A great post can completely shutdown an area of the floor -- the paint. When high percentage shots become some of the toughest to make, game plans change. Here are some of the best frontcourts in the state anchored by paint monsters, dynamic forwards and all-around game changers.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Forest Park</span>
<em>[player_tooltip player_id="118093" first="Sania" last="Feagin"] & [player_tooltip player_id="118122" first="Jasmine" last="Stevens"]</em></strong>
Georgia’s Gatorade Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id="118093" first="Sania" last="Feagin"] pumped in 17 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3 steals and 3.6 blocks. The agile South Carolina-commit can play both with her back to the basket and from the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id="118122" first="Jasmine" last="Stevens"] is a strong versatile forward that averaged 7.4 points and 6.9 rebounds. Her ability to shoot the three (20-65; 31%) makes her a matchup problem.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Sprayberry</span>
<em><span style="font-size: 12pt">Flau’Jae Johnson & [player_tooltip player_id="154589" first="Anna" last="Vereen"]</span></em></strong>
Once Flau’Jae Johnson gained eligibility, she changed the trajectory of the Sprayberry program. The dynamic 5-foot-11 forward scored both inside and out. Her ability to slice through defenses and get to the rim left opponents with now answers. Add in 2023 6-foot-1 center [player_tooltip player_id="154589" first="Anna" last="Vereen"] and the Yellow Jackets have a dominant duo in the paint that can both rebound and protect the rim.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Troup County</span>
<em>[player_tooltip player_id="148864" first="Aniya" last="Palmer"] & [player_tooltip player_id="154595" first="Alexcia" last="Murphy"]</em></strong>
A jack-of-all-trades, [player_tooltip player_id="148864" first="Aniya" last="Palmer"] put herself on the map as Troup County went 27-2 and took a trip to the Class 4A State Championship. Palmer’s motor and length allows her to affect games in everyway imaginable. She averaged 11.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.8 blocks. [player_tooltip player_id="154595" first="Alexcia" last="Murphy"] doesn’t have the length of Palmer but she’s equally explosive in her own right. She’s got a strong frame and a relentless nose for the ball. She can overpower opponents when battling for rebounds and provides non-stop pressure. She averaged 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.4 steals.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Carver-Columbus</span>
<em>Enyshuan Jones & Khamya Edmonds</em></strong>
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-2, it’s hard to believe the Carver-Columbus duo <em>isn’t </em>the tallest tandem on the list. Enyshuan Jones and Khamya Edmonds are both big targets on the low block that stay on the offensive glass. Jones has a wide base and can seal off inside while Edmonds has a bit more mobility and can get up and down the floor. Both of them lock down the paint with their shot blocking.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Johnson-Savannah</span>
<em>[player_tooltip player_id="148866" first="Amani" last="Hamilton"] & K’Lya Hankerson</em></strong>
The 2022 forwards are extremely versatile and both stand 6-foot-1. [player_tooltip player_id="148866" first="Amani" last="Hamilton"] and K’Lya Hankerson defend multiple positions and occasionally can provide minutes on the perimeter offensively. Hamilton had a breakout season averaging 11.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.2 steals and 3.2 blocks while Hankerson, the 2019 state championship hero that hit a late three to clinch the win, posted 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Greenforest</span>
<em>[player_tooltip player_id="148898" first="L’or" last="Mputu"] & Benie Lundu</em></strong>
You can’t teach size. The massive height of 6-foot-3 [player_tooltip player_id="148898" first="L’or" last="Mputu"] and 6-foot-5 Bernie Lundu gives Greenforest one of the tallest teams in the nation – making some D-I college programs green with envy. Mputu averaged 14.5 points per game and gave the best of the best in Class A-Private problems with her motor and touch around the basket. Lundu pitched in 5 points per game but showed promise with her understanding of how to use her size to her advantage.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Hebron Christian</span>
<em>[player_tooltip player_id="118106" first="Malia" last="Fisher"]/[player_tooltip player_id="118148" first="Jessie" last="Parish"]/Carly Heidger</em></strong>
The trio of Hebron Christian Lions all hold D-I offers. 2021 6-foot-2 [player_tooltip player_id="118106" first="Malia" last="Fisher"] led the way averaging 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks. 2021 6-foot-3 combo forward Carly Heidger attacked both from the perimeter and in the post to put up 9 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a night. 2022 6-foot-2 [player_tooltip player_id="118148" first="Jessie" last="Parish"], a standout swimmer, did the dirty work with 9.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
<strong><span style="font-size: 24pt">Holy Innocents’</span></strong>
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118096" first="Jillian" last="Hollingshead"] & [player_tooltip player_id="154592" first="Olivia" last="Hutcherson"]</strong>
Two-time state champion Jill Hollingshead has come up big in the biggest game twice. The 6-foot-4 forward plays inside and out. She has guard skills that she can pull out when needed but gets most of her offense in the paint. Her length makes her a good rebounder and a great shot blocker. 2023 5-foot-11 forward [player_tooltip player_id="154592" first="Olivia" last="Hutcherson"] provides a similar toughness. Her rim protection and versatility gives her great upside moving forward.
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