkins, 6-0, forward, Josey High School
Athletic driver somewhere in D1 likely below majors.
Lydia Ledford, 5-10, guard, Buford High School
Leading player on Blue Division winner; nice stroke with ok athleticism/medium build; reportedly has lots of mid-major offers.
Madison Moody, 5-5, shooting guard, Cherokee High School
Fine spot up 3-point shooter but needs time; size at position is an issue for many D1 schools wanting taller players at the shooting guard slot.
Coco Rudolph, 5-7, guard, Grayson High School
Good motor; gets after you on D; needs to shoot it better but mid-major anyway.
Taryn Thompson, 5-8, point guard, The Galloway School
Needs to shoot ball more consistently; enough skill to merit non-major D1 interest.
Laura Willis, 5-8, guard, North Oconee High School
Physical guard with ok stroke; led team to 2-2 in Purple Division.
Hailey Wortmann, 6-2, center, Midtown High School
Decent skills operating in low and mid-post areas; enough skill to attract D2 interest and possibly modest D1 looks depending on the (often tight) post market.
Caroline Young, 6-0, small forward, Milton High School
Decent mobility and stroke for height and build; should be getting D2 and possibly modest D1 looks.
2027
Kie’Aundria Acree, 6-0, guard, Albany Monroe High School
Ranked #16 by ESPN HoopGurlz for 2027, she is widely considered Georgia’s top 2027 prospect needing to shoot it better at times; did not get much help from teammates at the event so frustration could have set in as team went 1-3 in Purple Division.
Layla Adams, 6-4, power forward, Union Grove High School
Getting Power 4 looks and probably offers due to height and modest athletic build; needs to play harder at times.
Carly Bass, 6-0, wing, Sequoyah High School
Mobile wing with medium-solid build and stroke; should be getting D1 looks with consistency of shooting being a factor as to how high.
Adison Branch, 6-1, wing, St. Francis High School
Athletic wing with good size and stroke; needs to work on entry passing to post; should be getting mid-major D1 looks with upside from there.
Suri Clark, 6-2, power forward, Baldwin High School
Nice athlete getting D1 looks which could increase with improved range.
Aila Courtenay, 6-3, center, St. Francis High School
Strongly built low post with good hands to finish near rim; coming off knee injury; should be getting major D1 offers if not already so.
E’miah Fields, 5-8, shooting guard, Buford High School
Lefty with decent stroke and mobility; developing into D1 perimeter player at some level.
Maliyah Gilbert, 5-9, guard, Kell High School
Lefty shooter with 3-point range; should be getting D1 looks.
Mckenzie Green, 6-2, power forward, Kell High School
Has body you find in D1; just needing to add the skills to complement.
Nimah Ibidunni, 6-2, forward, Alexander High School
Ranked #46 by ESPN HoopGurlz, above average athletically, Ibidunni has nice touch within the key; one of Georgia’s better prospects in this class; could use more help from teammates.
Nimah Ibidunni of Alexander HS.
Lindsey Kopacek, 6-2, power forward, Starr’s Mill High School
Decent activity in paint; enough skill to attract interest from D2 schools and possibly modest D1 programs if more skill added.
Morgan Landrum, 6-0, forward, North Paulding High School
Bit undersized athletic “glass-eater” with good motor; probable modest Power 4 prospect or certainly G5 if not.
Sophia Louis-Pierre, 6-1, wing, The Galloway School
Hard to believe Louis-Pierre is not a solid D1 prospect given height and build; consistency of production scoring the ball may say how high.
Charmaine Owens, 5-5, point guard, Southwest DeKalb High School
Athletic guard who needs to slow down and play more under control; D1 player if all comes together.
Finley Parker, 6-3, forward, River Ridge High School
Ranked #53 by HoopGurlz for 2027, at LakePoint it appeared Parker was trying to add to the “catch and shoot the three” that she is best known for; a likely major D1 prospect she and teammates will have to step up to repeat as Georgia 5A champions to counter graduations.
London Smith, 5-7, point guard, Newton High School
Best described as a steady, heady, solid guard, Smith should get major D1 looks and settle there or just below that.
Trinitee Thomas, 5-9, wing, Warner Robins High School
Well above average athletically, how much shooting skill she adds will probably determine where she settles (major or mid-major) in D1.
Jayniah Weaver, 6-5, power forward, Morrow High School
Weaver is long and fluid playing in and outside the key; has major D1 interest; for her, the question is not getting major offers but finding her niche scoring and rebounding at that level; currently a work in progress as ‘bigs’ go.
2028
Leah DeWitt, 5-8, guard, Marietta High School
Getting P4 offers due to shooting ability and basketball IQ. One of the tops in Georgia’s 2028 class.
Ansley Dunn, 5-4, point guard, Cherokee High School
Dunn is a small field general who combined with Madison Moody above, helped Cherokee to split its four games at LakePoint in the tough Purple Division.
JaKaila Gaskin, 6-4, power forward, Cannon School (North Carolina)
When healthy (slowed down by injuries this year), Gaskin is a potential top 10 nationally in 2028 given her height, agility and ability to score in the paint.
Kenzie Hinkson, 5-7, point guard, North Paulding High School
Hinkson needs to fill out and get stronger, but some level of D1 recruitment is certainly in play given IQ and stroke.
Jazmin Maddox, 5-9, shooting guard, Newton High School
Maddox had a blockbuster first game at LakePoint, demonstrating range within and behind the arc. She has interest from the major D1 level down but needs to show that level more often.
Loriel Murray, 6-3, center/power forward, Holy Innocents’
Murray is one of the less flashy of Holy Innocents’ big front line. Catch ball in lower key and finish! Solid mid D1 recruit or higher depending on the availability of size in 2028 class.
Amelia Newman, 5-11, guard, Whitefield Academy
Newman is possibly the most advanced of a young Whitefield Academy team. She has decent guard skills, but the jury is still out as to how high she will be recruited in Division 1.
2029 – all below are likely going to be recruited at some D1 level (those below without comment showed advance understanding for age and should be monitored for maturation)
Brooklyn Arnold, 5-11, shooting guard, North Pauding High School
Arnold came off the bench in one viewing hitting multiple perimeter shots which did not look accidental.
Peyton Frazier, 6-2, wing, Greater Atlanta Christian
Has a chance to be one of the best of Georgia‘s 2029 class as she has perimeter skills to go with height; needs to get stronger and fill out.
Ava Leonard, 5-3, point guard, Hoover High School (Alabama)
I liked Hoover the most when Leonard came off the bench and Winston moved to the wing. Good IQ and handles with height perhaps being the biggest long-term drawback.
Carib Morris, 6-2, forward, South Forsyth High School
Morris may have the most rep in the Georgia 2029 class as she can shoot a three at her superior height. At LakePoint, she appeared to be trying to add to that which will be needed as she is likely going to be her team’s best player as a freshman (not always the easiest load to carry).
Sarah Needom, 6-6, center, South Gwinnett High School
Tall, just starting out. A name to monitor!
Shyla Sims, 5-4, point guard, Hillgrove High School
Jayden Whelchel, 5-7, point guard, Sequoyah High School
Zoe Williams, 5-7, point guard, participated with Holy Innocents’ [since event has indicated that she will enroll at Marietta High School]
Paris Wilson, 5-5, point guard, McEachern High School