OTRW PRESENTS: Georgia’s Top Senior Talents this Century (Classes 2000–Present)

Georgia has been a pipeline for elite women's basketball talent. This is a survey that commemorates the top graduating seniors each year since 2000. Selections draw from Miss Georgia Basketball winners, McDonald's All-Americans, recruiting rankings, and long-term success. While underclassmen sometimes stood out as the state's best overall player in a particular year, this analysis focuses on seniors.

Criteria for Selection:

1. McDonald’s All-American participant (girls game began in 2002)

2. Miss Georgia Basketball (Atlanta Tipoff Club award, usually for seniors)

3. Industry recruiting rankings and accolades as a senior

4. College and/or professional career success

5. Post-playing contributions to basketball

Note: This spotlights the premier senior each year. In cases where a junior or underclassman stood out as potentially the state's best overall player, the senior with the strongest resume is selected.

Part 2: Classes 2010 – 2019

2010 – Khaalidah Miller

High School: Frederick Douglass High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 36 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 10 guard)
High School Accolades: Miss Georgia Basketball honorable mention, first-team all-state multiple times
College: Georgia – career 9.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG across 132 games (1,291 points total, third in program history with 3-pointers made with 218)
Pro: Played professionally overseas

Khaalidah Miller, a 5-foot-9 guard from Douglass High School, was a highly touted prospect as the top-ranked player in Georgia's class of 2010. She earned McDonald's All-American consideration and signed with the University of Georgia, where she earned SEC All-Freshman honors, was named SEC Freshman of the Week three times, and became one of the program's 1,000-point scorers. She played professionally post-college and has given back as a coach, including elevating Midtown High School's girls program with her experience.

2011 – Brianna Banks

High School: Fayette County High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 24 by ESPN HoopGurlz
High School Accolades: Atlanta Tipoff Club Miss Georgia Basketball 2011, McDonald's All-American, WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, 2011 Class AAAA state Champion
College: University of Connecticut (2X National Champion), Transferred to Penn State for senior year, averaging 13.4 PPG in 2015-16
Pro: Overseas Professional

Brianna Banks, a 5-foot-9 guard from Fayette County High School, led her team to the 2011 Class AAAA state championship while averaging strong numbers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. As a McDonald's All-American and Miss Georgia Basketball winner, she was a top national recruit and signed with powerhouse Connecticut, contributing to NCAA titles before transferring to Penn State. She spent time overseas playing professionally in Spain and Iceland.

2012 – Andraya Carter

High School: Buford High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 21 by ESPN HoopGurlz
High School Accolades: 3 state championships (2009-2011 Class 2A),
College: Tennessee – career 6.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG across four seasons (three Elite Eight appearances)
Pro: None (career ended early); current ESPN/SEC Network analyst and commentator

Andraya Carter, a 5-foot-9 guard from Buford High School, helped lead her team to three consecutive Class 2A state titles (2009-2011) with standout all-around play before an injury shortened her senior season. Still ranked highly nationally, she signed with Tennessee under Pat Summitt's final class, contributing to deep NCAA runs including Elite Eights. After her playing career, she has thrived as a prominent media commentator for ESPN and SEC Network, covering women's basketball and more.

2013 – Diamond DeShields

High School: Norcross High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 3 by ESPN HoopGurlz (top wing/guard)
High School Accolades: Naismith Prep Player of the Year, McDonald's All-American, 2X Georgia Sports Writers Association (GSWA) POY 2011, Atlanta Tipoff Club Miss Georgia Basketball 2013, 3X state champions (2010, 2011, 2013)
College: North Carolina (ACC Rookie of the Year), Tennessee (All-SEC)
Pro: WNBA champion (2021 Chicago Sky), WNBA All-Star (2019), All-WNBA (2019)

Diamond DeShields, a 6-foot-1 wing from Norcross High School, dominated with three state titles (2010, 2011, 2013) and national player of the year honors including Naismith and MaxPreps. As a McDonald's All-American and consensus top-3 recruit, she signed with North Carolina (ACC Rookie honors) before transferring to Tennessee for SEC success. Drafted highly in the WNBA, she won a championship, earned All-Star and All-WNBA recognition, and remains an active influencer in women’s basketball.

