Place this squad on your must-watch list because when it comes to preparation Coaches Tabron and Sutton gather their group of athletic scholars together weekly to train, maintain their stamina, and ensure chemistry is maintained. When discussing his team Coach…
Place this squad on your must-watch list because when it comes to preparation Coaches Tabron and Sutton gather their group of athletic scholars together weekly to train, maintain their stamina, and ensure chemistry is maintained. When discussing his team Coach Tabron shared with Prep Network, “I want you to know how special they are as students first. They hold a combined 3.87 GPA! The true definition of student-athletes. These kids are close-knit and they all come from strong households. I have an amazing group of parents and kids. They make my life so easy and any college coach would be lucky to have them. On the court, we are extremely versatile. We can play uptempo or we can slow it down. I have at least 7 kids that can flat out shoot the ball and we have the size to play inside out.”
Mia Daniels 6’1-Center/Virginia Beach, (Kempsville High School)
Daniels, a rising sophomore, 4.0 GPA student landed her a place in her school entrepreneurship and business academy. Coach Tabron reported Mia being “fairly new to our team but boy does she leave an impression. An outstanding athlete and doesn’t take plays off. The kid has a ridiculous upside and the ability to play at the next level. Finishes well around rim and HUNTS rebounds. You can tell this kid wants to be great.” Mia’s goals for her game are developing into an all-around option for her team and coaches.
Juliana Anderson 5’5-G/Virginia Beach, VA (Landstown High School)
Anderson is a rising sophomore, 3.9 GPA Governor Stem, and technology Academy student. Her feel for the game allows her to attack the basket with ease. Anderson expressed, “I just love being on the court overall and the energy of the game” that allows her love to distribute the ball effortlessly and with great court vision. Coach Tabron expressed, “she’s one of the best decision-makers we have. She’s played high-level AAU for the last few years so she’s not easily rattled. She can shoot lights out and has a smooth floor game.”
Jada Jackson 5’7-PG/PF/Hampton, VA (Bethel High School)
Jackson, a rising sophomore, 4.29 GPA, National Honors Society, and 2nd Team All-District earned her coaching staff attention, as well as the peninsula area securing her starting position from the first day of practice. Coach Tabron stated, “She has the frame and athleticism to play at the next level. She led Bethel to a playoff berth despite “ team injuries occurring within the starting line up. Coach Tabron expressed, “Jada gets better every day and is probably our most physical player. She wants to be the perfect player and if you can tell by her GPA, she demands it from herself. She’ll be a perennial All-District and Region Player of Year’s to come.” Jackson averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assist, and 5 steals, and with those numbers can anticipate great things from her.
Tyler Johnson 6’2-F/C/Newport News, VA (Hampton Roads Academy)
Johnson is brilliant in the classroom and on the court. Her 3.7 GPA and First-Team All-Conference surely confirm such. Placing her middle will surely deter guards from attacking. Johnson’s love for defense makes her a perfect shot-blocking machine. Coach Tabron called Johnson “an outstanding athlete. She has great timing on her shot-blocking. She can face the basket and knock down the jump shot and finish around the basket with contact. This soft-spoken paint dominator game speaks volumes on what she brings to the table “drawing interest from VA Tech, Hampton, JMU” as a freshman.
Niyah Gaston 5’9-G/Suffolk, VA (King’s Fort High School)
Earning a 3.5 GPA, Gaston added to her list of accomplishments 2nd Team All-Region, 1st Team All-District, and all Tidewater Honorable Mention as a freshman. Gaston’s solid frame allows a coach the ability to play her at 4 positions if desired. This once track star turned basketball player started playing the game when reaching the 8th grade which truly speaks to her pure athleticism. Gaston as a freshman averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Coach Tabron shared with Prep Network she “can get downhill with ease and finish through contact” and “if you back off she can knock down the jump shot from well behind the 3pt line. Defensively she’s grown throughout her varsity season each day. She won’t back down from anyone and led her team as a freshman to a district title. She should end up high on a lot of recruiting boards.”
Hailliey Thomas-5’7/G/Newport News, VA (Menchville High School)
Thomas, a rising sophomore with a 3.95 GPA is smooth with the ball and her hand and possesses a calmness that is destined to make her even dangerous as she continues to grow and mature with the game. Coach Tabron referred to Thomas as a “tenacious defender and a wizard with the ball. She can get by anyone on the court and has the frame to finish amongst size at the basket. She can knock down shots off the dribble”, and/or off the pass.
