Grassroots Introduction: Candace Parker Hoop Dreams Elite

Now that we are moving into the 2022 grassroots season, I wanted to take the time and introduce several of the Florida programs over the next month or so. I’ll have articles specifically for teams in Florida as we highlight them. Below is a look at the Candace Parker Hoop Dreams Elite program based in Orlando. They have been around since 2018 and are one of the three Adidas circuit teams in Florida. Hoop Dreams Elite was started four years ago due to the graduating class of 2022 they began with, and it was founded by Darren Evans and Bruce Gillard. Here are a few core things they believe in: "Effort on defense, it is never ok for one of our players to take a defensive possession off. Ball movement on the offensive end is something we preach daily. The pass to the open player is always the right play, no questions asked." With those values, they currently have four girls’ teams with players located all over the state from Jacksonville to Orlando to Tampa and the Gulf Coast. Since this program was created for that 2022 class, this will be their first group heading off to college. This year they’ll send off: [player_tooltip player_id="151169" first="Cerina" last="Rolle"] (FGCU), [player_tooltip player_id="91589" first="Ajalon" last="Gillard"] (FAU), [player_tooltip player_id="91590" first="Kamryn" last="Bullock"] (Aurora University), [player_tooltip player_id="91583" first="Milahnie" last="Perry"] (Air Force), and [player_tooltip player_id="91585" first="Stefanie" last="Ingram"] (UCF). Outside of those 2022’s, they have [player_tooltip player_id="166163" first="Madelyn" last="Leslie"] who has recently committed to University of Tampa as well as players like [player_tooltip player_id="166168" first="Hannah" last="Kohn"], [player_tooltip player_id="166172" first="Ace" last="Sturdivant"], [player_tooltip player_id="219928" first="Leah" last="Barnes"], and [player_tooltip player_id="349386" first="LeighAnn" last="Hanley"] who they feel are on similar paths as those 2022’s. <img class=" wp-image-409163 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_0243-300x247.jpg" alt="" width="332" height="273" />   Here is a look at their rosters: 17U: [player_tooltip player_id="166168" first="Hannah" last="Kohn"] | 5’9 CG | 2023 Notes: Three Level Scorer, Shooter, Tough Defender [player_tooltip player_id="247144" first="Zoe" last="Tennell"] | 5’8 G/F | 2023 Notes: Bruiser, Tough Defender, Finishes Through Traffic [player_tooltip player_id="409186" first="Holland" last="Harris"] | 6’1 G/F | 2025 Notes: Underrated, Plays on 17U & 15U, Rebounds, Runs the Floor, Finishes at the Rim [player_tooltip player_id="409179" first="Annie" last="Frost"] | 6’0 F/C | 2023 Notes: Relentless, Physical, Works Hard [player_tooltip player_id="166163" first="Madelyn" last="Leslie"] | 5’10 SG | 2023 Notes: Stretches the Floor, Plays Smart, Scrappy [player_tooltip player_id="166172" first="Ace" last="Sturdivant"] | 5’10 CG | 2023 Notes: Sees the Floor, Three Level Scorer, Jack-of-all-Trades, Point Forward [player_tooltip player_id="243934" first="Milan" last="Santos"] | 5’3 PG | 2023 Notes: Attacks the Basket, Creative Dribbler and Scorer [player_tooltip player_id="247233" first="Ella" last="Ortman"] | 5’7 CG | 2023 Notes: True PG, Under Control, Shooter [player_tooltip player_id="91652" first="Kiara" last="Harris"] | 5’6 CG | 2023 Notes: Floor General, Shooter, Makes Right Decisions   16U: [player_tooltip player_id="248298" first="Alana" last="Seward"] | 5’6 CG | 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="346855" first="Naomi" last="Parker"] | 5’9 G | 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="248300" first="Zoe" last="Sedo"] | 5’2 PG | 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="248293" first="Paige" last="Atwater"] | 5’8 SG | 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="349386" first="LeighAnn" last="Hanley"] | 6’1 F/C | 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="248454" first="Sumayah" last="Lewis-McIntosh"] | 5’10 F | 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="249400" first="Pink" last="Sturdivant"] | 5’9 CG | 2025 [player_tooltip player_id="219928" first="Leah" last="Barnes"] | 6’1 G/F | 2024   15U: [player_tooltip player_id="248678" first="Mikayla" last="Evans"] | 2026 Taliyah Trent | 2026 Aniya Hester | 2025 Ariyana Hester | 2026 [player_tooltip player_id="248681" first="Alayiah" last="Johnson"] | 2026 Jayla Johnson | 2025 Mackenzie Glass | 2025 Makayla Hill | 2026 Herva Brutus | 2026   Here is what Coach Evans said about their goals going forward: "The main goal for us every year is development. When you come play for Hoop Dreams Elite, you will get better. Honestly, we are looking to grow the program the right way with parents and girls that are fully committed and want to be here. We aren’t the type of program that tries to steal top players from others. We develop what we have in house."