Robert Wilson spent 23 years at The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News as a sportswriter with more than half of those years covering high school sports, mostly in the Metro Jackson area. He helped chose the Dandy Dozen in various sports for more than a decade. Wilson rebirthed a similar team last year with Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite Eleven Girls Basketball Team based on our All-Metro team selections from last season and information from high school and college coaches. This is the third annual team. Wilson selected the best players from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties from their performances last season. The players below are in alphabetical order. The boys team will be published this week.
Anissa Branson, Callaway, 5-4 Junior, Guard
Branson averaged 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists and helped Callaway to a 27-7 record and a MSHAA Class 5A runner-up finish and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a sophomore.
“Anissa is a gifted shooter with amazing range for a high school player,” said Callaway coach Ashli Sutton, last year’s Metro Jackson Coach of the Year. “She is an excellent passer and can finish at the rim in transition. Anissa has great court vision, is a good communicator, and her defense continues to improve.”
Callaway opens the season against Yazoo City Tuesday at Callaway.
Taelar Felton, Clinton, 5-2, Senior, Guard
Felton, considered one of the quickest players in Mississippi, averaged 16.3 points, 3.1 assists, 3.1 steals, and 3.0 rebounds and helped Clinton to a 20-8 record and the MHSAA Class 6A first round and was a second-team All-Metro Jackson selection last season as a junior.
Felton made third team All-Metro Jackson two years ago and scored a career-high 36 points against Tupelo two years ago as a sophomore.
She averaged 12.3 points, 2.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 steals and helped Clinton to a 21-8 record and the 6A state semifinals as a sophomore.
Felton averaged 10.9 points, 2.2 steals, 1.8 assists and helped Clinton to a 13-6 record and the second round of the 6A state playoffs as a freshman three years ago.
She has Division I offers from Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“Taelar is our senior point guard that we will be leaning to lead our team this season,” Clinton coach Pearlene Fairley said. “She has been working really hard in the offseason to elevate her game to that next level. Taelar is a four-year starter who has experience and a very competitive mentality.”
Clinton opens the season against Terry Tuesday at Terry.
Nyla Hooten, Northwest Rankin, 6-foot, Senior, Forward
A transfer from Hartfield Academy, Hooten averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds and helped Hartfield to a 27-6 record, a third-place finish in the MAIS Class 6A state tournament and reached the first round of the MAIS Overall Tournament last season as a junior.
Hooten had 17 points and 13 rebounds against MHSAA Class 6A state runner-up Tupelo last season.
“Nyla is a great character kid, high motor and basketball IQ,” Northwest Rankin coach Jalessa Taylor said. “She is very versatile, can shoot the three and is a beast round the rim. Nyla will be a rim protector for us and someone that guards every position on the floor. She brings energy, size, and a competitiveness edge to our team. We’re really excited to have her with us. We are looking forward to great things from her this season and even more from her at the next level.”
Hooten has offers from Delta State, North Alabama, Arkansas-Monticello, Jones County Junior College, and Garden City (Kansas) Community College.
Northwest Rankin opens the season against Lawrence County Tuesday in Monticello.
Shamira Morton, Canton, 6-3, Sophomore, Forward
A transfer from Clinton Christian Academy, Morton averaged 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots and helped CCA to a 19-15 record and a third-place finish in the MAIS Class 4A state tournament and reached the MAIS Overall Tournament semifinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a freshman.
Morton started as an eighth grader at Canton before transferring to CCA.
“Shamira knows the game,” Canton coach Melissa Word said. “She is a good kid and has great footwork for a big man. Shamira is tough on herself and is a great competitor. She runs the floor like a gazelle. She is getting a lot of interest for Division I schools, we’ve had several SEC coaches and other Division I coaches from around the country wanting to come here and watch practice this season. Shamira is an outstanding shot blocker. She had games of 12 and 10 blocked shots as an eighth grader.”
Morton has offers from Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Murray State.
Canton opens the season against Yazoo County Tuesday at Canton.
Faith Quick, Florence, 5-6, Senior, Guard
Quick averaged 17.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and led Florence to a 20-10 record and made second team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior. She scored 11 points in the North-South All-Star Game. Quick scored a career-high 27 points against d’Iberville last season. She has scored a school-record 1,260 career points and has been starting since the eighth grade.
“Faith is a hard-nosed kid who commands the floor,” Florence coach Lauren Dixon said. “She loves to get her teammates open looks and is one of the best on ball defenders in the state. Her speed and quickness make it hard for defenders to stay in front of her and really opens the floor. Faith has great leadership qualities, and her ceiling is sky high.”
Quick has been offered by Delta State, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, East Central CC, East Mississippi CC, Hinds CC, Itawamba CC, and Pearl River CC.
