Grassroots Preview: Team Hickory 17U

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The month of April is coming to a close and while we are still relatively early in the AAU season, one would not know it when observing some of the uber-competitive play that has taken place on the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As many North Carolinians know, one of the top-tier club programs across the state is Team Hickory. They field stellar teams and compete in many a competition both within and outside of the Carolinas.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the teams the organization fields is a 17U team and a 16U team. Without further adieu, here is a look at the 17U bunch Team Hickory has assembled. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":669484,"width":"482px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Grayson-Rowe1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-669484" style="width:482px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885001' first='Grayson' last='Rowe']</strong> – Rowe is one of two representatives from 2A Newton-Conover on this year's Team Hickory 17U roster. She put together a stellar junior season averaging 9.1 points, 3.2 assists and two steals a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885004' first='Hadley' last='Womack']</strong> –Womack is a two-sport athlete who also participates on the varsity softball team alongside her basketball accomplishments. Womack was part of a 3A Stuart Cramer squad that finished 24-6 and advanced to the West Regional semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emily Randolph</strong> – Randolph also thrives as a multi-sport athlete. In addition to what she does as a basketball player, she also participates on the varsity volleyball team at New Manna Christian. The Wind finished the season with a 16-4 record and won the 1A NCCSA championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braelyn Stillwell</strong> – Stillwell's East Burke team completed a 2023-24 season where the Cavaliers compiled a 31-1 record in addition to advancing to the 2A state championship game. She also plays tennis and averaged 22.9 points, 6.9 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.3 rebounds a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":644623,"width":"313px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Lea-Boyens-copy-1-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-644623" style="width:313px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lea Boyens</strong> – As one could expect, the team from Hickory would have several representatives from 3A Hickory HS. Boyens is one of three representing the Red Tornadoes on the team throughout the ensuing several months. She previously wore the [program_tooltip program_id='713558' first='Lady' last='Attack Elite'] uniform.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":634345,"width":"433px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/C165B74A-108E-4143-8B05-032456481DDF.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-634345" style="width:433px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569642' first='Gabby' last='Bryant']</strong> – Another of the standouts that is trading in their 3A Hickory HS colors for Team Hickory 17U colors is Bryant. She is listed at 5-foot-5 on the roster and is a two-sport athlete who also competes in varsity lacrosse for the Red Tornadoes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723662,"width":"374px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/Hailey-Hagler-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-723662" style="width:374px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='671523' first='Hailey' last='Hagler']</strong> – One can see Hagler compete in soccer events in addition to what she does on the basketball court. This past season, Hagler averaged 11 points, 6.2 rebounds, four assists and 1.8 steals for 3A North Lincoln. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":653415,"width":"391px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/IMG_1642-crop-3706x2433-1683665628.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-653415" style="width:391px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='671514' first='Addison' last='Sisk']</strong> – Sisk is the third representative from Hickory on this year's Team Hickory 17U roster. She displays her versatility with an ability to give her team productive minutes either in the backcourt at the two or in the frontcourt at the three. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":542648,"width":"407px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/11/Peyton-Caldwell-copy-scaled-crop-1537x1009-1667774190.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-542648" style="width:407px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569573' first='Peyton' last='Caldwell']</strong> – Caldwell is the sole representative from 3A Freedom on this year's roster. She participated in 25 games last season for the Patriots and averaged 22.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals a game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='636353' first='Arieana' last='Williamson']</strong> – The chemistry that Williamson and Stilwell bring over from 2A East Burke certainly does wonders for the club team. Earlier this month, she received an offer from Columbia International University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":669465,"width":"415px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Ashton-Rowe.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-669465" style="width:415px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='885000' first='Ashton' last='Rowe']</strong> – The other representative from Newton Conover. She is listed at 5-foot-5 and can give a team serviceable minutes either in the backcourt as a shooting guard or in the frontcourt as a forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":653417,"width":"424px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/IMG_1641-crop-3226x2118-1683665700.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-653417" style="width:424px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617125' first='Kennedy' last='Blevins']</strong> – Blevins is another standout for the Team Hickory 17U team that thrives in two sports with volleyball (on the St. Stephens junior varsity team) being her alternative sport of choice. Blevins averaged 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals a game in 27 games last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->