Hampton Roads- Players on the rise

Athlete’s throughout the Hampton Roads area are optimistic and determined to remain proactive in their efforts, seeking support from some of the areas best developmental sports facilities and trainers such as Chris Harper (CSCS-Certified Strength and Condition Specialist, Yorktown, VA), Vertex Performance (Newport News, VA) and Shereese Grant (Virginia Beach, VA).  These sports specialists have been working with the area's youth for over a decade and with new challenges presented with very little hurdles due to their work-outs allowing them to focus solely on enhancing these talented athletes through the uncertainties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cyriah Griffin  5’7-PG/Virginia Beach, Rising Freshmen (Princess Anne High School)

Griffin, an amazing young talent whose stardom at Independence Middle School led her to obtain 3 championship titles.  Griffin’s phenomenal smooth ball handling and calm style of play aid her to score at ease, anywhere on the court, doing as she pleases on the court will increase her stock with powerhouse D1 programs.  When observing her dominating style of play one can be mesmerized by her game that is very much capable of landing her a starting role as a Princess Anne Cav freshmen.  Griffin’s impressive strength, quickness, tenacious defense, and leadership is a result of her focus in training independently to apply things learned from her father's guidance and with her sports trainer Shareese Grant.  Griffin’s daily efforts to improve her skills will surely result in her attending any college she desires and a fulfilled dream of being drafted into the WNBA.

Jasmine Morgan 5’8-PG/G Hampton, VA (Kecoughtan High School) 

 Morgan, a rising sophomore, can be found training with her sports trainer Chris Harper to improve her balling and shooting technique.  Harper informed Prep Network “she plays the passing lane with the quickness like guys play the lane.  She has a long wingspan that helps her get out in the lane; reading passes.  She gets most of her points off of her defensive effort.  She went to Kecaughtan and started on varsity as a freshman and led them in scoring.”  This slasher enjoys attacking the basket and expressed, “right now all I can do is work on my game.  I just gotta keep working and not let this stop me from working on what the future holds”.  Averaging in the previous session 18 points, 5 steals, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.  Morgan expressed, “loving the development part of the game and putting it to use in the game drives me and so I’ll wait until I can and just keep training with Chris Harper.” 

Alexia Lindsey  5’8-G/SF Virginia Beach, VA (Princess Anne High School)  

Lindsey, as an 8th and 9th grader obtained experience playing internationally in which she stated, “allowed me to transition my game to a higher typo style of play”.  This rising senior “is a good penetrator and good 3 point shooter, and will take a charge without hesitation”.  With the seasoning abruptly ending, Alexia Lindsey is eager to return to play to show Coach Dozier how much she’s grown and to help lead what’s anticipated to be one of the largest freshman classes to enter PAHS.

Kenya Ramsey 5’11-G/F Virginia Beach, VA (Kempsville High School)                              

Kenya Ramsey, a rising freshman is tough on nails and can be found training with boys, going through each drill with heightened awareness, quickness, and determination to ensure she stands out finishing attack moves, free throws, and jump shots.  Ramsey, having averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steal's, and 4 blocks per game can play any position “2 through 5 spots easily” stated Coach Darren Sanderlin Ramsey’s trainer.  This coachable paint enforcer views her hands as magnets to the basketball and with plenty of room to grow on the court and in height; Ramsey is certainly a player to watch out for.    

Zoe Collins 5’9-F/Virginia Beach, VA (Princess Anne High School) 

Collins is a rising freshman with championship experience and will be joining a program with an outstanding history of earning title after title.  Naturally composed, Collins deters guards from attempting to attack the basket.  Clogging up the paint, Collins can control the glass with ease.  Active in her movement, Collins focuses on providing ongoing coverage for her teammates, and although she is reserved, when it comes to playing she displays great communication skills on the defensive end.  Collins can be found training with her trainer Shereese grant weekly to perfect her post moves and comes fairly easy for this former dancer who's soft-touch results in easy finishes around the basket.

Jadyn Dekle-5’8/SF/Chesapeake, VA (Oscar Smith High School)

This rising junior may be viewed as undersized for her position, but her tenacity, ability to attack the basket, and dedication in improving her game by transitioning to what is deemed as a more ideal position for her height.  Has led to Dekle utilizing her time training weekly with her trainer Shereese Grant and independently with her father as well to elevate her game as a guard.  Dekle’s work ethic earned her the role of defensive stopper on her team.  Dekle expressed, “my place on my team is me being able to guard all positions”.  Dekle’s defensive aggression and stature have helped her in becoming a rebounding force.  When returning to play, Dekle is hoping to improve her team's performance to increase “my looks from colleges and my teammates as well.”

Sheraya Lane-6’1/PFG/Virginia Beach, VA (Princess Anne High School)

Lane is entering her senior year and her “love for the game of basketball and seeing my growth inspires me to go harder every day. At the beginning of the corona crisis, it was hard to get in the gym but that didn't stop much of anything.  I went to work on the outside courts & my personal "at home" weight room.  Now that we have entered phase 2/3 I have been able to get back in the gym and work on my skills to become a better player.  Shereese Grant, Lane’s trainer shared with Prep Network “she’s beginning to exhibit her athleticism and speed for her upcoming session”.   This 3 consecutive championship title holder contributes height and length to control action in the paint.  Coach Darnell Dozier referred to Lane as a “good defensive player around the rim that can recover well after blocking a shot, and she’s a great rebound.”  

Zariia America- 5'8/SF/G/Chesapeake, VA (Grafton High School) 

“Willing to make sacrifices as any team player would do for their team” this rising junior earned her position onto Grafton’s varsity team as a freshman and led the team in rebounding from the guard position.  Her hustle and intensity can be seen on both ends of the court.  America applies the same study habits she places to her academics, into learning the different nuances of the game, and this National Honor’s Society member is a real student of the game.   Deciding to play “to spend more time with my dad, I eventually developed the same love and passion for the game that he possessed.  I believe the game is like a chess match and you have to stay mentally sharp to win.  With this mindset, Zariia America trains with Coach Chris Harper weekly stating, “His keen knowledge of the game and his drive and determination in me becoming the best that I can be, fuels me every time I step onto the court.  Every session I’m always learning something new about the game and myself as a player that helps me to become better and better each time.  I never leave the same after training with Coach Chris and I’ve learned the right amount of aggression to use within the game.” 

Celeste Bailey-5’9/G/Virginia Beach, VA (Princess Anne High School)   

Bailey, a rising freshman, helped lead her Middle School (Plaza) where she and an anticipated future teammate battled to earn the crown as Middle School Champs.  Bailey expressed, “I guess it’ll be a little weird, but I’m mostly concerned about adjusting to the challenges the program can throw at you.  I’m a little nervous”, but despite her expressing such, Bailey’s calm and poised nature focuses only on identifying the task and getting it down.  Her quiet demeanor often results in silent impactful aspects of the game transpiring without notice until it's too late due to her attentiveness to the games needs whether it be scoring, rebounding, leading her team, and/or playing outstanding defensive.  Keep an eye out for this young lady who’s accolades have earned her middle school's “Coach’s Player of the Year Award” to accompany her ability to lead a team to a championship.   This academic genius also earned a 4.0 GPA, and Principal’s List as an academic standout, and she will be joining the rigorous IB program at PAHS.