PGH Southeast Kickoff: 15U Frontcourt Forces from Day One

With the 2025-26 high school campaign in the rear-view mirror, the attention of many a basketball aficionado has shifted to the travel scene – including an even larger Prep Girls Hoops Circuit.    Circuit season commenced the final weekend of March with events in New York, Chicago and North Carolina. This year's Southeast Kickoff welcomed teams from the host state as well as from South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.    Among the list of a teams that made their way to the Hickory area for one of their initial stops on their 2026 AAU journey were a number of talented assemblings from the 15U ranks. Here, we recognize a few of those forwards and centers from the first day of Southeast Kickoff play.     Dupree also played a massive role in her Fire Ball Basketball Academy team getting the Southeast Kickoff started on the right pair of sneakers. She is effective as a three forward with an ability to turn defense into offense. Dupree also does many of the little things that can have a big impact on a team's ability to win – such as keeping her hands outstretched on defense and diving for loose balls. She is a multi-sport athlete who also excels as a volleyball player at 4A Nash Central. Two of the Bulldogs' leading bucket-getters from this past season were freshmen – Dupree was one of them to the tune of a double-double average (10.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game) plus 2.2 steals per contest.      Willis is another who maintains a very busy athletic schedule between playing basketball and flag football – both at the varsity level. One would expect someone with Willis' build to be almost exclusively a protector of the paint. She has no issues going into either the midrange or the long range and connecting from either of those distances. Rebounding is another one of her strong points as is her ability to establish herself as an on-court leader. Defensively, Willis can be seen either playing in close proximity to the basket or out on the perimeter. She played in 26 games in her freshman season with Cardinal Gibbons.      [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U's first matchup of Southeast Kickoff Saturday did not occur until late in the afternoon. It was well worth the wait as the assembling from the Yellowhammer State blew out [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U BSB. Ford was key in the offensive onslaught as her ability to attack the rim and make plays in transition made things difficult for the North Carolina squad. Ford can give a team worthwhile minutes as either a two guard or a three forward, meaning she can find plenty of time at the wing. Ford was the only freshman on this past season's 6A Lee team.      [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U threw a relentless interior attack at [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U BSB in the latter portions of Saturday's play. Salomonsky-Corbin was one element of that interior strategy. She does many of the things coaches expect from fours or fives – including using her 6-foot-1 stature and her imposing presence to her advantage to convert on successful high-percentage tries. Salomonsky-Corbin can also haul in a large number of rebounds and the ability to handle the rock with her left hand is also part of her overall skillset. Salomonsky-Corbin's play ensured [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U would begin the Southeast Kickoff in the win column.      Setting up a game plan to keep this rising name in check will make the hair on the head of many an opposing coach go gray. She was another element of [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U's interior efforts that overwhelmed [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U BSB by virtue of a 56-25 final score. Even if Grays misses a shot, one can count on the standout from Sparkman to corral her own rebound. In addition to looking for spacing in the interior, Grays can display her offensive versatility with her willingness to try from the midrange and the long range. She is one of the three 2030s for [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U playing up in class in the 15U realm.      The first day of play went as planned for [program_tooltip program_id='715813' first='Team' last='Hickory Basketball Club'] 15U as it won both of its contests on Saturday. Spry was an important piece in her team's winning puzzle. She is a multi-sport athlete who also excels in tennis alongside her basketball achievements. In addition to being a skilled scorer, she is also a talented rebounder. She thrives on her ability effectively play in the interior and utilize the attention she garners to either score or give her teammates opportunities to make plays. Spry was among the five freshmen that were on the roster this past season for 4A East Burke.       The 14U assembling of [program_tooltip program_id='714762' first='Charlotte' last='Dream Elite'] is not one's garden variety 14U team. Some of the premier 2030s and 2031s from both Carolinas wear this uniform and Seegars helped the team open up the Southeast Kickoff with a pair of wins. The seventh grader is listed at 5-foot-8 and has no problems attempting 3-pointers as a two guard. Seegars can also find time in a team's starting five as a three allowing her to play plenty of minutes as a wing. When she is in close proximity to the basket, Seegars understands that means playing through physicality and anticipating many chances to make things happen at the free throw line.

With the 2025-26 high school campaign in the rear-view mirror, the attention of many a basketball aficionado has shifted to the travel scene – including an even larger Prep Girls Hoops Circuit.