In its 9th year, The St. James Atlanta Area She Got Game Classic saw 53 teams play one or more pre-set games at the Champions Center at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Georgia, (the primary site) and McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia (secondary site). Nineteen colleges attended one or more days of the event held on the January 5-7, 2024, weekend.

The weather was gloomy and on the cold side for Greater Atlanta, but the action was hot and heavy on the six courts that were in play in Emerson. Most local teams seemed to prefer to play on Saturday in the early afternoon with several of the best games all coming around the 1pm time slot.

Most significant games from a national viewpoint:

Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia) 62-55 Blanche Ely High School (Pompano Beach, Florida)

This was more competitive than some (including this writer) would have expected with Grayson nationally ranked and undefeated, including wins over several quality opponents from other states and Wesleyan School (see below) in Georgia. Blanche Ely, perennially one of the best teams in Florida, is having a good season but has been up and down at times. Down 32-26 at half, Ely (as they are often refereed to back home) flipped the script going up 46-41 after three quarters. To its credit, Grayson did not panic. Up 56-52 at the 2:19 mark, a combination of good plays by Grayson and turnovers by Ely saw the lead as high as eight in the closing seconds. More on the leading scorers in this game below.

Wesleyan School (Peachtree Corners, Georgia) 67-57 Bradley Central High School (Cleveland, Tennessee)

Undefeated and receiving national ranking, Bradley Central came into the contest down one starter but did have its leading players in action. As of this contest, Wesleyan had only lost to Grayson (mentioned above) and had been on “teams to watch” lists just outside the top 25 in a number of national polls. Wesleyan features two senior Power 5 committed guards (Chit Chat Wright to Georgia Tech and Bryanna Preston to Texas). Together this guard tandem controlled play for the majority of the game up 40-29 at half. After three quarters, Bradley Central had cut the lead to 53-50 largely on the interior scoring of Kimora Field (see below) with 11 of her game high 27 points. In the 4th quarter, the Bradley Central offense could only muster 7 points with Fields held to one while Wesleyan posted 14 to give the final margin of 10. Wright (see below) led Wesleyan with 22 points while Texas commit Preston had 18. A big factor in the contest was hot (six) three-point up shooting by Wesleyan senior Eva Garabadian posting 20 points largely out of the “catch and deliver” mode taking advantage on the open looks set up by the ball handling guards.

Looking at some of the stars of the event alphabetically within graduation class with listed height, position, and school (location in parenthesis)

2024

Natalie Baker, 5-8, small forward, Palm Bay High School (Melbourne, Florida)

Unsigned, Baker is primarily a catch-and-shoot-the-three player. Hover when you hit seven (21 points total) in one game (versus G.W. Carver) you deserve recognition for that alone.

Danielle Carnegie, 5-9, shooting guard, Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia)

Signed with Georgia Tech, Carnegie is the best player on a team receiving national recognition and a leading candidate for Geogia’s Miss Basketball. She can score at all three levels and had 23 points in leading her team in a come from behind win versus Blanche Ely.

Gianna Corbitt, 6-1, forward, Blanche Ely High School (Pompano Beach, Florida)

Committed to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Corbitt had Power 5 interest early in her high school career. However, injuries slowed her progress, and her recruiting spectrum slotted her as a mid-major. She showed the ability to hit the three from just above the circle, hitting three in scoring 15 points in the loss to Grayson.

Jordan Hunter, 5-9, guard, Hewitt-Trussville High School (Trussville, Alabama)

Signed with Auburn, Hunter does it all for her team being primary ball handler and scorer for her team. In a razor-thin 46-45 loss to Mill Creek, she posted 25 points including two triples.

Bryanna Preston, 5-9, guard, Wesleyan School (Peachtree Corners, Georgia)

Preston (committed to Texas) is half of one of the best all-senior back courts in the USA. She can play the point, but on this team, she is more off the ball. She posted 18 points in the win over Bradley Central.

