#BBWSUSA: “NCAA Acrimony from Coast to Coast”

TeamTakeOver (MD)
Coach: Ron James
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Hawa Doumbouya 6-4 2024
Sahnya Jah 6-2 – 2023
Zen Craft 6-2 – 2025
Quedence Samuels 6-1 – 2023
Jayden Donovan 6-0 – 2023
Mikeala Quimby 5-9 2023
Lewis 6-0 2023 – Holy Cross
McDaniel 5-6 – 2024
Kyndal Walker 5-9 – 2024
Brya Clark 5-8 – 2023

Elevate Elite
Coach: Bruno Corras
Affiliation: Adidas 3SSB
Roster:

Raevin Sheflitt 6-6 – 2024
Logyn Greer 6-4 – 2025
Kaliyah Perry 6-2 – 2025
Sanai Green 6-1 – 2026
Safa Al-Uqdah-Robinson 5-11 – 2025
Amirah Anderson 5-10 – 2025
Olivia Hilliard 5-9 – 2025
Kayla Washington 5-9 – 2025
Amori Jarrett 5-8 – 2025
Caliyah DeVillasee 5-7 – 2025
Kendall Scott 5-7 – 2024

The Jersey Gemz
Director:  Shannon Coyle
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Mikaela Hubbard 6-2 – 2023
Alexis Davis 6-0 – 2023
Mikayla Blakes 6-0 – 2024
Morgan Matthews 6-0 – 2024
Tyonna Bailey 5-10 – 2023
Ashley Redd 5-7 – 2025
Cristina Parrella 2024
Gabriella Ross 5-7 – 2023
Janie Bachmann 6-0 – 2023
Ron’Shanae Austin 5-9 – 2023

Kia Nurse Elite
Director: Richard Nurse
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Lauren Crocker 6’4″ 2023
Jada Bediako 6’3″ – 2023
Kiera Spencer 6’2″ – 2023
Toby Fournier 6’2″ – 2024
Tanah Becker 6’1″ – 2023
Ella Thomas 6’0″ – 2023
Delaney Gibb 5’11” – 2024
Summer Lee 5’10” – 2024
Teneisha Clarke 5’10” – 2023
Alarice Gooden 5’8″ – 2023
Taija Sta Maria 5’7″ – 2023
Micaela Carter 5’6″ – 2023

Sports City U (OH)
Coach: Byrce McKey
Affiliation: Independent
Roster:

Paris Gilmore 5-6 – 2023
Indya Davis 5-9 -2024
Summer Davis 5-9 – 2024
Laila Marshall 5-9 – 2023
Taylor Farris 5-9 – 2023
Rashunda Jones 5-8 – 2023
Mari Brickley 5-10 – 2023
Seini Hicks 6-0 – 2024
Amiyah Reynolds 6-0 – 2023
Zennia Thomas 6-2 – 2023
Emma Barnet 6-2 – 2023

Alabama Southern Starz
Coach: Looney
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Timya Thurman 6-5 – 2023
Madison Booker 6-1 – 2023
Olivia Johnigan 6-0 – 2023
Olivia Lee 5-10 – 2023
West Hope 5-9 – 2023
Indiya Bowen 5-8 – 2023
Nyla Grace Collier 5-8 – 2023
Olivia Davis 5-7 – 2023
Kennedy Langham 5-7 – 2023
Chloe Siegel 5-7 – 2023
Kennedy Davis 5-6 – 2023

California Storm
Coach: George Quintero
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Candace Kpetikou 6-3 – 2023
Grace Knox 6-2 – 2025
NeNe Ndiaye 6-1 2023
Chloe Briggs 5-11 – 2023
Dominique Nesland 5-10 – 2024
Ashley Chea 5-8 – 2023
Skye Belker 5-8 – 2023
Ebele Mbagwu 5-7 – 2023
Rylei Waugh 5-7 – 2023

Wisconsin Flight Elite
Coach: Nicholas Levy
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

