Mooresville, N.C.– While it might not qualify as “Moonshining”, there are schools and programs who operate outside the guidelines and oversight of the National Federation and their respective state governing bodies.  No, they’re not playing in hidden, backwoods gyms hoping to sail under the radar of the scholastic powers that be.  They do, however, take the main stage front and center when it comes to the  Independent School National Championship as they did this past weekend in Mooresville, North Carolina.

The Talbert Rec Center played host to 20 teams over the course of the three day event as they competed for their own version of a championship without the geographical framework usually found on the hardware in lobby trophy cases.  In all, teams from seven states and two Canadian provinces descended on the two court facility north of Charlotte looking to cap off their season with some good basketball and a little bit of bragging rights among their independent peers.

When all was said and done Sunday nobody was hoisting a Mason Jar in celebration but some tall glasses of Gatorade were in order for Delaney Rudd’s Westridge (N.C.) team as they held off a late run by Blair Academy (N.J.) to claim top honors 56 – 47.  The Golden Knights held a 17 point edge with 10 minutes remaining and maintained a gap of 14 at the four minute mark while only allowing Blair to get the final margin into single digits with under a minute to go.  Some focused defense cooled off what had been some effective scoring for the Bucs in their earlier contests.  Blair had played exceptionally well leading up to the finals including an impressive semifinal win in an ultra-competitive and entertaining match up with Saint Laurent (Quebec) winning 70 – 63.  Westridge punched their ticket to the finals by way of a 55 – 38 win over Putnam Science Academy.

There was plenty of talent in the gym representing both upper classes and the next generation. College coaches representing the Big 10, SEC, American Conference, Ivy League and more found their way to Charlotte at different points over the course of the event.  We saw signees headed for the Big 12, PAC-12, A-10 and others along with some promising underclassmen that already have some folks knocking on their door.  Here’s a look at some who caught our eye in the 2019 Independent School National Championship.

Tabitha Amanzwe – 2022 – 6-4 – Post – Blair Academy – Plenty of length and athleticism…Leaner build at this point…Gets up and down the floor…Has moments both good and challenging…Works hard and understands positioning but often rushes on the catch rolling off the easy looks…Repetitions will ultimately lead to confidence…Plays with an elite backcourt and needs to constantly be ready for both penetration and passes…Demonstrated all the potential at times for her age, but now needs to add the consistency

Madalyn Anderson – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing / Guard – J. Addison School – Long ball threat…Uses solid physical strength to make herself an option from deep…Impressive touch and consistency…Good understanding of spacing offensively…Active and plays with plenty of effort…Crashed the boards at times

Randria Anderson – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Legacy Early College – Wiry built guard…Long with some good speed and quickness…Plays somewhat upright but strong ballskills and crossover…Can slash to the rim but has a good stepback to call upon…Settles at times too quickly for the perimeter options…Strength will make her a solid defensive asset as well

Mary Asare – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – J. Addison School – Young, solid guard…Good speed and quickness…First step is sharp…Got to the rim multiple times…Shot is off the shoulder to a degree at this point…Strong on ball defender…Keep watching

Kendra Brown – 2020 – 6-1 – Post / Forward – Saint Laurent – Showing more and more depth to her interior attack…Size and strength allow her to mix things up down low…Deceiving footspeed is creating options for her off the one and two dribble drive…Works hard offensively to make herself and option…Active…Using her body to protect the ball much more efficiently…Demonstrated progress at a high level over just the course of a couple months…Strong on the boards…Gets it out quick

Breya Busby – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Arborbrook Christian Academy – Small point guard…Speed and quickness are there…Individual skills serve her well on the attack…Penetrates and can deliver the sharp pass as defenders rotate…Twists slightly on her own shot at times

Dominique Darius – 2021 – 5-10 – Combo – Blair Academy – Continues to add to her already impressive game…Creating her own looks with confidence off the dribble…Reading defenders more efficiently and exploiting their mistake…Mixing up her attack…Elevation on both the pull up and the jumper are exceptional…Handles contact well on the drive…Much more active without the ball than in the past…Making defenders earn their keep