2014 – Mackenzie Engram

High School: Hillgrove High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 71 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 13 forward)
High School Accolades: Region Player of the Year, Cobb County POY
College: Georgia – career 12.9 PPG (senior year), 7.0 RPG (senior year), 1,000+ career points

Mackenzie Engram, a 6-foot-2 forward from Hillgrove High School, excelled regionally with multiple Player of the Year honors but lacked statewide Miss Georgia or McDonald's status. She signed with Georgia, where she started all 33 games as a senior, led the team in scoring at 12.9 PPG, ranked second in rebounding at 7.0 RPG, and surpassed 1,000 career points.

2015 – Asia Durr

High School: St. Pius X Catholic High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 1 by ESPN HoopGurlz (top overall prospect)
High School Accolades: 2x Miss Georgia Basketball (2014, 2015), McDonald's All-American, Gatorade POY, Parade National POY
College: Louisville – ACC POY x2, All-American, Dawn Staley Award winner
Pro: WNBA first-round pick (No. 2 overall)

Asia Durr, a dynamic guard from St. Pius X, swept Georgia honors as a two-time Miss Georgia Basketball and national top recruit with McDonald's All-American status. She signed with Louisville, earning multiple All-ACC and All-American nods, ACC Player of the Year twice, and leading scorer accolades before being drafted No. 2 in the WNBA. Her scoring prowess defined her career at elite levels.

2016 – Jenna Staiti

High School: West Forsyth High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 16 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 2 post)
High School Accolades: Miss Georgia Basketball (2016), Gatorade Georgia POY, AJC POY
College: Maryland (initially), transferred to Georgia – career averages around 10.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG (peak senior season with 15.1 PPG/7.8 RPG)
Pro: None prominent

Jenna Staiti, a 6-foot-4 center from West Forsyth, dominated as Miss Georgia Basketball and Gatorade POY with high school scoring and rebounding records. She began at Maryland before transferring to Georgia, where she became a key post starter with consistent double-figure scoring and rebounding in SEC play.

2017 – Mikayla Coombs

High School: Wesleyan School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 13 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 2 guard)
High School Accolades: Atlanta Tipoff Club Miss Georgia Basketball 2017, McDonald's All-American, Gatorade Player of the Year 2017,
College: Connecticut, transferred to Georgia (career ~6.2 PPG/2.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG as senior starter)

Mikayla Coombs, a versatile guard from Wesleyan School, earned Gatorade POY, McDonald's All-American, and top-state honors as a multi-time all-state performer. She signed with UConn but faced injuries, later transferring to Georgia where she started extensively and averaged 1.4 steals per game as a senior. Post-playing, she has engaged in basketball development and mentoring roles.

2018 – Olivia Nelson-Ododa

High School: Winder-Barrow High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 5 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 1 post)
High School Accolades: Atlanta Tipoff Club Miss Georgia Basketball 2018, 2018 McDonald's All-American, 2018 Jordan Brand Classic
College: UConn – 2X Final Four Appearance (2021, 2022), 2021 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 2022 All-Big East First Team
Pro: WNBA draft pick (No. 19, Connecticut Sun), active overseas professional player

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, a 6-foot-5 forward from Winder-Barrow, averaged massive numbers in points, rebounds, and blocks en route to Miss Georgia Basketball and McDonald's All-American status as a top national recruit. She signed with UConn, earning Big East defensive and all-conference honors while starting extensively. Drafted in the WNBA, she continues her pro career with the Connecticut Sun.

2019 – Javyn Nicholson

High School: Collins Hill High School
National Ranking: Ranked No. 39 by ESPN HoopGurlz (No. 6 forward)
High School Accolades: Not Miss Georgia Basketball (award went to Deasia Merrill per records), no McDonald's
College: Georgia – career 8.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG (peak senior year 16.8 PPG/8.7 RPG in 2023-24 with leading team in scoring/rebounding, 1,000+ points)
Pro: Professional overseas (e.g., Belgium)

Javyn Nicholson, a 6-foot-2 forward from Collins Hill, was a strong in-state signee to Georgia with solid high school production but lacked major statewide awards like Miss Georgia Basketball or McDonald's All-American status. At Georgia, she emerged as a top scorer and rebounder, surpassing 1,000 points, leading the team in scoring (16.8 PPG) and rebounding (8.7 RPG) in her senior year, and recording multiple double-doubles. She has played professionally overseas post-college.