# 55 – Meghan Schultz 6-3 – 2023 – Wisconsin Green-Bay
# 1 – Allie Ziebell 6-0 – 2024
# 4 – Audrey Deptula 5-11 – 2023
# 10 – Juilanna Ouimette 5-10 – 2023 – Lehigh
# 30 – Barcha 5-10 – 2023
# 2 – Macy Donarski 5-8 – 2023 – Montana
# 3 – Samatha Beyer 5-8 – 2023

Miami Suns
Coach: Ochiel Swaby
Affiliation: Nike EYBL
Roster:

Khyala Ngodu 6-3 – 2023
Kayla Nelms 6-1 – 2024
Aicha Kieta 6-1 – 2023
Emely Rodriguez 6-0 2023
Eris Lester 5-11 – 2024
Keyara Bromley 5-11 – 2023
Karina Gordon 5-10 – 2023
Kristina Godfrey 5-10 – 2023
E’Zaria Adams 5-8 – 2023
D’Yanis Jimenez 5-7 – 2023
Tyra Kennedy 5-7 – 2023

NCAA Acrimony From Coast to Coast

In the recent NCAA tournament, the University of Oregon women’s basketball team lost a hard fought first round game against a tough Belmont team 73-70 in double overtime. After the game, head coach Kelly Graves made several disparaging comments regarding the team’s lack of toughness, and their sense of entitlement due to their prep laurels. Subsequently, three heralded sophomore McDonald All-American players transferred out of Nike town.  The first transfer is former USA Basketball Team member Kylee Watson, a 6’4″ forward from New Jersey whose celebrated prep career has yet to come to fruition at the college level in two years at Oregon. The others are, Maddie Scherr 5-foot-11 guard out of Kentucky. And, Sydney Parrish 6’2″ guard from Indiana. Soon after that, the team also lost top 25 caliber Las Vegas, Nevada native Taylor Bigby 6’1″  freshman and JUCO star Chanaya Pinto 6’1″ forward, all to the transfer portal. At this point, things aren’t going very smoothly for the Lady Ducks, and Graves does not look like such a great coach now that Sabrina Ionescu is not there to run the show as the floor general. On the other hand, the Belmont dynamic sophomore duo of Tuti Jones 5’7″ and Destinee Wells 5’6″ both got the job done leading the way with, Jones 22 points 6 rebounds and 4 steals. And Wells, with 16 points and 7 assists, both guards were not highly touted, but they come from the Alabama Southern Starz program out of Huntsville, led by Doug Bush.

On the east coast, in the mid-atlantic area of College Park, the University of Maryland women’s basketball program started off the 2021-22 season ranked No.4 in the country and for good reason. The team was loaded with talent led by longtime head coach Brenda Frese and had high hopes of making the final four. But due to injuries the squad lacked cohesiveness and depth down the stretch of the season. Through it all, the team made it to the sweet 16 ultimately losing to Stanford. Shortly after, Junior guard Ashley Uwusu 6’0″ entered the transfer portal with comments stating that it was due to, “on and off the court issues”, creating a sensibility of acrimony within the program. Next thing you know, star wing-forward Angel Reese 6’3″ sophomore and MiMi Collins 6’3″ red-shirt junior made the decision to enter the portal and leave the program. Both players come from the TeamTakeOver travel club and are local DMV natives. “Maryland women’s basketball is bigger than anyone line-up or person” said coach Frese, who is resilient enough to bounce back next season with a competitive roster. In recent years, coach Frese’s teams have been stacked with players in the 6’0″ to 6’3″ range but lacked an elite true point-guard to navigate the team back to the final four and ultimately an NCAA championship again.

Prep Hoops Notebook (Joe Montano) :

The Venerable, Joe Montano has been a seasoned coach and educator for over three decades at the Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey. In a recent exchange coach Montano voiced his opinions on a few things pertaining to basketball.

