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 [player_tooltip player_id="118095" first="Raven" last="Johnson"] & 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118101" first="Denim" last="DeShields"] & Caelan Ellis The lethal combination of 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="118101" first="Denim" last="DeShields"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="153205" first="Taniya" last="McGowan"] & [player_tooltip player_id="155980" first="Cazia" last="Nelson"] The two-man wrecking crew of 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="153205" first="Taniya" last="McGowan"] and 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="155980" first="Cazia" last="Nelson"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118100" first="De’Mauri" last="Flournoy"] & [player_tooltip player_id="148901" first="Kehinde" last="Obasuyi"] Vanderbilt-commit [player_tooltip player_id="118100" first="De’Mauri" last="Flournoy"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="148901" first="Kehinde" last="Obasuyi"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118139" first="Sydney" last="Bowles"] & Kai Lanier It’s hard to ignore the numbers [player_tooltip player_id="118139" first="Sydney" last="Bowles"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118143" first="Bridget" last="Utberg"] & [player_tooltip player_id="154602" first="Karson" last="Martin"] The youngest duo on the list. A late injury to [player_tooltip player_id="154602" first="Karson" last="Martin"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118143" first="Bridget" last="Utberg"]. 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118125" first="Livi" last="Blackstock"] & [player_tooltip player_id="148868" first="Deshona" last="Gaither"] Prolific winners in up north, North Georgia-commit [player_tooltip player_id="118125" first="Livi" last="Blackstock"] and [player_tooltip player_id="148868" first="Deshona" last="Gaither"] 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 [player_tooltip player_id="118145" first="Kaleigh" last="Addie"] & Jaci Bolden [player_tooltip player_id="118145" first="Kaleigh" last="Addie"]’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 [player_tooltip player_id="118119" first="Nicole" last="Azar"] & [player_tooltip player_id="153101" first="Carly" last="Fahey"] Samford-commit [player_tooltip player_id="118119" first="Nicole" last="Azar"] led Georgia with 107 made threes and averaged 19.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals. [player_tooltip player_id="153101" first="Carly" last="Fahey"] 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.