Sweet 16: Top Augusta-area girls high school basketball players for the 2023-24 season
Basketball season is here.
For all the fanfare football gets in the fall, we're reminded every winter that Augusta is, at its heart, a basketball town. It's hard to miss when programs like North Augusta are bringing home five state championships in seven seasons, or teams like Josey, Laney and Cross Creek seem to go deep in the playoffs every season.
That's not to mention the Thomsons and Butlers of the world, who could just as easily bring home state championships this time around. The hoops landscape around the area is as healthy as it has ever been and this preseason list of top players reflects that.
Due to the volume of high-level players around the area, there will be talented players left off this list. We'll recognize the rest of the Augusta area's best with a more comprehensive list later in the week. That said, here are are the top 16 girls high school basketball players in the Augusta area entering the 2023-24 season.
Sweet 16: Top Augusta-area boys high school basketball players for 2023-24 season
Here are the top Augusta-area girls high school basketball players for the 2023-24 season
Tahjae Hawes
School: Cross Creek
Class: 2024
Rundown: Hawes can do it all for Cross Creek. As a junior, she averaged 16 points and nine rebounds per game, helping lead the Lady Backs to a region championship and a run to the GHSA 3A Elite Eight. Her skillset will be that much more important this year if Cross Creek is going to secure its second state championship.
Micheala Bogans
School: Cross Creek
Class: 2024
Rundown: Bogans has been the premier guard in the area since she was a freshman. She helped lead the Lady Backs to the first state championship in program history in 2021 and her profile has increased ever since. Last season she averaged 18 points, seven boards and four assists per game while leading Cross Creek to a region title and Elite Eight appearance. As she goes, this team goes.
Jada Kendrick
School: Thomson
Class: 2025
Rundown: Averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per night, Kendrick was a major part of the Lady Dogs’ region championship upset over Josey last season. She helped lead Thomson to the GHSA 2A Elite Eight and their expectations have never been higher. The Region 4-AA title still goes through Thomson in 2024.
Kennedy Armistead
School: North Augusta
Class: 2024
Rundown: Armistead was the leading scorer for Westside a year ago at nearly 12 points per game. Now she finds herself as a significant piece to a bigger puzzle at North Augusta. She’s another talented scoring option for Coach Al Young as the Jackets look for their sixth state championship in eight seasons.
Celena Grant
School: North Augusta
Class: 2026
Rundown: Grant played so well down the stretch, it would’ve been hard to tell she was just a freshman. Grant averaged 13 points and nine rebounds per game on the season, culminating in a 42-29 win over Westwood in the SCHSL 4A state championship game. She’s been lacing it up on the varsity floor since she was in middle school and the sky is the limit for Grant.
Grant in action: North Augusta girl's basketball takes SCHSL 4A state championship
Miyah Holmes
School: Grovetown
Class: 2025
Rundown: Holmes was a breakout star for the Lady Warriors last season, averaging nine points and six rebounds per game as a sophomore. Her continued progression and leadership will be key as Grovetown looks to get back to the postseason.
Ashunti Porter
School: Lakeside
Class: 2025
Rundown: Porter was one of the top scorers in Class 6A last season, averaging 16 points per game. She’s returning to Lakeside for her junior season after one year at Grovetown. If the Panthers are going to make another run at the state playoffs, Porter will be leading the charge.
India Williams
School: Westminster Schools of Augusta
Class: 2026
Rundown: Williams was unbelievable as a freshman, averaging north of 20 points per game for the Wildcats. She also averaged four rebounds, four assists and four steals per night, making her a versatile talent on the floor. If she’s only going to improve going forward, Williams is going to be a problem for GIAA opponents over the next three seasons.
Jaliyah Terry
School: Westminster Schools of Augusta
Class: 2025
Rundown: Terry was a key piece on a Hephzibah team that nearly secured a region championship last season. She averaged nine points and five rebounds per night as a sophomore and now brings her talents to a Westminster team that can likely compete for a region title of its own.
Kaylee Jackson
School: Augusta Christian
Class: 2024
Rundown: Jackson is looking forward to her first healthy season since she averaged 11 points and four rebounds per night as a freshman. The senior has experienced two ACL surgeries and was productive in four games as a junior, but a full season of Jackson is just what Augusta Christian needs in 2023-24.
Tre'yonna Jones
School: Burke County
Class: 2024
Rundown: Jones earned all-region honors last year as she helped lead the Lady Bears to a Region 3-AAAA runner-up finish before they fell to Troup County in the first round of the state playoffs. Now a senior, her leadership on the floor will be a key factor as Burke County looks to compete for a region championship.
Raina Burns
School: Laney
Class: 2025
Rundown: Burns returns as the leading scorer for the Wildcats, which she averaged just under 15 points per game as a sophomore. The multi-sport athlete will be integral as Laney looks to compete for a Region 4-AA championship and return to the state playoffs.
Shaniyah Sanders
School: Josey
Class: 2025
Rundown: Sanders averaged nearly a double-double at 10 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore. While Josey finished in the state semifinals a year ago, the Lady Eagles have their work cut out for them in a strong Region 4-AA to get back to the state championship game.
Ke’Asia Henderson
School: Josey
Class: 2025
Rundown: Henderson was a versatile weapon for Josey, averaging 13 points and seven assists for the Lady Eagles last season. Despite losing a considerable amount of talent to graduation, Josey is still one of the favorites in a strong Region 4-AA.
Rania Curry
School: Butler
Class: 2025
Rundown: One of the top up-and-coming private school players in Augusta two years ago, Curry is back after a stint at Carver High School in Columbus. She averaged five points per game for the Tigers and joins Butler to further deepen Eboni Fields’ talented roster.
Brayla Harris
School: Butler
Class: 2025
Rundown: Harris was the third-leading scorer on a strong Cross Creek team, averaging 14 points per game for a Lady Backs team that made it to the GHSA 3A Elite Eight. She moves across the county to a Butler team with a ton of young talent, further shifting the power struggle in Region 4-AA.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Top girls high school basketball players in Augusta for 2023-24
