MANHEIM, Pa. — In the early 2000s, Alfred “Mo” Motton devoted himself to providing opportunities for Atlanta youth looking to connect with basketball.

Now, the program he established has become a powerhouse on the AAU circuit.

At last weekend’s Girls Under Armour Association Finals, three of the final eight U17 teams left standing hailed from Motton’s program, Finest Basketball Club. On top of that, FBC had multiple teams represented in each age group.

In its nearly 20-year tenure, FBC has produced several McDonald’s All Americans and Team USA players. The program has launched players to rosters in each of the Power 5 conferences and the Big East, among others, and it consistently puts its athletes on AAU’s biggest stages — and succeeds at the highest levels.

“I started in the inner-city of Atlanta, just helping kids get the resources to get real basketball training and exposure,” said Motton, who serves as FBC’s program director. “I was just an advocate of connecting the suburbs and the inner-city kids so they could ball together. It really took off once we got the right kids in place. Our brand just continues to grow.”

There are dozens of FBC teams across 13 states. Though it began in California, the brand has exploded in the South over the last decade. Motton and the FBC Family plan to relaunch the brand in California for its 20th anniversary next year. The FBC model is simple: continue to grow the brand across the nation with the right partners and provide a space for young athletes to develop.

Motton, a graduate of Alabama A&M University, played four years of basketball with the Bulldogs and received a B.S. in Business Management. He prioritizes community and culture within his program, with the unyielding purpose of preparing his athletes for the next steps in their basketball careers.

When assembling such a wide-reaching staff, Motton looks to plug in coaches who’ve experienced the game from different angles and connect with the FBC mindset. Everybody has a role to play in order for the process to work as intended.

These teams start at the fifth grade and run through U17. Regardless of who arrives to the program as a fifth grader, there’s a large chunk of time in which the athlete can be taught how to find the right mindset. Once those younger kids reach high school, they are at an advantage any time they step onto a basketball court. And so are the FBC rosters because, when they start early, the foundation of the teams are set for years to come.

Perhaps there’s no greater success story to FBC’s mission than the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.

“Rhyne Howard,” said Jaloni Cambridge, a point guard for U17 FBC United. “She was on one of the first FBC United teams. It reminds me that I could do the same, what she’s done.”

Other FBC alumni include Indiana Fever guard Tiffany Mitchell, Duke guard/forward Elizabeth Balogun and Florida State guard Jazmine Massengill.

In Motton’s eyes, having alumni succeed at high levels of the sport is all about the process.

“What [seeing alumni succeed at high levels of the sport] does is it shows that the platform we’ve created for kids really works as they continue to elevate,” said Motton, who also coaches FBC United. “We have a rich tradition of players going to the next level and performing. We put a lot of kids in college. We’ve been really influential at how the landscape of grassroots is starting to be looked at and changed in the South and throughout the country.”

Only FBC United can boast its inclusion of two members of Team USA — Cambridge and Stanford commit Courtney Ogden — and three top-25 recruits in the Class of 2023 — Ogden, Alabama commit Essence Cody and UNC commit Reniya Kelly.

On a roster of 11 players, the competition is stiff, and the standards are high.

“It’s a big opportunity when you get to play with players that actually sharpen your skills,” said Marvin Jones, father of FBC United’s Zamareya Jones. “The coaching staff, they’re real. They don’t sugarcoat it. They don’t play favorites. It gets you ready for college. My daughter comes off the bench. That’s a lot when you’re dealing with college players, but we’re able to talk her through it now. Instead of when she gets to college a hundred miles away and she goes through it alone in her dorm room.”

img
FBC United's Zamareya Jones puts up a 3-pointer against the West Virginia Thunder in the GUAA U17 championship game. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

Practicing patience is necessary to the foundation of the FBC culture.

“To see what these kids are able to do when they leave us,” Motton said, “I just think the biggest word is they’re leaving us prepared — prepared to compete. Not just go to a school and cheer for the next person. They learn early how to play with really good players and how to be good teammates. It’s about transitioning to the next level when they leave us. I think if we had more travel ball coaches who understood it’s about preparing the kids for the next level, kids would be a little more prepared when they go to college.

“Our club, to me, is like a pre-college prep course. We simulate what kids see in college. They’ll see adversity. They’ll know that they can come back from bad games and that every day when we’re in practice, they have to compete with other kids at their level. There’s always a sense of competition. Coaches of professional teams, that’s what they strive for. So being able to find a way, at our level, to simulate it at its highest level is the goal.”

The GUAA U17 championship went to four overtimes in an instant classic. FBC United maintained a strong lead for the first half of regulation, but as the clock hit zero at the end of the fourth overtime, FBC United found itself the first runner-up to coach Scott Johnson’s West Virginia Thunder.

Motton stressed that while the goal is always a victory, the reality of both basketball and life is that things won’t always end how we’d hoped.

“I just say, ‘Listen, man. Sometimes you don’t go perfect,’” Motton said. “That was probably one of the best travel ball games we will ever be a part of, and OK, we lost. But we’ll never forget it, the momentum and the intensity. The thing is, we win a lot.

“Losing does hurt, but you kind of see who you are during adversity.”

For Cody, Kelly and Ogden, there won’t be another summer with FBC. Once they graduate high school next spring, they’ll be off to make an impact at the college level. However, in Monday’s championship game, they left their mark on FBC in one final, invaluable way.

“We’re definitely working toward keeping the momentum going in the right direction,” Motton said. “We had hundreds of younger kids watching that game, right? They get an opportunity to dream of one day being involved in that. Our older kids do such a good job of being role models for our young kids, and it always gives us a sense of another kid rising to be that next kid up to perform.”

There’s no doubt that playing for FBC requires sacrifice and commitment. It can be taxing on the players when a significant portion of their childhood is devoted to the program. The culture isn’t for everyone, and quite frankly, there isn’t enough space for everyone who wants the challenge. But FBC is cultivating skills and teaching lessons unique to its unselfish, high-intensity environment.

It’s preparation through togetherness.

And when it’s time for the older kids to move on, they’ll be ready.

“The best thing about travel ball is you have to graduate,” Motton said. “It’s rewarding to see these kids come from fifth grade and go to Stanford. We’ve done our job, to have kids be able to reach the heights that they’ve been able to reach with us. It’s just been a good journey. We can’t complain.

