SPIRE Academy puts talent on display

Jim Dabbelt January 13, 2023 @ 10:52 AM

There is no doubt that SPIRE Academy is making some great moves as they look forward to putting their new version of winning basketball on the courts around Ohio. Coach Candice Wiggins, former national Player of the Year at Stanford and WNBA standout has taken over the girls program at SPIRE, and she brings seven players to the court ready to take the next step to the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='127279' first='MyKayla' last='Cunningham'], 5-9 CG, 2023   Comes in from Texas. True CG, she was the player who reminded Candice the most of the way she played. She can run the point and can score. Has the stature, very strong and amazing jumper. Dual sport athlete, also does high jump in track. Very athletic, can do so much. Tough player and a competitor, makes tough shots. Loves pressure, begging to have the ball at the end of the game. Also can play good defense. Would rather pass than score but can score. Has the fortitude like every girl on this team.   Ramiyah Byrd, 6-1 G/F, 2023   She is playing center for this team but will play G/F in college at the University of Cincinnati. She is from Denver, Colorado. So strong and versatile, can play a range from the 2-5 positions because of her strength and skill set.  Good shooter with handles. Best attribute is ability to rebound offensive and defensive. Played Purcell Marian and defended Dee Alexander. Has length and speed to get deflections and steals. Plays with confidence.   [player_tooltip player_id='216096' first='Autumn' last='Taylor'], 5-6 PG, 2023    Came in from Twinsburg, captain and amazing leader. Plays both PG and SG. Can shoot from anywhere. Natural leader, she is a player who is vocal every second, going the hardest and a coaches dream. Good handles and can run the offense and get into sets. If you leave her open, it won't end well. Great range. Tenacity on defense is high, big will to win.   Ndeye Leye, 6-2 PG/C, 2024   Comes over from Dakar Senegal, came over as a PG but you look at her she is a center. Makes incredible passes effortlessly off of her instincts. She is learning and adjusting to American basketball, but she is so talented. Natural ability. Can play at the high post and can create with her point guard skills. Has great potential to understand the game. Can guard center position on defense, or step out and guard the point guard.   Dahsa Shiskina, 6-0 G/F, 2024   From Moscow, Russia. She is so incredible and an amazing player. Russian game translates well to American game, she is a physical player and tough minder. Can shoot, score and play defense. She can play PG. A great passer at a major D1 college level. Makes great reads and can make the precision pass. Has great range.   Venedicta Asare, 6-3 C, 2026   Comes over from Accra, Gana in Africa. Very raw player with a very knack for the ball. Amazing rebounder. Can set screens and gets in the right position. She is working on the urgency of the program. Incredible potential.   Faridatu Aziz-Alhassan, 5-11 G, 2026   Just turned 13 and is growing. Also from Gana, she is young and learning her skillset. Still in development, understands the game but she is still in development with her skills. Creates plays with length. Smart basketball IQ beyond her years. When you put her in the game, she is a gametime player.

There is no doubt that SPIRE Academy is making some great moves as they look forward to putting their new version of winning basketball on the courts around Ohio. Coach Candice Wiggins, former national Player of the Year at Stanford and WNBA standout has taken over the girls program at SPIRE, and she brings seven players to the court ready to take the next step to the next level.