Peak Performance Bringing Six Teams To Deep South Classic



The Peak Performance program in Georgia has developed a strong reputation for producing quality young student-athletes, and the current players should continue that tradition.

“We are very proud to have sent 42 players to NCAA schools over the last four years, and we’ve sent a lot of them to outstanding academic schools,” said Coach Bruce Price. “Three of those players are at Ivy League schools, and we have others at schools like Virginia and Vanderbilt. We have been fortunate to have a lot of outstanding student-athletes in the past, and that has drawn interest from the top academic schools because they like the kids that we attract.”

Peak Performance will be sending six teams on the road this spring, including four high school teams along with eighth and seventh grade units. All six of those teams will be showcased at the 2014 Deep South Classic, which will be played 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.

“Our four high school teams are loaded with talent, and we’re very, very excited about the younger players in our program,” Price said. “I think we have 15 Division I level prospects on our seventh and eighth grade teams, and we’re ready to introduce them to the college coaches at the Deep South Classic.
“The Deep South Classic is a perfect setting for us, because all six of our teams will be competing under one roof. That format really helps us.”
Peak Performance will be paced by a trio of standouts from the Class of 2015 this spring. Cassidy Williams is a 5-8 shooting guard who has verbally committed to Louisiana-Monroe. Tene Thompson is a 5-11 swing player who is rated as the No. 121 recruit in the class by the All Star Girls Report. Kyrie’ Chandler is a 5-7 combo guard who is drawing interest from the Ivy League.
“Cassidy’s greatest strength is her leadership ability, on and off the court. She is also a scorer with a very good three-point shot, and she is developing her ability to play the point,” Price said. “Tene is a player with incredible leaping ability, and she has an offer from Western Carolina and a lot of other schools that are interested. Kyrie’ is a great shooter and a good distributor of the basketball, and she has been contacted by four Ivy League schools already.”
Bret McCormick, the analyst for All Star Girls Report, also gave his perspective on the Peak Performance stars.
“Williams is an intelligent player with good quickness and a nice skill set,” McCormick said. “Thompson is a great athlete and an explosive leaper. She could develop into a lock down defender, and I think she is something of a sleeper. Chandler is a quick point who can get to the basket, and she has a good mid-range game.”
The future of the program also appears to be in good hands, with Eboni Williams (2016, 5-7, G) and Zoe Guilmette (2017, 6-5, C) already drawing the attention of collegiate coaches.
“Zoe has great length and speed,” Price said. “She is remarkable because she runs very, very well for a girl with her size and age. Eboni is probably the fastest player in Georgia. She is just a blur. She plays at an unbelievable pace, and with tremendous intensity. That’s why schools like Louisville and Auburn are already interested in Eboni.”
“Guilmette is an athletic low post who runs very well,” added McCormick. “She is someone who could have a bright future. Williams is a great athlete. She is explosive, fast with the ball, and very competitive.”