The Team Prince program out of Brooklyn is known for its top-flight talent, so it’s no surprise that the club’s 2014 roster is drawing plenty of attention from collegiate coaches.
“We have been fortunate to have a number of Division I prospects every year, and I think we have that again this year,” said Team Prince coach Anwar Gladden .”Mike White’s events like the Deep South Classic give those players a great opportunity to be seen by a lot of college coaches.”
Those athletes 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.
Last year, Gladden had a team that was loaded with talent players from the Class of 2014. Those players have moved on now, and Team Prince will have a fresher look this spring.
“We graduated five players from last year, so this will be a young group,” Gladden said. “Brianna Fraser, who is a 2015 player, will be our leader, and then we will have a talented bunch of ninth and 10th graders. I am really excited about watching those younger players when we hit the road this spring.”
Fraser is a 6-4 post player who has already committed to Maryland. Fraser is rated as the No. 33 prospect in the class by the All Star Girls Report.
“Brianna has the size and natural athleticism to be a great shot blocker and rebounder,” Gladden said. “But she is still learning the game in many ways. It seems like she is getting better and better every day. She is no where near where she can be. She could be scary good.”
“Brianna is a long athlete who will block shots and rebound, and she has really worked hard to extend her game out to the three-point line. I really think her best basketball is ahead of her,” said ASGR analyst Bret McCormick.
The youth movement at Team Prince will be led by 2016 prospect Jordan Washington (5-9, F) and two prospects for 2017 — Valena Hickerson (5-6, G) and Tsahai Corbie (5-6, G).
“Jordan has been a surprise during the varsity season,” Gladden said. “A lot of the local colleges are inquiring about her. She is developing her 15-20 foot shot now, and hopefully when she is a senior she will be a two-three player who can guard all positions and really rebound. Right now, she is a twiner who gives great effort and plays with determination.
“I’m also excited about the two young players we have in the backcourt. Tsahai is a player who can flat out score. She is a great shooter, and she knows how to score the basketball. I think she is a mid to high Division I prospect. Valena is a combo guard who can handle the ball, she can shoot the ball, and she knows how to get to the basket. I think she will open the eyes of a lot of mid-major schools this spring.”
McCormick gave his perspective on the up and coming member of Team Prince.
“Washington is an athletic four who is a blue collar type player,” McCormick said. “Hickerson is a very quick, skilled point guard who can attack the rim. Corbie is also a gifted athlete. She is a slasher who can score in an array of ways.”