With basketball season swiftly approaching, and the city’s buzz for its favorite sport growing by the day, we felt it a prudent time to start rolling out some preseason high school basketball lists. We’re talking everything from chronicling who we think are the area’s top players coming into the season, to notable transfers, team rankings and former high school stars making their year-one debuts at their respective colleges.
Let’s start it all off by giving you who we think are 15 of the top girls basketball players coming back within our 33-team coverage area for the 2024-25 season, in no particular order.
Check out the list and tell us who we missed.
Jada Kendrick, Sr., Thomson
What can one of the most highly-touted high school basketball players in Georgia do for an encore? All that’s really left is for her to pick her college — and, according to her X (formerly Twitter) page, she’s set to do that on Nov. 16 — five days before the Lady Bulldogs open their 2024-25 season against at Lakeside. She’ll choose from a top six that includes schools such as Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Howard and William & Mary. All she’s done before that is essentially lead Thomson’s program since the first day she arrived on campus. Last year, the 6-footer Averaged 18.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4 steals per contest in helping Thomson to a 22-5 overall record and Region 4-AA runner-up finish. With a cast of talented returners from last year, including fellow senior Ty’Leishiah Latimore and her 14 ppg last year, Kendrick is looking to end her high school career with rings.
Brayla Harris, Sr., Butler
As a junior, Harris was a part of a solid duo that included then-senior Karen Nimo (11 ppg). Harris’ 18.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game means that she gave defenses fits last season. Expect more of the same with, perhaps, some help from fellow senior Rania Curry and junior Paris Floyd. The Bulldogs will miss Nimo who blossomed quickly in her only season playing high school basketball. But with Harris leading the charge, there should be more than enough here for the Lady Bulldogs to make another decent state tournament run after last year’s Class AA Elite Eight march where Butler bowed out after a heartbreaking 52-49 quarterfinals loss to Murray County. Harris will be hungry for a deeper run to close out her senior season.
Kerri Fluellen, Jr., Josey
When she’s on, there aren’t many more electrifying players in the state. As a sophomore, the 5-foot-7 Fluellen led the Lady Eagles in points (13 ppg) and assists (5.5) — which means she was every bit as solid a playmaker as she was a scorer. Her ridiculous 6.1 steals-per-game average was among the best in the state. With a loaded supporting cast, including backcourt mates Keasia Henderson and Shaniya Sanders, there’s not only an embarrassment of talent riches at Josey, but there’s the anticipation of seeing how Fluellen will flourish as a junior with another year of development under her belt. She’s got the “it” factor that gives her an edge in tight games and ultra-competitive situations, because she’s arguably the foremost Eagle to aggressively call for the ball in a need-to-score situation. Don’t be surprised if we’re talking Class AA Player of the Year accolades with Fluellen if all goes according to plan.
Raina Burns, Sr., Laney
It wasn’t the smoothest season for the Lady Wildcats last year, but Burns was a definite bright spot. The 5-foot-3 scoring machine did it all for Laney last year, and her 22.3 points per game carried the Wildcats toward respectability despite a 9-15 overall record and sixth place finish in Region 4-AA. Burns put the team on her back offensively with some help from Memorie Rhodes who averaged just a hair under double-digit scoring. But Burns was also a nuisance on defense, recording 3.6 steals and more than 3 assists per contest. The Wildcats look to be a senior-heavy bunch this year, and Burns’ play, along with the stepping up of her supporting cast, will likely be the difference in whether or not Laney heads back to the postseason this year.
India Williams, Jr., Westminster Schools of Augusta
The 5-foot-9 guard is the leading returning scorer for all girls players in the CSRA after pouring in 22.8 points per game to go along with 7.3 rebounds during her sophomore season. She helped lead Westminster to a second round appearance in the Class AAA GIAA state tournament last year. Her size and ability to score from virtually anywhere on the court made her close to unstoppable in most games she played last year, regardless of the competition level. This season, she’ll be without her backcourt mate Jaliyah Terry who transferred to Curtis Baptist. Also, Aime Spurlock and her 10.6 points and 7.7 boards average is gone, thanks to graduation. That means potentially even more of the scoring onus will fall upon Williams this season, giving her ample opportunities to show her ability to be the undisputed leader and face of the program.
Shaniya Sanders, Sr., Josey
There may not be a more talent-loaded team in the state, let alone the CSRA, than Josey, and the 5-foot-9 combo guard is a huge reason why. She’s one of four returning players from last year’s Class AA state runners up that was a double-figures scorer throughout the season. She may be one of the best rebounding guards in the state and has versatility that makes her a threat anywhere on the court. She’ll be where the brunt of Josey’s senior leadership will come from as the Eagles are looking to take the next step toward another state crown this season.
Jaliyah Terry, Sr., Curtis Baptist
Terry’s story is as impressive as her overall talent. She’s one of the highest scoring returning players in the CSRA, dropping over 17 points and snagging nine boards a game for Westminster last season. Now at Curtis Baptist, not only is she on pace to graduate with honors in the classroom, she’s looking for a state championship ring to boot with a program that fell just a few points of claiming the grand prize last year. Terry’s work ethic is unmatched, and she’ll not only lead on the court with her play, but also off the court through her intangibles.
Jade Kitchens, Soph., Washington County
This WACO squad could be a dangerous one to watch, considering the amount of young, promising talent littered across last season’s roster — that is, if they all return. Jade Kitchens, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, looks to be one of those who will. Her 11.9 points, five rebounds, four assists and 3.5 steals per contest last year would’ve been solid for anyone. But add to that stat line the fact that she was a freshmen leading the Golden Hawks in all those categories makes it all the more impressive. If Aeria Hagans joins Kitchens for her sophomore year as well, it could be the beginning of an exciting next three years for WACO basketball.
