Star-Led Teams Headline AAA Elite Eight

As the Elite Eight begins in earnest tonight, some of the very best players in the state and nationally will take the floor with their teams with the hopes of reaching the Final Four. Georgia is loaded with girls basketball talent as is the case every year, but in the AAA Elite Eight, there is serious star power with [player_tooltip player_id='899789' first='Morghan' last='Reckley'] (1st in 2028 class), [player_tooltip player_id='671764' first='Kie'Aundria' last='Acree'] (2nd in 2027 class), and [player_tooltip player_id='991147' first='Ella' last='David'] (#3 in 2029 class). [player_tooltip player_id='674580' first='Bristol' last='Kersh'], a Notre Dame soccer commit along with [player_tooltip player_id='630665' first='Claire' last='Carlson'] who has signed to play at Middle Georgia College lead the defending state champions Cherokee Bluff. [player_tooltip player_id='476460' first='Ellison' last='Steinhauer'] is averaging over 23 points a game for Pickens and has signed to play at North Georgia the next four years. These kids are elite individual players but possess the unique ability to bring the best out of their teammates. That's why they are still playing and that's why any of the these teams are a threat to win a state championship. Jenkins, Heritage-Catoosa, and Stephenson point production is spread out more evenly which can be more difficult to prepare for on opposing coaches. They also very good individual players, however, and a few will make a name for themselves or improve their stock with good play this round against strong competition.    KJ has had some monster games scoring the ball this season for Monroe. At 6' she almost impossible to guard as she is deadly shooting the ball from the perimeter as well as slashing to the basket and finishing with either hand with ease. The best teams Monroe has faced (including Bob Jones) could not hold Acree down for an entire game. She is too big, too athletic, and way too skilled for one person to try and guard. She is also electric with the basketball on the fast break. As defenses throw everything they can to try and slow her down, Acree has relied on the play of [player_tooltip player_id='674576' first='Taylor' last='McKinzy'] and freshman Maleyah Hines, both of whom are division one prospects themselves. Taylor has drawn the interest of and offers from in state schools like West Georgia and Mercer. Hines could be a top 5 player in the state in her class soon. She could find herself being recruited by schools nationally like Acree.     Morghan, like Acree, can go get a bucket almost anytime she wants. She is ranked across the board, by every recruiting site and service, in the top ten (some in the top 5) in her class in the country for a reason. Her blazing speed and elite ball handling enable her to slice through defenses like Swiss cheese. Reckley has an incredible ability to hit very difficult shots over taller defenders on the perimeter and the smooth finishing ability to finish around them in the paint. Something that was on full display earlier this season versus Newton, the defending AAAAAA state champs who are also still playing. She is just as good defensively applying maximum pressure when her man has the basketball and jumping in the passing lane to deflect and steal balls before turning them into uncontested layups on the break and an easy two points for Sandy Creek. [player_tooltip player_id='841732' first='Madison' last='Reckley'], recently offered by Miami, is an excellent two-way player herself. She is one of the better defenders in the state (Region DPOY), generating steals and transition points each game while also consistently knocking down shots from the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id='1280107' first='Kandyce' last='Hopkins'] could breakout with a monster game at any time as well. The freshman post has shown steady improvement over the course of the season for Sandy Creek and could develop into a power four prospect. She needs to have a presence in the post for her team to advance.     Ella is the youngest of the stars mentioned, but had as good a year as almost any player in Georgia as a freshman. She leads by example with her play and her teammates seem to feed off her youthful exuberance. They know how good Ella is and have raised their games all season long to match her resulting in a 26-3 record and a spot in the Elite Eight. David's game is unorthodox and unique to her which makes her very difficult to prepare for. David knows where her spots are and does a great job getting to them. Ella is very confident shooting the ball from the perimeter and can slash to the basket with the best of them. She is very crafty with the ball and has excellent peripheral vision. When defenses over-commit to her she punishes them by finding one of her many talented teammates like [player_tooltip player_id='1058118' first='Jill' last='Daniel'] (just offered by Georgia College and State). Daniel is a very good player who quietly goes about her business. Sophomore Maddie Cass brings the juice and energy on defense and is very capable of scoring for the Lady Warriors. Cass, like [player_tooltip player_id='674580' first='Bristol' last='Kersh'], looks like a wing back playing basketball and their ability to turn defense into offense quickly translates very well from the pitch to the court.     