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By Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor

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ALBANY — After winning two national championships in July, Monroe’s Kie’Aundria Acree is poised to begin her sophomore year at Monroe High School with a remarkable record of achievements already under her belt.

Before her eighth-grade basketball season, Acree had received scholarship offers from several colleges, including the University of South Carolina, whose women’s basketball team took home the 2024 NCAA National Championship. This summer, additional offers from the University of Tennessee, Baylor University, Louisville and Providence College have pushed her total to more than 20 colleges and universities offering her basketball scholarships.

This summer, Acree continued to impress while playing with her AAU team, FBC United — The Family, based in Atlanta. The team won two national championship tournaments, securing the GUAA Under Armour 16U national championship in Hamilton, Ohio, and the US Open 9th grade national championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

During the summer, Acree focused on improving her three-point shot and becoming a more versatile player. She has been playing with many of her AAU teammates since fifth or sixth grade.

“I’ve been working mainly on my shot,” Kie’Aundria said. “I’ve wanted the coaches to see that I have improved my three-point shot. I’m also trying to working different positions on the floor because when you get to college, all of the players are good. You might have to play a different position.”

Monroe head coach Jennifer Acree, Kie’Aundria’s mother, believes her daughter’s summer work will benefit the entire Golden Tornadoes team.

“The girls can experience her success and see how hard she works,” Jennifer Acree said. “What I’ve found is that the other girls are willing to work even harder, mainly because they don’t want to let Kie’Aundria down. They are all friends off the court. But it’s also because if the college coaches are there to see KJ, well, KJ can only go to one college, so if coaches see other players when they come to watch KJ, there is an opportunity for those other girls as well.”

Jennifer Acree highlighted the exposure the team received during the summer, playing together in front of college coaches, many for the first time.

“Having a chance to play with her gives the entire team the opportunity to be noticed, not just her.”

Kie’Aundria has set lofty goals for her high school career.

“I’m wanting to win a region championship and a state championship,” she said. “I want to get to 1,000 points and more this year.” She also aspires to break Albany girls’ basketball records, have her jersey retired at Monroe and have it hang in the main gym at her high school.

“I was a little surprised at the way we finished last season,” Jennifer Acree said. “This team will be very, very young. And I’m not certain we can make a real deep run this year to the state championship, but I do believe that in her junior and senior years, Monroe should be able to get to that state championship.”

Last season, Acree helped lead the Monroe Golden Tornadoes to a spot in the final four, averaging over 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.

With three years remaining in her high school career, Kie’Aundria Acree is poised to continue her upward trajectory, both individually and as a leader of the Lady Nadas.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]