“It’s time for them to move forward, and it’s time for the next kid to step up.”

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

MANHEIM, Pa. — FBC United led the West Virginia Thunder 21-14 at the end of the first quarter in Monday afternoon’s Girls Under Armour Association U17 championship, and top-seeded FBC United had outrun, outrebounded and outshot the Thunder.

But with the game tied up late in the fourth overtime period, Dee Alexander drained a bucket to give the Thunder the lead, and they held on in the final seconds for an 80-77 victory over FBC United at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex.

“It was a tough game from the beginning,” Alexander said. “We had four overtimes and we had to step up to win the game like we were supposed to. FBC was very tired. They couldn’t take it no more.

“We knew what we were supposed to do. This is what our goal was, and we came to win.”

From the moment the Atlanta-area powerhouse first took the floor donning warm-up jerseys with “PROVE THEM WRONG” emblazoned across the front, to the moment Stanford commit Courtney Ogden hit a 3-pointer to take the first lead of the game, it was clear that FBC United knew exactly what needed to be done.

“This is how we play,” FBC United’s Jaloni Cambridge said. “I’m not gonna lie, I was really tired. But I had to figure out a way because playing fast is our key to the game.”

Cambridge hadn’t been with the team since May because she was helping guide the USA U17 National Team to a gold medal in Hungary, while her FBC United teammate Ogden had done the same a month earlier with the U18 National Team in Argentina.

Every member of FBC United’s starting lineup — Cambridge, Ogden, UNC commit Reniya Kelly, Alabama commit Essence Cody and 2024 power forward Joyce Edwards — is elite. The squad found total synergy early on, and it showed.

It took the Thunder a bit longer to kick things into gear. Whenever Alexander or 2023 standout Kymora Johnson tried to heat things up, there was often a disconnect somewhere else. The team that moved as one earlier in the weekend couldn’t seem to find its footing.

The height advantage for FBC United didn’t hurt either — the top-seeded team has an average height more than two inches taller than that of the Thunder.

FBC United took a 37-27 lead into halftime, and the second quarter didn’t feel much different than the first. In fact, the two teams met earlier in the GUAA circuit during Session I in April when FBC United won handily, 70-43.

However, what happened in the second half was not only a testament to Thunder coach Scott Johnson, but also to the grit of his players.

Slowly but surely, West Virginia locked in, led by a double-figure scoring effort from 2025 standout ZaKiyah Johnson, the small forward who was given the task of matching up against Edwards.

Having the patience and understanding of exactly when and where to strike beneath the basket is one thing, but for ZaKiyah Johnson and Edwards — who both play an unselfish, up-tempo style — it became a spectacle.

“That’s definitely the game I love,” ZaKiyah Johnson said. “I love competing. I love the pressure. It was so fun, and I can’t wait until next year.”

img
The West Virginia Thunder's Kymora Johnson cuts down the net after the Thunder defeated FBC United 80-77 in the championship of the 2023 GUAA tournament Monday in Manheim, Pa. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

The Thunder muscled their first lead of the game with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter when Kymora Johnson drained a bucket to give her side a 46-45 advantage.

That moment was key, as everything for the Thunder seemed to fall into place.

Forcing turnovers, making big blocks, drawing fouls — FBC United was still very much plugged in, but the control they previously had in the first half was gone. At the end of the third quarter, the Thunder remained on top, 52-50.

Packed like sardines, unbelievably hot and expecting a fight in the fourth quarter, the crowd gathered around the court continued to grow over the course of the game.

In the fourth quarter, ZaKiyah Johnson and Alexander were the difference, using stifling defense and battling for every loose ball to push the Thunder’s lead to as many as six points in the final period.

FBC United kept their foot on the gas. Clutch plays from Cambridge, Cody and Edwards allowed FBC United to stay in it.

In fact, Cody set her team up for the win with a hard-fought bucket with just under two minutes remaining. She was fouled on the shot but couldn’t connect on the free throw, and Alexander grabbed the rebound and took it to the basket to tie things up at 65-all.

Trailing 69-67 with 5.3 seconds left in the first overtime period, Thunder 2023 point guard Timberlynn Yeast went to the line with an opportunity to tie the game.

“I was nervous, but I’m proud of this team,” Yeast said. “I just knew I had to hit those free throws for us to win.”

Yeast remained calm and collected, and she did just that, sending both teams into the second overtime tied at 69-all.

With GUAA rules limiting the remaining overtime periods to just one minute in length, Ogden opened the second extra period with a 3-pointer, and the crowd erupted when Thunder 2023 power forward Ella Weaver answered on the other end with her own shot from beyond the arc, tying the game at 72-72 with 14.5 seconds left on the clock.

Alexander forced a key turnover, and FBC United coach Alfred Motton called a timeout. It was obvious that West Virginia felt the tide turning in its favor, as Kymora Johnson began hyping up the crowd.

FBC United forced a turnover of their own, but Alexander blocked a shot at the other end, sending both teams into a third overtime.

In the fourth overtime, a three-point play by Alexander pushed the Thunder ahead 75-72, but Cambridge did the same thing on the other end to tie things back up, 75-75.

Then, ZaKiyah Johnson won another battle beneath the basket against Edwards, and after Alexander’s bucket gave the Thunder the lead for good, Yeast went to the free-throw line with 6.1 seconds remaining. She missed her first shot but hit the second, and FBC United was unable to answer.

“I feel like West Virginia’s price? Yesterday’s price ain’t today’s price,” Thunder coach Scott Johnson laughed after the comeback win. “The price is going up for the program. I’m ecstatic for the girls. I’m at a loss for words right now.”

Click here to see a recap of Sunday’s action.

GUAA championship scores

U17: West Virginia Thunder 80, FBC United 77

U16: Northwest Blazers 57, Bay State Jaguars 54

U15: Northwest Blazers 49, Western PA Bruins 34

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

MANHEIM, Pa. — For the top clubs in this year’s Girls Under Armour Association circuit, all roads lead to the Spooky Nook Sports Complex.

Championship play began Saturday morning, with a bracket of thirty-two 17U teams vying for the title, but only eight of those teams had the chance to fight it out Sunday in hopes of reaching Monday’s championship game.

