Memphis Area 2017 Class Signings

Please email popo@girlsbasketballtrainer.com commitments/signing updates and pictures.

Signing Party was fun 🎉💙💛🏀 thanks for everybody who came out !! pic.twitter.com/KEnuHeExHS

— Chelle❤️ (@_rollwithchelle) November 18, 2016

this time next year i'll be at The Valley and i couldn't be much happier #Blessed #FinallyOfficial #MVSU ⛹🏽‍♀️💚🏀 pic.twitter.com/O2059Hae3V

— ☁T-Will✨ (@thatgirl_twill) November 10, 2016

Heaven Thompson

Congratulations to Antoinette Lewis (@Netta_buggy)! She's signed to play basketball at the University of South Alabama @SouthALWBB. pic.twitter.com/tv5SWO9nTe

— Harding Live Tweets (@MHALionsLive) November 10, 2016

Congratulations to Northpoint's Ashtyn Baker, signed today to play basketball for Liberty University. @johnvarlas pic.twitter.com/yoSvxTspDw

— Northpoint Sports (@NCSThePoint) November 14, 2016

The 2-time Miss. Gatorade Player of the Year and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ G Myah Taylor is a Bulldog!!! #HailState

📰 https://t.co/yxcUbXYYK8 pic.twitter.com/8jsljO7lAt

— MSU W. Basketball (@HailStateWBK) November 11, 2016

Zaire Hicks

Damiah Griffin

Johnna Jones

Welcome to the Trojans, Teal Battle. #LittleRocksTeam https://t.co/HF4rP16VVv pic.twitter.com/v3ArS6p7Y1

— Little Rock WBB (@LittleRockWBB) November 9, 2016

Tamia Aldridge (Bolton/Team Slink) - signed with Bryan College
Teal Battle (White Station/Lady Mambas) - committed to Arkansas-Little Rock
Damiah Griffin (White Station/Team Penny) - committed to UT Martin
Zaire Hicks (White Station/Lady Mambas) - committed to UT Martin
Erica Jones (Southaven/Lady Mambas) - committed to Kentucky State
Johnna Jones (Munford/Clarksvile SOL/TN Glory) - committed to CBU
Myah LeFlore (St. Benedict/Team Penny) - committed to Austin Peay
Rochelle Lee (Houston/Lady Magic) - committed to Chattanooga
Antoinette Lewis (Harding Academy/Team Penny) - committed to South Alabama
Selena Pruitt (Lausanne/Team Penny) - committed to Alabama-Huntsville
Myah Taylor (Olive Branch/Southern Starz) committed to Mississippi State
Heaven Thompson (Bolton/Team Slink) committed to Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Taylor Williams (White Station/Team Slink) committed to Mississippi Valley State
Andreana Wrister (Cordova/Memphis Elite Daniels) committed to Mississippi Valley State

Emanye Robertson (White Station) Career-high 15 points

Read entire UT Martin womens basketball story

Ridgeway's Elizabeth Dixon rising in prep basketball

image and article from Commercial Appeal 

Ridgeway's Elizabeth Dixon has set some not-so-modest goals for the upcoming girls basketball season.

"I want to average 25 (points), 20 (rebounds) and 10 (blocks)," she said.

Um, okay. Anything else?


"I want to dunk." If the 6-4 Dixon does manage to throw one down in a game, she'll be the first girl in Memphis — and one of a few anywhere — to accomplish the feat. And it will also herald her arrival among the nation's best high school players, a distinction that looked unlikely just a few years ago.

Thanks to diligent work with local trainer Scotty Mason and an impressive showing on the EYBL summer circuit playing for the Tennessee Flight, Dixon will open the year ranked 20th nationally in the class of 2018 according to ESPN HoopGurlz. During the most recent visiting period, the Dixon family welcomed parade of college coaches, all eager to get Elizabeth's name on a national letter of intent.

As of early this month, Dixon's list included Ohio State, Florida State, Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee, Baylor, Georgia Tech and Maryland. All the attention is causing her dad Richard to marvel at how far his youngest daughter has come.

"All these coaches, they intimidate me," he laughed. "Who am I? This summer was like the Super Bowl but Liz was just fantastic, so relaxed. She was an animal, 10 blocks, 12 blocks every game. I don't know where this comes from.

