PGH Circuit Preview: FCA Eagles (Triumph Region)
With postseasons across the country reaching their respective apexes, the attention of high school basketball fans will turn to the AAU circuit for the next few months – including our very own Prep Girls Hoops circuit.
Four regions will comprise this year’s version of the circuit – the Victory Region, the Legacy Region, the Dynasty Region and the Triumph Region.
Coach Corey Bailey’s FCA Eagles, a travel team based in South Carolina that first launched in 2008, will be competing as part of the southeast-based Triumph Region – and its current schedule includes three events as part of the circuit – the Music City Showdown in Nashville (April 29-May 1), Peach Games in Atlanta (May 6-8) and the Triumph Region Finals in South Carolina (May 27-29).
Here is a look at who comprises both rosters for FCA Eagles on its upcoming travel schedule.
FCA Eagles 16U
Kaylee Cortez Kaylee Cortez 5'4" | PG Landrum | 2024 State SC – Landrum HS – Cortez is coming off a 2021-22 season that saw her play a key role in the Cardinals’ run to an Upper State runner-up bid in Class 2A. She averaged 9.1 points and 1.7 steals this past season at Landrum.
Shyrique Parker Shyrique Parker 5'11" | SF Blacksburg | 2024 State SC – Gaffney HS – Parker is coming off a 2021-22 that saw her average 16 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 steals and just under a blocked shot per game for an Indians team whose longtime boys coach Mark Huff returned as Gaffney’s girls coach.
Timmerian Miller (2025) – Byrnes HS – Miller was part of the travel scene in 2021 with Carolina A.C.E.S. She also runs track and has shown promise throughout her blossoming career as a scorer, rebounder, ball distributor and ball hawk.
Kylie McMillan (2024) – Boiling Springs HS – Between both of the teams coach Bailey will field this AAU slate, there is a lot of representation from the Class 5A Bulldogs. McMillan has played plenty of minutes while sporting Boiling Springs red and one of her strengths is her ability to rebound.
Molly McAllister (2023) – Dorman HS – When this year’s travel schedule concludes, McAlister will have one season remaining with the Cavaliers and hopes to end her career on a high note. She is one of several wing players listed on Dorman’s roster and began her career on the junior varsity team.
Raven Edwards (2024) – Byrnes HS – Edwards not only wears the Rebels’ colors proudly on the basketball court, but also in the track realm as well as she has participated in the discipline of track and field throughout her athletic career at Byrnes.
Caitlin Bowling Caitlin Bowling 5'5" | PG JL Mann | 2024 State SC – J.L. Mann – Bowling was an x-factor for a Patriots team that has established itself to be one of the teams to beat in the Palmetto State’s Class 5A realm. She averaged 4.5 points and 1.3 steals in the 29 games she played in 2021-22.
Jenna Cothran Jenna Cothran 5'6" | SG Dorman | 2024 State SC – Dorman HS – When Cothran has the hot hand from behind the 3-point arc, any team she is on – whether it be FCA Eagles or her Cavaliers – are a tough out. She has excelled also as a ball distributor and as a wing.
Natalie Trudell (2024) – Boiling Springs HS – Team chemistry is guaranteed to be in abundance with three Bulldogs as part of Bailey’s 16U FCA Eagles rendition. She was one of several forwards on a Boiling Springs team that boasted plenty of frontcourt talent this past season.
Sarah Ezell (2024) – Boiling Springs HS – Speaking of frontcourt talent that is prevalent on the Bulldogs’ senior class, Ezell is one of the anchors of that frontcourt and has particularly shined as a rebounder. Listed at 6-foot-1, she also plays softball at Boiling Springs.
FCA Eagles 15U
Jada Wilkins (2025) – Dorman HS – Listed at 5-foot-8, Wilkins recently completed her freshman season at Dorman’s junior varsity squad. It saw Wilkins average 4.9 points in Cavaliers colors. The team posted a 13-5 record in 2021-22.
Tijah Davis (2025) – Boiling Springs HS – One can catch Davis displaying her athletic talents on the basketball court or on the the track lanes as she has ran track throughout her high school athletic career. The 5-foot-11 freshman is one to keep an eye on in the Bulldogs frontcourt in coming seasons.
Presley Waldrep (2025) – Byrnes HS – Waldrep is another freshman who has established a combination of basketball and running talents. She is listed as having ran for the Rebels on its cross country team since she as a seventh grader at the Class 5A school.
Lily Estola (2025) – Byrnes HS – Speaking of Byrnes Rebels, Estola is one of four Byrnes representatives that will wear an FCA Eagles uniform on its either its 15U or 16U team this travel season. Her role could likely increase after the Rebels graduate three seniors from its 2021-22 version.
Devyn Blackwell Devyn Blackwell 5'10" | PF Southside Christian School | 2026 State SC – Southside Christian – Sabres fans will want to keep a close eye on this up-and-coming power forward as her career continues to flourish. This past season was her first with the Sabres and she has proven herself particularly on the defensive side of the ball as someone who can amass steals and reject shots.
Trinity Walker (2026) – Fairforest MS – With three Fairforest players on FCA Eagles’ 15U team, chemistry should not be much of a problem on the AAU circuit. Walker is looking to translate her talents as a Hornet to the AAU realm.
Tyra Hughes (2026) – Fairforest MS – Given that the Hornets’ colors are purple and gold, Hughes has become well-accustomed to sporting purple. It is a common color for FCA Eagles as well and Hughes will be primed and ready to make her mark on the AAU circuit in 2022.
Madelyn Skipper (2026) – Fairforest MS – Skipper is the third of the Fairforest Hornets that will be running on the AAU circuit with coach Bailey’s FCA Eagles. All three are eighth graders on the verge of transitioning into their high school careers.
The team’s schedule also includes other events mostly in the Carolinas and Georgia. As of today, Bailey has FCA Eagles booked for nine tournaments overall.
Bailey said to Prep Girls Hoops that how he schedules is typically based on the level of talent his team has. FCA Eagles will feature plenty of talent from Upstate South Carolina schools – including Landrum, J.L. Mann, Chapman, Byrnes, Dorman and Boiling Springs.
According to Bailey, the 15U team will be taking the court against other 15Us while his 16U group will match up against 17Us.