PGH Top 250 Expo – Standout Shooters

One of the latest Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expos took place in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains at the Lakepoint Sports Complex in Cartersville. There were more than 100 attendees for the Sunday event and the festivities featured plenty of scintillating basketball to be on hand for. Many of the premier high school girls basketball players across the state had the opportunity to sharpen their skills in front of college coaches. Among those who arrived at Lakepoint were those who know how to put the ball through the net from anywhere on the court. Here is a look at who turned heads. [caption id="attachment_336316" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336316" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/19-Daija-Preston-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="285192" first="Daija" last="Preston"] – 2025 – Douglas County HS</strong> – The Tigers posted a 14-8 mark last season and with Preston now with Douglas County, Tiger fans should be confident in that mark increasing. Preston is not afraid to shoot the basketball from anywhere on the floor. Along with her obvious confidence she has in her shot, Preston can get crafty with how she moves the ball and handles the ball. She also knows how to slice and dice her way through a number of defenders. Look out for Preston as one of this year’s 2025 as someone who may be a freshman but plays like an upperclassman. [caption id="attachment_336305" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336305" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/48-Phallan-Thomas-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335848" first="Phallan" last="Thomas"] – 2023 – Wheeler HS</strong> – She is another that has an extremely high set of confidence in her ability to drain the 3. Thomas is also very confident in her defense and the knack she has to throw defenders off balance to make it likely an opposing ball carrier will cough up the rock. She is listed at 5-foot-7 and also possesses an ability to be in the right place at the right time to corral in rebounds. Thomas knows how to dish the rock out as well and make effective with passing and ball movement. Wildcats fans should brace themselves for big things from Thomas this season. [caption id="attachment_336318" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336318" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/106-Yazmine-Allen-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335890" first="Yazmine" last="Allen"] – 2024 – Forest Park HS</strong> – There are standouts – and then there are standouts of the standouts. Allen was definitely that at Lakepoint. She is a combo guard who had one of the most impressive showings of anyone at this year’s PGH Top 250. Allen took plenty of triples – and she made plenty of triples. She also showcased her versatility and a willingness to score from anywhere on the court. Much of Allen’s shot making abilities occurred in clutch moments in the three games she played. It is because of players like Allen that the Panthers finished with a record of 24-6 en route to the AAAAA championship game. [caption id="attachment_336319" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336319" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/148-Myroi-Pruitt-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="154601" first="Myori" last="Pruitt"] – 2023 – Arabia Mountain HS</strong> – Blink – and you may miss her. As quick as Pruitt displayed herself to be at Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo, one may blink and miss her zoom past defenders en route to a layup. She leads by example by way of her 3-point shooting as well as ability to absorb contact and make her tries at the free throw line. Pruitt is also a vocal leader and has no issues with her ability to distribute the ball. The passes she is able to make are a byproduct of her standout court vision. She causes problems for opposing ball carriers as well with her talent to collect steals. [caption id="attachment_336320" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-336320" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/161-Kamryn-Bates-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Photo: Prep Girls Hoops[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="253902" first="Kamryn" last="Bates"] – 2022 – New Manchester HS</strong> – Bates is one of the many seniors throughout Georgia and the country with a plan to have their high school careers conclude with an emphatic exclamation point. She knows how to put herself in position to find open looks at the basket. Bates is quick with the ball in her hands, but possesses a high basketball IQ with an ability to make accurate passes while in transition – even amongst a number of opposing defenders. One of the reasons why New Manchester will look to build on its success from last season where the Jaguars finished 24-4, en route to a 12-1 record in its region and a playoff berth.