Top-seeded FBC United features four highly-rated recruits in the Class of 2023 — point guard Jaloni Cambridge, center Essence Cody, point guard Reniya Kelly and shooting guard Courtney Ogden — so it’s no surprise they entered the weekend 10-0.

The No. 1 team drew the 10th-seeded Germantown Lady Panthers in the quarterfinals and secured a spot in the semifinals with a 57-45 win.

“It was a team win,” Ogden said. “We focused on playing as a team. We weren’t really hitting our shots like we normally do, but we still got it done together. We’re ready to go on and win this thing.”

That core four, alongside class of 2024 point guard Zamareya Jones and 2024 power forward Joyce Edwards, played with energy and grit. Even when the shots weren’t falling, FBC United took advantage of every possession.

That team victory moved FBC United into the quarterfinals against the No. 3 Northwest Blazers, who defeated No. 7 Nebraska Attack 67-51.

But unfortunately for the Blazers, there was no stopping FBC United. College coaches from all over, including Baylor’s Nicki Collen, Iowa’s Lisa Bluder, Kentucky’s Kyra Elzy and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, bore witness to another balanced effort, as FBC United claimed a commanding 58-35 victory to secure a spot in Monday’s championship.

img
The West Virginia Thunder take on FBC The Family Supreme Team in a semifinal of the 2023 GUAA tournament Sunday in Manheim, Pa. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

FBC United and No. 2 FBC The Family Supreme Team both entered the weekend with undefeated GUAA seasons. They, along with fellow quarterfinalist FBC Legacy, hail from the Atlanta area’s Finest Basketball Club, an organization that has consistently produced Division I talent.

Naturally, a program that has graduated many McDonald’s All Americans is no stranger to the champions bracket, which is precisely why spectators found themselves watching a quarterfinal matchup between FBC The Family Supreme Team and FBC Legacy in one of Sunday afternoon’s first games.

As a parent from another quarterfinalist club put it: “Of course they’re playing each other. They’re always here.”

Ultimately, it was FBC The Family Supreme Team who reached the semifinals after a 47-35 victory.

The second overall seed awaited the winner of No. 4 West Virginia Thunder and Arkansas-based Mavs Elite, both of whom boast elite talent. Point guard Kymora Johnson, a top-25 recruit in the class of 2023, led the charge for the Thunder, while Mavs Elite’s Mikaylah Williams, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023, seemed to be on everyone’s must-see list.

“She literally floats,” said an admiring 15U onlooker, after on of Williams’ many impressive buckets.

img
Mavs Elite's Mikaylah Williams puts up a shot against the West Virginia Thunder in a quarterfinal of the 2023 GUAA tournament Sunday in Manheim, Pa. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

While Williams, who recently committed to LSU, looked every bit the unanimous top recruit in her class, the Thunder utilized balance and depth to grind out an 83-67 win. It was always within the Thunder’s control, and class of 2025 forward Zakiyah Johnson was a big part of that.

“I knew I was guarding her,” Zakiyah Johnson said about Williams. “I knew I couldn’t lay off, but I’m also at that elite level, too. I knew I could handle that pressure, and slowing her down slowed her team down. It helped my team bring it up.”

Zakiyah Johnson is one of two members of the class of 2025 on the Thunder’s U17 squad. She and power forward Darriana Alexander are not only two of the team’s tallest members, but also two of the toughest.

“I thought the girls played hard from the start to the finish,” Thunder Coach Scott Johnson said. “Mavs Elite’s a really good team. I thought we did a great job collectively as a defensive group. We geared up for this game, and we were locked in. We want to go to the championship. We know it’s one step at a time. And this was the first step right here.”

The second step, a 68-65 win over FBC The Family Supreme Team in the semifinals, was hard fought. After a Thunder scoring drought in the third quarter that turned a double-digit lead into a two-possession game, the possibility of another FBC matchup — this time in Monday’s championship — began to lurk.

“We had to make something,” Alexander said about the final minutes of the game. “We had to do something. Rebounding was key for us.”

Best Moment

The score was tied at 65 as the clock inched toward zero, and the crowd was electric. Everyone had something to say, and in more than a few cases, they were yelling it.

Emotions were high, and understandably so, with a spot in the final on the line.

Kymora Johnson had found her offensive rhythm in the quarterfinal matchup against Mavs Elite, and not even the four hours between the two games could slow her down.

“I knew it was going to be close,” she said. “Every game of the tournament keeps getting closer and closer. They never let up, so we had to keep our foot on the gas.”

Johnson did just that, hitting a smooth game-winner from beyond the arc with just 14.8 seconds left, and once more, the Thunder took care of business, securing a 68-65 victory.

Most Valuable Player

Basketball has long been compared to jazz — if even one member of your group is out of sync with the others, the lack of cohesion can throw everyone off.

And just as a misstep may ruin the tempo, a shining moment may elevate it.

Kymora Johnson spent all of Sunday shining, and because of that, everyone around her did, too.

“She’s a bright-lights player,” said Kymora Johnson’s mother, Jessica. “I can’t say I’m surprised. She is very unselfish. She doesn’t mind sharing the light. And her birthday is tomorrow, she turns 17. So she’ll play the last game of her AAU career on her birthday, and she’s been determined to make that the championship.”

img
The West Virginia Thunder's Kymora Johnson puts up a shot against Mavs Elite in a quarterfinal of the 2023 GUAA tournament Sunday in Manheim, Pa. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

Rising Star

In FBC United’s dominant win over the Blazers, Edwards handled her opposition with ease in the paint, finishing with 20 points, and on a team with so many big names, she managed to be the difference.

“I just go in the game thinking about what the team needs me to do — rebounding, putbacks, all the dirty things, all the effort plays — and show my passion for the game,” Edwards said after the semifinal win.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

CINCINNATI — Prior to when Olympic gold medalist Jordan Thompson enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in 2015, the Bearcats’ Volleyball team had never made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She committed to coach Molly Alvey’s 3-29 program with the goal of four years of solid playing time.

By the time she left, she had set the UC single-season record for kills (827 in 2018), the NCAA record for kills per set (6.27) and was named a First Team All-American in her final season.

On Saturday, Thompson returned to Fifth Third Arena to lead another group, as more than 30 local high school and middle school volleyball players took part in the inaugural Jordan Thompson Camp Powered By Under Armour Next.