Jaelyn Brown-5’9/G/Suffolk, VA (Lakeland High School)
Brown, a rising sophomore with a 3.5 GPA, Class 3A Player of the Year, First-Team All-State, First Team All-Region, and Regional Champ can be transitioned into any spot on the perimeter when needed. Coach Tabron shared she “can fill it up anywhere on the floor. She has a beautiful stroke and she has the size to get her shot off” averaging 15 points per game as a freshman. She can decrease offensive pressure placed on her team’s point guard contributing 4 assist and 3 steals. drawing much of the attention from teams. Coach Tabron added “defensively, she’s competing, each possession” and can read the direction of the ball after its release helping her to average 7 rebounds per game as a guard. She’s amazing to watch and is one of many stars on this Nike Team.
Arlisha Boston- 5’10/G/Suffolk, VA (Kings Fork High School)
Boston is a 2nd Team All-District, 2nd Team All-District All Regional Honorable Mention. Boston earned her a 3.9 GPA, a natural leader, and the co-captain of the team. Coach Tabron shared she’s an “elite athlete with the motor to match. She can guard a team’s best player full court and will attack your top defender relentlessly. She’s by far my hardest worker and most versatile player. She’s also 1/2 of the Kings Fork freshman duo that came up just short from a state tourney berth. Coaches need to know her name and circle it on their recruiting board.”
Atiana Williams 5’7/PG/Hampton, VA (Menchville High School)
This rising sophomore’s brilliance, presented in a 4.31 GPA, is the youngest player on this BWSL 15U Nike team. Having “skipped a grade”. Williams’s “win, win, win” work ethic had led her to create an academic stat sheet as well. Williams is a Spanish Honor Society member, SCA, Project Inclusion, Cafe International which tutors ESL kids, DECA officer before touching the court as her team’s co-captain. Helping lead the brilliant minds of this team “on the court and off the court” Coach Tabron referred to her as one of his purest shooters. Williams has the range and can create space for her teammates. Defensively, she is known as a great communicator “talking on every possession. In practice, if one the player is on the line to run, she’ll step right up with them and run. To put in context how special this kid is, Menchville was (20-3), loaded with upperclassmen, and Williams was voted a captain despite being a freshman stated Coach Tabron.
Kennedy Harris- 5’7/G/ Hampton, VA (Hampton High)
With a 3.96 GPA, Harris positioned herself as a freshman in the school’s Technology Engineering Program. This State Champ, District Champ, and Region Champ brought into her high school coaches views and idealism of the game. Embodying the “Crabber’s personality given to those kids by their coach Shanda Bailey” stated Coach Tabron Williams AAU coach. Harris each time she touches the court displays amazing confidence and with the ball in hand, she doesn’t hesitate to challenge her opponents. Coach Tabron had no problem sharing how dangerous he views each of his players stating, “now Harris can create for others and can knock down shots at any level of the game. She is being primed for a huge role this year to defend” Hampton’s state title.
Micayah Holland- 5’9 G/F/Virginia Beach, VA (Princess Anne)
Holland’s athletic ability has helped earn her 3 straight State Titles in basketball and adding a 2019-2020 Track and Field State Title as well Hollands 3.4 GPA at the powerhouse program that is known for its honors IB Program ensures to draw like-minded scholars to his halls to keep the tradition. Holland’s smarts and quickness allow her to run down a defender on a fast break with ease. Grabbing block shots is a breeze for her as well. With a quick first step, defenders are left standing still. Holland is determined to fill her expanded role as PA for the upcoming season and can be found working on every aspect of her game to seize the opportunity to bring home a 4th championship title.
Nalani Simmons- 5’9/G/Chesapeake, VA (Indian River High)
Adding the towering line-up of guards, Simmons, a 4.0 GPA honor student, is dubbed the team’s best shooter. The starter for Indian River High School is currently being groomed to take on an even larger scoring role than she earned during her high school season. Coach Tabron is adding her in preparing for this role on her AAU Nike team as well referring to Simmons a “fierce competitor, that picks up on concepts fast” adding the teams scoring depth and defensive shut down tactics.