Star-Studded Celtics Primed For Deep South Classic

The Deep South Classic event is traditionally loaded with top-flight talent. In 2014, perhaps no team will bring more talent to the Classic than the Wallace Prather Celtics.

“When you look at the group we have from the 2015 class, and then the 2016 class, they are both something special,” said Renardo “Nard” Hudson. “It’s just a great group. They are very smart players, they play well together, and they are great at crunch time. It’s really a sight to see.”

Hudson is eagerly awaiting the challenge his team will face in Raleigh, NC, on April 25-27 at the Deep South Classic. Now in its 17th year, the Deep South Classic annually hosts many of the nation’s elite travel teams in a field that will eclipse 200 squads, and hundreds of collegiate coaches will be on hand searching for talent. The 2014 event will mark the second year that the Deep South Classic has been held at the Raleigh Convention Center. The venue was a tremendous success in its debut last year, with all games played at one site on 18 courts, and it is in a convenient central location.

Leading the way for the Celtics will be a group of proven performers from the Class of 2015. That quartet includes Aliyah Mazyck (5-10, PG), who is rated as the No. 31 prospect in the class nationally by the All Star Girls Report; Tynice Martin (5-11, G, No. 34), Chinyere Bell (6-1,PF, No. 218), and Syracuse commitment Abby Grant (5-9, SG. No. 281).

“Aliyah is one of the top players in the country. She is very competitive, and very crafty,” Hudson said. “Tynice is spectacular. She can shoot it, put it on the floor, and play above the rim. Chinyere is the women’s basketball version of Charles Barkley. Abby is a shooter. She can shoot it with the best of them.”

Hudson also expects big things from younger players. The 2016 list is topped by Cierra Johnson (5-9, G, No. 56) and Vash Perry (5-7, PG, No. 129). The key 2017 prospects are Taylor Mason (5-6, G, No. 48) and Endia Banks (5-9, G, No. 53).

ASGR analyst Bret McCormick is also impressed with the Celtics’ roster. Here is a quick look at McCormick’s views on some of the team’s top prospects:

Aliyah Mazyck: “She is a tremendous athlete with a strong body. She is a great passer and she does a great job attacking the basket. Her mid-range game is already good, and her three-point shooting is coming.”

Tynice Martin: “Tynice is a tremendous athlete and an explosive leaper. She has a very impressive jump shot, and she can take the ball coast to coast. She has a high motor, and a really high ceiling.”

Chinyere Bell: “Chinyere has a strong, powerful body. She really likes to bang inside, and she can score in the paint.”

Abby Grant: “Abby is a old-fashioned gym rat with a high basketball IQ. Her forte is her long-range shooting. She has deep NBA three-point range.”

Vash Perry: “She is an ultra quick true point guard. She has a wonderful skill set, and she is a very good defender.”

Cierra Johnson: “Cierra is another very good athlete. She has a tremendous handle and a scorer’s mentality.”

Taylor Mason: “Taylor is strong, athletic and aggressive. She has a nice jump shot, and she just seems to score in a number of different ways.”

Endia Banks: “She has excellent quickness and a high basketball IQ. She just has a really good feel for the game.”