May 20th 2012 a weekend to remember! A great weekend of AAU Basketball held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, the “Blue Chip Basketball’s Center Court Challenge and Pre-Season Challenge”.
One arena, 10 courts with 130 teams to include strong competition at all age levels. Teams ranged in geographic area stretching from as far north as New England moving south to the Carolinas.
A “CHALLENGE” not to disappoint 3 days of competitive basketball an event full of offense, defense, hustle and nothing but high energy games.
This year’s “Center Court Challenge” was represented by teams who were no strangers to the game of “Basketball” at its Best. While all players were working hard at fine tuning their games some had already proven themselves and came to be courted by multiple college coaches. As in the case of Sanya Chong, Hudson River Breeze guard, a leader who does it all and has a basketball focus like no other.
Standout players in the “CENTER COURT CHALLENGE” Division from the Class of 2013:
POINT and SHOOTING GUARD standouts include: Saniya Chong and Danielle Gervacio- Hudson River Breeze; Kelly Loftus- Cardinal Elite (VA); Brittni Lai -Hudson Valley Elite; Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Deanna Mayza and Kristie Costantino – Lady Runnin Rebels; Alana Dudley – New Jersey Panthers 2013; Kayla Bates-PA Pride; Sydnie Rosales- Saratoga Sparks.
SHOOTING GUARD/POWER FORWARD standouts include: Stephanie Davis – Firm AC Elite Walker; Alexis Martins – Hudson Valley Elite Reilly; Carissa Jenkins- Lady Runnin Rebels; Stefani Alston- New Jersey Punters ; Lashana Tolliver – Saratoga Sparks.
FORWARD AND CENTER standouts: Sheila Sherrill- Cardinal Elite; Mikki Gulton and Carissa Jenkins- Lady Runnin Rebels; Tori Morris and Angela Sickels – Vogues Select
On the “RADAR” standout players from the Class of 2014 “CENTER COURT CHALLENGE”
POINT and SHOOTING GUARDS: Kiara Epps- CT Lady Blazers; Sammy Stipa – Lady Runnin Rebels; Katelyn Flaherty- NJ Demons; Katie Lavelle-Lightning Slater; Macey Hollenshead-PA Pride; Alexia “a.j.” Johnson- Vogues Select.
FORWARDS and CENTERS: Jocelyn Dos Santos – CT Lady Blazers; Olivia McCabe- PA Pride; Mintrell McKoy – Pride of Carolinas Gold Select
The “YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS” – UP AND COMING PLAYERS working hard to get better every day!!!
Underclassmen Standouts from the Class of 2015, 2016, 2017 “CENTER COURT CHALLENGE”:
Desiree Elmore 5’10 F (2017) – CT Lady Blazers; Destini Walker 5’9 F (2015) and Jalay Knowles 6’0 F (2015) – Hudson River Breeze; Heather Forster 6’1 F (2015) and Lauren Brozoski 5’6 PG/G (2015) – Lightning Slater; Marina Mabrey 6’0 G (2015)
“PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE”
Although they might not have had the title of “Center Court” there were 114 teams battling for bragging rights and playing in front of numerous amounts of college coaches to be seen and to be evaluated. There were many standouts playing in this tournament, some emerged as proven players to be and some put a stamp on their already made reputations.
Class of 2013 Pre-Season Challenge standouts include in no particular order: CAS Panthers – Giocelis Reynoso 6’0 Forward and Jasmine Jennings 6’0 Forward / CBC Exodus – Morgan Manz 6’0 Forward , Jasmyne Fogle 5’8 Guard/Forward and Olivia Levey 5’11 Forward / Crystal City Stars – Caroline Dalton 6’1 Center / DM Panthers – Kristine Miller Forward/Guard / Mid Jersey Mavericks – Brooke West 5’4 Guard/Point Guard / Mid Penn Motion Advanced Hoops – Jackie Falconer 6’0 Forward, Jackie Lantz 6’2 Forward and Gillian Glackin 6’2 Center / South Central Select – Madison Hatcher 6’1 Center / Unity Wildcats – Zakiya Saunders 5’9 Point Guard / Guard and Kaitlin Antelmi 5’10 Guard
Class of 2014 Pre-Season Challenge standouts include: ABGC Lady Bulldogs – Kylie Murphree 5’9 Point Guard/Guard / Crystal City Stars – Margot Hetzke 6’0 Forward / Mid Jersey Mavericks – Caitlin Conroy 6’3 Center / Prince William Dream (U16) – Brianna Jones 5’4 Point Guard / Teasley Assist (U15) – Tina Negoescu 5’11 Guard and Shania Johnson 5’0 Point Guard , Troniqua Black 5’10 Forward and Taylor Johnson 5’11 Forward and Tyra Hughes 5’6 Guard / Unity Wildcats – Anna Ross 5’9 Point Guard /Guard / Westchester Hoops Elite Gelardi – Naya Williams 5’7 Guard and Chyna Johnson 5’9 Guard
In the Pre-Season Challenge brackets there were a lot of talented teams to watch and keep an eye on individuals.
Up and Coming Underclassmen Class of 2015, 2016, 2017: Cardinal Jr Elite – Madison Zdebski 6’2 Forward (2015) and Erin Irving 5’8 Guard (2016) / CAS Panthers – Shalix Hines 5’3 Point Guard (2016) / Crystal City Stars – Dana Watts 6’1 Forward / Firm A.C. Elite Isiah – Madison Welliver 5’8 Guard (2017) / Lady Clippers Copelin – Bianca Boggs 5’8 Guard (2015) and Chandler Smith 6’1 Forward (2015) / Maryland Grizzlies – Victoria Diggs 5’2 Point Guard (2015) / Prince William County Heat – Taylor Baltimore 5’6 Point Guard (2016) and Arianna White 5’7 Guard (2016) Teasley Assist (U15) – Rylee Ely 6’0 Forward (2015) / West Virginia Breakers Elite (U14) – Mckinzee Barker 5’9 Guard /Foward (2015) and Abby Watson 5-9 Guard (2015) / West Virginia Spirit -Alanna Mobayed 5’7 Point Guard /Guard (2015) / Westchester Hoops Elite Gelardi – Lanay Rodney 5’8 Guard /Forward (2016) / York Thunder – Amari Johnson 5’8 G (2015)
