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THE WINNER: Stephanie Watts
THE BASICS
School: Weddington (Matthews, N.C.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 5-foot-10
Athletic achievement: She averaged 29.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 4.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game this past season, leading the Warriors (29-2) to the Class 3A regional finals. A McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic selection, Watts shot 45.6 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from 3-point range and 75.3 percent from the free-throw line. Also a two-time returning First Team All-State honoree, Watts' 3-point total of 156 in 2014-15 set a single-season state record. This past summer, she received an invite to the 2014 USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team Trials.
Academic excellence: Watts has maintained a 3.63 weighted GPA.
Exemplary character: She has donated her time locally as a youth basketball instructor at camps and on behalf of Carolina Courts, a year-round basketball and volleyball training facility.
THE PRAISE
"I've never felt as helpless as a coach when we play against her, because she is simply that much better of an athlete than everyone else on the floor," said Joel Allen, head coach of rival Cuthbertson High. "She's the most dominant high school player of any sport of any gender that I have ever seen with my own two eyes, and I've seen a lot of talented players up close in our area over the last decade in football, basketball, baseball and softball."
THE FUTURE: Watts has signed with North Carolina.
