Some of the top girls basketball programs from five different states will be featured at the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Girls Basketball Showcase. The event is a great mix of local, regional and nationally ranked programs from around the country. For those who enjoy girls basketball, this is a rare and special treat.
The 11-game girls showcase will be held on January 16 and 17 at North County Tech (1700 Derhake Ave.) in Florissant. Top teams from Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio and Florida will be represented at this big-time event.
This is one of the most impressive all-girls showcase events that has even been held in the St. Louis area with big-time talent coming in from all over America. This is like an all-girls version of Keith Pickett’s old Shootout events when he used to bring in the top talent in the country to St. Louis on an annual basis.
Schedule for the MLK Girls Basketball Showcase
Sunday, Jan. 16
Cahokia vs. Miller Career Academy, noon– Cahokia features the standout trio of 6’0″ Whitney Henderson, 5’11” junior Diamond Suggs and 5’11” senior Fredricka Walker. Career Academy is 10-3 after winning the Cardinal Ritter Holiday Tournament. The Phoenix feature 5’11” junior standout Shanity James along with 5’9″ sophomore Abrlyn Rackley and 5’4″ freshman Braennan Farrar.
White Station (Tenn.) vs. Hazelwood Central, 1:45 p.m. – White Station annually has one of the top teams in the South. The Spartans are currently 13-1. Hazelwood Central is 9-1. The Hawks are led by senior Candyce Ussery, Erika Beard and sophomore Alexis Chappelle.
McCluer North vs. Butlersville (OH), 3:30 p.m. – McCluer North features 2010 Suburban North Conference Player of the Year Kaci Cason, who averages 25 points a game. Butlersville is one of the top teams in the state of Ohio.
Memphis Overton vs. Webb City, 5:15 p.m. – Overton features 6’3″ sophomore Ebony Hayes, who is one of the top players in the country in the Class of 2012. Missouri-state power Webb City is the 2010 Class 4 state champion and one of the favorites in Class 5 this season. The Cardinals are led by 6’1″ senior Kaitlin Jaeger, who averages 20 points and game and will be a 2,000-point scorer in her career.
Memphis Ridgeway vs. Potters House (FL): Potters House Christian is ranked No. 6 in ESPN HoopGirlz national rankings. They are led by nationally-ranked players in 5’11” guard Loliya Briggs (signed with Pittsburgh), 5’7″ guard Shalethia Stringfield (signed with South Florida) and top junior Antoinette Bannister (committed to North Carolina). Ridgeway is led by 6’0″ junior guard Hasima Muhammad, who is committed to Auburn.
Monday, Jan. 17
North Tech vs. East St. Louis, 11 a.m. – North Tech is one of the area’s Class 3 teams. They are led by the dynamic duo of guards Yelena Rosado (signed with SEMO) and Angie Randall. East Side has a dynamic duo of its own in 6’1″ junior Joymesia Howard and forward Davionna Holmes.
White Station (TN) vs. Miller Career Academy, 12:30 p.m. – These two teams come back for a second game on Monday afternoon.
Chicago Whitney Young vs. Memphis Overton, 2 p.m. – Whitney Young is one of the top programs in the country and an annual contender for the state championship in Illinois. The Dolphins are paced by guards Kiana Johnson (signed with Michigan State) and Chanisa Jenkins (signed with DePaul). The speedy Dolphins will try to contend with the size of 6’3″ junior Ebony Hayes of Overton.
Butlersville (OH) vs. Metro, 3:30 p.m. – Butlersville will take on its second area team on Monday when it faces perennial Public High League power Metro.
Memphis Central vs. Potters House (FL), 5 p.m.– Nationally-ranked Potters House returns to face Memphis area power Central, which features Top 10 junior guard Danielle Ballad, No. 35 junior guard Aaliyah Whiteside and rising sophomore 6’1″ Nina Davis.
Incarnate Word vs. Memphis Ridgeway, 6:30 p.m. – Nationally-ranked STL power Incarnate Word closes the event, led by seniors Brianna Puni (signed with Illinois State) and Brittany Carter (signed with Ball State) against a talented Ridgeway team.
