She Got Next Christmas Classic – Peach State Prospects
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A few Augusta-area teams made the short trip across the Savannah River and to the South Carolina side of the CSRA for the She Got Next Christmas Classic. The tournament took place at Aiken High School and also included a…
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Continue ReadingA few Augusta-area teams made the short trip across the Savannah River and to the South Carolina side of the CSRA for the She Got Next Christmas Classic.
The tournament took place at Aiken High School and also included a number of squads from throughout the Palmetto State. There were two gyms – an auxiliary gym as well as the main venue – that were utilized for games.
Prep Girls Hoops made it to Aiken for the final day of the event, which was Wednesday, Dec. 22. As these young and talented stars proved, Georgia was well-represented at the Green Hornets’ nest.
Cherokee McKinney – 2022 – Hephzibah HS – Coach Angela Beard Anderson’s Rebels squad is 6-5 this season and McKinney’s play is why Hephzibah is only two wins shy of tying its win output from last season in only its second season as a Region 4-AAA participant. McKinney will utilize a midrange jump shot and a 3-point jump shot in addition to drawing contact to get to the free throw line. She also will track down balls well and will haul in plenty of rebounds. McKinney scored the first field goal of the Rebels’ contest with South Carolina-based Timberland to open Wednesday’s slate of games. McKinney dropped 17 against the Wolves.
Ky’Shonna Brown Ky’Shonna Brown 5'10" | CG Josey | 2022 State GA – 2022 – T.W. Josey HS – Brown was a much sought-after prospect with offers coming from schools such as Colgate, Seton Hall, Hampton, Coastal Carolina, Georgetown, Cincinnati and North Florida before committing to Jacksonville. A 5-foot-10 combo guard, she makes plays on both ends of the floor. Brown will shoot and score from virtually anywhere at the field – including behind the 3-point arc. She will haul in rebounds, deflects passes and come from out of nowhere to steal the ball and go the other way in transition. Brown scored 17 points in the Eagles’ win over South Carolina-based Greenwood – including 15 in the second half.
Arieonna Booker Arieonna Booker 5'10" | SF Josey | 2023 State GA – 2023 – T.W. Josey HS – It was only appropriate that the defending 2A GHSA state champions would put forth an impressive showing at the She Got Next Christmas Classic given the Eagles’ team colors of green and gold are virtually identical to Aiken’s. Booker will score at will – including the first field goal of T.W. Josey’s Wednesday afternoon game against Greenwood from South Carolina. She keeps her arms out on defense in addition to collecting rebounds. Whether it is near the rim, at the free throw line, midrange or from downtown, Booker can put points on the scoreboard from anywhere on the floor. She had 18 in the win over Greenwood.
Roemel Brown – 2023 – Hephzibah HS – On Wednesday night, Brown had herself a game where things started slow, but picked up for her as the game went on – particularly in the second half. She found lanes in the halfcourt that enabled her to attack the rim through a number of Timberland defenders. On a few occasions, she got bumped which put her at the line and she made a good number of her freebies. Brown has also proven to be an efficient distributor of the ball and can get from one end of the floor to the other with the ball in her hands. She can get crafty at times on the court as well. Brown led all scorers in the Rebels’ contest with the Wolves with 19 points.
Geneva Riley – 2023 – Evans HS – The Knights played one of the more defensively sound games of Wednesday’s batch when they took on Batesburg-Leesville (located in South Carolina’s Midlands), but that did not stop Riley from putting up points. She put up 10 against the Panthers and she’s proven she can score – she had 12 in a 31-27 win earlier this season against Harlem. Riley will also bring in rebounds and can play stout defense where she will collect steals. She will make heads up plays and can take advantage of if an opposing ball handler makes a miscue in front of her.
Takayla Hawes – 2024 – Evans HS – It is very easy to be awed by the skillful play of Hawes. And in her case when Evans took on Batesburg-Leesville on the final day of the She Got Next Christmas Classic, she did her work coming off the bench. Hawes made the most of the minutes she got and did plenty of it by absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. Hawes was tied for the team lead in points with 10, including making all six of her free throw attempts. She wears No. 4 and will graduate in 2024 – it is safe to say she is far from done and ready to give more.
Janiah Blount – 2024 – Hephzibah HS – This must be written succinctly and Blount-ly … whenever No. 35 is on the court, she is a game-by-game threat to manage a double-double as gifted a scorer and rebounder as she is. Blount scored nine in the Rebels’ game against Timberland to open Wednesday’s lineup of matchups. She sets up to box out in case of an opponent’s missed free throw, will block shots and also showcased dribbling ability where she will attack the rim. Blount will draw contact and find herself at the free throw line. She has shooting ability as she will make her tries either at the stripe or in the midrange game. Blount also stayed out of foul trouble as she had only one personal called against her that game. In addition to basketball, she has also competed in shot put events in the track and field realm.