GIAA AAAA/AAA District Four All Region Team

As soon as Athens Christian hoisted the trophy as region champions, the all region team and player of the year selections were announced in front of the crowd at George Walton Academy. There are several high level prospects who will play college basketball in this region, including in the Big East and Ivy League, so being selected for this team is a huge accomplishment. The region has three of the very best teams in the entire state in GIAA girls basketball. The players selected not only proved their worth in the regular season, but were also their team's best players in the tournament. Congrats to [player_tooltip player_id='586760' first='Josi' last='Vaughn'], [player_tooltip player_id='809141' first='Voldie' last='Basana'], [player_tooltip player_id='594116' first='Marlene' last='Mbilima'], and coach Jeff Vaughn on an outstanding season. [player_tooltip player_id='1696749' first='Scarlett' last='Mercado'], who ran the Athens Christian offense to perfection under Vaughn's coaching, would also have been a deserving candidate. The pass-first junior point guard distributed the ball to her very talented teammates, played scrappy defense creating turnovers, and was a very effective and efficient scorer when left open on the perimeter and scoring in transition. Expect her to have a big senior season for the Eagles next year. Gabie Snell, [player_tooltip player_id='1635108' first='Grace' last='Ward'], and Region player of the year [player_tooltip player_id='476478' first='Sanai' last='Cyrus'] represented Loganville Christian on the team, while GWA's two playmaking guards [player_tooltip player_id='864036' first='Kennedie' last='Cooper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='968150' first='Kenzie' last='Johnson'] also earned their selections. Lakeview Academy had two very deserving players selected for the team with Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='727049' first='Emyrie' last='Combs'] and Freshman Caroline Williams. Bethlehem Christian sophomore point guard Lydia Goddard was also selected.    When Marlene decides she is going to take over a game, there isn't a lot that the vast majority of high school players can do about it. She is a force in the paint, swatting shots out of bounds and cleaning the boards on defense, while on the offensive end Mbilima is just as effective rebounding the ball and scoring second chance points for her team. Marlene looked more comfortable operating on the perimeter as the season went on shooting and making threes. Her confidence seemed to surge operating in the paint as well, using drop steps, spin moves, and great balance on her pivot foot. Marlene's best basketball may still be ahead of her in the Ivy League at Penn.     Basana has the rare mix of size, athleticism, and skill that college coaches dream about at night. Basana, who is committed to Providence College, also has power and strength that is rare in high school. Basana explodes off the floor whether it's blocking shots, snatching rebounds, or elevating over the defense to score. Her ability to elevate at over six foot is rare in the women's game, which made her such a coveted college prospect. Basana combines those physical tools with experience and maturity. She plays within herself and is very efficient. I would not be surprised to see her playing professionally in a few years. Physically she is as gifted as any player in Georgia.     Josi is one of, if not the best, unsigned seniors in Georgia. She recently became the all time leading scorer at ACS with over 1500 career points. Vaughn is nearly automatic shooting the ball from three point range and a few feet beyond. She is efficient and effective in one on one isolation plays where she creates space with her handle to shoot or penetrate. Josi finishes extremely well around the rim. She operated as a combo guard playing for her dad at ACS, and could do the same or specialize as a point guard or shooting guard at the next level. She is a natural scorer who has great basketball intelligence. Josi will be a steal for whichever school signs her. Expect to see her selected for and shine in postseason all star exhibitions.     Cooper, who recently joined the 1,000 point scorers club, wasted little time in the championship game making an impact. She got a steal early and was able to go coast to coast and score on a contested layup a couple minutes into the game. Cooper used her quickness and ball handling to penetrate the defense all game long, get into the paint, and then scored with her left hand on several nice finishes in traffic. Cooper also showed the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter. Kennedie has continued her exceptional play from Maynard Jackson high school where she started her career.     Johnson put on a nice display scoring the ball in the semifinals helping lead her team over Lakeview Academy. While her shot was not falling in the finals, Johnson still impressed with her movement without the ball on offense cutting to the basket and running off screens designed to get her open looks. Johnson has great size at the shooting guard position and handles the ball well. Her fundamentals are very sound and she plays the game with a lot of intelligence. Johnson is a player I expect to have a very good travel ball season and college coaches to take notice of. She is a player that does a lot well, unselfish, and a winner.     Catherine, just a freshman, has as much upside and potential as any player selected on this team. Williams is a player with the tools and size that make her a bonafide division one prospect right now. She has excellent movement and soft hands. Williams makes it look easy already scoring the ball inside. She performed exceptionally well against Basana and Mbilima from Athens Christian, two players three years older and already signed or committed to play basketball at the highest level. Williams keeps the ball up high and gets her shots to the basket quick which allowed her to score against Athens Christian dynamic post duo. Catherine drew a lot of fouls and shot the ball very well from the free throw line and looked confident doing it.

As soon as Athens Christian hoisted the trophy as region champions, the all region team and player of the year selections were announced in front of the crowd at George Walton Academy. There are several high level prospects who will play college basketball in this region, including in the Big East and Ivy League, so being selected for this team is a huge accomplishment. The region has three of the very best teams in the entire state in GIAA girls basketball. The players selected not only proved their worth in the regular season, but were also their team's best players in the tournament. Congrats to Josi Vaughn Josi Vaughn 5'5" | PG Athens Christian | 2026 State GA , Voldie Basana Voldie Basana 6'1" | C Athens Christian | 2026 State GA , Marlene Mbilima Marlene Mbilima 6'3" | C Athens Christian | 2026 State GA , and coach Jeff Vaughn on an outstanding season. Scarlett Mercado Scarlett Mercado 5'6" | PG/SG Athens Christian | 2027 GA , who ran the Athens Christian offense to perfection under Vaughn's coaching, would also have been a deserving candidate. The pass-first junior point guard distributed the ball to her very talented teammates, played scrappy defense creating turnovers, and was a very effective and efficient scorer when left open on the perimeter and scoring in transition. Expect her to have a big senior season for the Eagles next year. Gabie Snell, Grace Ward Grace Ward 5'6" | SG/SF Loganville Christian | 2026 GA , and Region player of the year Sanai Cyrus Sanai Cyrus 5'10" | PF Loganville Christian | 2026 State GA represented Loganville Christian on the team, while GWA's two playmaking guards Kennedie Cooper Kennedie Cooper 5'5" | CG/PG George Walton | 2026 State GA and Kenzie Johnson Kenzie Johnson 5'10" | CG/SG George Walton | 2027 State GA also earned their selections. Lakeview Academy had two very deserving players selected for the team with Senior guard Emyrie Combs Emyrie Combs 5'6" | PG Lakeview Academy | 2026 State GA and Freshman Caroline Williams. Bethlehem Christian sophomore point guard Lydia Goddard was also selected.