Ellison, who recently signed to play at North Georgia) finished the season averaging over 23 points and 14 rebounds for Pickens in a very difficult 6AAA region. The most impressive thing about Ellison's game is her composure and calm on the ball. She does not get sped up by the other teams defense, but does a great job changing up her pace with the ball keeping the opposing guards off balance. Steinhauer is an elite shooter off the pass and dribble where she has improved in creating her own shot the last couple years. Ellison is very talented and her team is battle tested in a very difficult region 6AAA with GAC, White County, Lumpkin, and North Hall who all won their opening games in the tournament. She will need a big individual performance for Pickens to win versus Jenkins.     Young has had an outstanding senior season averaging a double-double scoring 11 points per game on 48% shooting from the field while hauling down over 10 rebounds per contest. Young has ideal length and athleticism and uses it well rebounding the ball and providing a deterrent in the paint on defense. Young and guards [player_tooltip player_id='1244526' first='Aniyah' last='Browner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1244524' first='Ke'Ara' last='Jones'] will need to have big games on both sides of the floor to beat Pickens and advance tot he Final Four. With a 25-4 record, including an undefeated region record, the Lady Warriors are more than capable of doing just that.     Collins could be the difference maker in the game versus Oconee County. The Warriors have excellent guard play, but are a little undersized and could be vulnerable in the paint. Collins has the ability to provide a strong post presence for Heritage if she is given opportunities to score on the block. She has very good footwork and can score in traffic. She establishes good post position by sealing her defender and when she receives the ball attacks the basket quickly and effectively with her left hand. Collins needs to use that length and athleticism to control the boards on both ends and hold down the paint defensively, altering and blocking shots. Collins scoring early could open up shots on the perimeter for her talented teammate and guard [player_tooltip player_id='855040' first='Tori' last='Epps'] who leads the teaming scoring.     Bristol, if she chose, would have been about as highly sought after on the hardwood as she was on the soccer pitch before choosing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as the team she will play for in college. Kersh, just a junior, is as elite an athlete as you will find and has the IQ and skills to match at the point guard position. She is blur on the court, racing from end to end, scoring a ton of her points in transition on the fast break. She is also very efficient shooting the ball from the perimeter and breaking down defenders off the dribble and scoring in the half court. Her backcourt mate and Middle Georgia signee [player_tooltip player_id='630665' first='Claire' last='Carlson'] is one of the very best shooters in the state, especially when she has it going. Their play, along with the play of fellow guard [player_tooltip player_id='1612403' first='Audrey' last='Graham'] will be key if Cherokee Bluff is able to repeat and win another AAA state championship.

As the Elite Eight begins in earnest tonight, some of the very best players in the state and nationally will take the floor with their teams with the hopes of reaching the Final Four. Georgia is loaded with girls basketball talent as is the case every year, but in the AAA Elite Eight, there is serious star power with Morghan Reckley Morghan Reckley 5'8" | PG Sandy Creek | 2028 State GA (1st in 2028 class), Kie’Aundria Acree Kie’Aundria Acree 6'0" | PG/CG Monroe | 2027 State #30 Nation GA (2nd in 2027 class), and Ella David Ella David 5'11" | CG Oconee County | 2029 State GA (#3 in 2029 class). Bristol Kersh Bristol Kersh 5'7" | CG Cherokee Bluff | 2027 State GA , a Notre Dame soccer commit along with Claire Carlson Claire Carlson 5'9" | PG Cherokee Bluff | 2026 State GA who has signed to play at Middle Georgia College lead the defending state champions Cherokee Bluff. Ellison Steinhauer Ellison Steinhauer 5'10" | CG Pickens | 2026 State GA is averaging over 23 points a game for Pickens and has signed to play at North Georgia the next four years. These kids are elite individual players but possess the unique ability to bring the best out of their teammates. That's why they are still playing and that's why any of the these teams are a threat to win a state championship. Jenkins, Heritage-Catoosa, and Stephenson point production is spread out more evenly which can be more difficult to prepare for on opposing coaches. They also very good individual players, however, and a few will make a name for themselves or improve their stock with good play this round against strong competition.