ROSS WILL BE ATTENDING THE SHIPLEY SCHOOL 

                                Lauren Ross

The Ross family decided to send Lauren and her talent to the Shipley School which is an Bryn Mawr, PA. I had a chance to catch up with Michelle Ross, Lauren's mother and this is what she told me about the the Shipley School and what it stands for.

"Courage for the deed; Grace for the doing." That is the Shipley School motto and it speaks volumes about the students they send out into the world.

Shipley School offers small class sizes and promotes ethical and moral decision making. They have a commitment to character education emphasizing respect, responsibility and leadership. Their athletics have been very competitive over the years. They have 36 championships in the past five years and that includes the 2011 Girls PA State Championship and back to back Friends titles. Lauren is looking forward to playing pickup games with these girls. and learning all that she can until she gets to high school.

When we arrived on Shipley's campus the Monday after AAU Nationals, it felt like home. Everyone was convivial and we immediately liked soccer/basketball coach, Sean Costello. The varsity girls and boys basketball players treated us like Gators the minute Lauren hit the court.

Lauren started her AAU career as an 8 year old for the Lower Delco Wildcats. Eileen Ross allowed her to play on the 3rd/4th grade team as a second grader. For the next three years, Lauren has played with the Comets. In the off seasons, she plays with the boys at Chester Biddy. We have met so many people along this journey and we are thankful for everyone that has poured into her basketball life.

As parents, we are always attempting to position our children with the right team/coaches to further their journey. We are thankful that Lauren has been able to play hard enough to have coaches see something in her at an early age. We love all sports in our home. Shipley will give her an opportunity to play multiple sports while challenging her academically. We are leaving a nurturing enviroment at Rose Tree Media School District and couldn't have done this well academically without the dedication of all of the teachers in the district. We are looking forward to continuing to work hard on and off the court.

IMAGE PROFILE: MADDIE SIMS ( TARHEELS )

Name: Maddie Sims

AAU Team: South Jersey TarHeels

Class: 2016

State: NJ

Position: Center / Forward

Profile: Maddie is a 6'3 center and forward who can play both positions very well. She can score as well as rebound, and has a long wing span which makes her a great defender. Sims has been playing up on the 16U circuit with the TarHeels and has been making her presence be known. Maddie has a bright future in front of her especially if she develops a nice mid-range.

IMAGE PROFILE: JASMINE WHITNEY ( P.S.P.A )

Name: Jasmine Whitney

AAU Team: P.S.P.A

Class: 2017

Position: Guard

State: VA

Profile: A big physical guard who plays the point but can also play other positions because of her size and strength. She has a well enough handle to get to the basket and draw a lot of and one's. Jasmine also can play on the wing and shoot from there as well, Whitney normally has an advantage while playing the guard spot because she is bigger than most of your average guards at this age group, she is very coachable and listens when she is playing.

IMAGE PROFILE: GRACE SACCO ( COMETS )

Name: Grace Sacco

AAU Team: Comets

Class: 2017

Position: Guard

State: NJ

Profile: A point guard who has come in to her own, Grace has a outstanding handle and can break down a defender with ease. She has been playing up for a lot of years, and it is starting to show when she is playing on a big stage. Grace loves to control the pace of a game, and can make a big shot when the pressure is on.

IMAGE PROFILE: DANIELLE EDWARDS ( MD ELITE )

Name: Danielle Edwards

AAU Team: Maryland Elite

Class: 2015

State: Maryland

Position: Guard

Profile: A true point guard who knows how to control a game or take over a game, Danielle has a nice handle which helps her play under control in pressure situations. Edwards also has a mid-range game from around 8 to 10 feet. We should hear a lot of good things on the AAU circuit about her in the years to come.

IMAGE PROFILE: TANAYA ATKINSON (DA' FAM)

Name: Tanaya Atkinson

AAU Team: Da' Fam

Class: 2014

Position: Combo Guard

State: Connecticut

Profile: Tanaya is a combo guard with a huge upside. She is 5'9 and very athletic. Atkinson has good ball handling skills and can play down in the post which she displayed at a recent tournament. Tanaya has a smooth stroke and can sink the three ball from any were on the court.

IMAGE PROFILE: KATIE ARMSTRONG (COMETS)

Name: Katie Armstrong

AAU Team: Comets

Class: 2016

State: PA

Position: Center

Profile: Katie is an all around good player. At 6'3 she has the ability to play on the wing in certain situations, but she plays down low most of the time where she dominates smaller defenders. Katie has good foot work which helps her get by slower opponents while on the block, and at the top of the key.