The season is around the corner. And the movement has begun. So many girls will be holding different uniforms than last year, that could change the land scape of basketball for some teams. Probably one of the biggest names is 8th grader Shania Davis going to St. Elizabeth as a 9th grader from Wilmington Christian; Sasha Marvel will be going to Caravel from St. Thomas More; Amaja Mack transferring from St. Thomas more to possibly out of state; and Me- Me Brown possibly from Dickinson to Hodgson. These moves will be pivotal for the teams they are going to. I’m sure I know there are a few more moves that have been made that I have not caught up too yet
1. Ursuline: They lose three seniors to last year’s 2015-16 State Championship team. But they are still fully loaded with the freshman class from last year. They are led by last year’s ESPN top 100 freshman player Alisha Lewis, Maggie Connolly, and Kryshell Gordy. Other players that will contribute immediately are Kay Wulah, Yanni Hendley-Mccalla, Valerie Cradler, and Olivia Mason. Ursuline also has a few incoming 9th graders but none that are impactful like last year’s class. A balance scoring attack will continue to be the name of the game for this team. They lost a serviceable big to transfer this year. They will need consistent scoring from the post or forward area.
2. Sanford: This year’s team will be a lot younger in totality. They have lost so much offense. The demand will now sit on the shoulders of their four freshman from last year Lauren Park-Lane, Oliva Tucker, Kendra Warren, and the 1 player that made a surprise immediate impact was Samantha Pollich with strong her inside presence. Not having a deeper bench could hurt them down the stretch. One of the top Incoming freshman Kanisa Tucker will be a serviceable player coming in.
3. Conrad: The Cinderella team is back and for now they will stay at number 3. They are very young only losing one senior. The rest will be 8th, 9th, and 10th graders playing major minutes. Led by last year’s 8th grade sensation Julie Kulesza. They will back this year because they have new 8th graders who will make a great impact this season. One is a 6'2 player who will hold the middle down. Which was a weakness last year down the stretch. Immaturity could be there only issue. There not going to surprise anyone this year.
4. Concord: This team I believe underachieved. They had everything I believed that could of challenged Ursuline for the title. This year’s team will not be the same. They have a mixture of size, inside scoring, shooting, and athleticism to compete. They lost some key freshman to transfers that will shorten their bench. They will slip down in the rankings. Controlling the ball, chemistry, and limiting turnovers will continue to be an issue.
5. Hodgson: This year they will look like concord of last year. They have so many guards this year that they will have a hard time trying play them all. So in order to maximize this team the coach will press the whole game to hide the lack of size they are missing and to manage the minutes of all those talented guards. Kayla Braxton-Young, Jania Jackson, and rumored transfer player from Dickinson ‘Me-Me’ Brown will be the trio to run this team. They’re going to run and shoot all day. And with Me-Me on the floor she will keep the team running at a high level. Again size in the middle will be an issue. This team could be one of closest to challenging Ursuline if they have addressed there size issue.
6. Caravel: This team lost a lot of offense the year before. Last year it showed. But this team was still efficient in there game play by maximizing the pieces they had. This team was a solid defensive team. They have size, and solid gaurds, But they lacked a second consistent scorer after Maia Bryson. They have good players in Grace Lange, Kaylee Otlowski, Karli Cauley, and Ondia Brown. But if rumors are correct transfer Sasha Marvel will give them some more consistent scoring and ball handling that they need. Consistent post scoring could be the only issue.
7. St. Thomas More: This team may not stay at this number. The young team that was making big noise throughout the year fell short to the Cinderella team in the tournament. Had Conrad not make their run this would have been the surprise team that everyone would of talked about. Well that was last year. Two of their offensive players are gone. The great thing is there still young and they still have the right pieces to be more than competitive. There are so many rumors of players going to that school not sure who will end up there. Some scoring help and deeper bench will be an issue.
