Photo By: Andre Furtado
PENNSYLVANIA - Winter Series Recap - This Winter Series KP rolled out the red carpet for the Player's, Coaches and Media Outlet's. There was torrential downpours for both Session's 2 & 3 on these particular days, but that didn't stop the show. Session 1 I didn't attend, so I knew that I had a lot of catching up to do by missing a whole Session. With major Evaluators in Media In the Building the kids came out to play (Like The Classic Warriors Saying). Like Session 2 I knew that Championship weekend would be in full effect, you could see the look that some player's had in there eye's that they were ready to play ball. For some program's this was there first time out since early March 2020 right around the time when Covid -19 cripple the whole country.
With all of the heat that has been In the gym this Winter Series I still can't understand why KP is still deciding to call this event Winter Series. I guess that is a question that we will have to ask him In the near future. Rolling Into gym I really didn't know what to expect, I just anticipated that all of the games would live up to the hype. Since there was some 87 teams 13 shy of 100 some as far South as Charlotte, North Carolina and some far East as Massachusetts. In Session 3 their where 80 teams on a five court platform. In the Winter Series 8th Grade Division NJ Sparks took home two out of three Championships. Team Takeover ran through the competition in Session 1 taking home the chip back to the DMV beating Elevate Elite 56 - 48, In Session 2 Gold Division the NJ Sparks and the Pauldo Twinz were able to come through with a pair of trophies especially when it counted. Coach Chez provided the Wonder Twinz with a few key pieces. They beat Elevate Elite 59 - 55 in a back and forth game, also in Championship weekend the Sparks took a early lead over a talented Team Takeover group in never look back winning 59 - 51 in the Final of the Finals.
WINTER SERIES TOP PERFORMER'S
Mya Pauldo - 2025 - Combo Guard - New Jersey Sparks - Mya is almost a mere image of her sister, starting to come into her own. Mya has the ability to create her own shot... Speeds up in transition when attacking the rim... Gets her teammates involved... Doesn't shy way from contact... Plays with a lot of energy... Offers
Theresa Hagans - 2025 - Guard - Team Takeover - Fast... Efficient point guard play... Shoots the three ball with confidence, especially off the dribble... Good point guard play on both sides of the ball...
Makiah Datil - 2027 - Guard - Philly Triple Threat - Skilled... Will get tougher and stronger as time goes on... Knows what to do with the ball... Can attack to score... Smooth... Plays under control for a young age...
Riley Hamburger - 2025 - Wing - Team Takeover - Size and length on the wing... Good stroke and range... Definite mid-range gamer... Has good feel for the game but has to start to expand game... Offensive threat and capable of making big time shots when the game is on the line...
Lala Jones - 2027 - Guard - Fairfax - Had her moments at Winter Series... True point guard who plays the position well... Advance for her age, knows the game... Creates off dribble... Connects with players.... More assertive in transition...
Kendall Williams - 2026 - Guard - Future (Team Thrill) - Young guard... Active on both ends of the floor... Strong upper body strength to handle the contact when in attack mode...
Plays very physical...
Aliza Murry - 2026 - Guard - Elevate Elite - Very entertaining guard to watch... During Winter Series she played on both levels, shining for both 7th grade and 8th grade... Small but assertive... Quick.. Gets in and out of lane using her speed to shoot the floater...
Meg Yarnevich - 2025 - Forward / Wing - Power Move - With her combination of size and strength she can help any team that she plays on, can be a handful against teams at times... Aggressive at all times... Can put the ball on floor when making a move to the cup... Defends... Plays with attitude... Talks on both side... Can hit mid-range shot at times...
Amori Jarrett - 2025 - Guard - Elevate Elite - Physically strong guard with a mix of size and some athleticism. Strong off the bounce when attacking... Starting to evolve her game... Can make mid-range shots but sometimes settle to much on the wing... Nice form when shooting the ball...
Grace Nasr - 2026 - Forward - Mid-Atlantic Magic - For sure long wingspan when guarding the ball... Mobile on both ends of the floor.... Excellent foot and movement when around the basket... Demands double teams on the block put can still score in those type of situation... Recognize double teams and kicks the ball to her open teammates...
Princess Moody - 2025 - Guard - Team Takeover - Aggressive on defense... Uptempo style type player... Plays with emotion... Good out in the open court and in transition... Good hands to complement her speed...