The invite-only event allowed these high-level players the opportunity to connect with and compete against one another on the Bearcats’ home court, in addition to, of course, a few hours of learning from an Olympian who grew both on and off that same court.

“I hope to share wisdom and knowledge that I’ve learned along the way and pass that on,” Thompson told the athletes. “I’m really awkward, so I’m easy to talk to. I want to be a resource for you guys.”

The invitees received custom-made uniforms designed with Thompson and her connection to UC in mind.

img
Camp participants listen to Jordan Thompson speak Saturday at the Jordan Thompson Camp Powered By UA Next in Cincinnati. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

Camp opened with the athletes’ own personal media day, which included headshots, slow-motion video and Tik Tok dances that showed a true taste of the increasingly important role that social media plays in the world of college athletics, particularly in women’s sports.

The buzz of laughter and loud music echoed throughout Fifth Third Arena, and by the time the drills began, the competition was fierce.

However, the atmosphere retained its joy.

The camp roster featured top talent of varying ages. It included athletes who have played together for years on local club teams, as well as others who have played against one another and those who have never met.

Among the represented clubs were two of the top teams in the nation — Tri-State Elite (OH) and Elevation (OH). The highly-rated recruits included outside hitter Lucy Arndt (2023), libero Kelsey Niesen (2024), middle blocker Faith Young (2024), outside hitter Sophia Adkins (2024) and setter Ryan Hicks (2025).

But regardless of team or individual rankings, Thompson reminded every athlete that they had the potential to succeed.

Through a variety of drills and challenges — sometimes forcing an athlete to play a position she wasn’t necessarily used to, while other times being thrown into a random group and expected to find synergy — all 30-plus campers managed to find a little success.

img
Camp participants take part in drills Saturday at the Jordan Thompson Camp Powered By UA Next in Cincinnati. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

Three MVPs found a lot of it, as Hicks, Young and 2024 setter Kiana Dinn took home the top honors.

“It was a great experience for me,” Hicks said. “Experiencing new players is really important to any athlete. Getting to learn from everyone is really fun.”

In between drills, Thompson answered questions about all aspects of her career, whether it be her favorite moment as a Bearcat (when the team finally swept rival UCF at home) or her preferred hype music (Afrobeats).

But the responses that seemed to resonate the most with the athletes were those detailing the individual journey of someone so talented and full of effort that she became a starter in what was only her second full summer with Team USA, and how the journey hasn’t really been individual at all.

“I love that it’s a team sport,” Thompson said. “I’m doing something that can’t be done alone.”

Thompson credits Coach Jackie Richter, her volleyball coach during freshman year of high school, as a mentor whose guidance majorly impacted where and who she is today.

“She was the first coach to see a lot of potential in me,” Thompson said, “even when I didn’t see that potential in myself. I remember, it wasn’t even just about volleyball. It was those little things that she instilled in me and she really helped me to see the potential that I had and gain that confidence.

“I think when you have those people in your life, it’s really important to hold them dear because they’re pouring so much into you.”

img
Camp participants take part in drills Saturday at the Jordan Thompson Camp Powered By UA Next in Cincinnati. (Mina Park/Just Women's Sports)

Even in the face of adversity, Thompson has used these lessons to push through and continue to grow and thrive. She cited two specific injuries that knocked her down — the first being a torn UCL while in college, and the second being an ankle injury at the Tokyo Olympics that sidelined her for much of the Olympics after scoring over 30 points against top-seeded China.

“I think I’m still processing that one,” Thompson said. “But it taught me that there are those beautiful moments in life where you’re on this mountaintop. Things were happening that I never even imagined were possible for me as a player. And then to get injured and not be able to step on the court again at the Olympics made me realize that everybody’s journey is different. There’s a lot of beauty in those differences. I think you can have that mountaintop experience, and your teammate next to you can be counting down the minutes until it’s over.

“Gratitude is really huge as you move through life. I think that helps me stay joyful. I’ve learned a lot from my injuries that really have nothing to do with the sport, but just growing as a person.”

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

Coach Sue Phillips first remembers meeting Morgan Cheli at a USA Basketball skills academy when the guard was only in elementary school.

She’s also had her in math class and coached her at Archbishop Mitty High School in California.

This past season, the sophomore Cheli led the Monarchs in all categories during a powerful 30-2 season. Now, just over a month after the end of the school year, Phillips and Cheli will pick up right where they left off, but this time for the USA Basketball U17 Women’s National Team, which begins play at the FIBA U17 World Cup on Saturday in Debrecen, Hungary.

“It was a great year,” Cheli said. “You know, I wish we would’ve ended it a little stronger, but that’s our call to get back to where we were. I’m looking forward to next season.”

img
Team USA coach Sue Phillips has amassed more than 760 wins at Archbishop Mitty High School and has sent 50 players to the next level. (Courtesy of USA Basketball)

Cheli and eleven others among the top players from the classes of 2023 and 2024 will attempt to bring home the gold medal. For Phillips, it’s the fifth coaching assignment with USA Basketball. Last summer, she guided the U16 national team to an undefeated record and a gold medal in Mexico.

Returning from that U16 national team are 2023’s Madison Booker, Breya Cunningham, Jadyn Donovan, Juju Watkins and Jada Williams, as well as 2024’s Jaloni Cambridge. The team also boasts names such as Hannah Hidalgo and Mikaylah Williams, the unanimous No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023 who recently committed to LSU. Sunaja Agara, MacKenly Randolph and Kennedy Umeh round out the roster.

“It’s an incredibly talented group this year,” Phillips said. “A versatile combination of young women who can score at all three levels. They can wreak havoc defensively as well. It’s a really fun group to coach, and I think we’ll play an exciting brand of basketball.”

Though Phillips has garnered much success with Team USA, she carries nearly 30 years of experience coaching and teaching math at Archbishop Mitty. She herself is an alumna of the school and basketball program.

“[Teaching math is] what pays the mortgage, let’s be clear!” Phillips said with a laugh.

It’s also greatly impacted her coaching style.

“Empathy and teaching are such integral parts of your interactions,” Phillips said. “Watching film and starting with mistakes is like me handing back your quiz in our math class. You missed Nos. 7 and 15. We have the opportunity to walk through this, so that when we have our test — or playing on the world stage — we have the chance to remedy that error.”