Florence opens the season against Jackson Prep Tuesday at Prep in Flowood.
Julia Robinson, Raymond, 5-5, Senior, Guard
Robinson averaged 12 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 assists and helped Raymond to a 25-6 record and the MHSAA Class 4A semifinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior. She scored a career-high 23 points against Lanier.
“Julia has an amazing floor IQ and is a great example of a student athlete,” Raymond coach Candace Roberts said. “She is in the Beta Club and Student Council and is also a member of the volleyball and track program at RHS. I’m excited to see her grow and glow on the court this season.”
Raymond opens the season against Choctaw Central Tuesday at Philadelphia.
Karley Robinson, Madison Central, 5-6, Eighth Grade, Guard
Robinson averaged 10 points. 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 3.0 assists and helped Madison Central to a18-13 record and the MHSAA Class 6A second round last season as a seventh grader. Robinson scored a career-high 19 points against Canton. She was the only seventh grader in MHSAA Class 6A in Mississippi to start last season.
“Karley is a very mature player, especially for her age and grade,” Madison Central coach Tameika Brown said. “She is extremely hard working and is ultra-competitive. That’s what separates her from a lot of other players. Karley loves the game and is a gym rat.”
Robinson has been offered by Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Madison Central opens the season against Warren Central Tuesday at Madison Central.
Alana Rouser, Germantown, 6-foot, Senior, Forward
The 6-foot Florida Atlantic commitment averaged 12.5 points and 11.0 rebounds and helped Germantown to a 29-2 record and the first MHSAA Class 6A championship in school history. Rouser has been selected to the first team on the PriorityOne Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Team for the past two seasons. This is her second straight year to be on the Elite 11.
Rouser has career highs of 22 points against Choctaw Central last season and 22 rebounds against Brandon two years ago as a sophomore.
Rouser has other Division I offers from Southern Miss, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley, Memphis, Louisiana Monroe, Florida International, George Washington and Hofstra.
“Alana has worked very hard this off season,” Germantown coach Jamie Glasgow said. “She has improved her range and ballhandling. Alana had a good summer and stepped up on the offensive end. We look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a leader on the court and in the locker room.”
Germantown opens the season against Vicksburg Tuesday at Germantown.
Klylah Stovall, Forest Hill, 5-7, Senior, Guard
Stovall, considered one of the top scorers in Mississippi, averaged 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals and helped Forest Hill to a 14-17 record and the MHSAA Class 5A first round and made third team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior. Stovall scored 30 or more points five times, including a career-high 35 points against Wilkinson County.
“Klylah is gearing up for her best season yet,” Forest Hill coach Charles Moore said. “She’s had a great AAU showing and the dedication she demonstrated this summer, both on and off the court, is truly shining through. Klylah is determined that last season’s record will not be the same this season. We lost in the first round of the playoffs, which left a bad taste in our mouths. Hopefully, with her leadership, things should be looking better.”
Forest Hill opens the season against Ridgeland Tuesday at Forest Hill.
Maia Turner, Madison St. Joseph, 5-7, Senior, Guard
Turner averaged 13.1 points, 2 steals and 1.4 assists and led St. Joe to a 24-12 record and reached the MAIS Class 5A first round last year as a junior. She had highs of 27 points against Richland, 6 steals against McAdams and 4 assists in four games.
Turner has offers from Belhaven and LeTourneau (Texas) University.
“Maia has great court vision and can really shoot the 3,” St. Joe coach Tommy Groves said. “She has improved her penetration skills and gets the ball to the open man. Maia has a great feel on the offensive end of the floor.”
Turner scored 16 points against Central Hinds Academy and 24 points against Hillcrest Christian School last week in her first two games of the season.
Jahanna Wilson, Callaway, 5-3, Junior, Guard
Wilson averaged 15 points, 4.7 assists and 4.7 steals and helped Callaway to a 27-7 record and a MHSAA Class 5A runner-up finish and made second team All-Metro Jackson last season as a sophomore. She ranked first in Mississippi in assists per game, according to MaxPreps. Wilson has career highs of 26 points, 15 rebounds, 10 steals, 9 assists and 6 blocked shots. She is the daughter of Callaway assistant coach Maurice Wilson.
“Jahanna has a high basketball IQ and is an elite ball handler,” said Callaway coach Ashli Sutton, last year’s Metro Jackson Girls Coach of the Year. “She is strong with both hands, an accurate shooter, and an excellent passer and defender. Jahanna can score or assist with ease and is difficult to defend. She has improved her footwork and outside shot significantly.”
Wilson has offers from Mississippi Valley State and Lane College.
Callaway opens the season against Yazoo City Tuesday at Callaway.
