DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. – Debates on the best players and teams in this state and that state have been around since forever and have only been kicked up several notches now that the internet plays a key role in distributing recruiting news.
When it comes to New Jersey, the debate over who is the Garden State’s best brings up names like Danaejah Grant (Piscataway High School/Gauchos), Aliyyah Handford (Malcolm X Shabazz High School) and Michaela Mabrey (Manasquan High School/New Jersey Demons) immediately. Lost in the shuffle of those three high-major talents is Brittney Sykes of University High School and the Philadelphia Belles 17 Nike Elite squad.
If Sykes is looking to prove herself and make a point, now would be a good time to do it. With some key buckets early and tough defense throughout, Sykes led an athletic group of Belles to a 61-46 win over the Long Island Lightning to open up play in Pool A of the Platinum bracket at U.S. Junior Nationals. The game was played in front of a large contingent of college coaches on Court 1 at the Capital Sports Complex.
“Everybody has an opinion, but at the same time I work hard to make sure everybody knows I am one of the best players in the state,” Sykes said. “You just have to have confidence, determination and focus to go out there and play hard every time. You can’t take anything for granted because all these college coaches will start to look the other way.”
With Class of 2012 star and Belles forward Breanna Stewart off in Chile with USA Basketball at the FIBA Under 19 World Championships, it’s up to Sykes to help lead a veteran Belles crew at USJN that includes Gateway High School’s Destiny Brown and Delone Catholic’s Sierra Moore.
A big topic of discussion in many New Jersey girls high school basketball circles regarding Sykes is her recruitment. Sykes indicated she would narrow her list of many suitors down to 10 around August 1 and will likely take all five of her official visits this fall. Sykes says a decision is not imminent and she may wait until next spring to sign as opposed to the early signing period this November.
Of all the schools having shown interest, Sykes rattled off Duke, Syracuse, Penn State and Georgetown as the four that have showed the most interest.
