War Games ATL – Standouts from the Carolinas
An exciting AAU season across the country is soon reaching its conclusion, but not before many venues around the country host events in conjunction with one more live period. One of those events was War Games ATL hosted by Insider…
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Continue ReadingAn exciting AAU season across the country is soon reaching its conclusion, but not before many venues around the country host events in conjunction with one more live period.
One of those events was War Games ATL hosted by Insider Exposure. Several venues were utilized including the Suwanee Sports Academy northeast of downtown Atlanta in Gwinnett. Teams from all of the country as well as Canada were on hand in addition to a very large number of college coaches.
We at Prep Girls Hoops also made the trip to the Atlanta area for the final day of the festivities. Among the regions well-represented were the Carolinas. Here is a look at how some of South and North Carolina’s top talents performed.
Trinity Delaney Trinity Delaney 6'1" | PF A.C. Flora | 2023 State SC – 2023 – AC Flora HS – SC Future 17U Black – In SC Future 17U Black’s first game of Friday (which occurred against Virginia-based Lady Push Gillam) – the Falcons connection came up big. Delaney displayed her skills as a passer and rebounder and managed to come up with key plays on defense. Delaney also put her height advantage to good use by converting on high-percentage shot opportunities near the rim. Her team defeated the Virginia-based AAU squad by a final of 41-38 early Friday with Delaney managing a 10-point effort. Delaney is one of many rising seniors throughout South Carolina looking to close out their high school careers with an exclamation point.
Terriana Gray Terriana Gray 5'9" | SF A.C. Flora | 2024 State SC – 2024 – AC Flora HS – SC Future 17U Black – The Falcons’ rising junior had another game that was very vibrant and impressive. The ball movement Grey showcased with her SC Future 17U Black teammates was proof of the camaraderie established throughout what has been a grueling club campaign. Grey can put points on the board from virtually anywhere on the floor – including from behind the 3-point arc as well as near the rim. She also is unafraid of contact and will find her way to the free throw line. Her 12 points led SC Future 17U Black early Friday to a 41-38 victory over Virginia-based Lady Push Gillam.
Sarah Strong Sarah Strong 6'2" | PF Grace Christian | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Grace Christian HS – Lady Strong/Strong Center 2024 – When coaches descended on Atlanta to decide which standouts they would take a glance at for War Games, Strong had to be on the top of many a list. One of the nation’s premier bigs, her rebounding and presence near the rim is one to be reckoned with. Combine that with her ability to connect on 3-point attempts and play defense in the open floor and it equals one of the signature rising juniors there is. It has been a busy AAU season for Strong – which included a stop on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit – also in Atlanta.
Emerson Thompson Emerson Thompson 5'9" | CG Falls Lake Academy | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Falls Lake Academy – Lady Strong/Strong Center 2024 – It is not always common to see guards average double-doubles for a season, but that is what Thompson accomplished in her sophomore season with the 27-2 Firebirds. Thompson displayed her superb ball handling skills and willingness to have her hands outstretched as a defender. In addition, Thompson managed to be the ball with plenty of precision and was fearless as a rim attacker. She also plays with a high basketball IQ and understands how to play to keep herself out of foul trouble. Many a coach on hand had to be impressed as she shined throughout the late July live period.
Halisi Whitley Halisi Whitley 5'6" | CG Grace Christian | 2025 State NC – 2024 – Grace Christian HS – Lady Strong/Strong Center 2024 – While Strong gets the lion’s share of the headlines as it relates to the Crusaders, one must not overlook Whitley who presents a multi-faceted skillset of her own. A good bit of that pertained to her ability to sink 3-point shots as she did plenty of in a matchup with SE United TN 2024 on Friday. Whitley scored in a variety of ways – including driving to the rim – an extension of her versatility. She presents plenty of problems for teams as a defender as well with her ability to collect steals and create extra possessions for her team.
Alissa Cheek Alissa Cheek 5'7" | SG Rosman | 2024 NC – 2024 – Rosman HS – Lady Royals 16U – Cheek’s athletic career has included a stint on the Tigers’ varsity volleyball team to go along with basketball. Included in her vast skillset includes a knack for taking care of the basketball. She plays the game with a high basketball IQ and it enables her to remain out of foul trouble as she did in a close matchup with Pro Skills Basketball Richmond. The free throw line and behind the 3-point line are two of the many areas on the court where she can sink her shot attempts. Listed at 5-foot-6, the rising junior scored 20 points in what was a come-from-behind win over Pro Skills Basketball Richmond. Last month, she announced she received her first collegiate offer – from North Greenville University.
Jaza Wilson Jaza Wilson 5'7" | SG West Henderson | 2025 State NC – 2025 – West Henderson HS – Lady Royals 16U – Wilson is playing up a year in class and displayed exactly why in a close, come-from-behind victory over Virginia-based Pro Skills Basketball Richmond. She stands at a tall 5-foot-9 and combines the skills of a one or a two with the statistics typically seen in threes, fours and fives. Defensively, she also makes big plays in terms of her shot blocking and ball hawk attributes. Wilson had one of those “not how one starts but how one finishes” games against Pro Skills Basketball Richmond, scoring all seven of her points in the second half as Lady Royals 16U came back the Virginia-based travel team.