I saw Kandyce only a couple of days ago at Milton with her high school team Sandy Creek, versus Woodstock and the first half of the Lanier game. Once thought of as a project with potential because of her height and length, the work Hopkins is putting in on her own is paying off. She has very soft hands and that was evident as she caught a few highlight reel passes from Morghan Reckley Morghan Reckley 5'8" | PG Sandy Creek | 2028 State #7 Nation GA that other players, especially posts, would not have been able to handle. When she caught the ball, Kndyce was decisive in her actions and quick getting the ball up to the rim or off the glass. On a couple plays she appeared to be implementing new post moves on the block. On one in particular she used a combination of a shot make and spin move where she nearly lost her footing but was able to gather herself before going up and over her shoulder and scoring on a quick baby hook. Defensively she blocked multiple shots while deterring several others. Players like her are rare at nearly 6’2 and possessing the ability to move. I think it will be sooner, rather than later, when Hopkins receives her first scholarship offer.

When you play with a player like Reckley, you are going to get thrown in deep water against the high level of competition that you will face. Players either sink or swim and Hopkins stepped her game in a big way for Sandy Creek on both ends of the court. She was very effective operating in the high post in the middle of Monroe’s defense. She took and made shots confidently from 10-12 feet making her another threat for the Lady Tornadoes to deal with. Hopkins showed soft hands catching quick passes from Reckley and confidently laying the ball up and in. She had a huge impact on defense blocking multiple shots and altering several others. Kandyce has the chance to join the other elite freshmen in Georgia at the top of the rankings the next few years.

Sturdy post presence does a good job protecting the paint. Uses her length to block shots. Finishes well inside and is deceptively mobile in transition. Averaging 6.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.

Kandyce might have the highest ceiling of any 2029 I saw in Georgia. She has great size and soft touch on the interior. Her finishing ability was impressive with both hands over either shoulder with strength and a couple of And One’s over the course of the showcase. The thing that stood out the most to me with her game was how much ground she was able to cover and her length when blocking shots from behind the arc, long 2’s, and in the paint.