AAA Preseason All State Selections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the classifications get smaller, you can still find quality players if you look hard enough. It makes my job a lot easier when high school coaches also "schedule up" and play some of the bigger schools. Murray County, for example, stepped up and played Hebron Christian a season ago showcasing the Ledford sisters and some other talented players who were underclassmen. That game was single digits late in the second half and that competition served them very well ending the season with a state championship. [player_tooltip player_id='876798' first='Audrey' last='Lunsford'] has been a part of some teams at Elbert County that have made deep runs in the state tournament while having had an excellent first three years individually. This classification had some serious changes during the offseason and that means it should be an exciting season with several surprises.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["926798"],"_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-6af3da37b04d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ledford is one of the best guards in Georgia in a loaded 2028 class, sitting just outside the top ten in the rankings. She is deceptively quick and very crafty handling the basketball making her difficult for defenders to stay in front of. Blaklee has some of the quickest one-two dribble combinations that seemingly always gets her open and an even quicker release on her excellent shot from the perimeter. I have seen Ledford play against serious competition and more than hold her own on several occasions, like the aforementioned Hebron game a year ago. With her sister graduated and now a freshman on D2 Emmanuel's basketball team, Blaklee will have to take on more of the scoring this season for Murray County. Something she should have no problem doing. Once again she will showcase her talent against the state's best with matchups against North Paulding and Dalton. They will also be participating in the Insider Exposure Cherokee Invitational with some of the best teams in the country in December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876798"],"_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-6af3da37b05a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lunsford has put together a very solid three year career playing at Elbert County and she is without question one of the very best players in this classification in Georgia. She is good enough to help lead this young Elbert County lacking experience back to the Final Four and contend for the state championship when she is at her best. Lunsford is a matchup nightmare playing against the smaller schools in Georgia as she is too big for most all of the guards the Lady Devils will play and way too athletic for almost all of the post players to stop from driving. She is also an outstanding facilitator and elite passer.I would expect to see some monster games scoring the ball in her senior year, but she may also run the point some. At times, I think Lunsford has been too unselfish but with such a young core of contributors she will rely on this season, it will be necessary at time for Audrey balance both. She recently received an offer from D2 Georgia College and State University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743571"],"_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-6af6609694097"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Regan played like a mature, natural floor general at the North Georgia team camp in June. Union County has talented scorers up and down their lineup, but someone has to get them the basketball. Trlica got the ball to her open teammates on time and target in Dahlonega while racking up an impressive number of assists. She is an outstanding ball handler with a high basketball IQ and did not turn the ball over much, if at all, when I watched them play. Regan is more than capable of scoring the basketball herself and does so efficiently from all three levels. She also rebounds the basketball very well for her position and on defense picked the ball off the other team's point guard at least once every game. Union County has the talent to go far in the AAA state playoffs and if they do it will be in large part to Regan's ability to handle pressure when the Lady Panthers are on offense and apply when they are on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743546"],"_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-6af66096940ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jade has averaged in double figures scoring the first three years of her career at Washington County while also stuffing the stat sheet in multiple other areas. A season ago, Kitchens saw a drastic improvement from her sophomore season in both rebounding and points per game finishing with an average of 16.1 ppg, 9.7 rebounds per game and adding 3.4 assists and a very impressive four steals per game. She has already joined the 1,000 point scoring club and is well over 500 rebounds for her career. Kitchens is an outstanding shooter from deep, averaging over 40% for three-point range a year ago. That combined with her playmaking ability, especially in transition, makes her one of the best in AAA. She and the Golden Hawks should be in contention in late February and early March in her last season at Washington County. I know she was a very big priority for the Middle Georgia staff, so it was no surprise to see her choose the Lady Knights as her college destination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["910480"],"_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-6af6609694138"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bristol has the potential to challenge [player_tooltip player_id='926798' first='Blaklee' last='Ledford'] for Player of the Year in Region 7AAA. She plays bigger than 5'10 and has the skills to be a matchup nightmare at the Stretch 4 position for Union. [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] is a very good shooter from the perimeter and has the length and high release to shoot over smaller defenders and is way too quick for other post