8. St. Elizabeth: This team will be a veteran team in ever since of the word. The team will be filled with juniors and seniors and will be very competitive. They didn't graduate anyone so they will be hard pressed to make a run this year with the talent they have. The have size and guard play with scoring from inside and out. The only thing missing was a consistent scorer from the guard position that can create their own shot. Enter transfer incoming 9th grade player from Wilmington Christian Shania "Tink" Davis. She will give this team scoring in bunches at the guard spot. They have the best balanced attack and a deep bench to contend with Ursuline this year. Look for these guys to move up in the rankings. On paper this team looks to have no real weakness. If Tink Davis fits in with the team chemistry they will be make a good run this season.
9. Sussex Central: They basically beat up on the down state teams until they met up with Hodgson in the tournament. They look to do the same thing this year until they play St. Thomas More, and Caeser Rodney. They lose four seniors from last year’s team. They will be very young. They should drop from the top ten.
10. Caeser Rodney: This team will try to make run with their main player Alissa Haith. They lost a lot of offense with the graduation of their seniors. They are a solid defensive team but there offense will struggle. They should do well with the down state teams until they get into the tournament. They need more offense to help with Haith.
The next eight
11. Howard: Na'liegha Wright and Jamail Hollis will look to take over the point guard job and add to the offense of the Blatch-Huggins sisters to get this team more wins. Turn overs could continue to be an issue for them.
12. Dover: New coach, new system, and a new philosophy. A change is coming for this program. Not sure if they will stay at the 12th spot.
13. Woodbridge:
14. Padua: Some new incoming freshman will help with the transition of a new era. Based on their schedule they will make the tournament. They need inside scoring, and rebounding on both ends of floor to compete.
15. William Penn: This team I believed under achieved. There defensive mindedness was slowed down during the course of the year. They will have to get back to that great team chemistry that had at the start of the season. Offensive identity will be an issue.
16. Mount Pleasant: The season should fare better with having 6'3 F/C Zaria Newson for a whole season. They missed the playoffs because of her mid-season injury. Rumor has it that they have some strong guards coming in to push them to the play offs. This team should move up into the top ten if there guard play improves. A deeper bench will be an issue.
17. Sussex Tech:
18. A. I. DuPont: This Lauren Griffins last year. She has carried this team for two years plus. This year she has an top incoming freshman guard Bernya Mayo, and Daniya "Mooch" Dixon that will give her instant help. Size will be an issue. And they need and inside scoring presence to compete.
End of the Season Prediction: As for teams, Ursuline looks to be the favorite to win it on paper. But The teams that will have a really good chance to challenge them is Conrad, Concord, Caravel, Hodgson, and Sanford. But the team that really has chance to beat them will be St. Elizabeth. There Veteran Leadership, size, guard play, and now a real scorer from the guard position will actually challenge Ursuline. This could be the year for St. Elizabeth to challenge if Ursuline doesn’t cement an inside scoring threat or a consistent scoring from one of their forwards like Kailyn Kempert provided last year or St. Elizabeth will have a great chance this year.
Player break outs: There is so much talent on the girls side of basketball in Delaware. The 9th grade class that has been talked about will begin to show I believe this year. The Individual break outs will be all over the board. With teams so many transfers and team needs it going to be hard to figure out who will have a good year. So consistently Maia Bryson of Caravel should show some new poise; Zaria Newson Of Mount Pleasant; Senay Clarke, of Appo, with no help on the offensive end will have a great year with her numbers; If the Logan Handy of Laurel hasn’t transferred she will put up great numbers again; Aahliyah Selby, and Zhan’e Snow of Concord should have good numbers; Lauren Griffin of A.I. will have big numbers; Alyssa Haith of Caeser Rodney; And If the rumor is true of Me-Me Brown her numbers will drop somewhat because of the talent she will have around her at Hodgson, but her assists will go up and so will the wins; And Lastly the Kulesza sisters will be playing together for the first time in high school at Conrad.
