Lady Phenom Hoops is gearing up for a tremendous season and we are looking at teams around the state that have talent to be on the lookout for. Last year, Southern Durham had a very good season as the Spartans finished the season 24-6 on the girls’ side. They were able to make a strong run in the playoffs before falling to Terry Sanford in the third round.
And when you look at last year’s roster, though they are losing some very good players that were huge for this team, this is also a team that had young talent that could be ready to take over and take the next step.
2024 Briana Hughes was off the charts last year, leading the way at 18.2 points per game, along with 6.8rpg, 4.0apg, and 3.3spg. She was able to make her impact felt in a variety of ways. 2024 Rah’Shea Christopher is another senior who is now gone that impacted the game offensively and defensively for this team. But that allows us to look at the next wave for Southern Durham that should allow this team to continue its winning trend.
2026 Ashlyn Hudson really showcased her potential last year in being an absolute force in scoring and rebounding. Hudson finished averaging 11.1ppg and 12.7rpg, along with adding 2.3apg and 3.6spg; the now junior prospect looks to be one of the clear leaders heading into the season and should only continue to elevate her stats in hopes of replacing the seniors.
But then you have two prospects in the Class of 2027 who will need to step up and elevate their play. 2027 Jakayla Palmer and 2027 Aliyha Herndon both earned a ton of experience last year that helped them prepare for this upcoming season, especially helping Hudson out more. Palmer impacts the game in a variety of ways as a guard while Herndon should help provide more firepower inside and on the glass.
The Spartans though will be a very interesting team to watch out for, as the next wave of talent is hoping to continue the success at Southern Durham over the years.