KK Deans – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Westridge Academy – Always controls the pace of the game…Aggressive and attacking with the ball in her hands…Plays with more and more confidence every time we see her…Quick moves are followed with acceleration that challenges defenders to recover…No reservations about going into traffic…Pull up and jumper both keep opponents honest on their closeouts…Gets on the floor and gets up again…Tough…West Virginia Signee

Sarah Dumistrescu – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – IMG Academy – Strong combination of size and skills…Plays with a strong basketball intellect…Aware of both defenders as well as teammates…Can put it on the floor both in the halfcourt and occasionally in transition…Good vision with the ball in her hands…Good touch from mid-range out to the arch…Not afraid of physical contact…Anticipates on the defensive end…Ole Miss Signee

Aaliyah Edwards – 2020 – 6-3 – Post – Crestwood Prep – The post you want to play with not against…Effort and aggressiveness…Size and physical tools allow her to take the game to opponents…Adding more and more depth to her game…Reading defenders on the catch and making sound choices…Showed off a jump hook…Elevates on her shot…Active without the ball in her hands…Has a college aspect to her game already

Makayla Ennis – 2019 – 5-11 – Wing / Guard – Lincoln Prep – Playing with more and more maturity and confidence…Ballhandling appears sharper and more refined…Looking to develop her own options but making smart decisions with the ball as well…Length and athleticism challenge most any match-up…Smooth and fluid on both ends…Defensive possibilities are endless…Virginia Tech signee

Kennedy Fauntleroy – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Rock Creek Christian Academy – Athletic guard…Strong ballhandling skills…Mixes hesitation with impressive acceleration to leave her match up scrambling…Can make plays at speed in transition or off the drive in halfcourt sets…Stepback is more of a “hop”back at this point but is creating clean shots…Tools are there to be a strong defender

Xianna Joesphs – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Putnam Science Academy – Impressive size, athleticism and strength…As a senior appears to just be tapping into possibilities…Assertive and aggressive…Willing to play physical…Unsure at times but a reactionary player at others…Plays strong…All upside…Next stop, Rhode Island

Sierra Johnson – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – TPLS Christian Academy – Solid and strong with some size in the backcourt…Has sound ballskills…Can get to the rim…Handles contact…Stepback is there…Moves without the ball…Did tire and show some frustration…Has a world of possibilities in front of her

Angelica Juste-Jean – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Saint Laurent – Dynamic guard we’ve seen multiple times…Continues to refine her ballskills and add to her attack…First step is in a league of its own…Mixing up her game more and more…Perimeter shooting percentage requires defenders to arrive with the ball…Shot fake is more and more efficient…Vertical and leg strength allows her to navigate and avoid traffic on the way to and around the rim…Impact plays

Ariana Koivisto – 2019 – 5-11 – Forward – Putnam Science Academy – Poster child for deceptive…Lean build gives the appearance of more length…Sound ballhandling and passing skills for the #4 spot…Good reads on the catch…Can “slither” through traffic and opponents with more size and bulk…Anticipates defensively…Productive on both ends…Headed for Southern New Hampshire University

Latasha Lattimore – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Crestwood Prep – Top tier prospect showed some new aggressiveness…Took it into traffic without any hesitation…Strength still will need to come along but a much more assertive mentality is emerging…Put it on the floor some at points as well…Great weapon if used with restraint…Made some reaction moves that in the past have been thoughts…Bad news for defenders who already had their hands full…Sky is still the limit

Terissa Lavoile Brice – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing – Saint Laurent (JV) – Has some length…Lots of athletic tools in place…First step is explosive for any age…Elevates…Decent form…Watch closely

Ariel Loiter – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – IMG Academy – Legitimate three point threat…Has range and consistency to warrant defensive awareness…Active off the cut and well versed in reading screens and defenders…Showed some intuitive passing as well…Will need additional depth to her attack to keep defenders honest and to offset those “cold” nights when it doesn’t drop…Focused and plays with effort

