Memphis high school basketball: 10 girls to watch

From Commercial Appeal

Alexis Acoff, Kirby: Acoff led the city in scoring last season with an average of 27.9 points per game, which included a 54-point effort in a victory over GRAD Academy. Along with her sister Madalyn, Acoff has transferred to Kirby and will make the Cougars dangerous.

Annaliese Burnett, MHEA: The national home school powerhouse Eagles have produced several terrific players over the last few years, and Burnett appears to be the next one in line. The 5-8 senior is off to a terrific start, averaging 22.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in two games last week.

Gabby Crawford, Munford: Crawford, who signed with Alabama during the early period, is 6-2 and skilled; nominally a forward, she has expanded her game to include better 3-point shooting and ball-handling. She averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds while leading the Cougars to the AAA sectionals.

Elizabeth Dixon, Ridgeway: At 6-4, Dixon has been a towering presence on both ends of the floor since her freshman season. Now the leader of a young Roadrunners club, the Georgia Tech signee averaged 17.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 4.7 blocks.

Jayla Hemingway, Houston: It seems like Hemingway has been around forever but she's still just a junior. She averaged 18.4 points per game and led the Mustangs to the semifinals of the Class AAA state tournament. After scoring 33 points in her opener, Hemingway looks poised to take a run at Miss Basketball.

Sade Hudson, Trezevant: The UT-Martin signee averaged 19.9 points per game last year, and Trezevant will goes as far as she can take them.

Taylor Lattimore, Arlington: Lattimore averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game as a junior and will be one of the leaders of a loaded Tigers team that has a chance to be special.

Savanna Owens, Briarcrest: She signed last week to run track at Memphis but Owens is pretty handy on the court as well. The 5-8 guard averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3.1 steals last year and will be in the Division II Miss Basketball conversation.

Megan Sanfratello, Tipton-Rosemark: The Lady Rebels have some of the best young talent anywhere, starting two freshman and two eighth-graders last year who all excelled. The best might be Sanfratello, who averaged 18 points and made the all-metro team as a freshman.

Shernika Spencer, MASE: One of the best small-school talents in the city, Spencer ranked third in the city as junior with an average of 20.3 points per game while knocking down 64 3s.