Things I would like to change: “Would love to add the shot clock to New Jersey basketball, it will help the quality of the game and provide a better experience for the kids.”
Best High School Teams He Ever Saw: “1990’s Christ The King (NY) teams coached by Vinny Cannizarro”
Thoughts on Travel Basketball: “It’s good and it’s bad, good because more kids are playing, but so many kids playing has hurt the quality of experience.”
Red Bank Catholic’s Best Teams: “1996 – 29-3 Won the NJ Tournament of Champions”

2000 – 31-0 – “went undefeated and was nationally ranked.”

2013 – 29-2 – “won the state championship without a D1 player on the team. ”

2013 Starting Five:

Caroline Corcoran Sr
Alex Alfano Sr
Mary Kate Caverly Sr
Grace Fallon Jr
Alex Barazotti So

New Nike Sponsored Programs:

The Jersey Gemz,  based out of the Jersey Shore area of the Garden State is ready for their 2022 inaugural year in the Nike EYBL. Shannon Coyle is the director of the program along with New Jersey coaching veterans Dawn Karpell, Kristen Somogyi and John Turhan rounding out the staff.  Highly touted Mikayla Blakes 6’0″ guard in the class of 2024 is electric in the open floor. Alexis Davis 6’0″ athletic wing 2023 will open some eyes on the EYBL circuit,  along with Morgan Matthews 6’0″ 2024 another versatile wing-forward type with a high upside that plays both ends of the court. 2023 Tyonna Bailey 5-10 guard with scoring ability already have several D1 offers.  Mikaela Hubbard 6’2″ forward 2023 should raise her stock this spring and summer as a front-court prospect.

Team Durant (MD) it was just a matter of time before Team Durant Girl’s Basketball program was given a Nike sponsorship. New Sheriff in town, Tamika Dudley is the program director and lead coach of the club, the Long Island University alumni has taken the DMV by storm ever since her move from Woodbridge High School (VA) to the Sidwell Friends School (DC) coaching at a high level overshadowing has-been powerhouses like St Paul VI Catholic (VA) and Riverdale Baptist (MD) among others. Dudley, Cortez Quarles and staff are now switching that energy to the travel club side recently adding Olivia McGhee a 6’2″  junior guard from Virginia to the team, along with 2024 stock riser Zania Socka  6’3″ athletic forward prospect. The club also adds a new recruiting dynamic in the DMV area in close proximity to other Nike programs like: Fairfax Stars (VA) ; TeamTakeOver (MD) ; Boo Williams (VA) ; and Philly Rise (PA).

Wisconsin Flight Elite (WI) This quality program will add depth to the EYBL from a mid-west stand point along with Michigan Crossover (MI) and Mid-West Elite (IL) the Flight have a concrete coaching staff and high quality student-athletes year in and year out, just recently leaving the Under Armour banner.

Kia Nurse Elite (CAN) This seasons team will be stronger and will look to showcase the top talent in Toronto and the surrounding areas of Canada, adding this demographic into the EYBL helps the league grow in terms of talent and name recognition. Look for the program to field some very good teams as time goes on led by Richard Nurse.

Former Nike Sponsored Clubs:

Georgia Metros (GA)
Central Florida Elite (FL)
City Rocks (NY)
New England Crusaders (MA)
New Jersey Sparks (NJ)
Lady Choz (NY)
Ring City Elite (NJ)
Palmetto 76ers (SC)
Alabama Roadrunners (AL)
Team Northwest (OR)
Spokane Stars (WA)
Texas United Elite (TX)
Arkansas Banshees (AR)
The Family (IN)

Nike Nationals Champions:

2021 – California Stars (CA)
2020 – COVID
2019 – TeamTakeOver (MD)
2018 – All Iowa Attack (IA)
2017 – Team Elite (GA)
2016 – Team Elite (GA)
2015 – California Stars (CA)
2014 – California Storm (CA)
2013 – Cy Fair Elite (TX)
2012 – Tennessee Flight (TN)
2011 – DFW Dallas Fort-Worth (TX)
2010 – Tennessee Flight (TN)
2009 – California Swish (CA)
2008 – Tennessee Flight (TN)
2007 – Essence (FL)