Grassroots Preview: Nike Lady Gym Rats 17U
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The Lady Gym Rats are the Nike team in Indiana, and they're one of the bigger Nike programs throughout the country. They typically field anywhere from three to six teams in each age group, and they have a variety of prospects from high-major Division-I through all of the small college ranks. In the past they have always had a kid or two from out of state, but recently they've really dipped into the Louisville area, so you'll see several kids here from Kentucky. I'll do my best to talk about the ones I have seen and know well-enough. The Lady Gym Rats have always been under the direction of Mr. James Banks.
Overview: The Crimson team is a solid collection of wings and guards, with a couple of "bigs" on the roster as well. After watching them a couple of weeks ago, I came away somewhat impressed with Paige Taylor. Her ability to get out on the floor, whether it be defensively or in transition, stood out the most to me. Kaiti Huber is a strong, tough, and versatile wing who can do everything from run offense to defend the other team's best player. Alexus Mobley is a strong athlete who moved into Warren Central this past season from Franklin Central, and she does a nice job of scoring the ball by going to the rim. Neasia Lee is a strong interior presence with soft hands, and she has very good skill facing the basket. Imani Thomas is a long, fluid, and athletic wing guard. She always plays with a motor, and she can do a variety of things on the floor. And Mariah Jones is a wiry strong, fluid, and athletic wing forward who is good attacking the basket. This group will likely have a handful of Division-I schools and most Midwestern small colleges following them throughout the Spring & Summer.
Overview: I apologize, but I don't have much information on this team. There was a Green team and a Rose-Gold team, but after the first tournament two weeks ago, they were merged together. I was not able to see either individually at that tournament. I do know that Kenadie Furnung is a nice, young point guard prospect who takes care of the basketball. Baijing Zinnerman is a versatile wing who can play some guard but has the strength to play in the mid-post. She was originally a Warren Central kid. And Da'Naria Washington is a long and fairly fluid forward who is developing from an interior player to more of a wing. This will be a nice group for small colleges to follow throughout the grassroots season.
Overview: The Silver group is always the flagship group that plays in the 17U division on the Nike EYBL circuit. They only return three players from last year's roster, but they are still very talented and fairly deep. Sydney Parrish is a 2020 Miss Basketball candidate, an explosive wing scorer with shooting range well-beyond the 3-point line, and she is now a State Champion. Shelby Calhoun is also a Top-30 national prospect, according to ESPN's HoopGurlz rankings. She is an explosive combo guard who can flat out score the ball at all levels, plus she can play point guard when needed. Ariana Wiggins is currently our #1 prospect in 2021, and she's a dynamic scoring point guard who can really pass the ball, but this year she has been much more assertive offensively. Jayla Smith had a breakout season for Lawrence North, and she's a very long, fluid, and athletic shooter. Her backcourt 'mate at Lawrence North, Katie Davidson, is a really nice, strong wing who can shoot, score, rebound, and defend. Hope Sivori is an absolute joy to watch. She is tough-nosed and gritty, she plays with a motor, and she just makes the right play at both ends of the floor. Nakaih Hunter is a strong, physical, high-motor, highly productive front-liner who doesn't mind knocking people around on the interior. Khera Goss is a very long, very athletic and bouncy forward who plays with a good motor and is a nice, gliding slasher type going to the basket. And Destinee Marshall is an athletic, quick/fast point guard prospect who is very dynamic with the ball. This group will have several Division-I schools of all levels following them throughout the season.
Overview: The Tan group year-in and year-out has always been a team you don't want to overlook. They've beaten higher profile teams on many occasions, and they usually see a handful of kids really surprise in college. Justis Gordon is a long, wiry strong, and athletic point forward type who makes everyone around her better. She can also score it at all levels when needed. Jackie Maulucci is someone I think a lot of schools should really follow this Spring, because I believe she's under-recruited and will be a nice asset for someone as a long and fluid combo guard who can knock down shots and understands how to play. Kiarah Carney made an impression on me two weeks ago, as she is a very long, very athletic combo guard who can run offense or really attack the basket for scorers. Ilani Williams-Harris is a dynamic scoring point guard who does a lot of different things fairly well. Tamia Perryman is an explosive wing athlete with wiry strength who I'm not sure many coaches know about. I'm sure she'll draw some attention after playing travel ball this season. Trinity Thompson is a strong and atheltic front-liner who can play facing the basket, plus she runs the floor well in transition and can even handle it some. And Mia Beam is a player who stood out to me a year ago because of her grit, toughness, motor, and ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. She has her share of Division-I interest and offers. I would like to encourage low to mid-major Division-I schools, plus all small colleges to follow this team closely, because there are some real gems in here.
