2022: Diamonds Classic

The first week of the last month of 2020 saw many premier players and teams representing private schools throughout North Carolina travel south on Interstate 85 to Spartanburg, SC for the inaugural Diamonds Classic. The day-long get-together, which was held at Spartanburg Christian Academy hosted lots of teams and lots of standouts – from both Carolinas. As hoops onlookers know, this is an area plentiful in talent and it was on full display in Spartanburg. <strong>McKenzie Goza – Lake Norman Christian School</strong> – The first two words in her last name indicate a lot of what she can do on a basketball court. She can go. Goza was their primary point guard and has ability to brin the ball up the floor. Complimenting her handling skills is a fearlessness and tenacity she brings to her team. Goza will take on defenders, shoot the basketball and draw contact to find herself at the free throw line. She transferred from Northside Christian Academy after last season and if her performance in Spartanburg is any indication, Goza will have no problem finding a strong footing with the Storm. <strong>Leasia Matthews – Trinity Christian School</strong> – Coach Charles Tubbs’ Trinity Christian Crusaders finished last season with a stellar 22-3 record (along with going undefeated in its conference) and Matthews was one of the many reasons why. She helps her team scoring-wise by shooting 3-point shots and will assist teammates with ball movement to set them up for scores near the basket. Matthews is also a proficient rebounder. She provided some important free throws in the second half in a close contest against Victory Christian that kept the Crusaders in the game from the opening tip to the final buzzer at overtime. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-235173" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/ADD4AEF9-C875-41C4-984D-C9EE7E37F5A1-scaled-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172621" first="Bethel" last="Ekperigha"] – Victory Christian Center School</strong> – When the Kings needed a hero late in that tight, hard-fought clash with Trinity Christian, No. 1 was No. 1. With both teams all knotted up at 36 apiece, Ekperigha gave her team a go-ahead layup and drew a Crusaders foul to put her at the line. Ekperigha made her foul shot to complete the old-fashioned 3-point play after the hoop and harm. She finished the game with 13 points and also came away with MVP honors for the game. Ekperigha is an anchor for how the Kings’ offense operates and also shoots from long range and mid-range. It is appropriate that she made the game’s final three points because she also made the contest’s first two – also from the charity stripe. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="201036" first="Eseosa" last="Imafidon"] – Covenant Day School</strong> – Any coach will tell one that their job can be made much easier when they have 4’s or 5’s that present a height advantage over other 4’s or 5’s. Imafidon, listed at 6-foot-5 certainly has that. Imafidon hauls in her fair share of rebounds – including offensive boards that she will put back for two more Lions points. As one of five juniors and/or seniors on the team, Imafidon also brings veteran leadership to a team that fields one freshman and three sophomores. Last season, she averaged six rebounds per game in addition to three blocked shots. Imafidon had seven points in the Lions’ game with Comenius. <strong>Taylor Houseton – Covenant Day School</strong> – One has to be athletic as she is if that one is a multi-sport athlete. Houseton had a consistent scoring outing in Covenant Day’s game with Comenius School as she was one of two Lions starters that scored at least one point in all four quarters. She finished with 11 for the game. Houseton provides plenty of points as well as plenty of rebounding and will set screens to compliment the guard play for Tahjma Gabriel-Njoku’s Covenant Day team. Houseton not only shines on the Covenant Day court as a basketball player but also as a volleyball player. She also plays for the Lions softball team. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-235158" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/344C0BE7-2E76-4246-A5A1-89ADA2256708.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="219809" first="Abriel" last="Thrash"] – Arborbrook Christian Academy</strong> – Thrash was the one player that in the Falcons’ game against host school Spartanburg Christian that the Warriors simply had no answer for. If she attempted a shot, the ball had a very great chance of going through the hoop. Thrash is someone whose basketball IQ allows her to be in the right place at the right time. She will also draw her fair share of contact to get to the line and complete 3-point plays. On the defensive side, she creates matchup issues with her lockdown defense. Thrash had a clutch 3-pointer late in the game that drew the Falcons within one possession of Spartanburg Christian. Thrash finished the game with 30 of Arborbrook Christian’s 54 points. <strong>Anna Phibbs – Arborbrook Christian Academy</strong> – Sometimes, opposing teams and coaches can see so much of a particular player it feels as if there is more of that player than just one. Maybe two or three or four or all five. Phibbs was very active for the Falcons. She provided plenty of interior defense and managed to find open looks. Her ball movement and post play only add to her offensive game as her ability to intercept passes are elements of her defensive game. Phibbs is already displaying promise in the early portions of the season as not only a scorer, but also a rebounder and passer.