Advertisement

The Observer’s 2024 Mecklenburg County girls’ public high school basketball preview

jay edwards
·9 min read

Here is The Observer’s look at girls’ high school basketball in Mecklenburg County’s public schools ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Teams to watch

Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ have improved in each of coach LaTavia Dixon’s tenure, winning 22 games last year. This season, the Knights will senior forward Bryson McCoy (5.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and junior guards Karly Glahn (7.8 ppg) and Layla Mapp (4.3 ppg) to lead the way. 6-foot-1 junior forward, Weddington transfer, Imani Shelton, will also help inside. Ardrey Kell will also lean on its team defense to keep them in big games. Ardrey Kell has the experience to take another step forward by winning a conference title this season.

Butler: The Bulldogs should be much improved this season after going 15-11 overall last year. Butler has an experienced backcourt to lean on with senior point guard, Brooklyn Saunders (18.5 ppg, 6.1 apg) and classmate, shooting guard, Charlotte Hasson (10.9 ppg). The Butler frontcourt has great potential with 6-4 senior Chloe Ross and junior Hannah Moss (Independence transfer, 5.1 ppg, multiple Division I offers) giving the Bulldogs’ options all ove the floor. Butler has the experience and versatility to win the Southwestern 4A conference and be a dangerous, 4A state playoff matchup.

Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars have won 91 games in the past three seasons combined, but lost the core of that team, including Coach Bobby Conrad. Charlotte Catholic now will reload under new head coach (former, Catholic assistant) Kristal Mainsah, who will look to seniors Maggie Kernodle (7.8 ppg) and Martha Tucker as well as sophomore Megan Shea to help keep the Cougars in the Southwestern 4A conference race.

Community School of Davidson: The Spartans were quietly one of the most improved teams in state last season going 25-3 overall, after going 12-14 in the 2022-23 campaign. This season, coach Matt Forrest, has a veteran group back with three senior starters in Regan Downey (12 ppg, 5 rpg), Scarlett Soares (5 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg) and Olivia Stewart (10 ppg, 8 rpg). Community School of Davidson looks to pick up where it left off last and repeat as Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference champions on the way to a deep playoff run.

Mallard Creek: The Mavericks are loaded with talent once again with four starters back from a 26-4 team that went a perfect 15-0 in the Queen City Athletic conference. Mallard Creek has a balanced attack with seniors Elle Stone (14.3 ppg), Olivia Robertson (9.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) joining juniors Jazmeen Stone (8.9) and My’Asia Young (9 ppg) back in the starting lineup. East Lincoln transfer, 5-7 junior Kiara Anderson (20.7 ppg) gives the Mavericks another elite playmaker. Mallard Creek has all the pieces to repeat as conference champions and be a legitimate, 4A state championship contender.

North Mecklenburg: The Vikings have averaged 25 wins per season over the past three years. This season, North Mecklenburg returns four starters from a 23-win team, led by all-Queen City Athletic conference sophomores Lenise Joseph (16 ppg, 10 rpg, 4.4 bpg) and Morgan Knox (7.9 ppg, 5.2 apg). Seniors Shannon Hoover and Zion Pimental will also play key roles with classmate and Victory Christian transfer Stephanie Mobley (5.6 ppg) adding depth. North Mecklenburg has firepower to battle Mallard Creek for a conference title.

South Mecklenburg: The Sabres slipped to 13-14 a year ago with a younger team. This season, South Mecklenburg should be improved with the backcourt of sophomore Kyliah Brown (8.8 ppg, 3.1 spg) and Kaitlyn Hensley (8.3 ppg) pairing with transfers in Nykira Arrington (Ashbrook transfer, 12 ppg, 16 rpg) and Skylar Young (Indian Land transfer, 15 ppg). South Mecklenburg will be another team contending for the SoMeck 4A title in what will be a crowded race at the top with Ardrey Kell and Myers Park.

Players to watch

Preseason player of the year: Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek, 5-7, Jr., PG
Preseason player of the year: Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek, 5-7, Jr., PG

Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek, Jr.: The 5-7 junior point guard, East Lincoln transfer (20.7 ppg, 5.2 apg, 6.2 rpg, 4.1 spg) can make plays for herself or her teammates and gives the Mavericks another playmaker.

Amani Barner, Myers Park, So.: The 5-9 sophomore guard had a breakout freshman season, earning all-SoMeck 4A conference honors averaging 9.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Kyliah “K.B.” Brown, South Mecklenburg, So.: The 5-4 sophomore point guard (8.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 3.1 spg) earned all-SoMeck 4A conference honors as a freshman.\u0009

Regan Downey, Community School of Davidson, Sr.: The 5-10 senior (12 ppg) gives the Spartans a solid one-two punch on the wing with classmate Olivia Stewart (10 ppg, 8 rpg).

Chloe Galombeck, Hough, Sr.: The 5-7 senior (11 ppg, 3 apg) is a part of a strong backcourt trio, including senior Sophia Zoerb (9 ppg, Barry University commit) and junior Kate Breault (9 ppg).

Misa Garris, Queens Grant, Jr.: The 5-4 junior, Garinger transfer gives Queens Grant a lift as she averaged 19.9 points per game as a sophomore.

Ardrey Kell junior Karly Glahn averaged 7.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.9 apg and 2.8 spg last season.
Ardrey Kell junior Karly Glahn averaged 7.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.9 apg and 2.8 spg last season.

Karly Glahn, Ardrey Kell, Jr.: The 5-7 junior (7.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.8 spg) looks to build on an all-SoMeck 4A conference, sophomore season.

Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg, So.: The 6-1 sophomore forward is a major force inside averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per as a freshman.

