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 has rebirthed a similar team this year with Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Elite Eleven Preseason Girls Basketball Team based on our All-Metro team selections from last season. 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 basketball team will be published in early November.
Madison Booker, Germantown, 6-0, Junior, Guard
The Mississippi Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year and Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Player of the Year, 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. She averaged 20.5 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals in the semifinals and finals. Booker was first team on the All-Metro Jackson team as a sophomore and freshman. Booker was a member of the USA 16-and-under national team this summer and started for the team, which won the FIBA Americans Championship. She is ranked No. 4 in the nation by Prep Girls Hoops, No. 5 by Blue Star Basketball and No. 6 by ESPN Hoopsgulz in her class of 2023. Booker narrowed her college choices down to nine schools – Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Oregon, and Texas – on Sept. 18. Booker’s father, Carlos, is 6-foot-10 and started at center for Southern Miss in the late 1990s.
“Maddie has matured so much over the summer and preseason,” Germantown coach Jamie Glasgow said. “She has put in so much extra time in the gym shooting and working on her game. I can’t wait to watch her hard work pay off.”
Katelyn Brinkley, Ridgeland, 6-1, Junior, Forward
Brinkley averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists as a sophomore and led Ridgeland to a 15-10 record last season. She had shoulder surgery this summer and is expected to miss the first month of the season. Brinkley was a member of the Priority One Bank/ Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season.
“Katelyn is hard working kid,” Ridgeland coach Wade Hawkins said. “She has a good skill set and a great teammate. Katelyn will do whatever she has to do to win the She is a great kid to coach.”
Kynnedi Davis, Brandon, 5-5, Junior, Guard
A transfer from Pearl, Davis averaged 16 points, 5.2 assists and 4.5 steals last season as a sophomore and helped Pearl to a 12-7 record and the Class 6A playoffs. She was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Davis made third team on the All-Metro Jackson team as a freshman.
“Kynnedi has been and will be great for us this season,” Brandon coach Candace Foster said. “Her character, work ethic, and skill set separate her from her peers, and we are blessed to have her. She’s a natural leader and is a top player in the state that’s going to have a great year.”
Nae Nae Ellis, Jackson Academy, 5-10, Senior, Forward
Ellis averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals last season as a junior and helped JA to a 31-3 record, the MAIS Class 5A state championship and an Overall semifinal appearance.
“When Nae Nae makes her mind up, she can be one of the best players in the MAIS,” JA coach Jan Sojourner said. “She needs to bring it every night to be able to have a great season.”
Andie Flatgard, Jackson Prep, 5-6, Senior, Guard
An Alabama-Huntsville commitment, Flatgard averaged 14.7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and shot 36 percent from 3-point range and 74 percent from the free throw line and led Prep to a 24-5 record, a MAIS Class 5A runner-up finish and a MAIS Overall quarterfinals finish. She was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. She is the first Prep girls basketball player to earn a Division II or higher athletic scholarship in almost 30 years.
“Andie has really made herself into an all-around player,” Prep coach Michael McAnally said. “Offensively, she can score at all three levels – she can finish at the rim with either hand, has developed a nice mid-range jumper, and shoots the 3 really efficiently. And I feel defensively she has prided herself on improving on that side of the ball. UAH is getting a really good player and all of us at Jackson Prep are really proud of her for this opportunity.”
Marley Freeman, Brandon, 5-8, Senior, Guard
Freeman averaged 12.6 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 steals to help Brandon to a 21-5 record and the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.
“Marley is a highly skilled player and has the ability to score in various ways,” Brandon coach Candace Foster said. “She’ll be tough for opponents this season and will be critical to our overall success.”
Mylani Galbreath, Hillcrest, 5-9, Junior, Forward
Galbreath averaged 18.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.1 assists last season as a junior and led Hillcrest to a 18-12 record and the MAIS Class 4A state semifinals. Galbreath scored a career-high 26 points against Overall champion Leake Academy. She made third team on the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson team last season. Galbreath averaged 14.6 points as a sophomore and led Murrah to a 22-10 record and the second round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs. She made the fourth team on the All-Metro Jackson team as a sophomore.
“We are truly excited to have Mylani leading the way for us this year,” Hillcrest Renaldo Dixon said. “We lost a lot last year and I’ve been impressed with Mylani’s growth as far as her game and having to take on more of a leadership role. She’s the most athletic young lady I’ve seen and can be as good as she wants to be. I think we’re going to see her game go to another level this year with a better understanding of our system and expectations as well as what it takes to win.”
Jacia Hayes, Pearl, 6-1, Senior, Center
Hayes averaged 10.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.5 blocks last year as a sophomore and helped Pearl to a 12-7 record and the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs. Hayes was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season. She was a reserve on Pearl’s 6A state championship team two years ago as a sophomore.
“Jacia has developed a monster game and getting better every day,” Pearl coach Lacey Kennedy said. “Teams are going to have to pay attention to her this season. Jacia is a rebounding machine, a great shot blocker, plays solid defense and has developed some post moves.”
Alana Rouser, Germantown, 6-0, Sophomore, Forward
Rouser averaged 13.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 1.4 steals last season as a freshman and helped Germantown to a 13-4 record and a MSHAA Class 6A runner-up finish. She was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Rouser was a third team member of the All-Metro Jackson team as an eighth grader. Rouser returned last week to practice after being out two and a half months with an ankle injury.
“Alana is a hard worker who loves to rebound the basketball,” Germantown coach Jamie Glasgow said. “She is a matchup problem because she is such an athletic big.”
Leah Sutton, Raymond, 5-6, Junior, Guard
Sutton averaged 16.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.2 steals and helped Raymond to a 16-8 record and the MHSAA Class 4A quarterfinals finish. She had a career-high 32 points against Ridgeland this past season. Sutton was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season.
“Leah is a highly competitive player who can impact the game offensively and defensively,” Raymond coach Candace Roberts said.
Kaitlyn Walker, Clinton, 5-9, Junior, Forward
Walker averaged 11.4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals as a sophomore and helped Clinton to a 13-6 record last season and reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, losing to eventual 6A state runner-up Germantown. She was a member of the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season. Walker averaged 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 rebounds on Clinton’s MHSAA Class 6A state championship team as a freshman.
“Kaitlyn is a very strong and tough player,” Clinton coach Pearlene Fairley said. “Offensively, she can be a nightmare in the post, and she can stretch the defense by hitting the 3.”
