“Coach Speak” GA: North Metro Elite ’28 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our Coach Speak series, I wanted to give high school and aau coaches the chance to tell their state about their teams. It's easy for a writer like me to think I know about a team or a player, while it's another to hear it directly from the mouth of a coach. Nobody knows their player's skills sets, games, attitudes and efforts better than their head coach, and I wanted to give the coach's a voice. A thus....here is "Coach Speak" GA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='715404' first='North' last='Metro Elite']'s 14U Girls team – 2028 8th Grade – has been put together from several previous travel teams and numerous players who starred in their middle school seasons. Those schools – feeder teams for their high school programs – play in metro Atlanta's 50+ team CCJBC Conference, the most competitive in the State of Georgia. With only 4 practices and new to one another, the girls went 2-2 in the Hoopseen Georgia Cup this past weekend, with a great win over Alabama Basketball Academy and a very competitive showing into the semifinals.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their Coach has high hopes for the upcoming season as he describes his roster:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Bray","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Paulding High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"#22 – Ava Bray Dyer – Combo Guard – North Paulding High Schoolrnrn“Tremendous high-end, spot up shooter. 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Elite scorer and high basketball IQ”","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='902919' first='[player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Olivia' last='']' last='Walton']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"North Paulding HS","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"#10 – [player_tooltip player_id='902919' first='[player_tooltip player_id='885455' first='Olivia' last='']' last='Walton'] – Wing – North Paulding High Schoolrnrn“A defensive specialist who has good guard skill and an excellent jumper. 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Sarah was one of the first players we wanted when we looked to put this team together. Heart and soul of the team.”","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='885605' first='Kennedy' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Mt. Paran Christian","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"#3 – [player_tooltip player_id='885605' first='Kennedy' last='Smith'] – PG – Mt. Paran Christian Schoolrnrn“Kennedy is a 7th Grader playing up who has elite guard skill, reliable perimeter shooting, and HIGH basketball IQ. Always one of the best players on the floor when we are playing and electric to watch!”","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Demi Jamison","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Allatoona HS","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"#12 – Demi Jamison – Wing – Allatoona High Schoolrnrn“Hardest working player we have, always willing to dive on the floor and win the 50/50 ball. Deliver physicality when we need it. Great attitude, great potential, great young lady.”","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='887485' first='Kaylen' last='Ojibway']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Mt. Paran Christian","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"#20 – [player_tooltip player_id='887485' first='Kaylen' last='Ojibway'] – Center – Mt. Paran Christian Schoolrnrn“High IQ, hard-working, reliable, good post moves….unafraid of themoment as she made a game saving rejection/block to secure the win of our first game at Hoopseen. Great two-way player with great upside. At 5'11 in 8th Grade she will have the size for success as he career progresses”","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='885781' first='Rose' last='Kuria']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"North Cobb Christian","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"#24 – [player_tooltip player_id='885781' first='Rose' last='Kuria'] – 4/5 – North Cobb Christianrnrn“Another of our twin towers at 6'0”, Rose already has shown growth and an advanced learning curve – she will reject shots and rebound the ball. We will need her to produce on both ends of the floor if we are going to be successful this season.”","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='902957' first='Kelsey' last='Kuykendall']","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"North Paulding HS","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"#33 – [player_tooltip player_id='902957' first='Kelsey' last='Kuykendall'] – Stretch 4 – North Paulding High Schoolrnrn“Kelsey has to carry a big load – catch and shoot from the short corner, knock down open looks and also pick up loose balls and rebound for us. She is a great young lady who gives everything for her team.”","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_10_player_details_player_name":"Madison Anavitarte","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_10_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_10_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_10_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_10_player_details_school":"North Paulding","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_10_player_details_club_team":"NME '28","_player_evaluations_10_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_10_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_10_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"#42 – Madison Anavitarte – 3/4 – North Paulding High Schoolrnrn“Multi-sport star who is willing to give all she has for her teammates. Always in the mix with loose balls, rebounds and can knock down the open jumper. Glue Girl/locker room girl for NME!”","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66088a3ea8354"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaching staff includes two assistants who are current NCAA college basketball players – Conference Rookie of the year in 2023 at University of West Georgia Ms. Aliyah Washington; and, Division I Kennesaw State wing Taylor Cullinan. That gives this NME team unmatched college-level instruction for our kids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Aggressive scheduling may make a tough early road for the kids, but they<br>already have two wins in the win column and they are competing at a high<br>level. Looking forward to watching them grow and get better as players<br>and a team!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->