Impact incoming freshman: The most Obvious is Julie Kulesza will continue where she left off from last year as an 8th grader for Conrad. She will be competing with another 8th grader from last year Shania Davis who was at Wilmington Christian and has transferred to St. Elizabeth. Others are Kanisa Tucker at Sanford, Arrianna Henry at Padua, and Bernya Mayo, Daniya Dixon at A.I. DuPont
1. Ursuline: They lose three seniors to last year’s 2015-16 State Championship team. But they are still fully loaded with the freshman class from last year. They are led by last year’s ESPN top 100 freshman player Alisha Lewis, Maggie Connolly, and Kryshell Gordy. Other players that will contribute immediately are Kay Wulah, Yanni Hendley-Mccalla, Valerie Cradler, and Olivia Mason. Ursuline also has a few incoming 9th graders but none that are impactful like last year’s class. A balance scoring attack will continue to be the name of the game for this team. They lost a serviceable big to transfer this year. They will need consistent scoring from the post or forward area.
2. Sanford: This year’s team will be a lot younger in totality. They have lost so much offense. The demand will now sit on the shoulders of their four freshman from last year Lauren Park-Lane, Oliva Tucker, Kendra Warren, and the 1 player that made a surprise immediate impact was Samantha Pollich with strong her inside presence. Not having a deeper bench could hurt them down the stretch. One of the top Incoming freshman Kanisa Tucker will be a serviceable player coming in.
3. Conrad: The Cinderella team is back and for now they will stay at number 3. They are very young only losing one senior. The rest will be 8th, 9th, and 10th graders playing major minutes. Led by last year’s 8th grade sensation Julie Kulesza. They will back this year because they have new 8th graders who will make a great impact this season. One is a 6'2 player who will hold the middle down. Which was a weakness last year down the stretch. Immaturity could be there only issue. There not going to surprise anyone this year.
4. Concord: This team I believe underachieved. They had everything I believed that could of challenged Ursuline for the title. This year’s team will not be the same. They have a mixture of size, inside scoring, shooting, and athleticism to compete. They lost some key freshman to transfers that will shorten their bench. They will slip down in the rankings. Controlling the ball, chemistry, and limiting turnovers will continue to be an issue.
5. Hodgson: This year they will look like concord of last year. They have so many guards this year that they will have a hard time trying play them all. So in order to maximize this team the coach will press the whole game to hide the lack of size they are missing and to manage the minutes of all those talented guards. Kayla Braxton-Young, Jania Jackson, and rumored transfer player from Dickinson ‘Me-Me’ Brown will be the trio to run this team. They’re going to run and shoot all day. And with Me-Me on the floor she will keep the team running at a high level. Again size in the middle will be an issue. This team could be one of closest to challenging Ursuline if they have addressed there size issue.
6. Caravel: This team lost a lot of offense the year before. Last year it showed. But this team was still efficient in there game play by maximizing the pieces they had. This team was a solid defensive team. They have size, and solid gaurds, But they lacked a second consistent scorer after Maia Bryson. They have good players in Grace Lange, Kaylee Otlowski, Karli Cauley, and Ondia Brown. But if rumors are correct transfer Sasha Marvel will give them some more consistent scoring and ball handling that they need. Consistent post scoring could be the only issue.
7. St. Thomas More: This team may not stay at this number. The young team that was making big noise throughout the year fell short to the Cinderella team in the tournament. Had Conrad not make their run this would have been the surprise team that everyone would of talked about. Well that was last year. Two of their offensive players are gone. The great thing is there still young and they still have the right pieces to be more than competitive. There are so many rumors of players going to that school not sure who will end up there. Some scoring help and deeper bench will be an issue.
8. St. Elizabeth: This team will be a veteran team in ever since of the word. The team will be filled with juniors and seniors and will be very competitive. They didn't graduate anyone so they will be hard pressed to make a run this year with the talent they have. The have size and guard play with scoring from inside and out. The only thing missing was a consistent scorer from the guard position that can create their own shot. Enter transfer incoming 9th grade player from Wilmington Christian Shania "Tink" Davis. She will give this team scoring in bunches at the guard spot. They have the best balanced attack and a deep bench to contend with Ursuline this year. Look for these guys to move up in the rankings. On paper this team looks to have no real weakness. If Tink Davis fits in with the team chemistry they will be make a good run this season.
