THOMASVILLE – Freshmen Chan Dunbar and Harmony Bryant have stormed onto the varsity basketball scene for Thomas County Central and Thomasville. Dunbar and Bryant are each in the top three on their respective squads in multiple stat categories and have made their presence felt on the hardwood. 

Dunbar is in her first season with the Thomas County Central varsity squad. Despite her youth, Dunbar has started every game this season for the Lady Jackets, playing at the one spot and running the team with surprising basketball IQ for a freshman.

“She’s doing a great job for us so far this year. Right now, the thing that I’m really pleased with is her IQ for the game is really good for a freshman,” said Central head basketball coach Stacy Matsen. “She helps me out a lot. She’s able to really run my team without having to help her a lot during the course of games. She’s actually running the offense.”

Dunbar has been excellent through 14 games this season, scoring in every contest. She is second on the team in multiple stat categories, including points per game (7.7), assists per game (2.9), and steals per game (1.9). Dunbar has scored in the double-digits in six games this season, with her season high of 16 coming against Brooks County.

For the Lady Bulldogs, freshman Harmony Bryant has often been the best player on the floor. She leads the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game, as well as shooting percentage and rebounds per game with 11. She has shown off her impressive scoring prowess this season, securing seven double-digit scoring games and scoring 20-plus in three games. She dropped 29 on Bainbridge in her first varsity contest. 

She also fills the role of a typical big on the floor with her rebounding excellence. Bryant has secured double-digit rebounds in her last four games at time of writing, netting a season-high 19 boards against Worth County. 

As for her impact as a freshman, Thomasville head coach Jeray Randall said he is not surprised. 

“I watched her in middle school, her and the other two freshmen. I knew that they were going to be impact players,” Randall said. “It’s just that time and a little more maturity and time on the floor and that’s why our summer was so big. I think we played 27 or 28 games and it’s really showing up now with our freshmen because we have three of them that actually start.”

Randall also referenced Bryant’s participation in the Red Hots, Thomasville’s dance program, which has helped her improve her footwork. He mentioned the “village” it takes to produce such a talent as Bryant.

“It takes a village to raise really a great player and she’s just getting help from all avenues and she’s really using her athleticism on the court.”

When asked about what excited Randall about having such a talented young player he said, “It just gives you a hope for the future”.