Tianna Thompson, 5-11, guard, The Galloway School (Atlanta, Georgia)

Signed with Georgia Tech, Thompson did everything but collect the tickets in scoring 38 points before fouling out with just over four minutes left in a 78-64 loss to Winter Haven.

Chit Chat Wright, 5-4, point guard, Wesleyan School (Peachtree Corners, Georgia)

Signed with Georgia Tech, Wright is more the point of Wesleyan’s dynamic back court. She led her team with 22 points in the Bradley Central win. One opposing coach complemented Chit Chat as “a hard shot maker.”

Sa’Mya Wyatt, 6-2, power forward, St. Francis High School (Alpharetta, Georgia)

Committed to Austin Peay, Wyatt has several younger teammates likely to sign higher when their time comes. However, she is showing why seniors win you games. In the 56-47 win over previously unbeaten Immaculate Conception (NJ), she scored at the mid-range and near the rim leading her team with 19 points and helping to rebound the ball.

2025

Ace Austin, 5-8, point guard, Spring Garden (Alabama) High School

Committed to Alabama, Austin exceeded this writer’s expectations having only previously watched her online. Against a talented but young Woodward Academy (College Park, GA) team, she posted 30 points hitting at all three levels as well as setting up teammates for open looks as Spring Garden won 70-53. Her ability to escape pressure of traps making good, quick decisions was particularly impressive.

Jaida Civil, 6-0, guard, Palm Bay Magnet High School (Melbourne, Florida)

Having seen Civil several times in the last six weeks, focus and decision making are improving in this top- of-the-line athlete. Shooting range still needs work but progress should always be praised. She posted 14 points in an 85-62 in over G.W. Carver (Columbus, Georgia) but besides scoring was the star of the game with active all-around play.

Nila Giraud, 6-0, forward, Immaculate Conception (Montclair, New Jersey)

Like her team (mostly underclass players), Giraud is still a work in progress. She hits the glass hard (being a quick jumper) and scored 13 points (primarily in the lower key) in the loss to St. Francis. Adding some more shooting range might be an area to improve on.

2026

Kimora Fields, 6-0, power forward, Bradley Central High School (Cleveland, Tennessee)

Fields is your prototype undersized post. Strongly built, she finishes well near the rim. She had 27 points in the loss to Wesleyan. She is considered to be one of the top class of 2026 players in Tennessee.

Serenity Hardy, 5-8, point guard, Winter Haven (Florida) High School

Strongly built, Hardy has good handles, drives with authority and can hit in the mid-range. She had 26 points in the 78-64 win over The Galloway School.

Natalya Hodge, 5-7, point guard, Bearden High School (Knoxville, Tennessee)

Hodge (along with Kimora Fields above) is one of the top 2026 prospects in Tennessee, although not so well known outside the state in spite of having multiple Power 5 offers. Hodge has above average speed with the ball looking to attack or dish, primarily going to the right. She can hit the three but appears more drive oriented. She posted 31 points in a 78-69 win over talented Grind Prep out of Oklahoma.

Gabrielle King, 5-6, guard, Dillard High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

King may be a bit small but has game hitting multiple threes and showing a pull-up jumper in scoring 19 points as Dillard beat John Marshal High School out of Richmond, VA 45-42.

Bella Ragone, 6-2, forward, Mill Creek High School (Hoschton, Georgia)

A long lefty, Ragone can create a triple off the bounce (most score them off the catch) hitting four in defeating Hewett-Trussville in totaling 23 points. Considered one of the top 2026 prospects in the USA, she has multiple Power 5 offers.

2028

London Thomas, 5-10, forward, Dillard High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Dillard is one of a relatively small number of Florida high schools that can use an eighth grader as the school is technically under the same leadership down at least a few years below grade nine. Thomas moves well and has good basketball IQ for a such a young player. How she develops shooting range may well decide the level of her college recruitment down the road.