The Lady Reign program out of the Chicago area will have a strong mix of veterans and newcomers when the team journeys to the Deep South Classic in April. Coach Lawrence Jackson is confident his roster will come together to create a winning product.
“I think we will have a strong team. I know that we are going to have a lot of defensive-minded girls, and I think we are going to defend our way to some type of recognition,” Jackson said. “We have our core girls back, and we have surrounded them with new players this year. We will have to see how it works out, but I feel good about our roster.”
That roster will be showcased at the 2014 Deep South 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.
Two of the veterans who will be leading the way for Lady Reign will be Brittany Byrd (2015, 5-9, SG) and Deja Dickens (2015, 5-7, CG).
“Brittany is a very good shooter, and she is out go-to scorer. Her three-point shooting percentage is in the high 40’s,” said Jackson. “Brittany attacks the basket hard, and she is a very good rebounder. Deja is out floor leader, and I think she is one of the best point guards in the city. She can penetrate and dish, and she is a streaky scorer.”
In addition to those veteran leaders, Lady Reign will get a big boost from two young athletes. Cecelia Mosley (2018, 5-5, PG) and Brooklynn Fort-Davis (2019, 5-10, F) are standouts on the Lady Reign’s younger team.
“Cecelia is our captain, and she is a true coach on the floor,” Jackson said. “She is a fast player, and she controls the team on both ends of the court. Her leadership ability is hard to describe. Brooklynn doesn’t have much left to accomplish at the elementary level, so she has to move up. She is a big-time scorer who uses both hands. She has a nice inside game, and a good mid-range game. I think Brooklynn is really ready to make her mark.”
Bret McCormick, the analyst for the All Star Girls Report, gave his perspective on the Lady Reign stars:
Brittany Byrd: “Byrd is a quick, strong player with a high basketball IQ. She has good skills, and she knows how to quarterback a team.”
Deja Dickens: “Dickens is a quick player who can get to the rim, and she has the ability to take the ball coast-to-coast.”
Cecelia Mosley: “Mosley is a true point guard who can orchestrate a game. She is a vocal leader, and a good athlete.”
Brooklynn Fort-Davis: “She has good inside skills, and right now she is a power forward. If she continues to grow, she will definitely get a lot of attention.”