Congratulations to Megan Ohonde, our December 2023 ITG Next Georgia Female Athlete of the Month, presented by Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance. The Fayette County junior basketball player was one of four candidates nominated for the award; she received the most votes, and she certainly is very deserving of the award.
Ohonde is a 5-foot, 11-inch shooting guard who also plays the power forward spot. She has been an impact player on the court for Fayette County head coach Tykira Gilbert’s Lady Tigers since she was a freshman starter in the 2021-22 season.
The Fayette County girls had fallen on tough times in the previous season, going winless in 2020-2021. Ohonde joined the Lady Tigers the following fall and ultimately appeared in 27 games. She averaged 13.9 points per game, pulled down 7.1 rebounds per game, and averaged 3.1 steals per game, leading Fayette County to a much-improved 16-11 record, including a 10-2 region mark that was good enough for the No. 2 playoff seed in Region 5-4A. The Lady Tigers advanced to the first round of the state playoffs.
Last season, with Megan serving as one of coach Gilbert’s floor leaders, the Lady Tigers were even better, finishing 22-7 and 13-1 in Region 4-4A. They would advance to the Sweet 16 of the 4A state playoffs. Megan was recognized for her outstanding play in 2022-23, earning Region 4-4A Player of the Year honors.
So far this season, Ohonde is either leading Fayette County or is near the top of virtually every statistical category. That includes overall scoring, as she leads the team with 284 points for an average of 9.8 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding at 179, good for an average of 6.2 per game. Megan is third on the team in assists (43), and her 10 blocks are tied with teammate Anaya Ferguson for the team lead.
Coach Gilbert had high praise for her versatile star player.
“Megan is my hardest worker,” said the Fayette County coach. “She goes hard on every play, and really in everything she does, and you can see now how much that hard work has paid off for her.”
The hard work is also paying off in her classroom studies – Gilbert said Megan is a straight-A student.
Colleges have certainly noticed Megan’s hard work and talent, as she has drawn interest from UNC-Asheville, Robert Morris University, and Howard University. How soon does her coach think Megan can see playing time?
“I think she’ll be able to make an impact right away because of her work ethic,” Gilbert said. “Nobody is going to outwork Megan.”