Having the ability to draw parallels between teaching and coaching allows Phillips to diffuse difficult situations. While it may be embarrassing or disheartening to make a mistake, Phillips finds that approaching it with a growth mindset can make all the difference.

“The only way you are gonna get better is if we address those setbacks, those oversights, whatever you want to call them,” Phillips said. “It’s a great way to approach learning, especially during the lowlights. During the highlights, everyone’s having fun with it. But we shouldn’t shy away from opportunities to learn.”

At Archbishop Mitty, she has amassed more than 760 wins and sent 50 players to the next level. This past season, Phillips, Cheli and the rest of the Monarchs team won four championships and finished as state runners-up to champion Sierra Canyon, where Watkins and Randolph attend high school.

Phillips also runs her own non-profit, the San Jose Cagers, a girls AAU club program in the South Bay. It began in 2007 when a former student, Danielle Robinson (now of the Indiana Fever), and her mother spoke to Phillips about the lack of an AAU team in the area. The Cagers have teams for fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade teams, as well as three high school teams.

“It’s another way to provide a program that is intended for skill development and a platform for college recruitment,” Phillips said. “It’s about growing the game at the youngest of levels.”

It was in seventh grade when Cheli played for the Cagers that she first started to connect with Phillips.

“I got to know her through Cagers,” Cheli said. “We started building our relationship then. I got to learn more about Mitty and her program. One of the deciding factors was that I would get to play for her. She would help develop me to get me to where I wanted to go.”

With the choice to attend Archbishop Mitty, Cheli paved her own path.

“Cheli’s older siblings attended another local private school in the area,” Phillips said. “But Morgan played club for us, and she and her folks really connected with my staff and I. And we had a player at Mitty, Haley Jones, who Morgan would watch. I think when you watch a player like that thrive and flourish, you say, ‘Geez, I would love to be in that kind of situation.’”

At 6-foot-1, Cheli is versatile. She’s an elite shooter and has the ability to play everything between point guard and power forward depending on what’s needed of her. She has the ability to fill several roles while on the court in Hungary.

But in order to uphold the integrity of the tryout process, Phillips did not speak on Cheli to anybody on the selection committee.

It was important to Phillips that Cheli was treated like everybody else. She was an applicant; not necessarily a name thrown around at the highest level until this spring. However, once she received her tryout invitation, she stepped up. At one point during camp, Cheli led the group in assists and finished with double-digit rebounds.

“It was nice to have that familiar face there as a comfort that going in, I knew somebody,” Cheli said.

img
Team USA's Morgan Cheli was in seventh grade when she first played for coach Sue Phillips' San Jose Cagers AAU team. (Courtesy of USA Basketball)

“We kept our distance.” Phillips said. “All of a sudden, we moved to the finalist stage, and I realized she had a real shot. I have no say on the selection process. She earned it. She’s put the time in. She’s continued to make personal sacrifices to make basketball a priority, and over the course of two years, she’s emerged as one of the top players in her class.”

Just as she does on the Archbishop Mitty roster during the school year, Cheli will add to a team packed with talent when Team USA takes the court in Hungary.

“I’m so fortunate to have made the team,” Cheli said, “and it’s really incredible to have my high school coach as my coach here as well. It’s pretty special.”

Expectations are high for Team USA, which opens play against Mali, but Phillips believes in the process and path to reach gold.

“On paper, we are arguably one of the contenders to win gold,” Phillips said. “To be clear, until we take the floor to compete, it still remains to be seen. We are certainly striving to make our mark at the World Cup, but we have to demonstrate our abilities to be the best team on the floor for a particular day.”

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

Fresh off this year’s Team USA roster announcements, we’ve taken another look at the top recruits in the class of 2023.

We pored over game film, social media and local and national news to compile the next edition of our JWS women’s basketball recruiting rankings.

Our mission is to keep you abreast of all the movement and trends as we move through the 2022-23 NCAA recruiting calendar. We hope you’ll follow along.

Click here to see our previous rankings.

1. Mikaylah Williams, 6-1 guard, Parkway (La.)

Recently named to USA Basketball’s U17 national team, Williams is choosing between five schools — Baylor, Duke, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

2. Juju Watkins, 6-2 guard, Sierra Canyon (Calif.)

The LA Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year will once again play for Team USA this summer before serving as the anchor of an electric Sierra Canyon squad. Watkins’ presence, on any team she plays for, is game-changing.

3. Jadyn Donovan, 6-foot guard, Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.)

A guard who can do absolutely everything? That’s the type of player every college team needs. Donovan has yet to choose a school, but she’ll surely generate even more interest this summer on Team USA.

4. Breya Cunningham, 6-4 forward, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)

Difficult to guard and always stepping up, Cunningham earned a spot on the Team USA U17 roster alongside Jada Williams. They make up one of two pairs of high school teammates to represent the U.S. this summer.

5. Aalyah Del Rosario, 6-5 post, Trenton Catholic (N.J.)

Team USA’s U18 Women’s team has a lot of star power, but coach Joni Taylor has one of the most intriguing members of the Class of 2023 in Del Rosario.

6. Malaysia Fulwylie, 5-6 point guard, W.J. Keenan (S.C.)

7. Ciera Toomey, 6-3 post, Dunmore (Pa.) — UNC commit

8. Courtney Ogden, 5-11 wing, Westminster School (Ga.) — Stanford commit

Ogden was named to Team USA.

9. KK Arnold, 5-10 point guard, Germantown (Wisc.) — UConn commit

10. Hannah Hidalgo, 5-6 point guard, Paul VI (N.J.)

Hidalgo was named to Team USA.

11. Ashlynn Shade, 5-10 guard, Noblesville (Ind.)

12. Chloe Kitts, 6-2 forward, DME Academy (Fla.)

Kitts was named to Team USA.

13. Madison Booker, 6-1 wing, Germantown (Miss.)

Booker was named to Team USA.

14. Cassandre Prosper, 6-2 forward, Cairine Wilson Secondary School (Ontario)

15. Jada Williams, 5-6 point guard, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) — UCLA commit

Williams was named to Team USA.

16. Reniya Kelly, 5-5 point guard, Hoover (Ala.) — UNC commit

17. Delaney Thomas, 6-2 forward, St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)

18. Montaya Dew, 6-2 forward, Centennial (N.V.) — Arizona commit

19. Taliah Scott, 5-9 guard, Saint John’s Country Day (Fla.) — Arkansas commit

20. S’mya Nichols, 6-foot wing, Shawnee Mission West (Kan.)

Nichols was named to Team USA.

