By — Reginald Graham, Will Fields, and Pilar Rossi
Although we don’t have an “All-Star Weekend” here in Georgia, we still have the events. March 6-8, the GHSA will put on display the best dunkers and shooters the state has to offer in the 2025 Slam Dunk/3-Point Contest presented by BSN Sports at the Macon Coliseum. This will be part two of a three-part series covering all the contestants in the events.
Shooting from beyond the arc has become an integral part of modern high school basketball. Although it doesn’t reach the heights and usage of the NBA, WNBA, and college basketball, grassroots basketball has definitely made 3-point shooting just as important to an athlete’s skillset as dribbling and paint play. Let’s take a look at our rising stars of girl’s high school basketball in the 3-point competition.
Saniya Sharper c/o 27 – Archer
2024 Season Stats 14.5 PPG, 2 RPG
It was an interesting route to the contest for Sharper. Her coach, Lamar Harris, signed her up for this event and also created a team for her to compete in the Co-ed event. Though the Co-ed team was eliminated, Saniya continued to push forward individually, earning her a spot in the finals.
“I’ve been shooting like all my life, so really, just keep my form the same, and I’ll get through it,” says Sharper.
She brings a high level of determination and consistency with confidence,
“Anytime I touch the court, I want to say I’m the shooter.”
Sharper intends to use basketball to take her to the next level as well as help her become more “resilient and mentally tough because you need it in life.” She’s only a sophomore now, and although the clock is ticking on her high school career, she still takes the time to enjoy some of the simpler things in life.
She enjoys spending some time walking outdoors to clear her mind, and as a self-taught pianist, she challenges herself every day. Lately, she’s enjoyed learning to play some of her favorite songs. Along with her highlights and training videos, you can also find her performing those songs on her Instagram account @mochamamba2027.
Raegan Mulligan c/o 28 – River Ridge
2024 Season Stats – 26 Games Played, 3 PPG
The freshman sharpshooter Raegan Mulligan from River Ridge High School has been putting in the work throughout the season. Now she will have the opportunity to prove it in the 3-Point Contest. A lifelong Steph Curry fan, Mulligan always aimed to master her 3-point shot.
“I’ve watched him a bunch, and I thought shooting 3′s was cool,” she said. “Then I got into doing it a lot, really worked on my game, and developed the ability to shoot 3′s. When I saw this contest, I thought it was a great chance to prove I could do it.”
She’s already shown she can knock them down under pressure, posting 21 points in the prelims and upping it to 22 in the second round of the qualifiers. When asked about her approach, she emphasized the importance of taking deep breaths and staying composed. “I start off pretty slow so I can get a groove and get into it.”
Outside of basketball, Mulligan’s a standout flag football player, earning All-Area First Team Offense honors as the Knights starting Varsity quarterback. She believes the sport helps her basketball game, improving both her footwork and hand-eye coordination. When she’s not competing, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and listening to music, with Drake as her top artist.
Taylor Bland – Toombs County
2024 Season Stats 7 PPG, 6 RPG, 2 SPG
Class A Division I Region 3 Honorable Mention
Freshman Taylor Bland initially heard about the three-point shooting contest from her coach, but despite her age, she shows no fear about competing with upperclassmen. After she showed out at the qualifiers in Statesboro, she came into the semi-finals at Lowndes High School with a hot hand and continued her streak of electrifying shooting.
She attributes most of her shooting success to practice and confidence. “Just doing something I know I’ve done over and over again,” she says.
As with most athletes, confidence comes from repetition.
Her inspiration for shooting comes from her father, who also played when he was younger. That being said, Bland is a natural shooter; in fact, that aspect of the game is what came to her first. While she still has room to develop other skills, it’s clear that she was born to let it fly. She’s honest and open about her nerves regarding the large crowd of spectators but maintains a positive attitude about the competition and is determined to go out there and do her best.
In school, she gravitates toward math and science. She likes the fact that in those subjects, there is usually a clear right or wrong answer. That interest in precision and accuracy may have something to do with her ability to be a sniper on the basketball court. She loves playing sports with her family, and as a multi-sport athlete herself, she is excited to see how far athletics can take her.
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