Eszter Madar – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – J. Addison School – Lots of length…Lean build at this point…Wingspan is there…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Decent range and touch on her shot…Gets out and runs the floor…Active with a good understanding of what she’s looking for…Text book player to a degree…Keeps it high on the interior catch or off the glass

Brynn Masikewich – 2019 – 6-3 – Post / Forward – Lincoln Prep – Versatility on the interior…Good frame and size…Strength is there to handle physical play but could be added to at the next level…Has a text book element to her game that makes her a commodity among her peers…Inside attack is somewhat mechanical but effective…Decent form is in place on the perimeter…Strong presence on the glass with a quick outlet to trigger transition…Signed with UCLA

Angelina Mbengo – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – Saint Laurent (JV) – Athletic young guard…Can create her own options…Slashes into traffic…Crossover is sharp for age…Good body control off the drive or floater…Gets off the floor

Mary McMillan – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – DME Sports Academy – Skilled point guard…Plays with a gym rat mentality…Creates and improves shots and passes off the dribble…Change of speed and direction serve her well and keep defenders guessing…Has some flair to her play but it’s instinctual as well…Can score it herself when needed…Will need to keep herself a factor in games where defenses look to keep it out of her hands

Olivia Miles – 2021 – 5-10 – Point Guard – Blair Academy – Dynamic playmaker…Possesses a great feel and instinct for the game and opponents…Sets up both her shots and passes effectively…Mixing both speed and direction, she navigates the floor with ease…Passing is sharp, intuitive and has plenty of touch as needed…Perimeter shooting is forcing opponents to play her honest and into her hands…”Makes plays” would be an understatement

Anayah Rice – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard / Wing – Legacy Early College – Plenty of length and athleticism in the backcourt…Has the individual skills to create and improve options off the dribble…Crossover is quick and low…Mixes speed and direction well…Relies on the floater almost exclusively on penetration…Pull up or going all the way to the rim will be necessary down the road…Length and agility serve her well defensively…South Carolina State commit

De’aja Richardson – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Westridge Academy – Active with and without the ball…Always looking for her opportunities…Can spot up with range and can score in streaks…Deceptively aggressive and physical on the defensive end of the floor…Competes…Bound for Tennessee State

Abigail Robinson – 2020 – 6-1 – Post – Putnam Science Academy – Size and frame come with good strength…Deceptively active and can get out and run the floor…Decent hands…Works well in the high post with both passing and attacking…Active defender…Closes traps efficiently…Showed some tools

Tyi Skinner – 2020 – 5-2 – Point Guard – TPLS Christian Academy – Small but dynamic…Plays and creates at full speed…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Quick release is there on the catch or off the pull up…Uncanny ability to finish in traffic among the bigs for her size…Continued to compete despite sore back issues…Brought some enthusiasm to the floor…Quick hands and feet on the ball defensively

Jordan Tuff – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Westridge Academy – Speed and quickness combine with impressive physical strength…Good feel for the game and her teammates…Makes herself an option both in the halfcourt and on the break…First step is explosive and can get her deep in the paint…Decent form and her quality ball and shot fakes create good looks…Headed for Cincinnati

Maryama Turkstra – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Lincoln Prep – Long and lean…Nice size and agility…Showed some ballskills for the forward spot…Got on the offensive glass at times…Plenty of tools to keep an eye on

Somer Wilson – 2020 – 6-0 – Guard – Comenius – Fluid and athletic guard…Smooth off the drive or pull up…Form is there spotting up or in the mid-range…Touch still needs some refinement for better consistency…Stepback created separation for her…Moves well and has good strength that should serve her on the defensive end of the floor

There were a couple of young prospects from Carolina Prep we enjoyed watching but event operators were not provided with a roster prior to or during the three days of the event.  Parents, please stay on top of those coaches to make sure college coaches, media and evaluators have the information they need.