Grassroots Preview: ABC Lightning Performance 17U
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It is in the early stages of the 2022 travel schedule, but many a fan of the game is deciding which AAU team or teams they would wish to keep up with and cheer for over the next few months.…
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Continue ReadingIt is in the early stages of the 2022 travel schedule, but many a fan of the game is deciding which AAU team or teams they would wish to keep up with and cheer for over the next few months. One of those teams is North Carolina-based ABC Lightning Performance 17U.
The team is coached by Gary Williams, a long timer within the basketball realm. Williams previously played at the high school level as well as at the Division III level in Ohio. He is also the ABC Lightning Performance 17U program director.
The 2022 rendition of ABC Lightning Performance 17U has fielded a team where all but one of its players hail from North Carolina with that one remaining player being from South Carolina. Williams was looking to bring in talent from both Carolinas as well as from neighboring states such as Georgia, Tennessee or Virginia.
The team recently completed a tournament – the LBI March Madness event at Carolina Courts in Concord – that saw ABC Lightning Performance 17U finish 2-1 following victories over Lady Attack Elite 17U Johnson and South Carolina-based KST Academy before losing in the championship game of the Platinum Division to another in-state AAU power in Strong Center 2024.
Here is what the full roster looks like for Williams’ ABC Lightning Performance 17U bunch as travel play, for now, remains in its opening stages.
Lindsay Garner Lindsay Garner 6'2" | C Lexington | 2023 State SC – 2023 – Lexington HS (SC) – Garner has been fierce in the frontcourt throughout her career with the Wildcats. She is fresh off a season that saw Lexington make a deep 5A playoff run and where she averaged 12.1 points, eight rebounds and one block per contest.
A’mari Palmer – 2023 – South Central HS – Palmer is the lone Falcon represented on this year’s team. Palmer’s abilities as a ball hawk, ball distributor and scorer were important elements in the deep 3A playoff run South Central embarked on in 2021-22.
Milla Gnann – 2023 – Apex Friendship HS – Speaking of deep playoff runs, the trek the Patriots embarked on nearly concluded with a 4A state championship. Gnann’s play helped Apex Friendship get to that 4A state title game as the 5-foot-5 freshman wing has established herself as a scorer and passer.
Staci Williams Staci Williams 5'7" | PG Holly Springs | 2023 State NC – 2023 – Holly Springs HS – Williams dropped 20 points in the 56-49 ABC Lightning Performance 17U victory over KST Academy at LBI March Madness. She is on the radar of Division I colleges such as East Carolina and Belmont and also attended a camp at USC Upstate.
Destinee Barnes Destinee Barnes 6'0" | CG Winston Salem Christian National | 2023 State NC – 2023 – Winston Salem Christian – Barnes also impressed at LBI March Madness in Concord. She scored 12 points in an ABC Lightning Performance 17U victory over Lady Attack Elite 17U Johnson and did most of her scoring late in the game by attacking the rim.
Alondra Arroyo Alondra Arroyo 6'1" | PF Holly Springs | 2023 State NC – 2023 – Holly Springs HS – There is plenty of Holly Springs representation on Williams’ grassroots squad as four Golden Hawks are part of this season’s ABC Lightning Performance 17U rendition. Arroyo has a height advantage of many a frontcourt player and uses that to her advantages as a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker.
Ayla Starck – 2023 – Apex Friendship HS – Height is another attribute that defines ABC Lightning Performance 17U as Starck is one of five players on this year’s team that is at least six feet. Starck is versatile as she can play as either a forward or as a guard.
Kaiden Hooker – 2024 – Fuquay-Varina HS – Hooker adds different dimensions to what is a talented ABC Lightning Performance 17U squad as she is not only the lone Bengal on the team, but is one of the two sophomores sporting its travel colors this AAU season. She previously played at Southern Wake Academy.
Anna Moss – 2025 – Middle Creek HS – Moss is listed at 5-foot-7 – one of five players on ABC Lightning’s roster with exactly that height. She is the only Mustang on the team as well as one of the two freshmen.
Lydia Thomas – 2025 – Holly Springs HS – Thomas is the other of the two freshmen in addition to being another of those Golden Hawks that make up this year’s rendition of ABC Lightning Performance 17U travel basketball. She played in 19 games this past season for Holly Springs.
Shelby Rodgers – 2024 – Holly Springs HS – Rodgers is the other of the two sophomores for ABC Lightning Performance 17U. She too is also listed at 6-foot-1 – the same height as Lydia Thomas – also a Golden Hawks representative.