New Hope Academy Looks to Defend its National Championship from 2019
When Coach Sam Caldwell left Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, MD to take over a new Girls Basketball program over at New Hope Academy in 2017, his mission was simple: To bring in the best girls and to win…
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Continue ReadingWhen Coach Sam Caldwell left Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, MD to take over a new Girls Basketball program over at New Hope Academy in 2017, his mission was simple: To bring in the best girls and to win a High School Girls National Championship. Well, it only took him two seasons to complete that mission. Back in April, New Hope beat St. Johns (DC) 45-34 to capture the national title.
New Hope Academy Girls Basketball team winning the NACA 2019 Division 1 National Championship. PG Jada WalkerGoing into year three New Hope looks to defend its title and it all starts with Sophomore Point Guard Jada Walker. Jada was the MVP of the Geico National Championship game and was the youngest player on the team last year. Coach Caldwell expects Jada to continue to be the workhorse.and leader of the team for the 2019-2020 season “Jada has got to lead this team, she has got to drive this Ferrari because it is not going to drive itself.”
Another youngster that Sam is excited for is Delicia Pinnick. Delicia led the DMV area in three pointers by making 95 of them and is turning into one of the best three point shooters in the country. “Deliciia is not sneaking up on anybody anymore, she is a stud! But I do expect her to do more this season; I want her to make 100 3’s this season” Coach Caldwell said. Delicia does need to learn how to move better without the ball but Sam emphasized how much she has improved this summer while playing on Coach Caldwell’s AAU circuit Maryland Team Finest 17U team.
As the upcoming season is only four months away Coach Caldwell is looking forward to one big game and tournament for his girls. ” I always love playing Bishop Mcnamara! December 12th, it is a turf war for both teams in the DMV. You can not find a seat in the gym for that game.” McNamara has one of the best players in the country in Madison Scott. “Man that girl is a beast, It is always fun trying to defend her” Caldwell said. Every year the Tigers of New Hope go to Phoenix for the Nike Tournament of Champions and have lost in the championship game four years. Caldwell said “The girls want it bad, I want it bad, we have been so close that this year is the year, I beleive it.”
New Hope Academy Key Players to Watch:
#11 Jada Walker – 5’7 Sophomore PG #28 Player in Class of 2021 (via ESPNW Rankings)
#4 Delicia Pinnick – 5’9 Senior SG
#33 Elze Motekaityte- 6’3 Senior PF
#40 Deja Bristol- 6’2 Senior Post Player