Meet the area’s top high school girls’ basketball players, the 2023-24 All-Observer team
Charlotte Catholic senior center Blanca Thomas and Charlotte Country Day coach Kory Bridges highlight the 2023-24 All-Observer girls’ basketball team.
The media outlet has named an All-Observer team since the 1997-98 season, naming one team to honor all of the players in its coverage area.
Prior to that, The Observer named all-star teams in Mecklenburg County (All-Mecklenburg) along with a team for schools in the newspaper’s western N.C. coverage area (All-Piedmont) and in the Rock Hill, S.C., area (All-Upper State).
This year, players in the following counties were eligible for inclusion on the All-Observer team: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union plus Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina.
Thomas, a four-time All-Observer pick, repeats as player of the year. She led Charlotte Catholic to a 27-5 record and a third straight appearance in the NCHSAA 4A Western Regional championship. Catholic beat Watauga in the regional final, or state semifinal, and advanced to the state final for the first time.
Thomas, who will play in the Jordan Brand Classic on April 21 in New York, is a top 30 national recruit signed to North Carolina. She averaged 18.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.1 assists this season.
Bridges, the coach of the year, led Country Day to a 17-11 record. The Bucs were 11-22 in the 2022-23 season and posted the most wins since 2019-20, when Country Day was 20-8. The Bucs reached the third round of the NCISAA 4A playoffs this season.
▪ Meet the teams, which include a sixth man this season:
First team
Blanca Thomas, Charlotte Catholic, 6-5, Sr, C: Thomas was a first-team all-state pick by the N.C. Basketball Coaches and also made the All-Observer defensive team. Thomas has signed with North Carolina.
Jerin Truesdale, Myers Park, 5-9, Sr., F: The SoMECK conference player of the year averaged 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals for a team that finished 27-3 and reached the NCHSAA 4A western regional semifinals.
Oshauna Holland, Stuart Cramer, 5-7, Soph, G: After averaging 18.1 points, 5.9 rebounds as a freshman, Holland raised her averages to 27.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.5 steals, 5.7 assists and 1.5 blocks for a team that finished 24-6.
Alexis Shehan, Lake Norman, 5-11, Jr, G: Shehan was an all-conference pick in the Greater Metro 4A. She boosted her freshman averages (11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds), putting up 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for a 26-3 team.
Kiara Anderson, East Lincoln, 5-4, Soph, G: Anderson led the Mustangs to a 29-2 record and an NCHSAA 3A regional semifinal berth. Anderson averaged 20.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.1 steals per game.
Camri Hobbs, JM Robinson, 6-3, Soph, F*: Hobbs transferred from LaMelo Ball’s 1-of-1 Prep team and averaged 21.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.5 blocks this season.
Second team
Delanie Hill, Providence, 5-7, Sr., G; Lili Booker, Mallard Creek, 5-7, Sr., G; Samantha Shehan, Lake Norman, 5-11, Jr, G; Tamia Watkins, Andrew Jackson, 6-1, Jr, F; Kam Kitchen, Independence, 5-9, Jr., G; Elle Stone, Mallard Creek*, 5-10, Jr, G
Third team
Brooklyn Saunders, Butler, 5-5, Jr., G; Maya McCorkle, Cannon School, 5-10, Jr, G; Amya Graham, South Point, 5-11, Jr, F; Victoria Morris, South Pointe, 5-11, Sr, G; Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg, 6-0, Fr, C; Jaida McClure, Providence Day*, 5-9, Soph, G
Honorable mention
Misa Garris, Garinger, 5-3, Soph, G; Makailah Davis, South Mecklenburg, 5-7, Jr, G; Sheree Giddey, Hickory Ridge, 5-11, Sr, F; Emma Montanari, East Lincoln, 5-9, Soph, F; Kaylee Carson, Independence, 5-8, Sr, G; Grayson Gough, Charlotte Catholic, 6-0, Sr, F; Kelsey Rhyne, Lake Norman, 5-9, Soph, G; Tionna Pettus, Bessemer City, 5-9, Jr, F; Tamuria Melton, Forest Hills, height NA, Fr.; Madison Drayton, Cannon, 5-11, Fr, G
All-freshman team
Ashanti Taylor, Porter Ridge, 5-10, F; Jaleila Littlejohn, North Gaston, height NBA, G/F; Amani Barner, Myers Park, 5-8, G; Madison Drayton, Cannon School, 5-11, G; JaNiya Cunningham, Rock Hill Northwestern, 6-1, C
FOY: Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg, 6-0, C
All-defensive team
Blanca Thomas, Charlotte Catholic, 6-5, Sr, F; Lenise Joseph, North Meck, 6-0, Fr, C; Chayla McDaniel, Myers Park, 5-7, Jr, G; Addison Sirianni, Lake Norman, 5-7, Jr, G; Brooklyn Saunders, Butler
DPOY: Makenzie Michael, Rocky River, 6-2, Soph, C
*denotes sixth man
