Grassroots Preview: Carolina All-Stars 17U E40

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With roughly one month of the club season in the books, plenty of AAU teams have jumped out to outstanding starts in grassroots basketball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those organizations is [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars']. The club organization has been around for over 20 years and is one of the most respected names in North Carolina travel hoops. Coach Ty Cox will have his teams ready to go this weekend at Insider Exposure's Apache Memorial Showcase and it is also scheduled to be one of the teams to take part in next week's Prep Girls Hoops Circuit Peach Games in Georgia.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further ado, here is a look at [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 17U E40 team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":665318,"width":"390px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/Amayah-Barnes-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-665318" style="width:390px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928377' first='Amayah' last='Barnes']</strong> – Barnes is one of five on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 17U E40 version that is playing up in class as 2027s. This past season for NC GBB, she averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals in 16 games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":637871,"width":"493px","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_0921-crop-3638x2389-1681739737.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-637871" style="width:493px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772513' first='Olivia' last='Yancey'] </strong>– One of five representatives from NC GBB on this year's roster, Yancey has been a mainstay with [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] and has returned for another stint on the AAU realm before her junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237316' first='KD' last='Collins']</strong> – Collins is another one of those five sophomores that is playing up in class. She is the lone representative from 2A Southeast Edgecombe on this year's team. Collins is listed at an even six feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237311' first='Maddie' last='French']</strong> – French proudly represents 3A Carrboro on this year's travel team. Last season, French was part of a 2024-25 Jaguars assembling that finished with a 19-8 overall record along with a 15-2 conference mark. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237314' first='Keysha' last='Mizzell'] </strong>– Listed at 5-foot-7, Mizzell can give a team worthwhile minutes in the backcourt as either a one or a two. She was part of a 3A Rocky Mount team that concluded last season with a robust 22-2 record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":900707,"width":"409px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/Ashlyn-Hudson-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-900707" style="width:409px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922572' first='Ashlyn' last='Hudson']</strong> – Hudson is the lone representative from Southern Durham on this year's travel roster. She competes in a variety of sports – including volleyball as well as track and field alongside her basketball accomplishments. The 3A Spartans finished 25-4 last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":941848,"width":"474px","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/Jamyrah-Cherry-copy-rotated-crop-2125x1396-1720548832.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-941848" style="width:474px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327173' first='Jamyrah' last='Cherry']</strong> – A standout from the well-respected program that is Winston-Salem Christian, she is the lone 2025 on this year's roster. Cherry landed an offer from Livingstone College back in October. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237317' first='Caroline' last='Masella'] </strong>– Masella is another multi-sport athlete as soccer has a way of occupying her athletic plate when it is not taken up by basketball. She averaged 11.6 points for a 4A Jordan team that finished 20-8 in 2024-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723681,"width":"450px","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/Lola-Richardson-copy-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-723681" style="width:450px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509969' first='Lola' last='Richardson']</strong> – We have certainly come accustomed to covering Richardson with the work she has done with [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] in grassroots ball. Two years ago, she played up in class in the 16U realm. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":669544,"width":"509px","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/Tia-Bryant.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-669544" style="width:509px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='509520' first='Tia' last='Bryant']</strong> – What does UNC-Greensboro, Holy Cross, UMBC, Army and William &amp; Mary all have in common? All are schools that sometime over the last two years have extended offers in Bryant's direction. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McKenzie Smith</strong> – The 6-foot-3 frame of Smith is certainly a tall task for many teams to contend with. She has no problems getting physical in the low post and displays her offensive versatility with her ability to connect from deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Schedule: </strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Apr. 25-27 – Apache Memorial – Raleigh, NC</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>May. 2-4 – Peach Games (Prep Girls Hoops Circuit) – Atlanta, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>May. 16-18 – The Classic – Louisville, KY</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>May. 30 – Jun. 1 – Triumph Region Finals (Prep Girls Hoops Circuit) – Columbus, GA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jul. 5-6 – Phenom X Bond National Showcase – Winston-Salem, NC </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jul. 10-15 – Run 4 The Roses – Louisville, KY</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jul. 19-21 – National Championships – Louisville, KY</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->