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 three years ago 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 fourth 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.
ANNA MORGAN ANDERSON, MRA, 5-9, SOPHOMORE, GUARD
Anderson averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2 assists and helped Madison-Ridgeland Academy to a 36-4 record, and a MAIS Class 6A runner-up finish and an Overall Tournament runner-up finish and was a second team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a freshman.
“If you want somebody to go to war with, Anna Morgan is your girl,” MRA coach Stephen Force said. “Maybe most competitive person I’ve ever coached (Force is starting his 29th season as a head coach). “One of the hardest workers I’ve ever had. She is an incredible practice player, bringing it every day. Anna Morgan has a very high motor on the floor and never slows down, which makes her dangerous on both ends of the floor. She has really worked hard this off season in the weight room. Anna Morgan led the team in steals in both her first two varsity seasons as an eighth and ninth grader. She cares only about winning when she steps on the floor. Anna Morgan is a stud.”
Morgan has an offer from Delta State.
MRA opens the season against Central Hinds Tuesday at the Central Hinds Shootout in Raymond.
CHARLIE GAMBERINE, GERMANTOWN, 5-4, SENIOR, GUARD
Gamberine, who has verbally committed to William Carey, averaged 10.4 points, made a Mississippi best 79 3-pointers and shot 36 percent from 3-point range and helped Germantown to 23-10 record and an MHSAA Class 7A runner-up finish and was a fourth team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior.
She scored a career-high 25 points, including six 3-pointers, in a 54-28 win over Madison Central in the MHSAA Class 7A quarterfinals.
“Charlie is a pure shooter that puts in the work,” Germantown coach Jamie Glasgow said. “She is in the gym any chance that she gets. Charlie has a very high IQ on the court that helps her to find the open shot. I am so excited to see what she does this year. I know all of her hard work will pay off.”
Germantown opens the season against Warren Central Nov. 5 at home.
HOLLY JACKSON, EAST RANKIN ACADEMY, 5-6, JUNIOR GUARD
Jackson averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and shot 39 percent from 3-point range and helped East Rankin to a school 39 wins (eight losses) and a MAIS Class 5A runner-up finish and the MAIS Overall Tournament championship and was a fourth team selection on the All-Metro Jackson Team last season as a sophomore.
She scored 22 points in a win over Central Hinds Academy in the Overall semifinals.
“Holly is such a fun and special player to get to coach,” said East Rankin coach Brooke Rhodes, last year’s Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Coach of the Year. “She is special in the fact that she can score at all three levels, she can get to the rim, shoot the midrange, but she also has incredible range from 3. Holly has been a huge part in growing our program and that will continue this year. It has been fun seeing her over this past summer also grow in the role of being one of the team leaders. I am excited to see her continue to get better this season, too.”
Jackson has verbally committed to play softball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
She had 27 points in two wins and scored her 1,000th career point in the Canton Academy preseason tournament to open the season.
MADISON JONES, TERRY, 6-1, SOPHOMORE, CENTER
Jones averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots and helped Terry to 25-7 record and MHSAA Class 6A runner-up finish and was a fourth team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a freshman.
She has offers from Southern Miss, Jackson State, Murray State, South Alabama, Tennessee-Martin and University of New Orleans.
“Madison will continue to dominate this season in all categories,” Terry coach Ruth Buck said. “She’s learning the game more, which means her IQ for the game has increased. She’s ready to help us make another run for the coliseum. In her words, ‘I don’t like being runner-up.’’’
Terry opens the season against Clinton Nov. 5 at Clinton.
MALIA MCCELLEIS, NORTHWEST RANKIN, 5-4, SOPHOMORE, GUARD
McCelleis averaged 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 1.7 assists and helped Northwest Rankin to 29-11 record and a MHSAA Class 7A semifinal finish and was a third team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a freshman.
“Malia is a joy to coach,” said first-year Northwest Rankin coach Tameika Brown, who was at Madison Central for seven seasons. “She is a hard worker and has a high IQ for the game. Malia is tough to defend on offense and aggressive and tenacious on defense.”
Northwest Rankin opens the season against Lawrence County Nov. 5 at Northwest Rankin.
SHAMIRA MORTON, CANTON, 6-3, JUNIOR, FORWARD
Morton averaged 20.1 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.8 blocked shots and led Canton to 28-5 record and an MHSAA Class 5A runner-up finish and was the Player of the Year and a first team selection on the All-Metro Jackson Team last season as a sophomore.
She had five triple doubles (points, rebounds, and blocked shots) and 22 double doubles (points and rebounds). Her scoring average was sixth best in Mississippi according to MaxPreps, her rebound average was second best in Mississippi and her blocked shots average was first in Mississippi and 25th best in the country. And all that while playing an average of three quarters per game.
Morton had career highs of 30 points against MHSAA Class 7A state runner-up Germantown, 23 rebounds against Ridgeland and 12 blocked shots against Cleveland Central and Greenville. She failed to get at least 10 rebounds only four times and failed to score at least 10 points once (Morton scored nine points against MHSAA Class 7A state contender Madison Central).
Morton scored 20 points, 18 in the second half, 10 in the fourth quarter, and had 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot in the state championship loss to Laurel.
“Shamira has continued to get better each year due to her continued effort and hard work in the offseason,” Canton coach Melissa Word said. “She is becoming the leader that our young team definitely needs.”
