April Madness: AAU/Club Spring Preview (Part 3)
April Madness: AAU/Club Spring Preview (Part 3) This is the busy time of year as the high school season has ended, the seniors look to their futures and the new crop gets ready to earn scholarship offers in the…
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Continue ReadingApril Madness: AAU/Club Spring Preview (Part 3)
This is the busy time of year as the high school season has ended, the seniors look to their futures and the new crop gets ready to earn scholarship offers in the spring evaluation. The DMV has a long history of putting together high level teams with extraordinary talent, this season won’t be any different but, will add a twist with several new programs forming and looking to make an impact in the recruiting scene. Nike, adidas have been around for a while with their EYBL and Gauntlet/Rise circuits and Under Armor has recently made a huge investment to be a major player on the girls side of basketball with UA Rise. There are also some really good programs that aren’t under a shoe company umbrella that should be watched closely. Prep Girls Hoops has dug in and will preview teams and players to keep an eye on heading into the spring evaluation period.
Elevate Elite 17U Adidas Platinum
Elevate Elite has multiple teams and are playing under the Adidas brand this year. Combined with NoVa94Feet the Virginia based program has players from multiple states. Coach Bruno Corras has been busy putting together a very competitive schedule that goes into August with team camps.
Players to Watch
2020 Anna LeMaster
2020 Aurea Gingras
2020 Janae Dublin
April Tournament Schedule
5-7 WPA Bruins Spring Tip-Off Classic – Pittsburg, PA
13-14 – Elevate Your Game – Fairfax, VA
26-28* – Adidas Spring Gauntlet – Dallas, TX
Team Loaded 17u Gauntlet Platinum
Team Loaded is making a push for the “top dog” program in the DMV. Seven of the ten players have won state championships on their high school teams and the other three are very close to joining them. Team Loaded will be competing on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit again this season. Coach Cortez Quarles feels good about this group that he has groomed with the program, “we have paid our dues and now it’s our time to be in the spotlight”.
Players to Watch
2020 – Aaliyah Pitts – 6’0
2020 – Ajia James – 6’1
2020 – Cameron Downs
2021 – Adaija Bender – 6’3
April Tournament Schedule
5-7 WPA Bruins Spring Tip-Off Classic – Pittsburg, PA
13-14 – Elevate Your Game – Fairfax, VA
26-28* – Adidas Spring Gauntlet – Dallas, TX
Maryland Belles 2023
The Maryland Belles have the youngest team in the preview but their talent is well beyond there years. Head coach Talen Watson considered one of the nations top point guards in the 2010 class, this group of players have grown together since the 4th and 5th grades. They will play under the Blue Star brand which is an affiliate of Nike and several players have already as middle schoolers caught the eye of college coaches. Coach Watson “I want to challenge this team individually and as a whole to step outside their comfort zone to reach their highest potential”. The Maryland Belles 2023 is more than a team it is a “family”.
Players to Watch
Kendall “KD” Dudley
Jadyn Donovan
Anaiah Jenkins
Ande’a “Shaq” Cherisier
Makaela “Mak” Quimby
Kamari Sims
April Tournament Schedule
USJN East Coast-Manalapan – New Jersey
26-28 Boo Williams Nike Invitational – Hampton, VA
Cap City Ballerz 16/17u
Star Willis’s Cap City Ballerz has had a long history of producing high level talent in Virginia. The program is well respected and most of the top players that come out of the state have some connection with Star or the Cap City Ballerz directly or indirectly. Coach Willis “We have a great group of kids on our 16/17u team and our 2022 and 2023 team is pretty talented as well with some already having division one offers.”
Players to Watch
2021 Sherise Pittman
2021 Tatiyanna Creecy
2021 Ameerah Traynham
2022 Logan Nuckols
2022 Shavondra Bassett
2022 Jessica Osuanah
2023 Kyah Smith
2023 Sydney Turner
2023 Ella Weaver
2023 Cyriah Griffin
April Tournament Schedule
13-14 – Elevate Your Game – Fairfax, VA
24-26 * – Deep South Classic – Raleigh, NC
Cross-Over Hoops Premier
Cross-Over Hoops will be “closing shop” after this season. They have been a mainstay for a while in the Richmond area producing multiple division one players. Coach Torrence Archie “We have a solid really strong team and college coaches will be please with our team this season”
Players to Watch
2020 Kiara Winston
2021 Jordan Hodges
2021 Lauren McCall
2020 Abigail Freeman
2020 Jordan Carpenter
2021 Aiyana Ellis
2021 Shawnise Campbell
2021 Alexis Warren
April Tournament Schedule
24-26 * – Deep South Classic – Raleigh, NC