Grassroots Preview: Wood Elite 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether it is the Coastal Empire, the north Georgia mountains or metro-Atlanta, there is an extremely robust basketball climate throughout the Peach State that sometimes gets overshadowed by its reputation as a football state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Georgia has produced a laundry list of household names in basketball over the years – and many of those previous names managed to hone their skills in the travel circuit.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most revered AAU organizations throughout Georgia is [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'], led by coach Quinton Wood. The organization fields several girls and boys travel teams every spring and summer and one of those is a girls 16U assembling. Here is a preview of that squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":479040,"width":"410px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/80-Kailyn-Hamby-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-479040" style="width:410px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476495' first='Kailyn' last='Hamby']</strong> – Hamby got her high school career off on the right pair of sneakers in 2022-23 by competing in 26 games. She played in 23 games in 2023-24 and averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game for 6A Creekview. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":479014,"width":"404px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/31-Lenai-Louie-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-479014" style="width:404px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476461' first='Lenai' last='Louie']</strong> – Louie is the sole representative from 5A Sprayberry on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 roster. She is listed at 5-foot-6 and her athletic career has also included a foray in the track and field realm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":478924,"width":"270px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/Madison-Moody-rotated.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-478924" style="width:270px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476490' first='Madison' last='Moody']</strong> – One can see plenty of Cherokee on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 roster. Moody is one of two from the Warriors that will run with the club team this go round. She stands at 5-foot-6. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":479025,"width":"418px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/54-Sasha-Wood-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-479025" style="width:418px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476485' first='Sasha' last='Wood']</strong> – During the high school months, Wood previously the purple of 1A Darlington. She also is listed at a height of 5-foot-6. Wood's bread and butter is operating in the backcourt as a one guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":653410,"width":"420px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/IMG_1656-crop-3835x2519-1683665415.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-653410" style="width:420px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476480' first='Emily' last='Jacobs']</strong> – Jacobs gives representation for 6A Woodstock for this year's rendition of [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026. She concluded a 2023-24 season with the Wolverines where she averaged 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 steals in 26 games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":745311,"width":"370px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/471-Ashley-Harris-e1692514875423.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-745311" style="width:370px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743529' first='Ashley' last='Harris']</strong> – As a standout that is concluding her freshman season, Harris is playing up in class. She is listed at 5-foot-8 and can give a team productive minutes at either of the guard positions in the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":479671,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/08/Sage-Smiley-rotated-crop-480x316-1660668436.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-479671" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476494' first='Sage' last='Smiley']</strong> – Smiley is the other Cherokee representative on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 roster outside of Moody. She stands at 5-foot-9. Last season, the Warriors advanced to the semifinals of the 7A state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaitlyn House</strong> – House is a multi-sport athlete who also thrives as a middle hitter for the varsity volleyball team at 1A Pepperell. She is listed at 5-foot-10 and is the sole representative from the Dragons on the [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Erves</strong> – Erves is one of the taller players on the roster as she stands at 5-foot-11. She gives representation to 6A Paulding County on the travel team and gives plenty of depth to a team's frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":674757,"width":"331px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/IMG_0603.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-674757" style="width:331px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='674750' first='Jaylan' last='Moore']</strong> – Speaking of two-sport athletes, the same applies to Moore as it does to Erves. Alongside basketball, Moore plays as a right side hitter and middle hitter for the varsity volleyball team at 5A Calhoun. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='578012' first='Stephanie' last='Schott']</strong> – Schott is the tallest member on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 team as she stands at 6-foot-1. Schott averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds with St. John's Bosco and concluded the 2023-24 season with a 12-4 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] 2026 Schedule</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>March 23: Brandon Clay Showdown – Buford, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>April 5-7: Showtime Shootout – Shelbyville, TN</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>April 12-14: WarGames Super Scrimmage – Charlotte, NC</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>April 19-21: Apache Memorial – Knoxville, TN (NCAA Live Period)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>May 11: Brandon Clay May Day Challenge – Atlanta, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>May 17-19: Clash of the Clubs – Houston, TX (NCAA Live Period) (Elite 40 Session 1)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>June 29: Brandon Clay's The Warm Up – Atlanta, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>July 6-7: Ohio Basketball Warm Up Series – Atlanta, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>July 11-16: Run 4 The Roses – Louisville, KY (NCAA Live Period) (Elite 40 Session 2)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>July 20-22: National Championship – Louisville, KY (NCAA Live Period) (Elite 40 Session 3)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->