Top flight teams from across the country travel to North Carolina each year to compete in the Deep South Classic. Fortunately for the member of the Mid-State Magic, their home base is less than an hour drive from the Deep South courts.
“The Deep South is a great event, and it’s awesome to have it in our backyard,” said Mid-State coach Brian Cousin. “The team gets to compete against great competition, and it’s so close that the families can come and watch the games.”
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.
After losing several key Class of 2014 players from his roster, Cousin’s Magic will rely on a group of tremendous guards this spring. The leaders will be Esssence Abraham (2015, 5-6, G), Kayla Phifer (2015, 5-6, G) and Elizabeth Roberts (2016, 5-11, G), and rising star Elana Ingram (2018, 5-5, G) is a player to watch.
“Essence has quickness and speed, and she is a great defender. She has very quick hands, and she gives everyone a headache,” Cousin said. “Kayla is also a great defender, she is extremely quick to the basket, and she is a great finisher. Liz is just a tremendous shooter, and her range creates a lot of problems for the defenses we face. Elana is a phenomenal young player. She handles the ball very well and she has a tremendous first step. She is also a solid three-point shooter.”
All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick also praised the Magic perimeter players.
“Abraham is a lightning quick point guard who can attack the basket and hit the three,” McCormick said. “Phifer also has great quickness. She is a great defender, and she excels at slashing to the basket. Roberts is a good athlete, and shooting is her forte. Ingram is someone coaches should start watching. She has excellent quickness, a great handle, and good shooting range.”