Prior to 2022, Turbeville, S.C., was known as the location of the Turbeville store, founded by William and Clem Turbeville in the 1870s. From this point forward, however, the town of 895 residents will forever be known as the home of
Talaysia Cooper.
A six-year starter at
East Clarendon, a combined middle and high school with 400 students in seven grades located in Turbeville, Cooper is one of the most prolific scorers in state history. One of only a half dozen players in state history to score over 3,000 points in her career, Cooper also played in the McDonald's All-American Game. She has signed to play next year at South Carolina, the home of the 2022 NCAA national champions.
Cooper headlines our list of 25 small town All-Americans. The players are selected from schools with an enrollment of less than 1,000 students from towns with a population of less than 10,000 people.
Talaysia Cooper signed with South Carolina last November. "Keeping Talaysia here in South Carolina was a priority," Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said at that time.
Photo: GamecocksOnline.com
First Team
SMALL TOWN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Talaysia Cooper, East Clarendon (Turbeville, S.C.)6-0 | Forward | Senior
Cooper
had over 1,000 career points before she even started her freshman year.
She finished her career with over 3,000 points. A participant in the
McDonald's All-American Game, Cooper averaged 28.4 points, 9.2 rebounds
and 3.6 blocks per game.
Kennedy Fauntleroy, New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.)5-8 | Guard | Senior
A MaxPreps All-American and the two-time MaxPreps state player of the year in Maryland, Fauntleroy averaged 19 points and six assists.
Bailey Maupin, Gruver (Texas)5-10 | Guard | Senior
Named the overall state player of the year by Texas Basketball, Maupin led Gruver to an undefeated season and a Class 2A state championship. She averaged 22.0 points and 7.5 rebounds and ended her career with 2,707 points.
Timya Thurman, Linden (Ala.)6-5 | Center | Senior
The Class 1A player of the year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Thurman averaged 25 points, 20.8 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Texas Miss Basketball Bailey Maupin will play at Texas Tech next season after leading Gruver to an unbeaten record and state title.
Photo: Robbie Rakestraw
Kenley McCarn, Melbourne (Ark.)5-9 | Guard | Senior
McCarn led Melbourne to four straight state championships and 65 wins in a row. She is a three-time state tournament MVP and she averaged 15.7 points as a senior.
Paulina Paris, Saddle River Day (Saddle River, N.J.)5-9 | Guard | Senior
A transfer from New York, Paris earned first team all-state honors by the Ledger after averaging 22.9 points per game.
5-11 | Guard | Sophomore
The Class B state player of the year in Nebraska led the state in scoring with 24.1 points per game to go with 7 rebounds.
6-1 | Forward | Senior
A
two-time all-state selection, Rogers led Murphy to a 99-11 record in
her four years on the varsity, including 30-0 as a sophomore.
Amelia Wood, Averill Park (N.Y.)6-0 | Center | Senior
Named the Class A state player of the year by the New York Sports Writers Association, Wood averaged 22.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in leading Averill Park to a Class A championship.
Third TeamAaniyah Allen, Elbert County (Elberton, Ga.)5-7 | Guard | Junior
The state player of the year for Class 2A by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Allen averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 steals.
5-10 | Forward | Senior
The
daughter of former NFL defensive lineman Tony Brackens, McKinna led
Fairfield to a 40-1 record and the Class 3A state championship. She was
named the Class 3A state player of the year by Texas Basketball and
averaged 15.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4 steals.
Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (Bethel, N.C.)5-4 | Guard | Sophomore
The flashy guard earned all-st.ate honors after averaged 24.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals
Jenna Lawrence, Farmington (Ark.)6-3 | Center | Senior
A transfer from Melbourne, Lawrence had a big year at Farmington in leading the team to a 27-1 record. She averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in earning all-state honors by Arkansas Preps.
Graycee Mosley, Troy (Texas)5-9 | Forward | Senior
One of the top offensive players in the state of Texas, Mosley earned all-state honors by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and was All-Centex after averaging 25.9 points and 15.8 rebounds.
Fourth Team
Abby Duchscherer, Kindred (N.D.)6-1 | Forward | Senior
Named
Miss Basketball in North Dakota, Duchsherer averaged 19.5 points, 9
rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in leading Kindred to a state
championship. She finished her career with 2,662 points.
Haven Ford, Rowan County (Morehead, Ky.)5-5 | Guard | Junior
A starter on the varsity since seventh grade, Ford has 2,460 career points. She earned all-state honors this year after averaging 20.8 points.
5-10 | Forward | Senior
The
Class 2B state player of the year in Washington and the Gatorade state
player of the year, Gardner averaged 26.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.0
steals for the Seagulls.
Olivia Vandergriff, Guntersville (Ala.)5-7 | Guard | Junior
The Class 5A state player of the year in Alabama, Vandergriff averaged 21 points and led Guntersville to its first ever girls basketball state championship.
Emilee Weakley, Luray (Va.)
5-11 | Forward | Senior
One of the top scorers in the nation, Weakley was the Class 2 state player of the year by the VHSL. She averaged 30 points and 12 rebounds and finished with 2,601 career points.
Fifth Team
Savannah Davis, McKenzie (Tenn.)5-9 | Forward | Sophomore
The
Miss Tennessee winner for Class 1A as a sophomore, Davis led McKenzie
to a state championship while averaging 18.8 points per game.
Ella Lune, Brimfield (Ill.)6-0 | Forward | Senior
Lune
earned Class 1A state player of the year honors in Illinois by the
coaches association after averaging 19.5 points and 8.6 rebounds.
5-7 | Guard | Junior
The third-leading scorer in the nation and a California 4A all-state pick, Medina averaged 38.2 points per game and had a high of 61 points in a game. She has 2,090 career points heading into her senior year.
