By Robert Wilson
Germantown High’s Madison Booker decided on her college choice – former Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer’s Texas Longhorns – in September, and now the 6-foot-1 All-American senior guard has turned her attention to trying to lead her Lady Mavs to their first state championship in school history.
Booker – the two-time PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard and 2021 Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year – had 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots in a 63-44 victory over Vicksburg Thursday in the season opener at Vicksburg. She followed that game with 17 points and 4 assists in a 58-46 victory over Brandon in the Holmes County Classic Saturday in Goodman.
“We are expecting Maddie (Madison’s nickname) to be herself and play her game,” Germantown coach Jamie Glasgow said. “She knows when to share the ball and when to step up and take over. Maddie has played great in the two games that we’ve played. She is scoring, defending, and rebounding. Maddie has been great for Germantown High School basketball, and I want her to enjoy her last season as a Lady Maverick.
“Madison’s 3-point shot has improved since last season. She has been much more consistent from behind the arc in practice. I expect big things from her this season not only scoring and defending, but also taking an even bigger leadership role. I know she can handle it.”
Booker is a two-time member of the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite 11 Team.
Alana Rouser, a 6-foot junior forward and a member of the Elite 11 Team, added 13 points, 22 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in the Vicksburg win and 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals in the Brandon win. Julia Glasgow, a 5-8 sophomore guard, had 9 points (3 of 7 from 3-point range), and 4 rebounds in the Brandon win.
Booker has been a starter on two consecutive gold medal winning USA national teams and rated the No. 3 player in the country in the Class of 2023 by Blue Star Basketball.
She chose Texas over Duke and Tennessee. Booker – whose father, Carlos, was a 6-10 center for Southern Miss in the 1990s – made official visits to Duke, Tennessee, and Texas. Recruited by the best programs in the country, Booker narrowed her college choices down to nine schools – Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Oregon, and Texas – in September a year ago.
Booker averaged 16.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals and led Germantown to a 24-7 record and a MHSAA Class 6A state tournament semifinal finish last season. She scored a career-high 30 points against Arlington, Tenn., last season.
Booker averaged 18.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocked shots and led Germantown to a 13-4 record and the MHSAA Class 6A runner-up finish as a sophomore. She was first team on the All-Metro Jackson team as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
