Who are the top girls basketball stars in the Charlotte region? The 2019-20 All-Observer team
One day after winning Ms. Basketball in North Carolina, Newton-Conover’s Chyna Cornwell is back to take another annual Charlotte Observer award.
The 6-foot-3 senior center is the 2019-20 Charlotte Observer girls basketball player of the year. She headlines the All-Observer team along with Vance High’s Donnell Rhyne, the Observer’s coach of the year.
Beginning with the 1985-86 school year, the Observer began its current format of postseason awards. Initially, they were divided into two teams: All-Piedmont or All-Region, for players outside of Mecklenburg County; and All-Mecklenburg for players in the immediate Charlotte-area.
In the 1997-98 season, the newspaper launched the current All-Observer format to honor the top players in the newspaper’s entire coverage zone, which now includes more than 140 schools in 15 N.C. counties.
Caldwell is the first All-Observer player of the year from Catawba County since Hickory’s Alicia Abernathy won back-to-back awards in 1998 and ‘99.
Cornwell led her school to its first state championship appearance in 28 years. She averaged 26.7 points, 16.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. As a junior, she was just as good, putting up 28.3 points, 20.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.
Cornwell has signed to play college basketball at Rutgers for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer, who has won more than 1,000 career games.
Rhyne led Vance to its first state championship appearance in 17 years. The Cougars (26-5) won the Observer’s Sweet 16 championship earlier this week.
After going 7-17 four years ago, Rhyne’s teams are 72-15 in the past three, including a record of 28-3 at home.
All-Observer Girls Basketball First Team
NEVAEH BROWN, MALLARD CREEK, 5-8, SR., G: Named to the N.C. Basketball Coaches all-state team, Brown averaged 14 points, four assists, four rebounds and two blocks per game for a N.C. 4A state semifinalist. A Wake Forest recruit, Brown is a 1,000-point career scorer who was selected for the North-South all-star game.
CHYNA CORNWELL, NEWTON-CONOVER, 6-3, SR, C: Rutgers signee led her team to its first state championship appearance in 28 years. She ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring. She was also named N.C. player of the year by MaxPreps and the N.C. High School Basketball Coaches Association.
MALLORIE HAINES, DAVIDSON DAY, 5-10, JR, G: Davidson commit led her team to its second straight N.C. Independent Schools state championship. She made a school-record 84 3-point shots and averaged 26 points per game, which ranked top 60 nationally, to go with eight rebounds and four steals per game. NCISAA all-state pick.
REIGAN RICHARDSON, CANNON SCHOOL, 6-0, JR, G: Averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, three steals and shot 47 percent from the field. Richardson, a top 50 national recruit, led Cannon to a 17-9 record and an NCISAA state semifinal appearance. She has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
JESSICA TIMMONS, NORTH MECKLENBURG, 5-9, JR, G: The Observer’s Mecklenburg County player of the year scored her 2,000th point this season and has 2,012 total, just behind school leader Andrea Stinson (2,128). Timmons averaged 25 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists this season.
All-Observer Girls Basketball Second Team
Dane Bertolina, Charlotte Catholic, 5-10, Sr, G
Blaikley Crooks, Freedom, 5-10, Sr., G
Aniya Finger, Hopewell, 6-0, Sr, F
Evan Miller, Ardrey Kell, 6-0, Sr, G
Abigail Wilson, West Rowan, 5-11, Sr, F
All-Observer Honorable Mention
Tanajah Hayes, Vance, 5-6, Jr, G
Taylor Henderson, Myers Park, 5-10, Jr, G
Kate Hollifield, Shelby, 5-9, So., G
Nyla McGill, Providence, 5-8, Jr, G
Kyanna Morgan, Vance, 6-0, Sr, G
Previous Winners
2019-20: Chyna Cornwell (Newton-Conover); Donnell Rhyne (Vance)
2018-19: Nia Daniel (Hickory Ridge); Clarence Johnson (Mallard Creek)
2017-18: Ahlana Smith (Mallard Creek); Clarence Johnson (Mallard Creek)
2016-17: Janelle Bailey (Providence Day); Josh Springer (Providence Day)
2015-16: Erin Whalen (Providence Day); Josh Springer (Providence Day)
2014-15: Aliyah Mazyck, Myers Park and Stephanie Watts, Weddington; coach Barbara Nelson (Myers Park)
2013-14: DD Rogers (Myers Park) and Jatarie White (Providence Day); Barbara Nelson (Myers Park)
2012-13: Jatarie White (Providence Day); Ina Thompson (Porter Ridge)
2011-12: Tiffany Mitchell (Providence Day); Anthony Jones (Harding)
2010-11: Cierra Burdick (Butler): Chris McNeil (Salisbury)
2009-10: Cierra Burdick (Butler); Stephanie Butler (Butler)
2008-09: Christal Caldwell (West Charlotte); Reggie Mobley (West Charlotte)
2007-08: Christal Caldwell (West Charlotte); Angela Morton (Concord)
2006-07: Tiffany Whiting (South Iredell); Barbara Nelson (Providence Day)
2005-06: Joy Cheek (South Meck); Troy Gaston (South Meck)
2004-05: Joy Cheek (South Meck); Larry Ross (East Rutherford)
2003-04: Kyria Buford (Victory Christian); Jennifer Shoaf (Salisbury)
2002-03: Ivory Latta (York, S.C.); Gary Richmond (Vance)
2001-02: Ivory Latta (York, S.C.); Jamie Smith (Freedom)
2000-01: Natasha Brackett (Providence Day); Barbara Nelson (Providence Day)
1999-00: Natasha Brackett (Providence Day); Bob Angley (Charlotte Christian)
1998-99: Alicia Abernathy (Hickory); David Elder (Hickory)
1997-98: Alicia Abernathy (Hickory); David Elder (Hickory)