players to keep in front. On the interior, [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] has very good footwork and has very good finishing ability with both hands, including some nice reverses. She is active and aggressive rebounding the basketball, especially on the offensive end where she seems to get multiple put backs every time I see her play. This team is loaded with talent in the backcourt with outstanding guard play and has a solid anchor in the middle with McKenna Hood. This should allow Bristol to play free and attack from the midrange driving and shooting all year. [player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last=''] has three years to continue to develop and I think she has the chance to finish her high school career as a Division One recruit in three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1055908"],"_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-6af6609694184"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gilreath is one of the more intriguing college prospects in the state and is still somewhat of a relative unknown. That is changing however as the 6'4 junior has seen her hard work pay off with more recognition over the last year, including six college offers. At 6'4 Gilreath has a pretty incredible wingspan that should give her the ability to dominate the boards and protect the rim in the AAA. She has grown leaps and bounds skill-wise on the offensive end of the floor and is getting more confident and comfortable using her left to finish around the rim. She already does a good job catching the ball and getting it up to the basket quickly without bringing it down to guard-level. Avantey is also expanding her range shooting the basketball and will continue to improve in that area. Gilreath averaged nine points and seven rebounds a season ago. It would not surprise me to see those numbers increase dramatically in her junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1860875"],"_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-6af66096941c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kendall had a very impressive stat line as a junior, finishing the season averaging 19 points per game, over six rebounds per game, 3.3 assists and nearly six steals per contest for Miller Grove. She was a standout performer a month ago at the Prep Girls Hoops Expo at Lakepoint as well as the [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] Top 50 Earned Not Given showcase a few weeks prior. She is a dynamic point guard who has shown well competing against very good competition over the course of the last year. In the first game of her senior season Kendall scored 40 points as was recently named to the Atlanta Tip Off Club Metro Atlanta Player of the Year Watchlist. She currently holds offers from Piedmont, Johnson, and Newberry College.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1052982"],"_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-6af660969420e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Greenlee is one of the rare point guards who can initiate and facilitate the offense and go get her team twenty plus points on the same night. Her efficiency shooting the ball is very good, but her ability to shake defenders and create space with her quickness and dribble are what make Lumpkin most dangerous. She has the natural feel for when to change speeds with the ball keeping defenders off balanced and guessing where she is going next. That same quickness allows Lumpkin to turn defense into offense whether she is picking the ball of a dribbler or intercepting the balls in the passing lane before scoring uncontested layups on the other end. Lumpkin is also a very talented volleyball player, but it looks like her future in college will be playing basketball. She currently holds offers from Shorter University and Piedmont College. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244499"],"_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-6af6609694254"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have seen EK play a handful of times over the past year, all in different environments. She was excellent at GAC in the 6AAA Region Tournament, in June with Lumpkin County, and the last time playing pick-up at an open gym at South Forsyth High School. [player_tooltip player_id='1241700' first='Reese' last=''] is long, tall, and very athletic which allows her to impact the game in a lot of areas. Offensively, she shoots the ball well enough from the perimeter to play guard in college and was equally impactful slashing to the basket from the wing and short corner on the baseline. She should do a really nice job operating at the free throw in high/low situations when opposing teams try to zone the Lady Indians as well. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1241700' first='Reese' last=''] uses her frame and quickness to apply strong on-ball pressure and does a good job contesting shots at the rim. She may be somewhat of a surprise for some to be on this list, but with the departure of Maddie Lee I expect her to have a breakout junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1279429"],"_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-6af6609694298"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gotell comes over to GHSA from St. George's and GIAA where she had an incredible two-year start to her career, especially on the offensive end. As an 8th grader Gotell averaged over 20 points per game and followed that up with an even more impressive 25 points per game as a freshman. She has just under (991) 1,000 points scored in that two-year period. She made the move to Lamar County in the offseason and will need to help replace a lot of the point production lost from a team that went 24-6 a year ago. Around 30 points per game either graduated or transferred and Jules has the resume to step in and put a lot of points on the board for the Lady Trojans. If the first game is any indicator, then she won't have a problem. Gotell's stat line in game one for Lamar was 22 points (4 made three point shots), two rebounds and two steals in three quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->