Georgia '27s Selected for SportsCenter Next Top 100

You could argue that some of these players are ranked a little too low (I would) or that more players from Georgia should have been selected. I could argue that too. Take Cece Dennis out of the conversation due to injury if you want, but I think KJ Acree deserved a spot in the top 50. Once you get past their top 50, there are a total of six players from the Peach State that made the list. A very impressive feat that illustrates the depth we have in girls' basketball in this state. Three of these players have already committed to the colleges and universities they will be attending for the next four years. The other three players have not and are in very high demand from a number of schools across the country.    Dennis was the highest ranked player from Georgia, coming in at number 54. Cece should be close to coming back from the knee injury she suffered in the first game of last season for Creekside versus Sandy Creek. There is no question she was playing the best basketball of her career at the time that I had seen her play. Fast forward ten months later (normal timeline for ACL injuries) and she should be ready to go when the season starts or close to it if the videos she posts about her rehabilitation are any indication. This week Dennis narrowed her list to five schools and has set official visits to each of her finalists. I have no insider knowledge, but she seems to be a big priority for the new staff at UGA. She is visiting the home state Bulldogs as I write this article for the weekend. Her other finalists include the University of Tennessee (visit Sept. 4-6), Clemson (visit Sept. 18-20), Auburn (visit Sept. 25-27), and the Florida State Seminoles (visit Oct. 2-4). With her five official visits coming before the start of play in her senior season, I think it is safe to assume that she will make a decision around that time.     Acree found herself number 55 on the list of the top 100 2027s according to ESPN and is currently the number two ranked player in the class in Georgia. Her Summer was interrupted by an ankle injury at Camden County in June with her high school team, Monroe. Luckily for her the hay is in the barn as they say. KJ has proven over the last three years, if not more, on the national stage that she is one of the very best seniors in the country. Acree's versatility and size to go along with elite skills on the offensive end have attracted the interest and offers from many of the best women's basketball programs in the country. The top six schools for KJ include the home state Georgia Yellow Jackets, with an official visit scheduled for September 6-8th. Up first will be the Missouri Tigers where Acree will visit on August 28th. After Georgia Tech, KJ will visit Virginia (September 11), Texas A&M (September 17), and Arizona State (October 16), before finishing with new head coach Greg Redus and Rutgers on Halloween weekend. KJ is game-changing player who has the potential play in the W after her college career is done.     Aila had a very impressive Top Five list including Georgia Tech, Oregan, Stanford, and Alabama before ultimately choosing new head coach Tammi Reiss and the Florida Gators on July 26th. Courtenay finished ranked 61st on the list and certainly would have found herself higher barring injury. During her time off, it seems as though something clicked or maybe, Aila is finally 100% healthy, but she is moving and playing as good or better than I can ever remember this summer and I coached against her when she was in middle school. I expect her to have a very productive senior season while leading St. Francis deep into the state tournament where they will play some other elite high school competition while trying to win a state championship. She should be able to dominate most of the players she will face on the interior offensively. She is a smooth finisher with both hands around the rim and understands/utilizes positioning very well on the block.     Parker was the first of the 2027 group to commit to coach Teri Moren and the Indiana Hoosiers all the way back in April, but that did not stop her from competing at a very high level this Spring and Summer with both her club and school team. Parker is one of the best shooters in the state and has proven it over the last three years. She will be counted on even more as a senior with the departure of two teammates who will be playing division one basketball this year. Parker was much more active and assertive on the interior when I watched River Ridge play at the GBCA Live event at Lakepoint in June. She has the size and skills to be a very good player in the Big Ten.     Weaver is one of the more intriguing players in the class with a very diverse skill set on the offensive end at 6'4 and great fluidity with her movement. Janiyah ran the point guard position for the majority of the games I saw Morrow play in June. She was very good breaking defenders down off the bounce before getting into the lane and finishing or creating for her teammates. She has the ability to knock down shots from the perimeter to go with her inside game as well. Weaver was an active rebounder on both ends while also blocking and altering shots, including more than one that was highlight worthy. Weaver recently released her Top 6 and that visits had been scheduled with each. Those schools include Alabama, St. Johns, Central Florida, North Carolina A&T, Delaware, and Bethune Cookman.     It has been a very busy Summer for Nimah as she not only held down her usual duties playing for both Alexander and Team Elite Hubbard but also took part in and enjoyed other special events. Nimah not only took part in the 2027 Project Perfect Session, she was a big part of her team winning the 3v3 tournament. At the beginning of August, August 1st in fact, Ibidunni selected Princeton University as her college of choice to continue her academic and athletic career. And recently, Nimah was selected and played for Nigeria in the Afro Cup 18U division. She is one of the more versatile players on the court on both ends in this class and always plays with a huge motor. Nimah is a big, strong kid who utilizes those physical gifts, along with her elite quickness and leaping ability, to score the ball consistently inside and be an active and aggressive rebounder. She can guard four, probably five, positions on the court and plays with a high IQ. She should be a great fit at Princeton.

You could argue that some of these players are ranked a little too low (I would) or that more players from Georgia should have been selected. I could argue that too. Take Cece Dennis out of the conversation due to injury if you want, but I think KJ Acree deserved a spot in the top 50. Once you get past their top 50, there are a total of six players from the Peach State that made the list. A very impressive feat that illustrates the depth we have in girls' basketball in this state. Three of these players have already committed to the colleges and universities they will be attending for the next four years. The other three players have not and are in very high demand from a number of schools across the country.