Keasia Henderson, Sr., Josey
By now, everybody who keeps even a remotely close eye on the local high school basketball scene knows by now that Josey’s loaded, and probably will enter the season as the favorite to win a Class AA state championship. And most of the standouts on this squad are juniors and sophomores. But when it comes to senior leadership, Henderson may stand head and shoulders above the rest. Her 12.2 points per game last season were definitely admirable as far as stats go. But the 5-foot-5 point guard stands out through her intangibles. She’s the kind of tough, gritty, battle-tested leader than can help the Eagles push past difficulties when adversity strikes during a long, difficult basketball season wearing a state title contender target on your back. Henderson fought gallantly in the Eagles’ 59-52 state championship game loss to Mount Paran last year. She’ll be part of a small but strong senior class that will try to will Josey back to the last game of the season in March.
Janiah Norman, Soph., Lincoln County
Speaking of impressive freshmen from a year ago who are returning for a possible encore performance, you can’t have that conversation without including this sharpshooting guard who paced the Lady Red Devils with her 15.8 ppg average while getting help from Syriah Hogan who scored at a 12.7 per-game clip as a junior last season. Norman’s game was beyond her years, though, and in addition to her team-leading scoring average, she was also Lincoln County’s biggest 3-point shooting threat, sinking 34 treys at a 35% shooting clip. Her and Hogan will formulate one of the better, more complimentary scoring duos in the area.
Jada Jennings, Soph., Fox Creek
The 5-foot-7 point guard showed uncanny floor general skill last year as a freshman for the Predators as the team’s leading scorer at 11.4 points per game. Jennings and fellow freshman Maya Kryshtalowych’s 7.2 ppg and 8.5 rebounds per game helped Fox Creek salvage an overall losing record by attaining a 4-4 mark in SCHSL Region 3-AA which was good enough for third place and a state tournament berth. She’s not afraid to penetrate and finish in the lane, and she’s a savvy distributor to be such a young player. One year older, along with a more experienced supporting cast could pave the way for Jennings to have a special sophomore campaign.
Celena Grant, Jr., North Augusta
The Lady Yellow Jackets always have talent. But last year, and now this year, their foremost talent is a youth movement. Although Ashley Walker burst on the scene as a freshman last season, Grant being one year older still gave her an extra bump up in leadership. But Grant and Walker, along with junior Kenedi Wright could create a formidable “big three” that could push North Augusta back into another state championship conversation. Grant’s play last year helped the Jackets to a 23-6 record and 8-0 Region 4-AAAA finish. With another year of experience under her belt, the 5-foot-9 junior could help lead North Augusta to a pretty special next couple of years.
Kobi Barnes, Jr., Lakeside-Evans
The Augusta area has one of the most impressive collection of post players in Georgia this season, and 6-foot-3 junior center Kobi Barnes is one of the most intriguing. She was a key cog in helping first-year coach Matt Scott perform one of the most eyebrow-raising single-season turnarounds in the state. Barnes was an imposing figure, and used her size to her advantage with her 12 points, 10 rebounds and 6.5 blocked shots per game. A true rim protector, Barnes’ defense does much to set up the Panthers’ transition offense. Lakeside finished nine games better last season than the previous. A third-place finish in a tough region and a state tournament run gives Lakeside fans hope that more is on the way this season.
Za’Miyah Jenkins, Jr., Josey
Remember how I said earlier that the Augusta area has one of the best collections of post player talent in the state? Well, This 6-foot-1 junior is another one of the reasons why. Last year, she averaged a double-double — 10.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while registering almost three blocks per contest. Crazy thing is, as good as she was, you could still tell she was young. But one year stronger and more experienced, Jenkins could round out to becoming one of the more dominant post players in the area.
Courtney Bray, Jr., Warren County
When it comes to Warren County, a pair of juniors shall lead them. But the first one we’ll talk about is the 5-foot-5 high-scoring guard who brings back almost 20 points and four steals a game from a stellar sophomore campaign. That sophomore campaign helped the Screaming Devils to a 20-win season and state tournament berth, losing in the Sweet 16 to eventual Class A Division II state champion Greenforest. Bray’s 74 made 3-pointers led the team.
Nikayle Serrano, Soph., Josey
At first glance it appears that Glenn Hills struggled to a 9-14 season and a seventh place finish in Region 4-AA play with only two region wins. But upon further inspection, those nine wins are nine more than a winless Spartans squad had during the 2022-23 season. In fact, when Glenn Hills defeated Hephzibah 60-44 on Nov. 11, 2023, it was the Lady Spartans’ first win on the basketball court since Feb. 5, 2018. That’s 75 straight losses. In that ground-breaking win, Serrano was one of a pair of freshmen who scored more than half of the team’s points. Serrano averaged 13.5 points per game to lead the team. But since then, she’s taken her talents to Josey where she’ll join a crazy-loaded Eagles squad that’s already rife with guard talent. Can she play well enough to earn significant playing time, or will this be a learning year for her on a state-championship caliber team?
Jailee Allen, Jr., Warren County
The 5-foot-7 backcourt specialist is the other half of that junior duo we told you about earlier that will likely lead Warren County. Allen is a perfect backcourt compliment to Courtney Bray. Last year, she tallied 16 points, five rebounds, two steals and 3.6 assists for the state tournament squad, and there’s plenty of reason to believe that the duo can have an even better 2024-25 campaign as they’ll look to get Warren County back to a state tournament berth in a challenging Region A-Division II.