9. Sussex Central: They basically beat up on the down state teams until they met up with Hodgson in the tournament. They look to do the same thing this year until they play St. Thomas More, and Caeser Rodney. They lose four seniors from last year’s team. They will be very young. They should drop from the top ten.
10. Caeser Rodney: This team will try to make run with their main player Alissa Haith. They lost a lot of offense with the graduation of their seniors. They are a solid defensive team but there offense will struggle. They should do well with the down state teams until they get into the tournament. They need more offense to help with Haith.
The next eight
11. Howard: Na'liegha Wright and Jamail Hollis will look to take over the point guard job and add to the offense of the Blatch-Huggins sisters to get this team more wins. Turn overs could continue to be an issue for them.
12. Dover: New coach, new system, and a new philosophy. A change is coming for this program. Not sure if they will stay at the 12th spot.
13. Woodbridge:
14. Padua: Some new incoming freshman will help with the transition of a new era. Based on their schedule they will make the tournament. They need inside scoring, and rebounding on both ends of floor to compete.
15. William Penn: This team I believed under achieved. There defensive mindedness was slowed down during the course of the year. They will have to get back to that great team chemistry that had at the start of the season. Offensive identity will be an issue.
16. Mount Pleasant: The season should fare better with having 6'3 F/C Zaria Newson for a whole season. They missed the playoffs because of her mid-season injury. Rumor has it that they have some strong guards coming in to push them to the play offs. This team should move up into the top ten if there guard play improves. A deeper bench will be an issue.
17. Sussex Tech:
18. A. I. DuPont: This Lauren Griffins last year. She has carried this team for two years plus. This year she has an top incoming freshman guard Bernya Mayo, and Daniya "Mooch" Dixon that will give her instant help. Size will be an issue. And they need and inside scoring presence to compete.
End of the Season Prediction: As for teams, Ursuline looks to be the favorite to win it on paper. But The teams that will have a really good chance to challenge them is Conrad, Concord, Caravel, Hodgson, and Sanford. But the team that really has chance to beat them will be St. Elizabeth. There Veteran Leadership, size, guard play, and now a real scorer from the guard position will actually challenge Ursuline. This could be the year for St. Elizabeth to challenge if Ursuline doesn’t cement an inside scoring threat or a consistent scoring from one of their forwards like Kailyn Kempert provided last year or St. Elizabeth will have a great chance this year.
Player break outs: There is so much talent on the girls side of basketball in Delaware. The 9th grade class that has been talked about will begin to show I believe this year. The Individual break outs will be all over the board. With teams so many transfers and team needs it going to be hard to figure out who will have a good year. So consistently Maia Bryson of Caravel should show some new poise; Zaria Newson Of Mount Pleasant; Senay Clarke, of Appo, with no help on the offensive end will have a great year with her numbers; If the Logan Handy of Laurel hasn’t transferred she will put up great numbers again; Aahliyah Selby, and Zhan’e Snow of Concord should have good numbers; Lauren Griffin of A.I. will have big numbers; Alyssa Haith of Caeser Rodney; And If the rumor is true of Me-Me Brown her numbers will drop somewhat because of the talent she will have around her at Hodgson, but her assists will go up and so will the wins; And Lastly the Kulesza sisters will be playing together for the first time in high school at Conrad.
Impact incoming freshman: The most Obvious is Julie Kulesza will continue where she left off from last year as an 8th grader for Conrad. She will be competing with another 8th grader from last year Shania Davis who was at Wilmington Christian and has transferred to St. Elizabeth. Others are Kanisa Tucker at Sanford, Arrianna Henry at Padua, and Bernya Mayo, Daniya Dixon at A.I. DuPont
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