Albany Herald

Photo by Danny Aller

BOYS:

McArthur Gaines, Dougherty

HEIGHT: 6-foot-2.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Guard.

WHY HE'S HERE: Averaged 10 points a game as a junior during the regular season, but helped lift the Trojans' run through the playoffs averaging 18 points a game. He always seems to be in the middle of everything Dougherty does and is expected to be even more of a scoring threat and team leader as a senior.

Rantavious Gilbert, Monroe

HEIGHT: 6-foot-7.

YEAR: Junior.

POSITON: Forward/Center.

WHY HE'S HERE: Was one of the best men off the bench in Georgia last season. He averaged five blocks a game, and had a season-high 13 blocks in one game. Already averaging 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks this year, and will be of an offensive threat as a starter this season for the Herald No. 1 Tornadoes.

Sanford Seay, Lee County

HEIGHT: 6-foot-1.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Forward.

WHY HE'S HERE: Seay was clearly the best player on the court for the Trojans last year and returns to hopefully lead the team in scoring and rebounding once again. He led Lee County last year, averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. He also shot 79.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Devon Baulkmon, Bainbridge

HEIGHT: 6-foot-5.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Forward.

WHY HE'S HERE: Leading scorer and leading rebounder as a junior for Bainbridge's Final Four team. Averaged a double-double last season (25 points, 10 rebounds). Had a season-high 39-point night in the regular season and a 33-point, 10-rebound game in the playoffs. He scored 28 points in his first game this season.

Malcolm Sapp, Westover

HEIGHT: 6-foot-3.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Forward.

WHY HE'S HERE: Hard to find a better clutch shooter or better outside shot than Sapp, who was a big reason Westover reached the Final Four a year ago. Sapp averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds a game, and he will be expected to do even more this season as Westover's only returning starter.

Terel Hall, Terrell County

HEIGHT: 5-foot-11.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Point guard.

WHY HE'S HERE: Was a Super 6er as a junior last year and lived up to the expectations by helping lead Terrell County to the Final Four. He runs the floor for the mighty Greenwave and averaged 15 points per game, eight assists and five steals a game last season.

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GIRLS:

Ieshia Young, Westover

HEIGHT: 5-foot-6.

YEAR: Junior.

POSITION: Guard.

WHY SHE'S HERE: Had her moments last year as a sophomore and averaged double figures in scoring (14) for the season as well as helping Westover's inside game as a tough rebounder. Helped lead Lady Pats to 24-4 record and scored 20 points twice already this season.

Sheniqua Young, Monroe

HEIGHT: 5-foot-6.

YEAR: Junior.

POSITION: Forward.

WHY SHE'S HERE: Gave Monroe an outside scoring threat and often took over games with her hot shooting touch from 3-point range. She averaged 13 points, 6.4 rebounds a game, but is expected to be an even bigger part of the offense this season as Monroe prepares for another deep state run.

DyTiesha Dunson, Westover

HEIGHT: 5-foot-8.

YEAR: Junior.

POSITION Guard.

WHY SHE'S HERE: Dunson did it all for Westover as a sophomore, leading the team in scoring (20 points per game), assists (6) and rebounds (5) running the floor for the Lady Patriots. At Westover, Superwoman is what they call Dunson, who is already averaging 22 points this year.

Bria Harris, Bainbridge

HEIGHT: 5-foot-10.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Forward.

WHY SHE'S HERE: With Player of the Year Alexis Burke off to Illinois, it's Harris' turn to take over the scoring; She was an inside force last year, averaging 12 points and nine rebounds as a junior, but is expected to be a double-double star this year. Scored team-high 25 on Friday vs. Randolph-Clay.

D'Ambria Thomas, Pelham

HEIGHT: 5-foot-7.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Guard.

WHY SHE'S HERE: Not only did she average a double-double a game last year -- 20 points, 10 rebounds -- but Thomas is off to a torrid start to 2010, scoring 29 in his first game, 23 in her second and 17 in her third, while posting a double-double each time to lead Pelham to unbeaten 3-0 start.

Jayme Gilbert, Americus-Sumter

HEIGHT: 5-foot-6.

YEAR: Senior.

POSITION: Point guard.

WHY SHE'S HERE: Gilbert was the sparkplug and leading scorer (23 points a game, 4 steals, 3 assists) for the Lady Panthers last year as a junior running the floor as a point guard with a dangerous outside shot and a quick-hit ability to run the break.