Cumberland County rising junior Sydney Wilhite doesn’t like to do a lot of talking. She does most, if not all, of her talking on the basketball court.
The talented player can shoot from anywhere within the 94 feet. Wilhite is quick, can handle the ball, take opponents off the dribble and is always looking to find the open teammate. She helped guide the young, inexperienced Cumberland County girls team to a third-place finish in last year’s district race.
Wilhite’s 2024-’25 season, which included an average of over 20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game, helped her win the 2025 Chronicle Award for Female Athlete of the Year at Cumberland County High School.
After a stellar freshman campaign, Wilhite took control of the Lady Jets in 2024-’25. She was more aggressive on offense, while also making herself one of the top defenders in the district.
“As a team, I feel like we did really good compared to what everybody thought we would,” said Wilhite, the daughter of Ashley and Trae Wilhite. “We were predicted to finish last in the district, second to last.
“But we, like, pulled through for third, which is, like, really good. With a new coach and a really young team, I’m happy that we got that done.”
And the turnaround took place under the guidance of first-year coach Randy Herring.
“We all just meshed together, played really good together, and we just all complimented each other really well,” Wilhite said. “Individually, I knew, like, going into it, they’d be guarding me differently, and I’d have to, like, create my own stuff. “So, I really tried to focus on that.”
Already considered one of the premier guards in the state, Wilhite said she’s got a lot of work to do to be as good as she wants to be.
“I realize multiple opposing coaches have told people to force me right because I’m more strong going left,” she said. “I’ve been working on going both ways this summer, so definitely players will have to guard me differently next year. I had to focus on just slowing down my shot and being able to use a one dribble move shot because I wouldn’t be open to just catch and shoot.
“Rebounding, we just went in and crashed as hard as we could. But still had one person getting back, so they didn’t have an open layup. And just really just trying to get my teammates involved however I could with passes.”
Wilhite said she’s been impressed with what she’s seen so far in summer practice. She likes the direction new coach Radhika Miller has the Lady Jets heading. Wilhite will be without running partners Aliyah Hawkins and Lexi Carrol.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of pressure on me this year,” Wilhite said. “I know my teammates will have my back, and like we just have those roles we’ll have to fill, but we’ll push through and work hard to get there, and get as far as we can.
“If we want it, everybody will have to just do their role and just mesh together and play together as one.”
Though she’s already hearing from college coaches across the country, Wilhite said she’s got plenty of time to make her college decision.
“I’m really open to speaking with any college coach right now,” Wilhite said. “It’s really interesting talking to different coaches and seeing how they run their program and like their environment that they’re trying to build.”