This award easily could have gone to her teammate Deanna Lowther, but the times I watched East Laurens play Mitchell had the bigger impact on the game. Their stats are comparable. Lowther had a very good career and went out a state champ. Mitchell stood out very early the first time I saw her play. She plays with a very high motor and a lot of toughness as a slashing forward. Mitchell’s productivity this season was impressive on a veteran team with other capable scorers. She averaged 13.5 points and over 10 rebounds a game as a freshman. She is hard to miss at almost six feet tall, especially when she flashes her athleticism sprinting the floor on the break or exploding in the air to block a shot or grab a rebound. Garyunna is a player in the 2029 class who is not currently ranked, but will make her debut on that list in a pretty high position. Her upside and potential should keep the East Laurens faithful excited about basketball for the next three years.

The long-armed freshman was mighty impressive, hurting Elbert County early on with her length and athleticism. Mitchell double-doubled with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks. She was effective at the top of the press, showing off her athletic tools as she quickly tracked down ball handlers and helped force turnovers in traps. Mitchell is springy. She snagged five offensive rebounds and was a foul magnet, heading to the line to shoot 7-12. Continuing to expand her offensive game will help broaden her ceiling. Garyunna is a nice prospect to track moving forward.

Mitchell was a player I had not seen before, and honestly never heard of. She, however, made an early and obvious impact on the game for East Laurens scoring the ball and grabbing rebounds while flashing impressive athleticism and effort to go along with her size and length. She finished the game scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, most of which game in the first half where she was able to keep her team in the game while others struggle to score. She is a player to watch in the 2029 class with a lot of physical gifts and a very high ceiling when it comes to her potential.