George Washington Patriots’ season preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CHARLESTON - George Washington head coach Jamie LaMaster and his Patriots suffered a fate all too recognizable to this program to end their 2025-26 postseason. For the ninth time is as many tries, the LaMaster and company were eliminated from a Class AAAA state semifinal. The Parkersburg South Patriots handed their fellow Patriots a 51-43 loss. Fortunately for LaMaster, much of the team from last season returns for a shot at redemption. I have already written about [player_tooltip player_id='718028' first='Jeriyah' last='Pryor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='721985' first='Rayana' last='Breckenridge'], but here are a few more girls who have shown the ability to play in college or have reached out to their head coach for more information on the next level:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936053"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace69c727876"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">NCAA Division I alert. I repeat. This is an NCAA Division I alert. I admit it - I had never seen a freshman that blatantly stood out to me as a D1 caliber kid. Until Sunday afternoon. Inside George Washington High School's gymnasium on top of The Hill in Charleston, W.Va., mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Dooley. She stepped onto the floor, then proceeded to show me D1 freshman abilities. She has the offensive skill set. She has the right frame. She's as strong as all get out. I watched her elevate for a shot and float in the air for several seconds. Oh, and she has the rare ability to play with a controlled fury. Once her nose was bloodied, she went full beast mode. Her play became sharper. Her decision were excellent. I got a few chills. While she's still got to learn to guard D1 players, she'll have plenty of practice over the next several years. George Washington and the W.Va. Thunder play the best opponents in the state and then in the nation on the AAU circuit. If W.Va. played under Kentucky high school rules, where seventh graders can play varsity basketball, I believe she would have already started for the Patriots. I would like to see her give herself some grace, because she has pushed herself so hard so fast, I don't want her to get burned out and stop loving the game. This NCAA Division I alert is now over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1936082"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace6a0135684"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Does anyone else hear that? What is it? It is really loud. Oh, that's Wilcox's motor. Alive and humming. Oh yes. This young lady never stops on the basketball court. Ever. She also has a state championship pedigree thanks to her time at Charleston Catholic. Her basketball IQ is fantastic. She can handle the ball. She can shoot the three. Her defense is wonderful. I really believe she will adjust well to the Class AAAA game. I think she will be an invaluable part to this GW team when she is back from a torn ACL. She has a strong basketball background. Her mom, dad, and brother played in high school. And, I think she will make a Division II college coach very happy they added her to their team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1279606"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace6cb9d295d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gumm could be a Division I player, at some point. If she continues to work, the ceiling is infinitely high for her. She wants to coached. Her shot blocking skills are elite for someone as short as she is. She will high-point the ball and get her fingers on the shot. She rebounds well. Of the court, she is a smart and respectful kid, who is devoted to her basketball craft. Beyond dedicated. When others are eating their lunch, Ady is in the gym putting up shots. She comes in every single day and works. She has a potential for a growth spurt as both her parents are six feet and her brothers are each 6-foot-5. If she hits that spurt with the tools she has, watch out people. Even without the growth spurt, Gumm is going to be a special one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["943254"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace7c59d39da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Berry-Bruce is the ultimate competitor. If there is a skill to master or a game to win, she's going to step in and try to be the best at H-O-R-S-E trick shot, horseshoes in the backyard, or a basketball game. And, she not only has the competitive spirit, but the work ethic to go along with it. Her lunch period sees her in the gym alongside Gumm, just shooting the basketball. Defensively, she is a solid on-ball defender who sits down in her stance and defends the basketball. My goodness. She's going to get her chance to off her defensive chops. Oh yes. GW will see a smorgasbord of good guards on their way to Charleston. She'll be at the top of a 1-3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728804"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace851cdc1aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='728804' first='Alli' last='Chapman'] needs to believe in [player_tooltip player_id='728804' first='Alli' last='Chapman']. Plain and simple. She has the ability to be an excellent contributor to GW's depth this season. Her basketball IQ helps her always make the right play. The ability to shoot is there. Her defense is exceptional. She has the motor to always get better. She, often, joins Berry-Bruce and Gumm in the gym during GW's lunch period to get shots up. The thing I would like to see from her is to be comfortable with the green light. Her shot is there and it is going to fall. This GW team is open, wheeling and dealing, and no one is going to have a problem with the basketball leaving her hand on the way to the rim. I am confident in her abilities. Go have fun and get ready to play in college, if you so choose, young lady. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->