As soon as Berg walked in the gym I immediately asked Shayla Smith who she was. Standing over 6’2′ tall with broad shoulders it was hard to miss her as she and her teammates went to go stretch. When the game started it was clear that she was going to be a kid and a name that I will become very familiar with over the next four years as she is only now about to start her freshman year of high school at Ware County. She is not just a 2030 and big however, Berg scored three times in the first half of their game against Bradwell Institute after establishing post position and giving a target to her wings. Once she received the ball, she kept it high and showed a lot of touch finishing off the glass. A couple of those scores came off of good, old fashioned drop steps on the block. Once Maleigha started scoring, the fouls started coming when she received the basketball in scoring position. She looked very confident at the free throw showing good form and follow through. She was an active rebounder, again showing excellent mobility for her size and age, while also blocking multiple shots on defense. She is and will be a high division one target with one SEC school already extending an offer according to another high school coach at the event.

One would be hard-pressed to find an interior threat that was more of a challenge for defenses to handle than Berg. Porter Sports 15U was the fourth of the four teams that concluded its Peach Games weekend with a 4-0 showing. Berg displayed the talent that last year landed her an in-state Division I Mercer. She was one rebound shy of a double-double when Porter Sports 15U earned a hard-fought 50-48 victory over Her Elite 15U EYBL. Berg is set to join the Gators of 4A Ware County in 2026-27 and should put together one of the signature breakout seasons of anyone from the 2030 class. 

Berg is just now transitioning from eighth grade status into freshman life and has already secured an in-state offer from Mercer. That offer was made to this skilled big last year – a testament to what she’s already accomplished and what is to come for her. Porter Sports was one of the toughest outs among the 15U division this past weekend at Peach Games. Team Elite Hubbard 15U 3SSB found that out on Sunday afternoon when her team defeated its fellow Georgia combatants by a final tally of 38-18. Berg would score nine points in the victory – including eight in the first half.