Gee Gee Bank - 2027 - Combo Guard - New Jersey Sparks - Combo Guard who keeps on improving her game... Can shoot the ball well when she gets going in a game... Has some flare in her game... Loves to attack the rim... Good court vision... Can catch in shoot...
Endia Thomas - 2025 - Guard - Power Move - Does great thing on the court for a young age... Strong off guard who runs the offense well and doesn't over do it... Knows the game.. Scores in spurts, but has to get more in shape for those close game... Passes well in transition...
Kaelyn Carroll - 2025 - Wing / Forward - Baystate Jaguars - Skilled forward who at times has a guard mentality... Can defend and play multiple positions on the fly... Lanky with a huge wingspan... Rebounds... Mobile... Finishes when making a move... High prospect in her 25' class...
Kennedy Henry - 2025 - Wing - New Jersey Sparks - Her length and long arms are the keys to her game... Orthodox style game but effective... Moves well without the ball... Sets good screens... Rolls to the basket... Stretches defenses with mid-range jump shot...
Demi Gilliam - 2026 - Forward - Fairfax Stars - Showed flashes of some good thing at Winter Series... Already has good size and strength to like.... Athletic and mobile.... Quick out the box leaper...
Jordyn Jackson - 2026 - Forward - New Jersey Sparks - Long athletic guard for her age... Does varieties of things on the offensive side of the ball... Active around the glass for easy but backs... Can put the ball on floor in the open court... Very versatile with tons of upside that will help her game in the future...
Zhen Craft - 2025 - Point Forward - Team Takeover - Good size body to help her game out while floating around in the post... Pace maker, Half-court game... Can get out and run with the rock... Good passer in the half-court game... Looking off defenders while making accurate passes to teammates... Finishes plays well around the basket... Solid on the boards... Gets buckets in different ways...
Zaniyah Castillo - 2026 - Forward - New Jersey Sparks - Can handle the ball with power and presences.. Strong upper body... Rebounds with a few put backs of her own... Attacks basket hard with authority...
Danhi Suggs - 2026 - Forward - Future (Team Thrill) - Good size athlete with a huge upside... Lengthy first step when attacking... Long frame and arms... Loves to attack with with different baseline moves... Rebounds hard and aggressive... Long reach with some disruption to go with it...
Qandace Samuels - 2027 - Guard - Team Takeover - Skilled young guard... Highly regarded... Plays with confidence for a young age... Strong shooting presences... Her game will continue to evolve... Mid-range game is a definite...
Mia Pauldo - 2025 - Combo Guard - New Jersey Sparks - Puts the ball in the basket... Gets points in transition... Finishes in traffic... Exceptional ball handling skills... Draws the foul... Not afraid of the contact.. Mid-range and long range shot is there... Tons of moves for a guard... Flashy... Has some wiggle in her game...
Caliyah DeVillasee - 2025 - Lead Guard - Elevate Elite - So experience and mature for a young age... Smart in small but starting to show signs of a growth spurt... Controls the paste of a game with her basketball IQ... Smooth operator... Rebounds well for a small guard... Skilled...
Taylor Brown - 2026 - Guard - New Jersey Sparks - Small frame guard who can flat out ball.. Quick and shifty... Can score buckets with either hand... Great court vision which helps her make tough passes... Can hit big shots... Fun to watch...
Erin Miller - 2025 - Post - Power Move - Has great size and length, college body frame already... Mobile... Runs floor well... Will take a jump shot or two... Can score in post... Still has to work more on her game for the next level...
Kennedy Austin - 2025 - Guard - Team Takeover - Quick and Athletic on both ends of the floor... Can just about score from anywhere on the floor... Fast hands will pick your pocket... Scores off turn overs... Splits defenders while attacking the cup...
Tiyara Gonzalez - 2026 - Lead Guard - Bria Holmes - Moves well with the ball... Does a good job setting up and running the offense... Good decision maker... Loves the game of basketball... Good handle...
Reneyia Pickering - 2026 - Guard - Team Takeover - Hard, Strength mix with a little quickness... Constantly stays in attack mode... Power game... Strong upper body and likes to play on physical side... Simply productive...
Jada Lynch - 2026 - Guard - Central Jersey Hawks - Plays very hard, big guard with a good frame who loves to attack the cup on a constant bases. Long frame and wing span.. Physical... Plays with a mean streak...
