League Play Boosts Marietta-Bound BWSL Richmond



The BWSL Richmond program participated in a national league for the first time in 2015, and the results were all positive.

“We had an outstanding summer, and we just loved playing in the ASGR League,” said Coach Max Coats. “The competition level was just incredible, and it seemed like the gyms were packed with college coaches so we got a lot of exposure for our players. You couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

BWSL will make it’s final appearance in 2015 when all four of the program’s teams travel to the All Star Girls Report sponsored Marietta Tournament of Champions. The event, which will be played from Sept. 25-27 at the Suwanee Sports Academy outside of Atlanta, Ga., will feature some of the nation’s finest travel squads.

Coats’ team rosters are loaded with talented players. Three of the prospects who have been getting tremendous interest from college coaches are Samantha Burnelle (2019, 6-3, F, No. 2 in her class in the ASGR rankings), Shakira Austin (2018, 6-5, F, No. 9) and Rochelle Norris (2018, 6-4, P, No. 125).

“Sam has been getting besieged by college coaches,” Coats said. “She already has 25 offers from BCS schools. I really think she is one of the best players in the country in her class. She plays hard and she is a great kid, and I think the best way to describe her game is that she is like Elena Delle Donne. She has all the skills to play anywhere from two to five. She is a tremendous shooter from anywhere on the court, and she has the post moves to be a dominant center. She is just a nightmare for our opponents.

“Shakira is another ultra-combo kid. She can shoot it from anywhere, and she is a freak athlete. She jumps out of the gym and she is an incredible shot blocker. Rochelle is our Baby Shaq — she is just a monster inside. She can dominate down low because she has great hands and great post moves, and she is a great rebounder.”