Recruiting Stories

Carolina Girls Hoops Report & NYGHoops have come together to host the I77 Evaluation Showcase for the 3rd year, the location changed to the South Carolina side of the I77 Highway that the event is named for.  This year's event has 3 sessions to help provide an opportunity for exposure to these young girl’s throughout this Global pandemic and also comply with the Covid safety precautions, I will look at each session separately to identify the top players.

Carolina Girls Hoops Report & NYGHoops have come together to host the I77 Evaluation Showcase for the 3rd year, the location changed to the South Carolina side of the I77 Highway that the event is named for.  This year's event has 3 sessions to help provide an opportunity for exposure to these young girl’s throughout this Global pandemic and also comply with the Covid safety precautions, I will look at each session separately to identify the top players.

Oaks, PA- The Philly Expo Center served as the home for NYGHoops Report 1st ever “The Tune UP”.  The event housed many of the top programs in the northeast as well as a uber talented Baylor Youth Basketball Program out of Chicago. The event gave everyone a chance to get back to the old normal, of just hooping. This article will feature some of the 2021 “Tune Up” participants, who, to date, are uncommitted. Aneesah

This group was loaded with some of the top teams and players in the country, I attended the Semi-Finals and Championship games to go along with many pool play games. I have identified the players that I saw play and whom I felt played the best throughout the 3 day tournament. Team Curry 17U (NC) pulled out the Championship with a 53 - 48 Victory over Essence Girls Basketball (FL)

I took a 6 hour drive up to Philly to see my guy Joe and his event, Friday Night Lights. While fighting through traffic, rain weather and not getting speeding tickets I arrived to the gym eager to see what I find. What I saw was a ton of talent in the building from kids from all over the Northeast. Here are some of the kids that stood out to me.

Let’s face it every year a vast majority of the prospects from the Empire State basketball organization, a smaller non traditional program, go under the radar. 5 foot 9, Fox Lane HS rising senior Natalie Pence falls under that criteria in the 2021 class. She is going into her 5th season of contributing on the varsity level. After putting together a stellar junior campaign (15 PPG, 15 RPG, 4APG, 4SPG, 2BPG), she was named to the class AA All State team. NYGHoops Report got a chance to connect with the star guard prospect over the weekend to see what she is looking for in a school at the next level. 

For the 3rd year in a row I have been able to attend the Insider Exposure JR All American camp held in Memphis, TN - This camp runs over 2 days with 1 for High School level players and the other for Middle School players. I checked out the 150+ players that came from 18 + States this year, I was able to view the majority of players throughout the event, I have identified a few that caught my eye. This article will be focused on the High School players from the Saturday session..

It is official, Skye Owens (2022) of St Francis Preparatory (NY) is the latest product of St. Francis Preparatory (NY) to head to division one under the tutledge of Head Coach Kerri White.  

2021 Janel Moore is proof stats and size don’t always tell you the whole story. The 5’5, Rockland County (NY) native is headed into her senior season at Paramus Catholic HS (NJ). After leading her team to a 19-7 record and leading them in the following categories 15.2 Points 4.1 assists & 3.8 steals. The soft spoken guard comes from a family full of athletes such as former NFL All-Pros Darrelle Revis, Sean Gilbert and has two current cousins in college Mark Gilbert (Duke) and Marlon Devonshire (Kentucky).

The last name Curry has become synonymous for shooting in the basketball community. Impart because of the father / son combination that has terrorized National Basketball Association 3-point lines as far back as 1986.

The Mary Louis Academy 5 foot 6, rising senior Khya Hough (2021) makes her call to play in the ASun Conference. Monday night Hough, made the call

Over the past five years, Grand Street Campus HS has produced its share of scholarship athletes. But none have entered into the school with the size of Kimora Taylor, who stands 6 foot 5. The flee footed athletic post wasted no time making her mark in the PSAL Brooklyn AA Division. NYGHR got a chance to speak to Top Notch Lady Ballers Coach Nick Lopez about his player. Here’s what he had to say:  

With some players it only takes a few trips  up and down the court to identify the “IT” factor.  This was no more evident than in January of 2017 when we saw Arizona resident Jennah Isai at NJ Sparks New Year’s Resolution. The middle schooler had rare mix of size, a versatile skill set, a high level of relentlessness that immediate grabs one’s attention and of course the “IT” factor. 

It’s always entertaining to watch sibling rivalries play out on the court. But in this story for Taylor & Taryn Barbot, they form a heck of a dual for St Mary’s High school basketball team. Both athletic guards are ready to take their team to the next level in the CHSAS. The sisters played a pivotal role in the Gailes Championship run as freshman. Lock these names away both players will be scholarship worthy athletes. NYGHR got a chance to do a Q&A with them.

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.

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.