At the end of a season, players hope they will be remembered for topping their team in at least one statistical category. Then they also hope they will rank high enough to be considered one of the top players statistically in their region. But it is a rare accomplishment for a player to dominate so strongly that they finish leading the state in a statistical category. 

That’s exactly what happened with Thomas County Central’s Emily Greek, who finished her senior season as the top shot blocker in all of girls’ basketball in the state of Georgia.

According to Maxpreps, Greek closed out her last campaign with the Lady Yellow Jackets with a whopping 149 blocks in 26 games – averaging more than 6.5 blocks per contest. 

That total placed her nearly 30 blocks ahead of any other player in Georgia. 

“Central can say we have our very own ‘Greek Freak’ in Emily,” quipped Central girls coach Thomas McAboy, referencing the well-known nickname given to NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. 

“It’s a nickname he was given for his amazing ability and athleticism,” McAboy said. “And it definitely fits Emily as well.”  

For most of the season, the 6-foot-2 Greek ranked in the top 10 nationally in blocks, and impressively finished ranked 16th in America in that category. She also recorded one triple-double for the Yellow Jackets during the season, only her second-ever playing organized basketball.

“My height was a big factor in my ability to block shots,” Greek said. “I was one of the only players on the team who had a real height advantage, and this helped when it came to defending opposing teams in the paint.”

Greek is glad she gave basketball at TCCHS a chance. 

“It seems unreal to have finished my senior year as the state leader in blocks. I wouldn’t have been able to do so without the support of my coaches, teammates, and family,” she added. “I have learned so much from this sport, and I will always cherish the experiences and memories I have made as a Lady Jacket.”

“Without a doubt she has helped establish and change the culture to what we are trying to create in girls’ basketball,” McAboy continued. “She leads our program in academics, character, attitude, humility, as well as block shots and rebounds.

During her two year span in the program, Greek was voted second team all-region each year. A two-sport star, after graduation she will join her sister Anna in Panama City on scholarship on the Gulf Coast State College softball team. 

“She will be greatly missed by her coaches and she will never realize how grateful I am to her for stepping outside of her comfort zone and trying a sport she has never played until her junior year,” McAboy concluded. “We love you EG!”