2030 Watchlist Additions: Ready For Primetime

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was tasked with putting together the 2030 Watchlist for girls basketball prospects in Georgia back in the Spring. At the time there were a few household names I added as well as some players I had seen when my daughter Ila (2030) was training or playing. This latest group I had not had the chance to see for an extended period of time, if at all, when the watchlist needed to be published. This group in particular has 1-2 players in contention to be named in the top five, and even higher, when the rankings for this class are compiled and published. I expect these players to have outstanding freshman seasons and emerge as some of the very best young players not just in the state, but far beyond our borders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1688677"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d6949"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I saw Kennedi for the first time about two years ago at Pitts Academy training early on a Saturday or Sunday morning and then a few more times the next few months. She was already over 6' tall, but was much slighter and seemed like a shy/quiet kid. Fast forward a couple of years and Harris is now 6'4 and already being tabbed by very important people nationally as a player to watch in this class. Kennedi is still developing as any freshman should, but her ceiling is way higher than just about everyone else in this class. She is still trying to figure things out according to Basketball Bob Corwin, but there is no doubt she will be a Power Four player with a chance to be a McDonalds All American. Kennedi made the move from GIAA to GHSA for high school and should be the best player for Veterans the next four years. She currently holds offers from Clemson, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Purdue, and Louisville. I expect that list to double by the end of the high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1823939"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d697f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zara will be in the group at the very top of the 2030 rankings in Georgia when they are published. She is well over 6' and already has excellent guard skills and fundamentals. Mopa has next-level athleticism already too which is easily seen as she sprints up and down the court finishing on one end and blocking shots on the other. Offensively, you can't give Zara space on the perimeter as she is a very good shooter with a quick trigger and high release point. She is most effective slashing to the basket (with or without the basketball), however heading into her freshman season at Campbell where she will join a very talented team. Zara is still young and will continue to develop and get better in all areas. She is a well-spoken kid whose parents both played college basketball at a high level. She should start seeing scholarship offers coming in sooner, rather than later. She has a very bright future in this game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1835069"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d69a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 2030 class in Georgia is loaded with top-level talent, including several players well over 6' tall as they begin their high school careers. Maleigha is the biggest of the group and the best pure post prospect in the very deep class not just in Georgia but maybe the southeast. Berg was excellent in June at the Wildcat Shootout at Camden County. She already does a good job positioning herself to establish post position in the paint, sat down and sealed her defender, and then went and met the pass from the wing repeatedly. You do not see many players do this properly in today's game, so props for that Maleigha. When Berg caught the ball she scored with her back to the basket, facing up and knocking down short jumpers, or taking one or two power dribbles to the rim before finishing, often through contact. When she got to the free throw line, Maleigha looked calm and confident. She has excellent hands and footwork to go along with the great size and skill. Tucked away in Ware County near the Florida-Georgia line, Berg won't be a secret for much longer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1872100"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d69c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nevaeh is one of the very best ball handlers among the freshmen in Georgia and combined with her quickness, made her nearly unguardable at the Prep Girls Hoops Georgia Freshman Showcase a few months ago. In Athens, when I saw Creekside in June at the UGA team camp, she was almost as effective playing against kids three years older than her. Anderson is not just a threat to score off the bounce as she knocked down multiple three-point shots during both viewings as well. With all the talent in the backcourt at Creekside, Anderson will still find plenty of playing time and make the most of it in her first high school season. She is the heir apparent to take over for the number one ranked 2027 in Georgia [player_tooltip player_id='671766' first='C'India' last='Dennis'] who recently committed to Auburn University and missed last season due to an ACL injury. With Dennis mentoring her for a full high school season, Nevaeh should be ready to take over this time next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814235"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d69e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] looked confident and comfortable playing with the first team for North Hall at the Wildcat Shootout in June at Camden County High School. The team has a lot of young talent at the guard position with players like Talulah Ball, [player_tooltip player_id='1726710' first='Camille' last='Nix'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1726740' first='Malorie' last='Wyse'], but Rae is probably the best shooter of the group. Physically [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] is a strong 5'7 and should have no trouble competing right away when the regular season begins. [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] showed in Kingsland that she is not just a shooter as she scored several baskets in transition and slashing to the basket in the half-court over the course of about 7-8 games. She will be a meaningful contributor her freshman season and I expect her to contribute more as the season rolls on. She has the shooting ability to get North Hall 15-18 points on any given night. If defenses leave her unaccounted for on the perimeter [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] will punish them as she is nearly automatic when left open from three-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1895173"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae75ab9d69ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Manuel was one of the very best guards/wings at the Prep Girls Hoops Georgia Freshman Expo a few months ago. She plays with a maturity and skill level that is far beyond her years. She was poised and confident handling the basketball and picked and chose her spots to assert dominance wisely. Manuel is long and her crossovers were wide with the ball staying low to the ground. Bottom line, she was a load for opposing teams at the showcase. Defenders had a very hard time staying in front of E'lycia when she had the basketball, especially with a full head of steam. She shot the ball very well from the perimeter and was a nuisance on the defensive end. A very good prospect that I will be tracking in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->