Morton has offers from Southern Miss, Memphis, SMU, Charlotte, South Alabama, Murray State, Arkansas State and North Carolina A&T.
Canton opens the season against Yazoo County Nov. 5 at Yazoo.
KARLEY ROBINSON, MADISON CENTRAL, 5-6, FRESHMAN, GUARD
Robinson averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.0 steals and helped Madison Central to 19-15 record and a MHSAA Class 7A quarterfinals finish and was a second team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as an eighth-grader.
She had a triple double (12 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds) against Germantown and a career-high 23 points against in the Madison County Invitational last season.
“Karley’s basketball IQ is well beyond her years,” said first-year Madison Central coach Jalessa Taylor, who was at Northwest Rankin for four seasons. “She sees the floor, makes the right basketball play, and elevates those around her. Karley can score at any level and is solid as a ball defender. She refuses to lose.”
Robinson has offers from Southern Miss, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Tennessee-Martin, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Madison Central opens the season against Gentry Nov. 5 at Madison Central.
ANN MAGEE STRADINGER, JACKSON PREP, 5-7, SENIOR, GUARD
Stradinger averaged 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals and led Prep to a 23-13 record, the MAIS Class 6A state championship and the Overall quarterfinals and was a third team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior.
She scored a game-high 18 points in Prep’s loss to Class 4A state champion Central Hinds in the Overall quarterfinals.
“Ann Magee has a drive about her that is rarely seen in high school athletics,” Prep coach Michael McAnally said. “She spends hours of time outside organized team activities working on her game. That hard work has paid dividends in the maturation of her game.”
Prep opens the season against defending MAIS Overall Tournament champion East Rankin Academy Monday in Madison Madness Preseason Basketball Classic at MRA in Madison.
KATHRYN STRONG, CENTRAL HINDS ACADEMY, 5-7, SENIOR, GUARD
Strong averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 steals, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and helped Central Hinds to a school record 28 wins (seven losses), a MAIS Class 4A state championship (first in school history) and MAIS Overall Tournament semifinal finish (best finish in school history) and was a third team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior.
“Kat is one of the best athletes in the state,” Central Hinds coach Henry Gantz said. “Defensively, she is elite and that is widely known. This season I hope Kat looks to shoot more. We have a better chance to make another deep run if she’s more aggressive offensively. I’m going to enjoy this final year with her, but I’m going to miss her. Kat plays harder than anyone I’ve ever coached. She’s an amazing teammate and person.”
Strong, last year’s MAIS Class 4A Player of the Year, has an offer from Holmes Community College.
Central Hinds opens the season against 2024 Overall runner-up MRA Tuesday at the Central Hinds Shootout in Raymond.
LIZ STEVENS, EAST RANKIN ACADEMY, 6-2, SOPHOMORE, FORWARD
Stevens averaged 12.9 points and 10.9 rebounds and helped East Rankin to a school record 39 wins (eight losses), a MAIS Class 5A runner-up finish and the MAIS Overall Tournament championship and was a third team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a freshman.
She had 16 points and 14 rebounds in the Overall semifinal win over Central Hinds and 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in the championship win over MRA.
Stevens was instrumental in the final minutes of the championship game. She made a layup with 2 minutes, 48 seconds to play for a 39-38 East Rankin lead, then got a steal with 56 seconds to play set up the winning layup by Addison Brown with 15 seconds to play.
“Liz is a special player to get to coach,” East Rankin coach Brooke Rhodes said. “She had a huge part of our success last year. Liz had a great summer and played at a high level with her AAU team, Alabama Southern Starz EYBL 15U. She has worked hard this offseason to improve her game. Liz is the kind of player you may not always have the chance to coach. She has a lot of God-given ability and great size, but she also has the want to to get better every day and wants to be coached hard to be the best she can. I am excited to see her grow this year during her sophomore season.”
Stevens has Division I offers from Southern Miss and Appalachian State.
Stevens had 30 points and 23 rebounds in two wins at the Canton Academy preseason tournament to open the season.
JAHANNA WILSON, CALLAWAY, 5-3, SENIOR, GUARD
Wilson averaged 13.6 points, 5.1 assists and 3.5 steals and led Callaway to 22-9 record and the MSHAA Class 6A quarterfinals and was a first team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior. She had season highs of 25 points, 11 assists, 10 steals and 9 rebounds. She has 1,145 points, 408 rebounds, 382 assists and 291 steals in her career.
“Jahanna is the definition of heart over height,” Callaway coach Ashli Sutton said. “She does not let her size dictate her performance or her future. Jahanna can hang with the best of them, and she definitely can lead and encourage the ones who are not there yet. Jo can get to the basket at will, make timely decisions, defend the lenght of the floor, rebound like a post player and can shoot the ball well. Her character off the court is just as bold and defined as she is on the court. Jo is truly a blessing to coach the last six years. I’m looking forward for Year Seven to complete our mission.”
Wilson has offers from Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi University for Women, Lane College, Coahoma CC, Copiah-Lincoln CC, East Mississippi CC, Itawamba CC, Jones County JC, Meridian CC, Mississippi Delta CC, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Northeast Mississippi CC, and Seward County (Kansas) CC.
Callaway opens the season against Yazoo City Nov. 5 at Yazoo City.
