Carolina All-Stars Will Make Short Trip To Deep South Classic



The Carolina All-Stars believe that they are headed for an outstanding travel season, and it will start with a short trip from their home base in Durham, NC, to the Deep South Classic in nearby Raleigh.

The 2014 Deep South Classic will be played in on April 25-27 in Raleigh, NC. 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.

The crew making that short hop will reach Raleigh ready to compete.

“We’re very excited because we think we’re headed for a big year,” Coach Brian Norwood said. “We are going to be loaded. We have a lot of great talent, and they have been working hard.”

The All-Stars’ roster is highlighted by Mone’ Jones (2015, 6-3, F). Jones is rated as the No. 42 recruit in her class nationally by the All Star Girls Report, and she has been offered by a slew of ACC and SEC programs.
“Mone’ has guard skills and a long body, so it’s not surprising that she gets as much attention as she gets,” Norwood said. “She is a very versatile player who can post up with her back to the basket, or she can play facing the basket. Plus, she is a great, great kid.”
“Mone’ is long and athletic, and she has a very effective inside-outside game,” added ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “She is very strong, and she is very intelligent.”
Jones will be supported by a trio of 2015 standouts — Jade Phillips (6-0, W), Salita Greene (6-0, F, No. 267 on the ASGR list) and Kelsey Mahoney (6-2, F, No. 208).
“Jade is an up-and-coming player who came on the scene last year. She is super versatile, and we’re extremely excited about what she can accomplish this summer,” Norwood said. “Salina is just a natural rebounder. You simply cannot block her out. She has a great mid-range game and she is developing into a slasher. Kelsey (who has committed to George Washington) is a fantastic shooter for her size, and she really understands the game. We like to use her in our press break because she just has a feel for the game.”
“Phillips is a glue type of player who really contributes. She can get to the hoop, and she is a very good defender,” noted McCormick. “Greene is a physical player with an inside-outside game. Mahoney is a smooth player who is very fundamental. She could play anywhere from the two to the four spots.”
(Photo of Coach Charlotte Smith was supplied by Elon Athletics)