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Sweet 16 at 40: The best girls’ high school basketball players outside Mecklenburg County

langston wertz jr.
·4 min read

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Sweet 16 basketball poll, The Charlotte Observer is honoring the top high school girls’ players in the poll’s era. Because the media outlet’s coverage area has changed so much through the years — it once stretched to the Triad, mountains and beach — the anniversary team only included Mecklenburg County players.

Below, we rank the best players outside Mecklenburg County from 1984-2024.

6/6/03: Ivory Latta , Observer Female Athlete of the Year. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD - STAFF PHOTO
6/6/03: Ivory Latta , Observer Female Athlete of the Year. CHRISTOPHER A. RECORD - STAFF PHOTO

(1) Ivory Latta, York Comprehensive (S.C.), class of 2003: Latta was a two-time All-Observer girls’ player of the year, winning the regional honor in 2002 and in 2003. In ‘03, she was named Ms. Basketball in South Carolina, capturing the state’s top award. Latta finished her career with 4,319 points, which ranked fifth nationally. She was a four-time all-state pick and she was the first S.C. player named to the McDonald’s All-American game. Latta played in college at North Carolina.

Weddington’s Stephanie Watts, a UNC recruit ranked among the nation’s top 25 players, needs 12 points to become Union County’s all-time leading scorer. Watts and Weddington play Piedmont at home Tuesday.
Weddington’s Stephanie Watts, a UNC recruit ranked among the nation’s top 25 players, needs 12 points to become Union County’s all-time leading scorer. Watts and Weddington play Piedmont at home Tuesday.

(2) Stephanie Watts, Weddington, class of 2015: Watts was a two-time district player of the year and was named N.C. Gatorade player of the year as well as N.C. Ms. Basketball after her senior season. As a senior, Watts averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 4.7 steals. Her 2,556 career points ranked 11th in N.C. public school history at the time, and she was second in career made 3-pointers (374). A McDonald’s All-American, Watts was a four-time conference player of the year. She played in college at North Carolina and Southern California.

(3) Allison Feaster, Chester (S.C.), class of 1994: Feaster finished her career with a then-state record 3,427 points, and was named all-state five times (S.C. players could start high school play in seventh grade). She was named 4A MVP after her junior and senior seasons. As a senior, she was named to the Gatorade All-American team. She played in college at Harvard.

Cannon’s Reigan Richardson (3) receives instruction from head coach Kelvin Drakeford. Cannon would host North Raleigh Christian in the NCISAA State Championship game Saturday Feb 27, 2021.
Cannon’s Reigan Richardson (3) receives instruction from head coach Kelvin Drakeford. Cannon would host North Raleigh Christian in the NCISAA State Championship game Saturday Feb 27, 2021.

(4) Reigan Richardson, Cannon School, class of 2021: Richardson was named Observer girls’ player of the year after her senior season when she averaged 27 points, 10. 4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.2 steals. A McDonald’s All-American, Richardson was also named N.C. Ms. Basketball. She started her college career at Georgia, but is now at Duke.

(5) Schonna Banner, West Caldwell, class of 1986: Banner, a 6-foot-3 center, had 34 points en route to being named MVP of the 3A state championship game, won by her team. She was a fourth-team Parade All-American who was named The Observer’s All-Piedmont player of the year and Ms. N.C. Basketball. She averaged 23.5 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior. Banner played in college at South Carolina.

(6) Chyna Cornwell, Newton-Conover, class of 2020: Cornwell was named the 2019-20 Associated Press N.C. player of the year and N.C. Ms. Basketball. Cornell led Newton-Conover to its first state championship appearance in 28 years. She also ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring. She had 30 consecutive double-doubles as a senior and averaged 26.2 points and 16.7 rebounds. Newton-Conover was declared NCHSAA 2A co-champions with Farmville Central after COVID forced cancellation of the state final. Cornwell is currently playing at Rutgers.

(7) Natasha Davis, Morganton Freedom, class of 1995: Davis was one of 20 high school seniors in the nation named to the Nike/Foot Locker All-American prep team. In her career at Freedom, Davis averaged 16 points and 7.4 rebounds. Her teams reached three 4A state championship games, winning the title after her junior and senior years. As a senior, she was named N.C. Ms. Basketball, and averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 rebounds. She played in college at North Carolina.

(8) Shannon Smith, Forestview, class of 2010: Smith led the Jaguars to the 3A championship as a senior when she averaged 23.2 points and 7.1 assists. She was named Observer All-Region player of the year and N.C. Ms. Basketball. She shared the N.C. Associated Press player of the year award with Butler’s Cierra Burdick. Smith finished her career with 2,329 points and was her school’s all-time assists leader with 881. In her career, Forestview was 111-11. Smith played in college at North Carolina and Michigan.

(9) Kerri Gardin, Morganton Freedom, class of 2002: Gardin was named N.C. Ms. Basketball after averaging 19.1 points, 13.7 rebounds and five assists as a senior for a Patriots team that won the 4A state championship. Gardin had a consistent high school career, averaging 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and four assists as a junior and 15.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a sophomore. Gardin played in college at Virginia Tech.

(10) Mitzi Yount, Bandys, class of 1988: Yount was named N.C. Ms Basketball in 1988. She scored 1,741 points in her career, helping Bandys to a record of 108-12, including back-to-back 2A state titles in 1987 and ‘88. As a senior, Yount averaged 15.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Yount played in college at Appalachian State.