Thursday, April 21, 2022


 



Manheim, PA - This Year's Winter Series was very intriguing, games were played in two different states which made things get a lot more intense and a lot more complicated, to the degree of when some players were suiting up for 3 different teams on two different age groups just too get that extra advantage which is sometime needed when competing in Winter Series. All in just 2 sessions there were some ups and downs and highs and lows in each division to the point as to where some teams even thought about separating or they did separate. This is always expected when playing in the Series, point blank period. There was high level competition all in one building and on various courts. Winter Series had teams from 8 different states thru out the 4 total sessions, to name a few DC, NJ, NY, MA, VA, FL, OH, etc. In Session 1 8th Grade Division the Philadelphia Belles reign supreme in the A Division winning against a tough scrappy North Carolina team in Queen City in Chip. That Belles team was loaded, they had a huge size advantage at all 5 positions on the floor. In Session 2 Belles came up short to Team Takeover who wasn't present in Session 1, once Team Takeover step back into the Winter Series scene, they went on to win basically 3 Championships. Two by wins and one by alone disqualification, nevertheless coach James of Takeover put the full court press on anyone that he even thought was going to be a challenge when entering Winter Series 2022. In the B Division of the 8th Brackets, there were multiple winners and losers. Session 1 winner (Philly Fire) Session 2 (YKS) Session 3 (YKS & A2D) Session 4 (New Jersey Sparks)


It seemed as though in the 7th Grade A Division that was once dominated by the Bulldogs, finally came to a halt in Session 4. Team Takeover stop them in their tracks to where is though everyone thought for certain that it would be a clear sweep for YKS in adding to an already stack trophy case. YKS beat some good teams in each different Winter Series SessionWPA Bruins, Team Durant, Takeover, just to name a few. The Spain sisters are the little engine that makes the Bulldogs run, everyone knows by now that Micah Ojo is the big dog on the yard though. with all her good traits, the writing is on the wall. She will be a Allstar some day and that is the reason why YKS was able to hoist 3 straights Winter Series trophies over their heads until Session 4 came around when a hot Team Takeover was looking to avenge their loss from Session 3 Semifinals. They were well prepared this time around; Takeover was led by Neviah Roberson the long athletic wing who seem to give the Bulldogs fits around the perimeter. YKS kept it close then Takeover put their foot on the gas late in the 2nd quarter. B Division was won by Glen Arms 3 times in a row, Glen Arms came out of the B Division and went into the A Division for Session 4 were they lost to Takeover in the Semifinals.


6th Grade A Division was dominated by none other than Ohio Xpress, they played lights out thru out Winer Series. Their only hiccup came was when they played a well balance Team Durant in Session 2 for the Chip. Team Durant only appeared in one session; I just can't image how things might have turned out if they would've at least appeared in two more, put we will just never know. But that's how players play when it's time to show up they are there, speaking of Janiyah Hargrove and Taylor Stanfield who were the Kobe and Shaq for Xpress putting smaller teams in a bind and basically wearing them down in the end witch ultimately led to them to winning 3 overall in 2 back-to-back. We had multiple Champions for the B Division.


5th Grade Division there were multiple Champions and lots of talent to speak about, the future is bright.


Olivia Vukosa - Post - Philly Belles - 2026 - One of the top players in the 2026 class who has definitely add some arsenal too her game. Vukosa who has had a college frame since the 6th grade has been showing exceptional footwork around the baseline and in transition on a break. Strong and sometimes physical... Has add a few moves with her low post game... Good footwork... Lateral movement is there... Disrupt shots in the paint... Scores from different angles... Shot blocker... 


Ashley MacCalla - Forward - Top Notch - 2027 - Lanky raw wing, who just always compete on both ends of the floor. Her intensity is hard to match... Doesn't force a lot of shots... Rebounds well on both ends... Good hops... Catches in finish in high traffic areas... High motor kid... Runs like a deer in transition... Still raw...


Jayla Koser - Guard - A2D Elite - 2026 - Stock rose this winter playing in WS22, she carried the team most of the time. Playing in their first Winter Series event Koser in her teammates came out to play. Big guard with good size and athleticism... Rebounds the ball and gets out in push... Creates in open court... Beats you to the rack in multiple ways... Efficient around the perimeter....


Gabby Vaughn - Wing - Philly Belles - 2026 - Nice skill set which allows her to do a few different things on the court. Shot long range ball very well at WS22, her height and length play a big part in them winning the chip in first session. Can defend multiple positions... Nice shot selection... Doesn't take a lot of shots... Range is the arc...


Qandance Samuels - Wing - Team Takeover - 2027 - Huge potential, young but an advance wing that can play under pressure. Shot the ball fairly well during Winter Series 22. Smart wing with decent ball handle skills... Displayed a nice pull up game... Occasionally shoots the long range 3 ball... 


GiGi Banks - Combo Guard - New Jersey Sparks - 2026 - Definitely one of the most talented guards to play in all of Winters Series. Not only this year but last year as well. Very fun to watch, can go out in get a bucket at any cost. Big time scorer... A wizard with the ball... Gets her team involved in the offense... Nice touch on the ball... Mid-range is definitely there... Hesitation blow by game is getting better... Loves to have fun on the court...


