Sandy’s Spiel Showcase: Top Guards

The first annual Sandy’s Spiel Showcase provided a stage for strong programs with underrecruited talent to be seen at Lanier High School. Many players capitalized on their opportunity and further helped their potential recruitment. Here is a list of top performers. <h2><strong><u>Sandy’s Spiel Showcase Top Guards</u></strong></h2> <strong>2020 5-6 PG <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/azonya-austin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/azonya-austin/">Azonya Austin</a></a> – North Cobb – <span style="color: #800000"><em>Alabama A&amp;M</em></span> </strong>Matched up against a future ACC player, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/azonya-austin/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/azonya-austin/">Azonya Austin</a></a> left no doubt as to who the best guard on the court was that Saturday. The true point guard tallied 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals as North Cobb pulled away from No. 8 ELCA 55-42. Austin excels at getting to the basket and has such a strong handle of the ball that she can get past most guards at this level. Austin has a great floor game as well, able to contribute across the board. She is a playmaker and the engine for North Cobb. <strong><span style="color: #00ccff">2020 5-5 PG Kayla Sesberry</span> – Douglass </strong>Kayla Sesberry provides energy and a scrappiness that is hard to match, especially at the Class 2A level. The defending state champ piled in 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 steals in a 57-31 win over Hart County. Sesberry is an aggressive defender and a quick ball handler that pushes well. She has a good feel for the game and doesn’t get out of control when Douglass decides to play fast. <strong><span style="color: #00ccff">2020 5-6 PG Zuriyah Davis</span> – Lanier </strong>Coming in averaging 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists, the Central Gwinnett transfer has fit in nicely at Lanier. Against Elbert County she didn’t overwhelm, but she was steady throughout to pick up a game-high 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. The lefty has an athletic build and a good first step. She showed range out to the three-point line and also the willingness to pass up good looks to get teammates great looks. <strong><span style="color: #00ccff">2020 5-7 SG Sydney Thomas</span> – North Cobb </strong>One of Georgia’s biggest sleepers and underrecruited scorers, Thomas brought her workman-like attitude to the Sandy’s Spiel Showcase and did everything asked of her. She eclipsed the 1,000-point barrier on Saturday as she finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. Known as a knockdown shooter, Thomas nailed two threes. She projects to be a 3-&amp;-D type player at the next level. D-II schools are starting to show interest in the high-academic guard that has a 4.2 GPA. For a player that plays in the toughest region in the state’s largest classification and has had success since her first varsity minutes, Thomas is a safe bet to be a productive player at the next level and a late steal for whoever is sniffing around Georgia. <strong>2020 5-9 CG <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/weronika-hipp/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/weronika-hipp/">Weronika Hipp</a></a> – ELCA – <span style="color: #ff6600"><em>Clemson</em></span> </strong>Aside from getting free for three three-pointers, the Clemson-signee was held in check in a loss to North Cobb. Hipp finished with 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Her skill level is apparent, able to dance on the perimeter and create open looks off the bounce at will, but her shot selection will need to improve and she will have to attack the rim instead of solely relying on her jump shot at the next level. She is a nice playmaker and has confidence making tough passes. Hipp quickly bounced back after her lukewarm performance on Saturday and drilled eight threes in a win on MLK Day. <strong><span style="color: #00ccff">2023 5-6 PG Aaniyah Allen</span> – Elbert County </strong>One of five freshmen who start for Coach Josh Jones, Aaniyah Allen is the best of the bunch. She averages 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals. Allen is fearless, sticking her nose in loose ball situations and always trying to mix it up on defense. Against a senior-laden Lanier team, she battled her way to 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Allen has a really good future ahead as a slick ball handler with a nice jumper.