Recruiting Stories

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.

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.