Maggie Kernodle, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: The 5-8 senior (7.8 ppg) is the lone returning starter from a 27-win, Southwestern 4A championship team.

Brooklyn Saunders, Butler, Sr.: The 5-6 senior point guard is equally as important on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 5.7 steals per game as a junior.

Elle Stone, Mallard Creek, Sr.: The 5-10 senior guard and University of Delaware commit is the leading returning scorer (14.3 ppg) and defender (4.3 spg) from a 26-win team, a year ago.

Barri Terry, Olympic, Sr.: The 5-6 senior (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3 apg, 3.1 spg) gives Olympic a good inside-outside duo with 6-3 sophomore center, Chai James (11.7 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg).

Players on the rise

Nykira Arrington, South Mecklenburg, Jr.: The 6-2 junior forward, Ashbrook transfer is the reigning Big South 3A conference player of the year (12 ppg, 16 rpg) and will give the Sabres an inside presence.

Kamora Brown, Independence, Sr.: The 6-foot senior (1.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg) will be a key piece on an Independence team that is rebuilding without any returning starters

Anani Delgado, Bradford Prep, Sr.: The 5-2 senior guard (6.2 ppg) back to lead the Bears’ backcourt also features three sisters, in senior Zoe Clark and juniors Bailey and Peyton Clark.

Kaiya Dodson, Ballantyne Ridge, So.: The Wolves’ sophomore guard will help lead a squad made of primarily underclassmen at first-year Ballantyne Ridge High.

Abby (So.) and Lucy Courtney, Lake Norman Charter, Sr.: The Courtney sisters are back to lead Lake Norman Charter with Abby, a sophomore point guard, averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game and Lucy, a senior shooting guard, averaging 4.7 points, 5.3 rebounds per contest.

Infiniti Green, Sugar Creek Charter, Jr.: The 5-10 junior center (4 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 bpg, 2 spg) will impact the game on both sides of the floor.

Amiya Martin, Jackson Day, 8th-grader: The 5-7 eighth-grader is the lone returning starter from a 26-win team.

Bethani Overby, Harding, Sr.: The 6-foot senior guard looks to build a breakout junior season, where she averaged 18 points per game.

June Wallace, Hopewell, Jr.: The 6-foot junior (8 ppg, 8 rpg) leads an experience frontcourt with senior Jewel Osborne and junior Keniya Ringwall.

Marlee Whitten, Providence, Jr.: The 5-6 junior (6 ppg, 7.5 rpg) is leading returning scorer and rebounder on a younger Providence team.

Preseason all-star team

  • Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek, 5-7, Jr.

  • Amani Barner, Myers Park, 5-9, So.

  • Kyliah “K.B.” Brown, South Mecklenburg, 5-4, So.

  • Misa Garris, Queens Grant, 5-4, Jr.

  • Karly Glahn, Ardrey Kell, Jr.

  • Lenise Joseph, North Mecklenburg, 6-1, So.

  • Maggie Kernodle, Charlotte Catholic, 5-8, Sr.

  • Brooklyn Saunders, Butler, 5-6, Sr.

  • Elle Stone, Mallard Creek, 5-10, Sr.

  • Barri Terry, Olympic, 5-6, Sr.

Preseason player of the year: Kiara Anderson, Mallard Creek, 5-7, Jr., PG

Notes

  • Former Ardrey Kell, Charlotte Latin and Cuthbertson girls’ basketball coach, Jeff Buseick, is taking over the first-year Ballantyne Ridge basketball program. Buseick is 169-81 in 10 years as a head coach.

  • East Mecklenburg coach Troy Gaston will start three freshmen that he calls “The Frosties,” including guards, Sameryah Freeman and Gabriella Willis and forward Kameyah Roberts, who he expects to have an immediate impact on the success of the team.

  • Former Julius Chambers’ girls’ basketball coach Donnell Rhyne takes over the program at Jackson Day. Rhyne is 156-59 in his coaching career.

  • Former Marvin Ridge girls’ basketball coach Jamie Ellis takes over an Independence program that is starting over without any returning starters.

  • Myers Park girls’ basketball coach Barbara Nelson has 791 career victories as a head coach, and will hit 800 during this season.

  • North Mecklenburg girls’ basketball coach Jennifer Baker is also nine wins from a big milestone in her coaching career with 291 career victories.

Conference predictions

Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference

  1. Community School of Davidson; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Christ the King; 4. Pine Lake Prep; 5. Mountain Island Charter; 6. Corvian Charter; 7. Bradford Prep; 8. Langtree Charter.

Metro 7, 1A Conference

  1. Jackson Day; 2. Sugar Creek Charter; 3. Queens Grant; 4. Piedmont Charter; 5. Carolina International; 6. Valor Prep.

Queen City Athletic 3A/4A Conference

  1. Mallard Creek; 2. North Mecklenburg; 3. Hough; 4. Julius Chambers; 5. West Charlotte; 6. Harding; 7. Hopewell; 8. West Mecklenburg.

SoMeck 4A Conference

  1. Ardrey Kell; 2. South Mecklenburg. 3. Myers Park; 4. Olympic; 5. Palisades; 6. Berry; 7. Ballantyne Ridge.

South Piedmont 3A Conference

  1. Jay M. Robinson; 2. Northwest Cabarrus; 3. West Rowan; 4. Central Cabarrus; 5. East Rowan; 6. Concord; 7. South Rowan; 8. Lake Norman Charter; 9. Carson.

Southwestern 4A Conference

  1. Butler; 2. Charlotte Catholic; 3. Providence; 4. Rocky River; 5. Garinger; 6. Independence; 7. East Mecklenburg.