Taylor Brown - Combo Guard - New Jersey Sparks - 2027 - Brown is a 1 on 1 creator, she handles the ball with intent. Small but effective, always an offensive  threat when taking the court. Uses her small frame to weave in and out of traffic. Skilled guard... Mid-range gamer... Attacks in transition... 


London Caldwell - Guard - New Heights - 2026 - Smooth, skilled guard who creates off the dribble. Plays under control with so much calmness. High IQ... Court vision is there... Rebounds well for a guard... Coachable... Athlete... 




Ryan Carter - Guard - Philly Belles - 2027 - Was a standout throughout the whole WS22, showed flashes of just about everything on the floor even against tough competition. She was comfortable in all 4 sessions playing up. 2-way guard with a lanky build... Athleticism is off the chart... Can create her own shot... Good size... Can step out in shoot the mid-range...


Monet Edwards - Guard - Team Thrill - 2026 - Strong crafty guard, who likes to beat you with the hesitation move or the head fakes. Handle is there... Mid-range gamer... Brings a little cha cha to her game as well...


Ava Yoon - Guard - Team Final - 2026 - Loads of potential with her as being a smart crafty scoring guard. Scores in varieties of ways... Penetrates in dishes the rock... Gets out in transition in pushes the ball... Scorers mentality... 


Autumn Fleary - Guard - Team Thrill - 2026 - Explosive lead guard with a scorer's mentality. Stays aggressive on the offensive side of the ball... Shifty... Has grown a few inches... Loves to hit high gear while in transition... One of the best guards in WS22... Has great speed... Nice mid-range game... Distributes and dishes.. Always facilitating... Has some swag in her game...


Annabeth Tsi -Turton - Forward - Team Final - 2026 - Catches in finishes in the paint.. Master the pick in roll.. Nice face up game... Loads of trips to the charity strike.. Solid frame and nice build... Will have to add to her game at the level...


Ava Fajardo - Guard - NJ Rise - 2026 - The lefty guard did some nice things at WS22, playing lead guard most of the time Fajardo was able to display her full game. Shot the ball well during WS22... Plays with a lot of energy... Good court and eye vision... Makes good moves in traffic... High ceiling... 


Atlee Vanesko - Lead Guard - Philly Belles - 2026 - Explosive lead guard with some bounce to her game. High motor kid.. Has some swag in her game... Athletic... Penetrates and dishes... Stays in constant attack mode... Quick when going down... Quick first step... On ball defender... 













Jada Lynch - Forward - NJ Rise - 2026 - Does a bunch of different things on the offensive end that coaches love to see. Usually plays up but drop down to play in the talented WS22. Naturally strong, gets to rack with easy when guarded by bigger and smaller defenders... Extremely versatile... Wears you down as the game goes on... Scores in transition... Scores plenty in different ways... 


Jordan Jackson - Point / Forward - Team Takeover - 2026 - Ms. Jackson put Team Takeover on her back this Winter Series, she helped out by averaging in double figures in all 3 sessions. Playmaker... Attacks the basket with a purpose... Long and athletic... Makes things happen when attacking... Excellent size for her position... Loves contact... Gets a lot of points from free throw line... Big time... Highly regarded in the Class of 26... Tough to stop when she is driving to the rim... Aggressive mentality is direct... 


Arielle Lopez - Lead Guard - Top Notch - 2027 - Played on both levels during WS22 and let's just say playing up is more of her style. So, I put Lopez in the 8th grade division, she came up clutch in some big games in the 8th Grade A Division and she basically did what she wanted to do in the 7th Grade A Division. Floor General and leader... Mid-range gamer... 3 ball is there... Mature... High IQ... 


Jessie Moses - Combo Guard - Top Notch - 2027 - Scorer on all levels, has size and athleticism to keep her in the race... Brings energy and effectiveness to the game... Scorers mentality... Streaky shooter... Has a bunch of different handles to show out in transition...


Zoe Osby - Point / Forward - Fairfax Stars - 2026 - Has all the intangibles to be special... Pushes in transition... Has the agility and size to finishes around the basket... Has add some different tools to her game... Believe it or not, she has a college frame already... Big guard with huge hands who can cup the ball... High ceiling for 2026...


7th Grade Top Performer

Micah Ojo - Forward - Lady YKS - 2027 - Ojo and her team capture 3 Chips at WS22, Ojo got busy which led to her being name to first team on multiple occasions. Strong, gets up in down the court fast to get in position... Scores inside... Gets a lot of offensive rebounds which leads to easy opportunities... Good skill set... 


Mia Spain - Guard - Lady YKS - 2027 - Plays the floor general on her team like her sister... Great court vision and puts the ball in right place... High motor kid... Shooting the ball well from different spots on the floor... Won 3 Championships... 


Neviah Roberson - Wing - Team Takeover - 2027 - Long athletic wing who also gets the job done on the inside. Sensational athleticism along with long arms and legs.. Good showing in Winter Series... Very ranging on the defensive side... Exiting to watch around the rim... Beat YKS in the Final WS22 chip... Huge upside..