21. Essence Cody, 6-3 post, Valdosta (Ga.) — Alabama commit

22. Kymora Johnson, 5-7 guard, Saint Annes-Belfield (Va.)

23. Sammie Wagner, 6-1 wing, Ronald Reagan (Texas) — Texas commit

24. Amiyah Reynolds, 6-foot guard, South Bend Washington (Ind.) — Maryland commit

25. Riley Nelson, 6-foot wing, Clarksburg (Ark.) — Maryland commit

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

Just over a year ago, Oregon’s Sedona Prince highlighted in a TikTok video the inequities in amenities between the 2021 Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The outrage that ensued pushed the NCAA to apologize and make substantive changes based on an independent investigation into gender discrimination.

Now, a month after the Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis broke attendance records, those same college basketball stars who have been vocal about the need for change are using their platforms to empower the next generation.

On May 13 and 14 in Atlanta, Overtime hosted The WBB Takeover, the latest in its series of high-profile events to help grow the women’s game. Presented by Gatorade and executive produced by UConn guard and Gatorade athlete Paige Bueckers, the Takeover showcased 15 of the nation’s best recruits in a series of competitions.

While the young stars battled it out, they were mentored by some of the most influential names in women’s basketball, including South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke, Stanford’s Haley Jones and Baylor’s Jaden Owens. In addition to multiple national championships and other trophies between them, the college mentors have been learning how to navigate the new landscape of NIL rights and larger social media followings.

“With women’s basketball, I do think that it’s improving for college women and for the WNBA,” Cooke said of the shift in the sport. “People are starting to watch us more. For the high school girls, as far as how they’re able to brand themselves now, I see it all for the better.”

This is the second Takeover Overtime has hosted in celebration of the women’s game. In Brooklyn in 2019, Cooke earned the title of “Queen of the Court.”

She followed that performance with perhaps an even more rewarding one in 2022 — by coaching the winning team in the 3×3 competition. Top class of 2022 recruit Talaysia Cooper and class of 2023 recruits Milaysia Fulwylie, Angelica Velez, KK Arnold and Chloe Kitts took care of business for Team Zia Cooke.

All the players who participated saw their social media followings grow, some by as much as 40 percent in the week after the event, according to Overtime.

The next wave of college stars, though just 3-4 years behind the mentors and rising college seniors, are experiencing social media in new ways. The high school class of 2022 boasts players like UCLA-bound Kiki Rice and LSU-bound rapper Flau’jae Johnson, both of whom have thousands of followers on Instagram. They’re learning the highs and lows that come with that level of attention.

“When it comes to criticism, I think a lot of people can get caught up in that when you first get into the spotlight,” Jones said. “Social media individually is interesting because you’re growing a fan base. It’s cool to know you have all these people looking up to you and following you, but it’s also something I think you can spend too much time on. If you have the right perspective, it can be a place for you to share who you are, what you believe in, and find a fan base that supports that.”

Modern-day recruits, while following the same NCAA rules as their predecessors, also have social media to help inform their process.

“I think recruiting has changed,” Boston said. “There’s a lot of talent in women’s college basketball. A lot of different teams are starting to win more games. Being able to show off how your team is developing and how coaches are has helped a lot of kids realize where they want to go.”

Top women’s college basketball programs generated anywhere from hundreds of thousands to over a million interactions on their official team social accounts in March 2022. Bueckers recently became the first women’s college basketball player to surpass 1 million followers on Instagram.

“Social media has brought a lot more attention to women’s college basketball,” Owens said. “Players being themselves on social media, understanding that they’re welcome in this world as they are, brands reaching out to players and liking who they are and what they represent — it’s putting more of a spotlight on us that we’ve been deserving.”

img
Mikaylah Williams, the No. 1 recruit in JWS' 2022 rankings, celebrates "Queen of the Court" honor. (Courtesy of Overtime)

Between the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours this year, eight of the top 10 players with the highest NIL value were women, according to Opendorse. For the first time, the NCAA also granted the use of “March Madness” branding for the women’s tournament, after previously reserving it for the men’s championship.

“The energy was completely changed,” Boston said about this year’s women’s tournament – now officially called March Madness. “The gyms were packed, which I think was really special because you get to see how much women’s basketball is continuing to grow each and every day.”

While men’s college sports, namely basketball and football, have been subject to heightened scrutiny since the introduction of NIL last year, women’s basketball players have found ways to use the new rules to their advantage.

“NIL brings more attention to women’s college basketball, especially with some women’s college athletes partnering with major brands,” Boston said. “It allows people to see who we are and get familiar with us and how we play the game.”

There’s no shortage of major brand deals in women’s college basketball. Boston is partnered with Bose, and Jones with Beats. Cooke and Owens both have NIL deals with H&R Block, among others.

Even some high school recruits are beginning to test the NIL waters, now that six states have passed legislation allowing high school athletes to benefit from it.

To the players seeing the investment and reception surrounding women’s basketball change in front of their eyes, it’s only the beginning.

“The more you see it, you’re gonna have to see it,” Cooke said. “Hopefully we can get people who see that we actually can hoop. We can do the same things the men can do. I think people are starting to notice that now.”

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

With each new recruiting class comes the opportunity to dive into another wave of standouts.

Now that the school year is nearing an end, we’re shifting our attention to this impressive group in the Class of 2023. We pored over game film, social media and local and national news to compile our first-ever Top 25 women’s basketball recruiting rankings.

Our mission is to keep you abreast of the all of the movement and trends as we move through the 2022-23 NCAA recruiting calendar. We hope you’ll follow along.

1. Mikaylah Williams, 6-1 guard — Parkway HS (La.)

The reigning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year was also the only junior to be a Naismith Player of the Year finalist. Williams is a shot creator whose success is predicated on patience and speed.

2. Juju Watkins, 6-2 guard — Sierra Canyon (Calif.)

Watkins made an immediate impact as an incoming transfer to Sierra Canyon in 2021-22. She averaged 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and was a major factor in the team’s state championship victory. Watkins was named California Girls Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year.

3. Breya Cunningham, 6-4 post — La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)

Cunningham’s strong post presence provides La Jolla Country Day with a formidable scoring option. The post averaged a double-double this season and has already surpassed 1,000 career points in her high school career.

