Genesis Bryant and Anaya Boyd form what is likely the state’s best guard tandem, but that’s nothing new.
The seniors have been the driving forces for a Lovejoy team that is seeking its third consecutive trip to the state championship game and fourth straight appearance in the semifinals. Lovejoy is currently 17-1 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA. The Wildcats’ only loss this season was a 55-52 setback on Dec. 14 against Westlake, the two-time defending champion and No. 1-ranked team in AAAAAAA.
Bryant, a 5-foot-8 point guard, is a four-star recruit (according to the HoopGurlz Recruting rankings) and has signed with N.C. State. She was the Class AAAAAA player of the year in 2018, when the Wildcats won their first state title in girls basketball, and a first-team all-state selection in 2019. Bryant was honorable mention all-state as a freshman in 2017.
The 5-foot-11 Boyd is a Georgia Tech signee and five-star recruit who is ranked No. 8 at her position nationally. She is the reigning Class AAAAAA player of the year and was a second-team all-state pick in 2018. Lovejoy was the state runner-up in 2019.
Lovejoy has compiled a record of 104-11 in the guards’ four seasons with the Wildcats, who had never been beyond the second round of the playoffs before their arrival.
Bryant and Boyd were recently announced as two of 12 girls from Georgia included among the nominees for the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game.
Here are five more Class AAAAAA girls players who could make a big impact down the stretch:
*Sania Feagin (Forest Park): Feagin is a five-star recruit and the No 6 junior nationally, according to the HoopGurlz Recruiting rankings. The 6-foot-4 center/forward is averaging 18.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocked shots, 2.6 steals and 2.1 assists for the fourth-ranked Panthers (15-5). She was a second-team all-state pick last season, when the Panthers advanced to the semifinals.
*Ja'Mya Johnson (Valdosta): Johnson, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, is scoring a team-best 13.1 points per game and averaging 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals for the No. 2-ranked Wildcats. Valdosta is 16-2 overall and in first place in 1-AAAAAA with a 2-0 region record. Johnson averaged 13.2 points last season, when the Wildcats advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2001.
*Amara Newsom (Harrison): Newsom, a 5-foot-9 wing player, has been forced inside this year because of graduation losses and a couple of season-ending injuries from the Hoyas' 2019 team. She has responded with 14 points per game and a boost in rebounding numbers. Harrison is 16-4 and ranked No. 6. The Hoyas were state runners-up in 2017 and 2018 and quarterfinalists last year.
*Zoesha Smith (Glynn Academy): Smith, a 6-foot-1 senior forward, is a Georgia signee and was a second-team all-state pick last season, when Glynn reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995. This year, she is averaging 20.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocked shots. The No. 5 Red Terrors are 14-4, with only one loss against a Georgia team (45-37 against Valdosta on Dec. 13).
*Lazaria Spearman (Dacula): The 6-foot-2 sophomore forward has been on fire in the new year, averaging 18.8 points and 16.8 rebounds in the past five games, all Dacula victories. The Falcons are 18-2 overall and leading Region 8 with a 5-0 mark. Dacula won a state tournament game last season for the first time since 2004 and appears poised to make a much deeper postseason run this year.
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