Deep South Classic Will Include Key Canadian Prospects In 2014



The field for the 2014 Deep South Classic will include 14 teams from Canada, where level of play has been on the rise. The Canadian teams at the Deep South will have a number of talented athletes who have traveled across the border in search of a college scholarship.

Those athletes will be showcased at the Classic, which will be played in 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.

Scotty Yaw has played a role in the development of Canadian women’s basketball for the last 12 years. Yaw and his partner, Mike Henry, operate Crown Sports (you can learn more about the company, and girls basketball in Canada, at their website: CrownSportsGirls.com).
“We evaluate the top talent in Canada, and then we assist them by sending out information to the college coaches,” Yaw explained. “We try to get them the looks that they need, especially with coaches in the United States. There are not that many opportunities for these players in Canada, so we try to open doors for them in the United States.
“Women’s basketball has really been growing here, especially in the Toronto and Montreal areas. We are seeing more and more elite level players up here every year.”
Many of those elite prospects will be heading to Raleigh in a few weeks. Yaw gave his perspective on a few of those standouts, and we have also received comments from All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick.
Chalayne Bailey (2015, 5-6, PG, Blues)
Yaw: “She is the best on-ball defender I have seen up here in a long time. She can change a game with her defense. Chalayne can also shoot the three and handle the ball.”
McCormick: “Bailey is a quick point guard who is an intelligent player. She is a great defender and she can hit the three.”
Hayley Robertson (2015, 5-7, SG, Brampton)
Yaw: “Hayley is a strong three-point shooter and a very good defender.”
McCormick: “Robertson has quickness and a good understanding of the game. She can also shoot the three.”
Bridget Carleton (2015, 6-1, G, London)
Yaw: “Bridget is a very, very versatile player. Her mother is a coach, and it shows because she is fundamentally sound. She can defender the perimeter and she is a very good three-point shooter.”
McCormick: “We have Carleton rated as the No. 386 recruit in the Class of 2015. She is a strong athlete who could play any of the guard spots, and she has good shooting range.”
Julia Chandler (2015, 6-3, PF, Oakville Venom)
Yaw: “Julia generally plays the four, but she could play the three because she moves well and she can shoot the three. She has a good body and she knows how to post up well.”
McCormick: “Chandler runs the floor well. She has good inside moves and she can step out to 15 feet.”
Kendra VanLeuwen (2016, 5-9, PG, Lightning)
Yaw: “Kendra plays the point and she has those skills, but she is also a very good three-point shooter.”
McCormick: “She is a point guard with quickness, court vision, and an understanding of the game. She also can shoot it beyond the arc.”
McKayla Brewer (2016, 5-10, SG, Barrie)
Yaw: “McKayla is a very good athlete, one of the best we have.”
McCormick: “Brewer is an outstanding athlete. She is explosive and she likes to slash into the lane.”
Brianna Livingston (2016, 5-9, G, Grade 10 Blues)
Yaw: “Brianna is also a tremendous athlete. She can touch the backboard, and she runs like the wind. She also has very solid skills.”
McCormick: “Livingston is another great athlete. She is a leaper who can get to the basket, and she has a very nice mid-range game.”
Megan Schin (2015, 5-11, W, Out With ACL)
Yaw: “Megan is a very good player, but unfortunately she is out right now with an ACL tear.”
McCormick: “Schin, unfortunately, is hurt right now. She is an athletic wing, and coaches should take a look at her once she regains her health.”
Aliyah Lawson (2016, 5-7, PG, Grade 10 Advantage)
Yaw: “Aliyah is a high level scorer and a great competitor. She is the kind of player who could carry a team on her back.”
McCormick: “She is an all-around player with quickness and a good handle. She plays hard on the defensive end, and she has deep three-point range.”