Zoe Wasserlauf - Lead Guard - Riverside Hawks - 2027 - Slasher who gets most of her points at the charity strike (foul line) when in transitions... Keeps the ball tuck when making a move to the basket... Shifty with rock and likes to make defenders miss when defending... Crafty is heck... 


Brooklyn Stewart - Combo Guard - Glen Arms - 2027 - One of the top guards in the B Division at Winter Series 22. Complete guard with good upper body strength. Stewart in her teammates won 3 Championships in a row, due to their backcourt which was the bright spot for Glen Arms. Brooklyn wasn't the fastest in the division but for sure the strongest. Good handle... Creates and attacks... Passes with purposes... Takes on contact...


Lauren Rodriguez - Guard - Staten Island Liberty - 2027 - One of the fastest guards that participated in the WS22, a far as I know. She has the ability to blow by her defender at anytime, she scores in bunches but can easily shift things around. Lauren thrives off her speed to anticipate the way the game is going. Cat like speed... Handle... Shifty... Up-tempo game... Gets out in runs in transition...


Kate Spain - Guard - Lady YKS - 2027 - All around good player... Almost a mere image of her sister, Kate coaches up her teammates... Handles the ball plus pressure... Passes are on time... Small but gets it done... Won 3 Championships...


Victoria Harvey - Guard - WPA Bruins - 2027 - Solid player with a decent skilled set. Didn't start but definitely a starter... Plays hard on every possession... Practical ball handler... Scores in bunches... 


6th Grade Top Performers

Mackenzie Jackson - Guard - Team Durant - 2028 - This kid is well beyond her years; wide body point forward who is very athletic. Only got to see her play for one session at WS22, Jackson is highly mature for her age. Uses her body well...  Stays low to the ground when attacking the basket... Has some wiggle with her game... Good court vision... Exceptional passer... 


Janiyah Hargrove - Forward - All Ohio Express - 2028 - Hargrove in the rest of her Xpress teammates put the smack down on everybody. They had one hiccup thru out WS22, in that was there only lost which came in the Championship. Janiyah was a key part to those 3 Chips, creating havoc on the inside where she does most of her work. Strong plus physical interior player... Good presences on both sides of the ball... Smothers you on D... Great sizes for a point/forward... Works the middle in high post area...


Nariah Alvarez - Guard - Harlem Panthers - 2028 - Solid point guard with high motor, still a little raw at the position but will get better with time. Not afraid to take a shot... Always looking for ways to score... Always looking to score a bucket... 


Dallas Cooke - Point Guard - Team Takeover - 2028 - Handles the ball under pressure... Spark plug of the team... Plays with tons of energy... Constantly attacks the basket... Plays with her heart on her sleeve...


Tyreea Howard - Point/Forward - New Jersey Pride - 2028 - Could be a special kid, has the size and body frame right now... Has strength and athletic ability... Gets up in down the court smoothly... Muscle in the middle... 


Annie Gentile - Point Guard - New Jersey Raptors - 2028 - Exiting young guard to watch... Small but definitely effective... Weaves in and out of defenders... Mature for age... Loves to have the ball in her hands... Makes things happen... 


Taylor Stansfield - Forward - Ohio Xpress - 2028 - Mobile Forward with a little handle... Cleaned up the boards in all 4 Championship... Uses her body to seal of defenders... Boxes out well when going for a rebound... Had a few double doubles in WS22...  


Jayse Keville - Guard - NY Havoc - 2028 - Nimble guard with a huge upside... Definitely has a power guard game... Plays lead guard roll... Can put the ball in the basket... Turns it up when going downhill... Explosive off the bounce... Will straight out flat you...


Kennedy Broughton - Point Guard - New Height - 2028 - After watching Kennedy this past Winter Series 22, I'm still in disbelief how calm she plays when playing up at the next level. Most South Jersey kids at her age don't have a full grasp of how to be a good point guard, not unless the kid is getting some top training. Smooth and calm with the handle... Maturity level is there... Coachable kid... Court vision is there... Delivers the ball on point... Inspiring to watch... 


 5th Grade Performer

Giselle Smith - Forward - Delaware Swarm - 2029 - Huge, Long frame and arms who has guard tendency. Plays in a big back court which helps her game even more... Comfortable at playing up... Gets to the point of attack when she has to... Handles the ball calmly when pressure is in sight... Athletic... 


Kaylie Fitzpatrick - Guard - Harlem Panthers - 2029  


Brielle Bennett - Forward - New Heights - 2029 


Leah Dukes - Guard - Top Notch - 2029 


Melody Vaughn - Guard - Top Notch - 2029 


Mackenize Larkins - Guard - Queen City - 2030 


Alliyah Hairston - Guard - Queen City - 2029


Ariana Walker - Guard - A2D - 2030 - 


Brynley Ecret - Forward - Delaware Swarm - 2029

 



 If we missed you this time, we will certainly get a look at you next time. No matter Spring, Winter, or Fall.