Dixon comes by her height naturally. Richard — who came to the United States from Nigeria to attend college before being "stranded" here — is 6-6 while her mom, also named Elizabeth, is 6-2. Brother Richard is 6-8 while another brother David, who also plays at Ridgeway, is 6-5.

The ability has been well-earned though; Richard is an implementations engineer at FedEx and when it comes to sports, well, he plays like an implementations engineer at FedEx.

"I can't run, I can't jump," he laughed. "I want to see the DNA because other than looking like me ... she can't be my daughter.

"Four years ago, she couldn't bounce the ball. We brought her to Scotty and he said 'trust me with this girl. In time she will be a tough player.' I call Scotty the miracle worker."

Mason — who has worked with a host of talented players from Jarvis Varnado and Randy Culpepper to current high school standouts Myah Taylor of Olive Branch and T.J. Moss at East — said his goal is to get Dixon to maximize her full potential. And not just as a tall presence in the paint.

Instead, he envisions her as a well-rounded performer who can shoot from outside and the handle the ball just as easily as post up. Combine that with her size and you have a nightmare for opposing coaches.

"She's a difference maker because at 6-5 ... she's so athletic. The women's game is getting more skilled and with her size and explosiveness, she'll be perfect for a high-major (school). She has everything you look for."

Elizabeth's Twitter profile says she's "probably in the gym right now" and the work is starting to pay off.

"I worked eight hours a day over the summer," she said. "At first, I was nervous playing with Tennessee Flight but I had a lot of fun. It was a good summer."

Said Mason, "The key with Liz has been taking different approaches. Skill work and also videos and researching the history of basketball. It's a little bit of everything. She wants to get better. She wants to be the best player in the world."

And she's been soaking up knowledge from the best players in the world.

"I watch videos of Tim Duncan for rebounding," she said. "Karl Malone for running the floor and Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan for their quick decision-making. Candace Parker. But really anything to help me get better."

This year, Dixon will be the focal point on a Ridgeway team that has lost of ton of senior talent over the last two classes. Her play will be vital of course but so will her leadership, something she's not had to do just yet.

"Being vocal is going to be harder," she said. "I'm not used to it but I'm going to have to step up."

Off the court, Dixon is an A student who tackles her academic responsibilities with the same diligence she brings to the court. It only takes a few minutes of talking to Richard Dixon to see how proud he is of her. And how amazed he is by her success to this point.

"In Africa we say, 'it takes a village' but I appreciate the American system too," he said. "At the Nike Nationals I was like 'please, don't kill her.' The other girls ... they were a tough bunch. It was a baptism of fire. But she dominated."

Save the Date - March 4, 2017

We will be kicking off the Spring with an Extraordinary Skill Development Camp!!!

Upcoming event: (Power5bball/Patosha Jeffery) Best of West Middle School Girls Exposure Camp at Ridgeway Baptist Church March 4th. Cost $90 pic.twitter.com/pgjbLruCjt

