Balanced Team Ohio Prepping For Deep South Classic



Team Ohio will be heading to the Deep South Classic with a talented, balanced roster that is loaded with Division I level prospects.

“We haven’t finalized our roster, but we already have a number of players committed who are getting interest from Division I schools,” said Team Ohio coach Ron “Tuck” Conner. “We have four players who have been with us in the past, and they have all played up the last two years. Now they are finally juniors, and they have a lot of experience.

“All four of those players already have Division I offers, and we have more than just those four players. Our real strength will be our quality depth. Our players know that they can go hard when they are on the court because of that depth.”

The 2014 Deep South Classic will be 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.

Conner, who coached WNBA star Katie Smith during her AAU days,  highlighted seven current Team Ohio players, including six from the Class of 2015. On the baseline, the club will rely on 6-0 forward Paige Cannon, 6-2 forward Jill Blacksten, 6-2 forward Kristen Levering, and 6-2 forward Kim Royster. In the backcourt, look for 5-8 guard Dominique Doseck and 5-8 guard Shania Massie, as well as 2016 product Ali Poole (5-10, G).
Doseck is ranked as the No. 213 prospect in the Class of 2015 by the All Star Girls Report, while Royster was at No. 320 on the list. Levering has already committed to Miami of Ohio.
“Paige Cannon is a player who loves the game, and she has turned some heads,” Conner said. “She is a strong, physical player who can really go to the basket, and she is also a skilled player who can take the ball coast-to-coast. Dominique is a very good shooter and scorer, and she is the player who takes control on the court. Jill is a very good shooter, and right now she is leading Central Ohio in scoring and rebounding for her high school team. Kim is a quick, very athletic player who can finish inside and score in the open court.
“Shania is a tough competitor with good shooting range, and she has a knack for penetrating. Kristen is another strong athlete who is really effective facing the basket. Ali is already getting Division I looks, and she is just a fun player to watch. She had a quadruple -double for her high school team this year.”
Here is a quick comment on the Team Ohio standouts from ASGR analyst Bret McCormick:
Paige Cannon: “Paige is a strong, athletic player. She can bang inside and score, and she has perimeter skills. Paige is also a vocal leader.”
Dominique Doseck: “Dominique is a combo guard who is a scorer with deep range and good passing skills. She knows the game, and how to score the basketball.”
Jill Blacksten: “Jill is a versatile player who can score and rebound in paint, and she can step out to the arc.”
Kristen Levering: “Kristen is another athletic power forward who scores inside and can face up to 15 feet out.”
Shania Massie: “She has good quickness. She handles the ball well, she is a smart player, and she shoots well.”
Kim Royster: “Kim is a good athlete with a strong body. She gives them a good low post presence, and she has good hands.”
Ali Poole: “Ali s a skilled player with good athleticism. She is a versatile player who can do a lot of different things for a team.”