Orlando Yellow Jackets Consolidating For Marietta TOC Run

The Orlando Yellow Jackets made their first serious foray onto the national travel stage this summer, and the results were encouraging.

“Overall, when you consider that it was our first time competing at that level, I thought we had great success,” said Coach Donovan Williams. “The girls enjoyed the experience, and they learned a lot about how they need to grow mentally and physically.

“This summer was a great learning experience, and we tell the girls all the time that basketball is a great tool for learning life lessons. The experiences they are having are going to help them become productive citizens.”

The next step for the Yellow Jackets will come at 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. Williams said that his program will dress four or five players from their 2016 team, and four or five players from their 2018 squad.

“I really think that every player we’re taking to Marietta will be a college prospect on some level,” the coach added.

Leading the way for the Yellow Jackets in Marietta will be led by Tiara McMillan (2016, 5-6, PG), Daisha Hall (2016, 6-2, P), Emari Bell (2018, 6-1, P), Idaysha Sealey (2016, 5-7, G) and Asia Newsome (2018, 5-9, G-F). Bell is currently ranked as the No. 160 recruit in her class nationally by ASGR, and Newsome is also a Top 250 prospect in her class.

“Tiara is a crafty point guard who can set up her teammates or create her own shot. Defensively, she can pressure the ball for 94 feet, no matter who she is defending,” Williams said. “Tiara can chance a game with her defense, and she is a great leader on and off the court.

“Daisha has phenomenal offensive skills, and she is a great rebounder. She can shoot it out to 18 feet, so I think she will be a stretch four at the next level if she finds the right situation. Idaysha is a scorer and a shooter. She can stroke it from the parking lot.

“The two 2018 kids are both great athletes. Emari is going to be a force to reckon with as she grows her game. She can run, rebound, and step out to 15 feet, and she is a great kid. Asia is long and rangy, and she has a great mid-range game. She defends very well, and she is developing a strong all-around game.”