— Power5_bballskills (@PBballskills) November 16, 2016

Girls Basketball Scores November 15, 2016

From Commercial Appeal

Center Hill (54) — Danielle Hopkins 12, Kaylen Morris 2, Jada Sprott 16, Courtney Craine 2, Kerrigan Kneeland 10, Victoria Dailey 12.
Bartlett (57) — Toni Green 18, Mackenzie Chandler 4, Madelyn Anguiano 2, Kiya Sidney 7, Teaya Reaves 1, Molly Word 2, Kennedy Crawford 5, Ashley Payne 18.
Records — Center Hill 0-2, Bartlett 1-0.
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Trezevant (41) — Brandy Shannon 13, Sade Hudson 18, F. Quinteria 3, Emma Jackson 2, Kiara Dale 3, Kearra Tucker 2.
Briarcrest (52) — Brianna Pope 2, Caitlin Hunt 7, Taylor Clemons 12, Morgan Hunt 12, Savanna Owens 8, Anne Marie Hays 5, Vi Stuart 4, Alex Tiatia 2.
Records — Trezevant 0-1, Briarcrest 1-0.
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Westminster (53) — Leah Campbell 9, Laurel Martens 17, Emily Carney 2, Ashton Storey 25.
FACS (50) — Willard 11, Youd 12, Brooks 4, Spain 14, White 5, Reed 4.
Records — Westminster 2-0, FACS 0-1.
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St. Benedict (44) — Catalina Carrasco 2, Kristina Ferris 21, Myah LeFlore 19, Katherine Vassallo 2.
Houston (77) — Jayla Hemingway 28, Rochelle Lee 6, Sammiyah Hoskin 4, Shaela Gardner 6, Madison Griggs 15, Destinee Wells 7, Melisa Carter 8, Shannon Sharp 3.
Records — St. Benedict 0-1, Houston 1-0.
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Fairley (27) — Denisia Williams 8, Dahja Caspillian 8, Diamond Douglas 11.
Hutchison (53) — Kerrigan Braxton 8, Macy McCullough 5, Jordan Groover 11, Madison Moore 2, Sara Kate Hopper 4, Carmyn Harrison 2, Kaia Barnett 11, Catey Nelson 8, Mary Chapman Morrow 2.
Records — Fairley 0-1, Hutchison 1-0.
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MHEA (35) — Gigi Lewis 10, Annalissa Burnett 4, Kamille Clark 2, Scarlett Guess 2, Lindsey Vaughn 14, Kylie Loadholt 3.
Munford (52) — Shania Johnson 9, Johnna Jones 9, Kennisha Mason 8, DeAsha Banks 4, Gabby Crawford 22.
Records — Munford 1-0.
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MAHS (55) — Alexis 11, Echols 9, Gary 27, Jett 4, Owens 4.
Overton (51) — Bacardi Peoples 8, Safharee Scruggs 13, Jasmine Beason 2, Charnita Brooks 11, Kelsi House 6, Micah Calvin 3, Sabrina Harrold 8.
Records — MAHS 1-0, Overton 0-1.
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Macon Road (41) — Howlett 14, Lutz 3, Smith 12, Allen 4, Fuqua 8.
Rossville Christian (29) — Mary Chandler King 2, Hannah Hurdle 8, Madison Anderson 10, Alyssa McCandless 5, Brianna Bing 4.
Records — Macon Road 1-0, Rossville Christian 0-1.
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MASE (25) — Starnes 5, Mitchell 4, Henderson 9, Spencer 5, Foster 2.
St. Agnes (53) — Mary Beth Siano 2, Rachel Siano 2, Haley Mills 2, Caroline Pietrangelo 15, Lauren Lewis 7, Amelia Wigley 5, Marissa Lewis 4, Lauren Ryan 1, Olivia Berntson 10, Jordan Kleber 5.
Records — MASE 0-1, St. Agnes 1-0.

Girls Basketball Scores November 14, 2016

From Commercial Appeal

Fayette Aca. (26) — Lauren Lessel 4, Chloe Burnette 3, Megan McClure 7, Alex Wadley 6, Emily Hunt 4, Anna Redman 2.
Harding (64) — Jacaila Davis 5, Hadley Horner 15, Carley Rhoads 8, Sage Hawley 10, Alexandria Ellis 10, Antoinette Lewis 16.
Records — Fayette Aca. 0-1, Harding 1-0.

W.E.B. DuBois (59) — A. Acoff 27, M. Acoff 13, D. Nelson 19.
Oakhaven (16) — T. Ash 11, J. Smith 1, S. Hannah 2, E. Shannon 2
Records — W.E.B. DuBois 1-0, Oakhaven 0-1.

Miyah Barnes (Central) Earns Conference USA Freshman of the Week Honors

Read UAB womens basketball article

POPOTV: Arlington '19 Forward Lanyce Williams Interview

POPOTV: One of the most passionate and unselfish players in the Memphis area 6'0 Forward Lanyce Williams talks about her emotion on the floor and her father's influence on her game.

Inaugural 16AAA Media Day

Whitehaven hosted the Inaugural 16AAA Media Day on Wednesday night. It was an awesome environment for the young men and women to experience a college/professional-like event and practice communicating with the media.

Coach Phillips, Whitehaven Head Boys Basketball Coach

Brianna Cooks, Central

Kynadi Kuykendoll, Central

Pre-Season Projected Order of Finish

Central Lady Warriors, Johne' Stewart, Jireh Washington, Kynadi Kuykendoll, Brianna Cooks

Pre-Season Players of the Year and Teams