4. Ciera Toomey, 6-3 post — Dunmore HS (Pa.) — UNC commit

Toomey, who committed to North Carolina last week over Duke, UConn, Maryland, Northwestern, Penn and Villanova, shot 67.2 percent from the field during her junior season. She averaged 18.5 points per game.

5. Milaysia Fulwiley, 5-6 point guard — W.J. Keenan HS (S.C.)

Fulwylie has a reputation for breaking defenders’ ankles, and in this year’s South Carolina state title game, the explosive floor general dropped 41 points. It marked W.J. Keenan’s — and Fulwiley’s — third straight state championship.

6. Ashlynn Shade, 5-10 guard — Noblesville HS (Ind.) — UConn commit

Shade committed to UConn in January, and the Gatorade Indiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year has garnered national attention for good reason. This season, she averaged 20.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.7 steals per game, and tied an all-time high with 31 points in the 4A Indiana state championship.

7. KK Arnold, 5-10 point guard — Germantown HS (Wisc.) — UConn commit

This year’s Wisconsin Girls Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year is also committed to UConn. Arnold is a reliable ball-handler with a 2.68-to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio.

8. Madison Booker, 6-1 wing — Germantown HS (Miss.)

Booker plays with high speed and intensity. Her USA Basketball experience and ability to control the pace of a game have attracted the attention of some of the nation’s top programs. Her list includes UConn, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

9. Jadyn Donovan, 6-0 guard — Sidwell Friends School (D.C.)

One of the nation’s top guards, Donovan scored 15 points in the Quakers’ State Champions Invitational title game victory. She’s a contributor all over the floor, averaging 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 1.9 blocks during Sidwell Friends’ dominant 30-0 season.

10. Reniya Kelly, 5-5 point guard — Hoover HS (Ala.) — UNC commit

Kelly’s “Broadway” nickname is well-earned; the UNC commit seems to always put on a show. She’s quick and difficult to guard, and she’s never intimidated to take it to the basket. Kelly can also knock it down from deep and shoots over 41 percent from beyond the arc.

11. Aalyah Del Rosario, 6-5 post — Trenton Catholic (N.J.)

Del Rosario plays a complete game, finding ways to shine while also creating opportunities for her teammates. She attacks the interior with consistency, and her ceiling is high.

12. Courtney Ogden, 5-11 wing — Westminster School (Ga.) — Stanford commit

Ogden, a Stanford commit, has the basketball IQ to thrive with the Cardinal, but her versatility and confidence would make her an asset to any program. Ogden can play as a guard or a wing.

13. Taliah Scott, 5-9 guard — Saint John’s Country Day (Fla.) — Arkansas commit

A beacon of offensive efficiency, Scott entered her junior season with more than 1,100 career points. In 2021-22, the Arkansas commit averaged 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 steals per game.

14. Chloe Kitts, 6-2 forward — DME Academy (Fla.)

Kitts was a key piece for national power DME this season, averaging 18.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. In the GEICO Nationals semifinal against victorious Montverde Academy, nobody scored more points than Kitts. She delivered a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds.

15. Letycia Vasconcelos, 6-7 post — Montverde Academy (Fla.)

The tallest recruit on this list brings length and the ability to finish beneath the basket. Originally from Brazil, Vasconcelos has the strength and toughness in the frontcourt to make her an intriguing NCAA prospect.

16. Sammie Wagner, 6-1 wing — Ronald Reagan HS (Texas) — Texas commit

Once a Baylor commit, Wagner is the top-ranked junior in the state of Texas. She averaged 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season.

17. Cassandre Prosper, 6-2 forward — Cairine Wilson Secondary School (Ontario)

Prosper is a fighter on both ends of the floor. The dynamic forward is a reliable shooter with a wide wingspan.

18. Hannah Hidalgo, 5-6 point guard – Paul VI HS (N.J.)

With 25.4 points and 4.0 points per game, Hidalgo stands out in a competitive New Jersey scene. She’s a distributor who can step up as a scorer when the team needs her.

19. Jada Williams, 5-6 point guard – La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) — UCLA commit

Williams led La Jolla in assists last season with 4.1 per game. The first commit in UCLA’s Class of 2023 has a knack for finding the basket, even in heavy coverage.

20. Delaney Thomas, 6-2 forward — St. John’s (D.C.)

One of the class’ most balanced players, Thomas averaged 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 2.2 steals per game this past season in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, one of the nation’s most stacked leagues.

21. Montaya Dew, 6-2 forward — Centennial HS (N.V.) — Arizona commit

Dew can impact the game in the frontcourt and around the perimeter. Regardless of where she is, she often finds a way to score.

22. Amiyah Reynolds, 6-0 guard — South Bend Washington (Ind.) — Maryland commit

An integral part of Washington’s state title team, Reynolds averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals per game this past season.

23. Taylor Woodson, 6-0 guard — Hopkins HS (Minn.) — Michigan commit

An athletic game-changer from Hopkins … where have we heard that before? Woodson is strong off the bounce and unafraid in traffic.

24. Amanda Muse, 6-4 post — Heritage HS (Calif.)

Muse performs at an advanced level below the rim, averaging 17.1 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game for Heritage high school this season.

25. Essence Cody, 6-3 post — Valdosta HS (Ga.)

Cody surpassed 1,000 career points in January and has the ability to score inside and out. The talented post averaged 17.6 points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game this past season.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

CHICAGO — With 4:37 remaining in the second quarter of the McDonald’s All-American game Tuesday, the East held a comfortable 15-point lead over the West. Gabriela Jaquez, seeking to provide a spark for the West, drove hard to the basket, but defender Talaysia Cooper (East Clarendon High School; Turbeville, S.C.), a South Carolina signee, stayed close, forcing the UCLA signee to settle for a tough shot in the paint.

Camarillo did not have many of those in her four years at Adolfo Camarillo High School (Camarillo, Calif.), where she scored more than 1,100 points and averaged 34.2 points per game as a senior. That degree of offensive success takes discipline, but it also means understanding that all the shots you take won’t land.