Nike Lady Gym Rats Crimson
Coach Derrick Goss
| No. | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Class | High School |
| 1 | Mariah Jones | 5-9 | W | 2020 | Louisville PRP (KY) |
| 2 | Ariyana Rhodes | 5-8 | W | 2020 | Mercer County (KY) |
| 3 | Alarea "A.J." Jackson | 5-5 | G | 2020 | Urbana (IL) |
| 5 | Kierra Thornton | 5-7 | W | 2020 | Fairmont (OH) |
| 10 | Hannah Grider | 5-3 | PG | 2020 | Indian Creek |
| 11 | Imani Thomas | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Zionsville Community |
| 21 | Alexus Mobley | 5-7 | W | 2020 | Warren Central |
| 23 | Sydni Stephens | 6-2 | C | 2020 | Trotwood-Madison (OH) |
| 32 | Paige Taylor | 6-0 | F | 2020 | Louisville Mercy (KY) |
| 34 | Kaiti Huber | 5-8 | W | 2020 | Zionsville Community |
| 55 | Neasia Lee | 5-10 | F/C | 2020 | Beech Grove |
| Kalyn Ervin | 5-5 | G | 2020 | Lawrence North |
Nike Lady Gym Rats Green/Rose-Gold
Coach Darrel McWilliams
| No. | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Class | High School |
| Lindsey Thomas | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Christian Academy (KY) | |
| Kenadie Fernung | 5-3 | PG | 2021 | Tri-Central | |
| Kamryn Woods | 2020 | Warren Central | |||
| Baijing Zinnerman | 5-8 | W | 2020 | Lawrence Central | |
| Sania Borom | 5-7 | W | 2020 | Covenant Christian | |
| India Perry | 5-11 | F | 2020 | Lawrence Central | |
| Emily McWilliams | 5-7 | W | 2021 | Center Grove | |
| Anna Grace | 5-8 | W | 2021 | Louisville Eastern (KY) | |
| Da'Naria Washington | 5-9 | F | 2021 | Lawrence Central | |
| Maya Turner | 5-3 | G | 2021 | Ben Davis | |
| Sydney Raque | G | 2021 | Christian Academy (KY) | ||
| Aniya Williams |
Nike Lady Gym Rats Silver EYBL
Coach Danny Riego
| No. | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Class | High School |
| 1 | Destinee Marshall | 5-5 | PG | 2020 | Sacred Heart (KY) |
| 10 | Hope Sivori | 5-6 | PG | 2020 | Louisville Mercy (KY) |
| 13 | Ariana Wiggins | 5-8 | PG | 2021 | Heritage Christian |
| 14 | Jayla Smith | 5-10 | G | 2021 | Lawrence North |
| 20 | Katie Davidson | 5-10 | W | 2020 | Lawrence North |
| 25 | Khera Goss | 5-10 | F | 2020 | Ben Davis |
| Shelby Calhoun | 5-10 | G | 2020 | Christian Academy (KY) | |
| Sydney Parrish | 6-2 | W | 2020 | Hamilton Southeastern | |
| Nakaih Hunter | 5-11 | F | 2021 | Indpls. North Central |
Nike Lady Gym Rats Tan
Coach Keith Hollins
| No. | Name | Ht. | Pos. | Class | High School |
| 5 | Kiarah Carney | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Louisville Ballard (KY) |
| 10 | Jackie Maulucci | 5-8 | G | 2020 | Hamilton Southeastern |
| 11 | Kennedy Griffin | 5'11 | F | 2020 | Bullitt East (KY) |
| 12 | Mia Beam | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Christian Academy (KY) |
| 14 | Jaqueline Raque | 5-9 | F | 2020 | Assumption (KY) |
| 22 | Justis Gordon | 5-10 | W | 2020 | Cathedral |
| 25 | Makira Webster | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Fairmont (OH) |
| 32 | Ilani Williams-Harris | 5-7 | G | 2020 | Covenant Christian |
| 33 | Tamia Perryman | 5-9 | W | 2020 | Fishers |
| 34 | Trinity Thompson | 6-0 | F | 2021 | Michigan City |
