What Sets Them Apart Series: Part I
In this article:
The 2023 high school year is coming to an end across the state, and many seniors are closing this chapter in their lives. It has been a joy to see these athletes compete at high levels during their careers, and…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2023 high school year is coming to an end across the state, and many seniors are closing this chapter in their lives. It has been a joy to see these athletes compete at high levels during their careers, and they are going on to play in college. Let’s take a look at some of the top athletes in our 2023 rankings, and examine what sets them apart that led to them gaining the focus of college coaches.
Samyha Suffren Samyha Suffren 5’8″ | PG Cannon | 2023 State NC has a high motor being able to control the tempo of every game she plays. She pushes the ball up the court with ease attacking the basket on both sides, or she can settle into offensive sets knocking down her jump shots from all over the court. She has a nice, fluid shot elevating over her opponents with ease to score some points. Her IQ is always fun to watch on both ends of the court knowing how to attack the gaps and jump into passing lanes.
Reychel Douglas Reychel Douglas 6’0″ | SG Millbrook | 2023 State #41 Nation NC is another smooth guard knocking down her shots all over the court, especially around the perimeter. She sees the floor so well knowing how to move with the ball, and she comes off screens executing plays perfectly finding the open areas to get the ball back. She’s fun to watch, too, because of the energy she brings on both ends of the court. North Carolinians are excited to see her team up with 2021 graduate Jessica Timmons next season.
Darrionna Howard Darrionna Howard 6’1″ | PF Clayton | 2023 State NC is a power house all on her own. She dominates the block with her post moves and strength being able to seal off opponents and score some points. On the other end, she is sure to block shots protecting the rim at all cost. She isn’t just an inside threat as she can move all over the court putting up her shot over her opponents, and she knows how to shift the defense with her cuts throughout offensive sets.
Highlights
Miya Giles-Jones Miya Giles-Jones 6’1″ | SF Terry Sanford | 2023 State NC has been an incredibly versatile athlete in her high school career. She has played all five positions from handling the ball to posting up inside. She uses her quickness and ball moves to score anywhere on the court, and she crashes the boards using her strength to get rebounds. She’s a dominant presence on the defensive side of the ball being able to strip the ball from guards dribbling or protect the basket from the paint.
Kirsten Lewis-Williams Kirsten Lewis-Williams 5’10” | CG Lake Norman | 2023 State NC has been a leader for her Lake Norman team often taking over games to make sure the Wildcats come out with a victory. She has a way of attacking the basket that is difficult to defend, and her spin move on her drives to the hoop are quicker than her opponents. She doesn’t shy away from battling on the block, and she consistently does everything her team needs her to do leading to double-doubles and sometimes more when looking at her stats.
Highlights
Corrie McLaughlin Corrie McLaughlin 6’1″ | SF Millbrook | 2023 State NC has the quickness of a guard partnered with post moves like a drop step on the block. Put these together, and she can lose her defender with ease putting on the moves even in transition. Her ability to track the ball on defense leads to deflections and blocked shots creating turnovers for her team. She doesn’t shy away from contact making some nice adjustments on her way to the rim.