2019 Holly Springs Jamboree

November 20, 2019

by Peter London

Holly Springs High School opened their gym to 13 other Varsity teams, hosting a Jamboree on Saturday November 16, 2019. I had an opportunity to attend and take in some awesome pre - season action from teams in the Fayetteville, Winston-Salem & Raleigh/Durham areas. This gave me a chance to identify & give a quick breakdown of the Top 5 teams, along with the impact players from some of the other participating schools in the event. There was no score taken for the games. I appreciated that because the teams were able to just focus on getting better throughout the day.

1 - Winston-Salem Christian (Lincoln Prep) - Is one of, if not the top team in North Carolina this year. Their deep bench had the talent to get up and down the floor for all 32 minutes. The starting 5 boasts a front court of 5’10” (2020 - Amira Williams - College of Charleston Commit) - 6’3” (2021 - Kiandra Browne) - 6’3” (2021 - Maliya Cowles) across the lane… Not too many schools nationally can show that type of size - with all holding multiple Division 1 offers. The backcourt starts with 2021 - 5’10” PG - Sandrine Clesca and 2021 - 5’9” - SG - Angelica Jean-Juste, both transferred in from St. Laurent (Quebec, Canada) along with Browne & 2021 - 6’2” - Forward - Ornella Niankan. They all are major pieces to this puzzle. Head Coach: Delaney Rudd is looking to take this team to the top high school events in the country and see how far they can go this year. This team will only get better with more time on the floor together. I am looking forward to the Independent School National Championship, February 2020, held in Charlotte to see them playing at their best against some of the top teams in North America.

2 - Holly Springs High School - I was very impressed with this team, they may be a top contender for the NCHSAA 4A Championship this year. It all starts with 2021 - 5’6” - PG - Jayde Gamble; she is an explosive player that has the skills to match. Next is 2021 - 6’1” - Forward - Taleah Stephens; she showed the ability to knock down the 3-Ptr consistently throughout the day, she can be a matchup problem on the floor. I am impressed with the development of 2022 - 6’3” - Post - Sammy Ackles; she ran the floor very well, finished at the rim and showed some great footwork. Head Coach: Peace Easton is excited about the growth of her team and also is looking for 2023 - 5’7” - Guard - Staci Williams, to add some scoring and additional ball handling in her freshman year.

3 - Wakefield High School - Coming off a historic season where this team earned a National Ranking and also graduated two Division 1 Guards (Jada Peebles - Illinois) & (Gabby Donaldson - Harvard). Head Coach: Donald Williams has not skipped a beat, they have developed some new talent that look strong heading into the season. Top returnee - 2021 - 5’10” - Guard - Elise Williams looked in mid-season form; she was controlling the defensive side of the floor, but has added to her offensive toolbag. She was arguably the best player in the gym during the Jamboree…. Watchout!!! I was impressed with 2021 - 6’1” - Forward - Amirah Allen; she has gotten stronger and raised the bar on her offensive skill set, stepping out to shoot jumpers, and handling the ball more consistently. Head Coach: Donald Williams will also rely on - Guard - Jireh Reid - she will give added ball handling & perimeter defense; 2022 - 6’0” - Forward - McKenna Blanton - she will be an interior scorer who controls the paint on the defensive end.

4 - Jordan High School - This team is very deep and versatile. Head Coach: Ty Cox - always seems to add to his team every year. The newest addition is 2023 - Guard - Sydney Barker - she is one of the most talented players in the NC Freshman class. The returnees to this roster has them thinking that a run at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship is in their future. Lead by Senior - 5’10” - Guard - Jori Wilkes (Queens College Signee) who is a tremendous defender that can rebound and knock down jumpers; Senior - 6’0” - Post - Ashley Roberts (Catawba College Signee) is an interior scorer who can control the paint, pass out of the post & rebound. Senior - Mariah Davenport - 5’6” - Guard (Coker College Signee) - is a savvy ball handler that likes to get out in transition & can shoot the ball. Unsigned Senior - 5’9” - Guard - Ashanti Parker - who has been injured in previous seasons, will be a major X-Factor in how far this team goes this year; she is coming off a strong AAU/Club summer. Junior - 5’8” - Guard - Nia Howard - has a tremendous skill level and will be a player to watch for college coaches throughout this season.

5 - E.E. Smith High School - Another team that has a strong chance of hoisting up the NCHSAA 4A Trophy come March 2020. This team is very skilled and plays extremely hard. Head Coach: Latanya Hardy has strong perimeter leadership with Senior - 5’6” - Guard - Kendall Macauley; playing very well leading into her final season, she can stretch the defense and play great perimeter defense as well. Junior - 5’10” Forward - Ke’Onna Bryant - can knock down shots with consistency for the southpaw, she can also score inside and is a hard-nosed defender. Sophomore - 5’5” - PG - Tamia Morris - is a strong ball handler that you have to account for on the offensive side, she can shoot it consistently from beyond the 3-Pt line. They showed a great deal of depth this weekend despite being down two of their (Projected) starters; 2022 - 5’8” - Guard - Amiah Savage who can really shoot the ball consistently from beyond the arc & adds ball handling and perimeter defense. 2023 - 5’11” - Guard - Miya Giles-Jones - who is one of the top freshman in NC, is a lockdown perimeter defender who can score at all 3 levels.

IMPACT PLAYERS

2020 - 5’6” - Guard - Hanna Malik - Athens Drive HS ( Washington & Lee Signee)
2020 - 5’9” - Guard - Mya Peebles - Enloe HS
2020 - 5’9” - Guard - Alisa Davenport - Rolesville HS
2020 - 5’3” - Guard - Areina Harris - Rolesville HS
2021 - 5’4” - Guard - Diamond Thomas - Knightdale HS
2021 - 5’8” - Guard - Miracle Cornell - Franklinton HS
2023 - 6’0” - Forward - Darionna Howard - Clayton HS
2021 - 5’9” - Guard - Anna Poe - Athens Drive HS
2021 - 5’10” - Forward - Kishara Simpson - Rolesville