43 Hoops Coming From Minnesota To Deep South



The 43 Hoops Basketball Club has been working with youngsters since 2002, and the Twin Cities program from Minnesota has stayed true to a focused philosophy.

“Our primary mission is to help enhance the lives of kids through sports,” said founder Chris Carr. “If you want to take it a step further, we use both basketball and volleyball to help the kids reach college athletics or just become a good high school player if that is their aspiration. We try to help them along on their journey, no matter what their goals are.”

Those 43 Hoops athletes will pursue their dreams when they compete at the Deep South Classic, which will be played in Raleigh, NC on April 24-26. The Deep South Classic, which annually features the nation’s top travel programs, will once again have the entire tournament in one facility — the tremendous Raleigh Convention Center.

The 43 Hoops squad in Raleigh will be led by the dynamic backcourt of Nia Harris (2017, 5-8, G) and Allie Pickrain (2017, 5-7, CG).
“Nia is an attacking guard who gets into the paint and makes plays,” Carr said. “She is very athletic with explosive capabilities. Allie has three-point range, and she can shoot it off the bounce, or coming off a screen. She is a very good athlete who can guards one’s or two’s.”
All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick also provided his thoughts about the 43 Hoops backcourt.
“Harris is very athletic, and she is explosive when she attacks the hoop,” McCormick said. “Pickrain is another good athlete. She is good off the bounce, and she is a very good shooter who’s range extends beyond the arc.”
On the baseline, 43 Hoops will feature Sophia Hughes (2017, 6-1, F), Taylor Hustad (2017, 5-10, F) and Kelen Konol (2017, 6-2, P).
“Sophia is a versatile four player who can step out to the three-point line,” Carr said. “She is also very good at catching and finishing inside. Taylor is an explosive scorer and rebounder who can play inside or outside. She has a great mid-range game. Kelen is a long, athletic post player who was at USA Basketball tryouts last year. She is a high level rebounder and shot blocker who gives us a great post presence.”
“Hughes is a strong athlete who can score inside with either hand. She has good post moves, and she can shoot the three,” added McCormick. “Hustad is very athletic, and she is good in traffic. She also has a great pull up jumper. Kolon runs the floor well, and she has a blue collar attitude. She is going to help with her rebounding and shot blocking, and her offensive game is developing.”