Grassroots Preview: FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 16U Parks

We are a bit of a ways away from the conclusion of this year’s travel season. And even though a few teams have already kicked off their AAU slates, it is not too late to preview what the remainder of said club outlook has for many of the multitalented teams across South Carolina. One of those teams is based in Greenville in the Upstate of the Palmetto State. The FBC Carolina Hawks organization will field six teams over the next few months – all of which were present at a recent event. One of those teams is the FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 16U Parks team. The Parks in the team’s name refers to Milton Parks – one of the organization’s directors who is also the coach of the Southside Tigers. Parks coached Southside to a deep run in this past season’s 3A playoffs as the Tigers advanced to the Upper State Finals. The team recently participated at the Phenom Lady Rumble in Concord, North Carolina where the team posted a 3-0 mark. Upcoming events for the team include the Apache Memorial Memorial Showcase later this month in Charlotte and the Run 4 the Roses in Louisville in early July along with three other events in Atlanta. Here is a look at the eight players that make up the team’s roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="331883" first="Shemiayah" last="Earle"] – 2024 – Woodmont HS</strong> – Earle is listed at 5-foot-11 on the Cavaliers roster and possesses a skill set that includes getting out in transition as well as stealing the ball. She has also taken part in track and field events throughout her athletic career. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="408418" first="Kiki" last="Gregory"] – 2024 – Pendleton HS</strong> – Gregory, as well, is also a power forward who knows how to make things happen away from the rim. Defensively, she knows this and attempts to make many a play on the end of the floor. Gregory is also gifted as a 3-point shooter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="393656" first="Jocelyne" last="Grier"] – 2025 – North Mecklenburg HS</strong> – Grier is one of several from a North Carolina school that make up this year’s FBC Carolina Hawks Elite 16U- Parks bunch. Grier also has a number of offers from Division I programs. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-271863" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/C362B29D-1ED4-4A27-8F92-20D56F96861C.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="268139" first="Deyana" last="Hayes"] – 2024 – Wren HS</strong> – She is another two-sport athlete who has managed to make waves as both a basketball player and in the volleyball area also. At 5-foot-11, she particularly uses that height advantage to haul in as many rebounds as she does. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="194865" first="Jakayla" last="Lorick"] – 2024 – Southside HS</strong> - The only Tiger present on this particular team, she too helped Southside make a run to the 3A Upper State Final. Stealing the ball, getting after on the boards, dishing out the rock and putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard or other noteworthy elements to what she does. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-354346" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/D87895E6-70F6-4AD0-BA79-C5B79D72C5EB-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="176613" first="Trinity" last="Nesbitt"] – 2024 – Woodmont HS</strong> – Nesbitt assumes team captaincy duties for the Cavaliers. As effective as a scorer as she is and as much of a rebounder as she is, Nesbitt is a threat to have more than simply a few double-doubles as her season advances to a next stage. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="268140" first="Ahri" last="Scott"] – 2024 – Westside HS</strong> – The best way one can transition into the grassroots space is by winning a state championship before so. That is what Scott’s Rams did, claiming a second consecutive 4A crown for Westside. She is 5-foot-6 and possesses a long-range jumper, passing ability and a knack for getting the other team to commit turnovers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="276134" first="Jada" last="Whitesides"] – 2024 – R-S Central HS</strong> – This past season was very kind to the Hilltoppers. In 2021-22, Whitesides was one of the team’s leading scorers as she averaged 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 steals. She will also get from one end of the floor to the other and is adept at running the floor in transition.