Recruiting Stories

NYC Gauchos celebrated their 50th anniversary, this year. The Bronx, NY based organization has a rich tradition & history of producing collegiate plus professional players. Six-foot combo guard Jayda Johnson (2023), of Hamden Hall country day (CT) is up next. The freshman guard carried her team to a 14-8 record. While also breaking the schools single game scoring record with 34 points in a victory this past season. NYGHR got a chance to catch up with her for a Q&A. 

Who was number 89? I asked myself that question at the 2019 EGB All American Games. So, I looked down at the roster and the name correlated to the number was Cori Allen. This was my 2nd time seeing Allen play. Allen, a Nashville native was just as impressive as the first time I saw her as a 7th grader.

The state of New Jersey gets it share of attention when it comes to the national girls’ basketball scene. The 5’9, rising sophomore Zoe Brooks of Trenton Catholic Academy is doing her part to keep the state on the map. In recent years TCA has produced some of the state’s top PG prospect in Jasmyra Saunders (2007), La’Kaisha Sutton (2008), Briyonna Canty (2011) & Maniya Custis (2020). The Plainfield, NJ resident capped off a spectaculars first season and is on track to having her name one day mentioned with the Trenton Catholic Academy G.O.A.T.S. NYGHR got a chance to speak to the talented PG. 

Every year a freshman comes out of nowhere and makes her mark on the basketball court. This past  season that player was Newark, NJ native, 5’10 Tyonna Bailey of Morris Catholic H.S. The rising sophomore averaged a “double-double” 18 points & 10 rebounds; and for her efforts she was named first team all Bergen county. Bailey plays her summer travel ball with NJ Sparks on the EYBL circuit. NYGHGR got a chance to catch up with the star guard over the weekend.

Meet Marisa Davis and she is Joe Fenelon’s latest student-athlete to participate in his Q&A series via NYGhoops Report The 6-foot-2 Valley Vista High School (AZ) rising senior, is coming off a state championship. The “do it all” player helped lead her Valley Vista team to a 27-3 record where hybrid forward earned 6A Player if the Year honors and 2nd Team All-State recognition by MaxPreps. As a two time state champion Marisa averaged a “double - double” in each championship year (freshman 14 points & 18 rebounds and as a junior where she averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds per game) as a result, her performances have caught the eye of many colleges and universities. She, with consultation from her family, will announce her college decision next week on June 1st.

The 6th players of Joe Fenelon’s Q&A series on NYRHoops Report is Marianna Freeman. She is a 5’6 rising senior point guard from section 5 Bishop Kearney HS. By the start of next season Freeman will be a six-year veteran at the varsity level for one of the premier programs in upstate NY, in the past decade. Coming off another stellar season carrying her team to 20-3 record, in a season that was cut short during a Bishop Kearny playoff run due to Covid19. The efficient sharpshooting points averaged 14.1 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per night. At seasons end she was named to the Sports Writers association of New York All State Team.  

Why isn’t Paulina Paris’s (2022) name mention in top 100 conversation in her class?  As, I’ve travel throughout the nation covering basketball. I can’t say that I’ve seen six PG’s that have accomplished as much as her in high school and AAU combined in her class over the past year.  The only logical reason I can come with is her residence. The New City, NY resident lives in Orange county which is about 9 miles away from the New Jersey border and 30 miles away from NYC.

Aaliyah Gayles is the top ranked prospect in the 2022 class in Nevada. The Las Vegas resident may not be a household name on the East Coast yet but she will be soon. The 5’9 rising junior lead guard attends Valley Spring HS and plays travel ball with West Coast United. Mark my words, she will be a name that most Power 5 schools will know on the east and west coast. At the end of her sophomore year, Gayles was named 1st team All-State by MaxPreps.

Lexi Green ( 5’10 wing), a junior at Pittsfield Mendon High School started her career as a two-sport athlete. But as time passed, she realized her future would be in hoops. The two-time Class A, All State performer took some time to speak with NYGHR this past weekend during a Q&A session. The section 5 star average 19.7 points and went over the 1, 000 point mark this past season. She plays AAU with City Rocks 17U Danzy/Huerter.

Carolina Girls Hoops Report gets a chance to catch up with one of the Top Players in North Carolina in 2021, 5'11" Guard Reagan Richardson of the Cannon School. Coming off a season where she averaged 22.8 Pts - 8.2 Rebs - 3.3 Steals. Richardson led her team to the NCISAA State Semi-Finals before losing to the eventual Champion, also this season Reigan was named to the ALL - State Teams by: NCISAA 4A - Maxpreps/Suddenlink (2nd Team) & Associated Press. Over the weekend we connected with the rising senior star to do a Q&A session. 

Recruiting never stops, as information pours in about prospects all throughout the year. Even during quarantine, college coaches are gathering and assembling information on 2021-25 class prospects. Yet, during the recruiting cycle, we'll often hear or see a prospect at a camp or event that we've never heard of.  

Saniya Rivers 6’1 W (Eugene Ashley HS, NC 2021) led her screaming Eagles team to 25-5 record and help carry them to the NC State tournament quarter finals. After an impressive sophomore campaign at Lanney HS averaging 24 points 12 rebounds 4 assists. She followed that with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 6 steals 4 assists and 2 Blocks per game season. Oh yes, how can we forget mention back to back North Carolina Gatorade player of the year award. NYGHR got a chance to connect with the star prospect for a Q & A Session.   

Aubryanna Hall 5’11 (Wayne HS, OH 2021) cuts her list to 7 school late last week. Hall named NC State, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi state, Texas and Ohio State. Bre is a consensus five-star recruit in the 2021 class. This past season as a junior she averaged 21 points & 7 rebounds while shooting 55%

Many players recruiting has been affected by the covid19 pandemic this spring. However, Rye high school 6-foot-2 combo forward Amanda Latkany (2021) who plays AAU ball with the Empire State Blue Flames organization- It’s been quite the opposite effect this past spring.

Rewind back the fall of 2018. NYGhoops Report traveled to the “Sunshine State” to take in the Best of Florida Individual Showcase.   That crispy October morning produced two huge lifelong memories.  The first memory was the opportunity to sit and “work” in the high school gym of the recently retired Vince Carter and second memory was the number “60”.

Cambridge HS 6’foot 2021, guard Lilly Phillips is off the clock as she commits to U of Albany to head coach Collen Mullen earlier today. NYGHR got a chance to speak to the star guard shortly after her commit.

The 2023 class has not finished rounding itself out, in the state of New York. However, the level of play of Staten Island guards has put the Empire State on notice in that class. NYGHR, got a chance to catch up with Staten Island resident Grace Sundback 5’10 G (Xaverian HS, NY 2023) last week Friday after classes. 

6-foot-1, Piscataway HS (NJ) rising senior Kaelonn Wilson has made her college plans. Wilson has decided to play for the Mid-American Conference 2019 tournament champs, Buffalo University and head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. 

The world has changed, largely due the #Covid19 pandemic many prospects’ recruiting is currently “on hold”.  Despite the current state of affairs, players are colleges/universities are looking at player’s “body of work” as a result, Anna Eng (2021) is finally being recognized for her hard work from last summer and fall seasons.  This is no more evident than her recent (and 1st) offer from NJIT’s Mike Lane (Head Coach).  

Brooklyn, NY- As I enter into day 29 of quarantine, I figured I’d share information on some unsigned seniors from NY/NJ area. I’m sure there are many more players that people feel can play at the collegiate level. The following players I know can help D3, D2, and JUCO’s some may even be D1 players.