Lady Badger Winter Classic Champions: Here Comes Kellis
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The Kellis girls have that early ’90s Michigan Wolverines “Fab 5” feel. Similar to that iconic team, this Kellis squad is loaded with young, talented, versatile, and hungry players poised to break onto the state’s big stage. This year’s Kellis…
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Continue ReadingThe Kellis girls have that early ’90s Michigan Wolverines “Fab 5” feel. Similar to that iconic team, this Kellis squad is loaded with young, talented, versatile, and hungry players poised to break onto the state’s big stage. This year’s Kellis roster consists of 13 girls, with 10 underclass contributors logging significant minutes and putting up impressive numbers. In a standout performance last week, the Kellis girls took a big step toward their season goals, dominating 4A and 6A opponents at the Lady Badger Winter Classic. They secured victory in all four games by an average of 29.5 points and claiming the tournament championship running their overall record to 14-3 on the season. The pieces are there. The chemistry is there. Here comes Kellis.
Shanielle Mallory Shanielle Mallory 5’4″ | PG Kellis | 2026 State AZ is the engine of the Kellis train, and this engine never stops. I’m not exactly sure what the plan should be for opposing teams to slow her down. She is a terrific one-on-one defender capable of causing panic in opponents’ guards, often leading to over-dribbling and poor passing. With the slightest deflection or bad dribble, she becomes a blur to catch in the open court. In transition, she is no match, blowing past defenders with her use of an inside-out dribble and lethal crossover. to finish with either hand. Once in the paint, her float game and strong passing skills will challenge any weak-side defender coming to help. While her game excels in the open court, her half-court game is equally as tough to prepare for and defend, with her ability to shoot far beyond 20 feet with ease. This week Shanielle was named the Lady Badger Winter Classic Tournament MVP, Shanielle averages 22.5 points per game and will be a name scouts will travel to gyms to see in the near future.
Nevaeh Limbacher Nevaeh Limbacher 6’2″ | PF Kellis | 2026 State AZ is yet another versatile piece in the Kellis puzzle, capable of influencing the game in a number of different ways. Standing at 6’2″ with an incredible wingspan, she possesses the ability to “rim run” like a gazelle. Nevaeh serves as a shot-deterring and shot-blocking presence, dissuading many teams from challenging her by feeding their post or attacking the paint. Opponents are wary of her lurking presence, knowing she can instantly start a fast break with her length on defense. In transition, whether snatching a rebound in mid-air or swatting away a shot attempt, Nevaeh’s sprinting down the floor creates immediate pressure on opposing transition defenses. In the half court, Nevaeh excels both in the high post and low block, squaring up and attacking the basket to finish using either hand. Her potential is sky-high, and with the addition of a secondary move in her future development, she will be a complete menace. This week, Nevaeh averaged 11.5 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game at the Lady Badger Winter Classic, making her a name scouts will undoubtedly travel to gyms to see in the near future.
Highlights
Jeorgia Parks-Rodriquez Jeorgia Parks-Rodriquez 5’7″ | SF Kellis | 2026 State AZ is the Kellis “glue” player that every team absolutely must have. With her size and strength, Jeorgia can play just about any position Kellis might need on a nightly basis. She excels in a few different areas, including possessing a sweet left-handed deep ball, the ability to slide into position for offensive rebounds, and wreaking havoc in the front court while pressing. Her game is somewhat subtle and seems quiet, but she will have a stat line at the end of games that leave opposing coaches disgusted. This week, Jeorgia averaged 10.7 points per game at the Lady Badger Winter Classic, making her a name scouts will undoubtedly travel to gyms to see in the near future.
Mia Wolfe Mia Wolfe 5’6″ | SG Kellis | 2027 State AZ is another perfect addition to the Kellis lineup, bringing another different and crucial element that greatly benefits the Cougar team. Despite being only a freshman, Mia introduces a credible deep ball threat, challenging teams looking to zone up against Kellis or needing to help on other Kellis players. This situation suits Mia’s role perfectly, giving her a constant green light to shoot and allowing her to knock down nearly two 3-pointers per game. Mia is also impressively hitting 75% of her free throws, establishing herself as one of the state’s newest pure shooters to keep an eye on. This week, Mia averaged 8.8 points per game at the Lady Badger Winter Classic.