Midseason Stock Risers: Under the Radar Upperclassmen
There’s been a lot of good play around Northeast GA this season, and a few names are starting to standout amongst the 2024 and 2025 class of guards. These young ladies are some serious hoopers, and are hidden gems that,…
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Continue ReadingThere’s been a lot of good play around Northeast GA this season, and a few names are starting to standout amongst the 2024 and 2025 class of guards. These young ladies are some serious hoopers, and are hidden gems that, for the most part, have gone under the radar. As the season continues, look for these guards to help lead their respective teams’ down the stretch and make a run in region and state playoffs.
Aiyanna is a true floor general that reads the floor well. She’s a quick and agile guard that pushes the ball well in transition. Aiyanna’s IQ and playmaking ability allows her to create for herself, get teammates involved, and more times than not, make the right play. She’s a very talented passer and can knock down shots from midrange and behind the arc. In the half court game, she directs traffic well and plays with poise and calm demeanor that provides a coaching presence on the court. She’s coming off back to back 1st Team All-Region selections in Class 4A in GHSA. College coaches should be giving her some serious looks because her abilities translate to the next level.
Denim is a hidden gem in Northeast GA. She’s combo guard the can put the ball on the floor and get her spots with he polished footwork. She’s a speedster and often times she’s able to dictate the pace of play in games. Denim can handle the ball well and get to her spots on the court and finish at the rim. She shoots a high percentage from mid range and is becoming increasingly better at knocking down the 3 ball. On defense, Denim plays the passing lanes well and gives ball handlers a hard time. Denim scored her 1000th point earlier this season and is one of the main reasons her team had an Elite 8 appearance in the 2022-2023 GHSA state playoffs, in Class A. She’s been All-Region all three years, prior to this season, including Region Player of the Year, last year, and an All-State Honorable Mention. She’s a two-time track and field state champion and her track speed and jumping ability gives her a unique advantage and schools that like to move the ball up and down the court in transition should take a closer look at her abilities.
Kamyra Aikens
Kamyra Aikens
Kamyra has been performing at a high level, half way through the season, and from the looks of it, is only getting better and better every time she steps out on the court. She’s a physical guard that gets into the paint and often. She’s able to finish around the rim and has a nice, accurate release on her running floater. She handles the ball well, and isn’t easily rattled when being pressed full court. She can get up and down the court, and has a very effective in the half court game. She’s shown her ability to be an extension of the coach, on the court, with the way she helps teammates set up their offensive sets. She’s able to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. Although she’s slightly undersized, her strength, effort, and aggressive-play makes up for it and helps her impact the game in every way. She’s currently averaging 15.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 5.5 rpg, and 3.5spg and should getting attention from smaller schools looking a get someone who understands the game.
Mearah has been filling up the stat sheet, this season, and it’s probably not getting the attention it deserves. The 5’9″ guard, who in the past has played the shooting guard position, is now more of a combo guard and running point guard for Archer. She’s a ‘big’ guard that knows how to get downhill, with minimal dribbles, and get to the rim with ease. She has an athletic and muscular build that makes it easy to get the shot she wants. Mearah is a great on-ball defender and plays with a high motor and aggression. She’s been getting interest from Furman, Columbus State, and Savannah State, and every mid-major and high D2 program should digging deeper with their evaluations because they could be missing out on one of Georgia’s class of 2024 best prospects.
Highlights
Julie has made a name for herself, in Northeast GA, as one of the best sharp shooters. She can light it up, from behind the arc, and does so with good form and technique. She’s the vocal leader on the team and helps direct traffic even when she doesn’t have the ball in her hands. She handles the ball well, has good court vision, and runs the lanes well in transition. Julie has a great feel for the game and doesn’t force plays to happen. Her ability to knock down mid range jumpers also opens up passing lanes, where she showcases her ability to find open teammates. As she continues working on being a defensive stopper, her stock will continue to rise for college coaches to see.