Indeed, the ball clanked off the rim. West teammate Isuneh Brady (Cathedral Catholic High School; San Diego, Calif.), a UConn commit, snagged the offensive rebound, though, and every East player on the court paid attention to the ball, allowing Jaquez to slip down to the corner. Brady passed it out to Arizona signee Maya Nnaji (Hopkins High School; Hopkins, Minn.) at the top of the key, and Nnaji swung it to the wide-open Jaquez.

Jaquez for three. Swoosh.

The 6-foot forward poured in a team-high 17 points in the East’s 95-75 victory and logged almost 25 minutes on the court, more than any player on either team.

Jacquez’s performance against top-flight competition pointed to a bright future at UCLA, where she’ll team up with JWS Player of the Year Kiki Rice, who also scored 17 points and with whom she shared co-MVP honors.

“To be co-MVP with my future UCLA teammate just makes the experience so much more special,” Rice said. “I think the future’s bright.”

The East led for a full 40 minutes — a testament to the chemistry of coach Patty Evers’ (East Bladen High School; Elizabethtown, NC) roster, balanced scoring from beyond the arc (with five separate players draining at least one 3-pointer) and Rice’s calm leadership.

Rice set the tone from the onset. Her strengths as a player lie in her ability to keep her composure amid chaos, even when the chaos is playing with 23 of the best basketball players in the senior class.

She recorded five assists and grabbed four defensive rebounds in addition to her scoring output. Jaquez totaled two assists and a steal while pulling down nine rebounds. Both future Bruins were also perfect from the free-throw line.

“Gabs’ and Kiki’s talent is only matched by their work ethic, character and competitive nature,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I’m very excited about their future impact on the Bruins.”

The East Team, which also managed to secure a victory in Sunday’s non-televised scrimmage, forced 21 total turnovers in Tuesday’s game and had five players score in double figures.

Cooper, who finished with 15 points, elicited shouts of disbelief from the crowd in the first quarter after crossing over USC signee Aaliyah Gayles (Spring Valley High School; Las Vegas, Nev.) and flying past help defender KK Bransford (Mount Notre Dame High School; Cincinnati; Ohio), a Notre Dame signee, in one of the game’s finer moments of ball-handling.

Ta’Niya Latson (American Heritage High School; Plantation, Fla.), a 5-foot-9 guard bound for Florida State, also dropped 15 points. Perhaps most impressive was her efficiency. She shot over 50 percent on 10 shots, including three 3-pointers.

If Tuesday’s showdown was, in fact, a peak into the future, college basketball might be on the precipice of reaching new heights. The 170 total points scored are believed to be the most in the game’s 19-year history.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.

Every year, the McDonald’s All American games honors basketball’s best and brightest from around the nation. High school seniors are selected based on their on- and off-court contributions to play in the East versus West showdown.

Since the first girls’ game in 2002, over 450 players have taken the McDonald’s stage before heading off to college, including stars like Nneka Ogwumike, Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore and A’ja Wilson.

After two years without in-person games due to the pandemic, this year’s all-star classes will battle it out in Chicago on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2. With 24 top recruits and rumors of a heated Sunday night scrimmage, the East and West Teams are likely to deliver a game to remember.

Here are three storylines to watch for on Tuesday night.

1. UConn-bound duo to go head-to-head

Geno Auriemma has struck gold on the recruiting trail once again. The incoming frontcourt duo of wing Ayanna Patterson (Homestead High School; Fort Wayne, Ind.) and post Isuneh “Ice” Brady (Cathedral Catholic High School; San Diego, Calif), both top-five recruits in the Class of 2022 per ESPN, play with a powerful combination of creativity and physicality. While the Huskies will benefit from this dynamic duo for the next few years, on Tuesday, Patterson and Brady will play in the same game for the first time ever. The catch? They’ll be on opposite teams.

“It’s funny,” Brady said during media day. “My [future] teammate, Ayanna Patterson, we haven’t played together yet, so I’m excited to get to play against her.”

The Huskies, who on Monday secured their 14th straight Final Four berth in a thrilling 91-87 double-overtime victory over NC State, have a track record of giving talented freshmen the opportunity to make an immediate impact. Patterson and Brady have the potential to play key roles as soon as they put their UConn jerseys on.

img
Indya Nivar is bound for Stanford. (Courtesy of McDonald's)

2. Stanford’s next great guard

Defending national champion Stanford has long been known for excellent guard play. Upperclassmen Lexie Hull and Haley Jones are two of the biggest names in college basketball, and coach Tara VanDerveer, the winningest coach in the sport, has developed nine AP All-American guards during her tenure.

Five-star recruit Indya Nivar (Apex Friendship; Apex, N.C. ) — who chose Stanford, in part, because it allowed her the freedom to mold her engineering major in a way that would best prepare her for medical school — has a high ceiling and an even higher basketball IQ.

“[Stanford fans] can expect a dynamic guard that does everything on the court,” Nivar said. “On both sides of the ball. And expect me to do anything I can that would allow my team to win.”

The 2022 McDAAG Girls Skills Contest participant is smooth in transition and explosive off the bounce.

3. The Candace Parker Effect

Candace Parker, one of the Games’ most notable alums, made waves in her 2004 performance. The then-17-year-old, 6-foot-4 Tennessee commit joined Rudy Gay, Josh Smith and J.R. Smith in the McDAAG Dunk Contest as the first female participate in the contest — and won. Nearly two decades later, only two other girls have claimed the prize: Stanford’s Fran Belibi in 2019 and, on Monday evening, South Carolina-bound Ashlyn Watkins (Cardinal Newman School; Columbia, S.C.).

During media day, the 24 All-Americans listed a variety of trailblazers whose style of play influenced their games. No name came up more frequently than Parker’s.

For her final dunk of the first round, which would determine whether or not she’d advance to the finals, Watkins threw on a sky-blue jersey: Candace Parker, Chicago Sky. The crowd in the Wintrust Arena, home of the 2021 WNBA Champions, went wild.

Watkins’ dunk earned high marks — enough to move onto the final round with Dillon Mitchell (Texas) and Nick Smith Jr. (Arkansas). And after two more dominant slams, she wowed the judges and secured the win.

When asked if she plans on dunking in the game itself, Watkins laughed.

“Hopefully,” she said.

Caroline Makauskas is a contributing writer for Just Women’s Sports. She also writes about college basketball for Blue Ribbon Sports and covers a variety of sports on her TikTok @cmakauskas. Follow her on Twitter @cmakauskas.