The New Hampshire Rivals program has a roster deep with talent, but three players have proven to be true difference makers for the team. When Coach Scott Hazelton’s club travels to North Carolina in April for the Deep South Classic, they will be counting on Jaylen Williams, Davida Dale and Ciara Dillon.
The 2014 Deep South Classic will be played in Raleigh, NC, on April 25-27. 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.
Williams is the veteran on the Rivals’ roster. The 6-3 forward is from the Class of 2015, she is ranked as the 101st prospect in the class by the All Star Girls Report, and she is verbally committed to Penn State.
“Jaylen is a very talented long athlete,” Hazelton said. “She is generally ranked among the top players in the country in her class, and I think she has that type of talent.”
“Jaylen is a good, strong athlete, which isn’t too surprising since her brother played football at Ohio State,” added ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “She is a terrific low block player with good hands and the ability to score against contact.”
Dale (6-1, F) and Dillon (5-9, G) are both from the Class of 2016, with Dale ranked at No. 162 in her class by ASGR.
“Davida is our most talented player. She can take over a game with her defense or with her offense,” Hazelton said. “She is so smooth, the easiest way to describe her is that she plays like a guy. Her athleticism is through the roof and she has a phenomenal handle. Ciara was injured (knee) last year, but she is healthy now. She is also super athletic, and I think she is at the major Division I level. I think she is going to blow up in April.”
McCormick also had praise for Dale and Dillon.
“They are both very good athletes,” he said. “Davida is a combo guard who is explosive to the rim, and she knows how to finish in traffic. Ciara is a skilled player who is always going hard, and she can hit the three-pointer.”
