The future is oh so bright for a Raleigh, N.C., based team that features players from the Class of 2017. Team Carolina’s roster includes the nation’s top-rated prospect from that class, as well as a very impressive supporting cast.
The team has co-head coaches in Rik Seymour and Todd Pope. Pope has been working on building the roster for about four years, pulling kids from across the Tar Heel state.
“Todd has done a phenomenal job of putting the team together,” Seymour said. “Todd has just added a piece or two every year, and what you see now is the culmination of his efforts.”
The key to the puzzle is Mikayla Boykin. The 5-10 guard from Clinton, N.C., is currently rated as the top recruit in the Class of 2017 by the All Star Girls Report.
“Mikayla is just years ahead of her age group in terms of maturity on the basketball court,” Seymour said. “She has tremendous vision, she is an incredible athlete, and she is a great shooter.”
Boykin teams up with two other talented guards for Team Carolina. Dazia Powell is a 5-8 guard from Raleigh who is listed at No. 40 by ASGR, and Kai Crutchfield another stellar perimeter player who has not yet been rated by ASGR.
“Kai is our point guard, and she has really ramped up her play recently,” Seymour said. “She is very athletic, she runs the club, and she is a great perimeter shooter. Dazia is the vocal leader of the team. She does a lot of things well, and she also has a great shot.
“This team has a number of great players, and we have great size inside, but those three guards are the catalyst. They make us go.”
Team Carolina got off to a great start in 2013, and improved defense was a big reason. In a prep event this spring, the squad held two opponents under 10 points.
“Our focus this spring has been on defense, and they have really bought into it,” Seymour said. “This whole group is doing an incredible job on the defensive end now, and that makes us much, much stronger.”