2024 Sarah Strong (Lady Strong 2024): There was plenty of talent all throughout the courts in Concord but the player that grabbed our attention quickly and showed why she is ranked as one of the top players in the country was 2024 Sarah Strong. She was simply off the charts with her skillset and how dominant she can be on the floor. To put it simply, she couldn’t be stopped and did whatever she wanted on the floor. Her feel around the basket is superb, she has great hands with soft touch, is all over the glass on both sides of the court, and she physically can dominate opponents in the post. Then you add her ability to step out and knock down shots from multiple levels, her ability to handle, and her passing, Strong is the complete package and there is a reason why she holds countless offers from high major programs.
2023 Cassidy Geddes (Lady Attack National): Geddes was another fan favorite of mine. Every time she was on the court, she produced and showcased how big of a playmaker she can be. She is coming off a terrific high school season at Newton-Conover and is bringing it here with Lady Attack. Her ability to create her own shot or find her teammates was fun to watch, along with her IQ and feel. Geddes was terrific with her ball-handling, showing how shifty she can be and how dynamic she is in the open floor.
2027 Amayah Barnes (Strong Center 2026): Heading down to one of the younger teams, we have a feeling that you will be hearing the name Amayah Barnes more. Only part of the 2027 class, Barnes showed a veteran-type mindset and played like an experienced player. Barnes was off the charts in creating her own shots, making plays off the dribble, getting into the paint, and scoring in a variety of ways. Even when the defense was focused on her, she was able to make plays for herself and for her teammates. Mark her name down, as we have a strong feeling you will be hearing more of it as she gets older.
2024 Amiyah Clark-Lamelle (Lady Royal): Clark-Lamelle was another guard that grabbed our attention on countless occasions, earning multiple MVPs at the event. She excels with the ball in her hands, especially with her ability to create off the dribble, get around defenders, and her ball-handling. She is sneaky quick but also reads the defense well, knowing whether to get downhill, knock down shots from the perimeter, or find and set up her teammates. She is quite crafty on the court, and she competes big time on both ends.
2025 Jocelyne Grier (FBC Hawks): Another young guard that stood out consistently was 2025 Jocelyne Grier from FBC Hawks and North Meck. Time after time, when sitting down to watch her, she made plays on both ends of the floor. Whether it was getting after it defensively, getting out in transition, attacking the defense, or knocking down shots from all levels, Grier did a little bit of everything. She has had a terrific start to her high school career and should only continue to show that this summer.
2023 Laila Hankerson (Team United Calhoun): What a year it has been for Hankerson, as well as her two younger sisters. But the veteran lead guard captured my attention with her veteran presence on the court. Hankerson did a little bit of everything; she led the team with her leadership, she got the offense going, she created well and knocked down tough shots, found her teammates well, and was relentless on the defensive end. Hankerson plays with a terrific motor that never stops and with her mentality, it certainly has paid off over the last year or so.