The Tennessee Lady Trotters may not have a nationally known star player, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. What the Lady Trotters do have is a deep, talented roster that can attack an opponent in a number of different ways.
“We feel like we have a lot of really good players in the organization, and we’re especially excited about our 11th grade team,” said Coach Jeff Kyle. “We have a lot of good players on that team, and we have good shooters, ball handlers, and a premier post player. Every kid on that team is a player.”
That talented unit will be tested at the 2015 Deep South Classic, which will be played in Raleigh, NC on April 24-26. The Deep South Classic annually features the nation’s top travel programs, and the event will once again have the entire tournament in one facility — the tremendous Raleigh Convention Center.
The headliners for the Lady Trotters in Raleigh will be Micah Sheetz (2016, 5-9, G) and Anajae Stepheny (2016, 6-1, F). Sheetz will enter the summer season rated as the No. 187 recruit in her class nationally by the All Star Girls Report. Stepheny is splitting time this summer between the Lady Trotters and the Tennessee Flight Silver.
“Micah is a good perimeter player and a good shooter, but her greatest asset if her physical strength,” Kyle said. “She already has a Division I body. Anajae is one of the hardest working players I’ve seen in my 20 plus years as a coach. She is the total package as a player. She can post up, she has a nice perimeter game out to 15 feet, and she plays good defense. It’s hard to describe what all Anajae can do.”
Bret McCormick, the analyst for the All Star Girls Report, also provided his perspective on the key performers for the Lady Trotters.
“Sheetz is a very skilled guard with a great basketball IQ. She shoots it well, and she can even post people up,” McCormick said. “Stepheny is a good, strong athlete with skills around the basket. She has a good motor, and she can step out to 15 feet.”
Sheetz and Stepheny will be getting plenty of support in Raleigh. Among the other important contributors will be Chandler Greer (2016, 5-10, W), Abbe Craine (2016, 5-8, PG), Jasmine Williams (2016, 6-1, F), Torie Griffin (2016, 5-9, W) and McKenzie Iiles (2016, 5-9, W).
“Chandler is a tenacious defensive player, and she is long and very athletic,” Kyle said. “Abbe is a physically strong player who can handle the ball and distribute the ball to her teammates.
“Jasmine hasn’t gotten a lot of hype because she hasn’t traveled much, but she is probably the best athlete on the team. She can jump out of the gym, she plays exceptional defense, she blocks shots, rebounds and runs the floor. Torie and McKenzie are both very, very good shooters.”
“Greer is a great athlete with a long wingspan. She slashes, and defends well,” added McCormick. “Craine is a true point guard with good quickness and a high basketball IQ. She can run the team, and she can hit the three. Griffin and Iiles are both good athletes with a sweet shooting stroke, as well as a strong understanding of the game. Williams is a superb athlete and an explosive leaper who rebounds out of her area and plays good defense.”
