FGB Hopes To Keep Rolling At Suwanee TOC



The FGB program out of Florida began the 2014 campaign with an outstanding performance at the Deep South Classic, and Coach Kenny Kalina expects more of the same in the coming months.

“We have a strong roster this year, and they played well last weekend,” Kalina said. “Our ninth grade team finished second, our sophomores won their division, and our 11th graders were fifth. We could have done a little better, but they played well and you can’t really complain when all of your teams finish in the Top 5 in an event like the Deep South.”

FGB will hope to continue its successful year at the Suwanee Tournament of Champions from July 5-8. The event will include 96 elite travel teams, with game being played at the Suwanee Sports Academy just outside Atlanta. The Suwanee TOC was previously called the FILA Nationals.

“We have a lot of history in Suwanee, and we’re looking forward to it. Right now, we’re expecting to take four teams,” Kalina said. “It has been a great event for a number of years, and it is played in a great facility. And, of course, Mike White and his guys do a great job with the organization of the event.”
The FGB teams in Suwanee will all be loaded with talent. The list of FGB prospects will be highlighted by a trio of 2017 recruits — LaDaziah Williams (6-3, P, No. 39 nationally on the All Star Girls Report class rankings), Alise Davis (6-2, F) and Dekeriya Patterson (5-9, G, No. 23) — and a pair of players from the Class of 2015 — Kyesha Lewis (5-10, WF) and McKenna Beach (5-6, PG).
“LaDaziah is coming off a very good weekend where I think she established herself as a top recruit. I have taken 50 calls about her over the last three days,” Kalina said. “She is a great kid, she can play around the basket, she can face up, she blocks shots, and she just plays with a great demeanor. Alise is more of a tank inside. She is very strong, and she is a good athlete. Her brother is a starting wide receiver at South Florida. She is powerful in the post, she rebounds and she is improving her face up game. Dekeriya is another great player who can do it all — shoot the three, mid-range game, or get to the rim. We are very excited about what she can do.
“Kyesha Lewis played very well last weekend. She can hit the three, or she will go to the rim and finish with either hand. She has five Division I offers now, and that list should grow. McKenna is a great point guard for this team because she is so cerebral on the court. She is a great facilitator with great vision.”

All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick also added his perspective on the FGB prospects:

LaDaziah Williams: “Williams is a big time player. The sky is the limit for her. She is a long, great athlete who is a great shot blocker. She kind of reminds me of Anthony Davis, who played at Kentucky.”
Alise Davis: “Davis is a big, strong post player. She scores on the block, and she gives her team a real presence in the lane.”
Dekeriya Patterson: “She is a very athletic combo guard with a good skill set, and she is one of the top players in the class. Her main asset is her ability to attack the rim.”
Kyesha Lewis: “Lewis is an athletic two-three player who knows how to attack the basket. She also has a good mid-range game with a nice pull-up jumper.”
McKenna Beach: “Beach is a quick, strong point guard who knows the game. She is an outstanding passer who has deep three-point range.”