Grassroots Preview: Team Hickory 16U

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Carolina is the Hoop State after all – so one can expect that any AAU team that hits the travel circuit from said state will be a tough task for many an opponent to put into the loss column.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among those many travel teams is Team Hickory. The organization – which is based in the western part of the state – competes on the Under Armour Rise circuit and fields a 16U team along with a 17U squad.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently unveiled our preview of the group's 17U team. Without further ado, we now turn our attention to who comprises its 16U rendition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897741' first='Emma' last='Wallace']</strong> – Wallace has gained junior varsity experience during her time at 3A Crest. She is the lone representative from the Chargers on this year's roster. As a freshman, she is playing up a year in class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885660' first='Shelby' last='Thompson']</strong> – Thompson played her sophomore season for Watauga – one of the premier teams in the 4A ranks. Last season, the Pioneers finished with a 25-6 record along with a berth in the West Region final. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899221' first='Kaylee' last='Ellis']</strong> – When speaking of premier teams from the Hoop State in the 4A ranks, Lake Norman also has to be a part of the conversation. Ellis' Wildcats team was one victory shy of the West Region final in 2023-24. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897905' first='Cheryllana' last=''] Cunningham</strong> – Just as 3A Freedom had one representative on the 17U roster, they also have a lone representative on the 16U roster in Cunningham. She can give a team productive minutes either at the two or at the wing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Khiara Culliver</strong> – In addition to what she gets accomplished on the basketball court, Culliver also thrives on the junior varsity softball team at 2A Maiden. She stands at 5-foot-11 and averaged a double-double of 16.3 points and 11.1 rebounds this past season plus 2.5 steals and 1.6 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899207' first='Jessica' last='Bailey']</strong> – Bailey put together a breakout season in 2023-24 as a freshman at 3A Fred T. Foard. She averaged nine points and 8.1 rebounds plus 2.3 steals in the 24 games she competed in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Khiley Sims</strong> – Sims is another on this year's Team Hickory 16U roster that is playing up a year in class as she is a 2027. Her career has also seen her participate in track and field events in addition to basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='898188' first='Sarah' last='Thompson']</strong> – Thompson is the second representative from 4A Watauga on this year's roster. In addition she also managed to gain experience as part of the junior varsity Pioneers team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->