On the Radar Hoops expands its coverage to the women’s side of the ball this winter. Our media team will be on the road to provide insight and exposure to female basketball players. Our first stop this month was at Hillgrove High School for the Forever 14 Showcase. This annual showcase is dedicated to former Hillgrove basketball player Allison Carroll. The Forever 14 Scholarship recognizes one female and one male Hillgrove student-athlete who display characteristics of high moral character. Contributions to the Scholarship Fund may be made online at Cobbfoundation.org.

Below is a list of players who stood out above the rest at the Showcase. Follow all coverage of women’s basketball @OTRWomensHoops

By: Jonathan Hemingway

Amelia Newman – Whitfield Academy – 2028

Newman played well in the opening game of the day, scoring 16 points to help the Wildcats to a win over North Cobb Christian. The 6-foot guard is a smooth all-around prospect. She shoots the ball with accuracy from the perimeter and can create space with the dribble. She is a threat to score from beyond the arc as well as in the paint. Look for Newman to be a trending name among college coaches in upcoming years.

Kaleigh Heywood – Collins Hill High School – 2026

Heywood gave her verbal commitment to Alabama State earlier this week. Since then she has turned in two 30-point performances. The 5-foot-10 guard might be best suited to play on the wing at the collegiate level given her willingness to rebound and use her size to create plays. However, she spends much of her time handling the ball for the Lady Eagles. Her body control and soft touch in traffic were noteworthy coming out of this matchup. On this trajectory, Heywood will have the Eagles competitive in region play.

Lenai Louie – Sprayberry High School – 2026

Beyond talent, experience is the biggest asset for high school teams to have when eyeing the postseason. For this reason, the Lady Jackets are poised for a big year given the number of contributing seniors they have on the roster. We took note of Louie’s skill set in their win over Pebblebrook Saturday afternoon. She is a versatile guard who is equally capable of dishing an assist or draining a jumper from the midrange. Louie is armed with athleticism and confidence, which coach Kellie Avery will use to her advantage.

Abbey Bensman – Pope High School – 2026

Bensman delivered a dominating performance in a win over McEachern. She got off to a hot start, scoring ten points and swatting a couple of shots in the opening quarter. From there, she continued to dominate with her shot-making and positioning on the glass. She finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds. She appears to be one of the top seniors in Cobb County this season.

Aeris Macon – Hillgrove High School – 2026

Despite having several players sidelined with injuries, the Lady Hawks cruised to a 17-point victory to start the season. Coach Susan Milam ought to have optimism given strong performances from two seniors. Guard Kierra Jackson was named player of the game, and forward Aeris Macon turned in a 21-point effort in the win. Macon, a 6-foot-1 forward, earned attention with her length, athleticism, and versatility across the court. She runs the floor well and anchors her team in the paint with rebounds and finishes in traffic. Macon is a prospect that college coaches should be tracking this season.

Reagan Mulligan – River Ridge High School – 2028

Mulligan was not the biggest, quickest, nor most athletic player on the floor Saturday night. Yet it was her contributions that ensured a win for coach Jason Taylor’s squad. She scored 18 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers. Her poise and steady approach to the game are what make her valuable beyond her scoring. She keeps the offense moving with timely passing. Her quick feet and anticipation skills make the Lady Knights’ defense formidable. Expect to hear more from Mulligan and River Ridge this season.

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. You can reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @CoachHemi.