Winston-Salem Stealers Will Stay In State For Deep South Classic

The Winston-Salem Stealers have developed a reputation for putting intelligent, fundamentally sound, competitive teams on the court, and the Deep South Classic has played a role in the Stealers’ success.

“There is no question that our program has benefitted greatly from playing in the Deep South Classic,” said Coach Brian Robinson. “We played in the Deep South for the first time in 1999, and we’ve been back every year since. It’s great competition for our teams, and it gives the girls great exposure for recruiting.

“(DSC director) Mike White’s events have always been very well run, and we’ve especially enjoyed the Deep South Classic since they moved to the one consolidated location.”

The Stealers will return to the event 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.

Four of Robinson’s players are already receiving serious recruiting attention from Division I schools. The list of prospects includes Kaila Craven 2015, G, 5-9), Bailey Kargo (2016, 5-10, G), Breanna Foster (2016, 5-11, G) and Danielle Nieters (2016, 6-1, WF).

“Kaila is a combo guard who is comfortable at the point or two guard spot,” Robinson said. “Bailey is coming back from an ACL injury, but we’re hoping she will be able to play at the Deep South Classic. She has played on our top team since way back in the seventh grade. She is very intelligent on and off the court, and she is our hardest worker. Breanna is a versatile player who can shoot the three or drive to the basket. She is really strong in the lane, so she can create shots for herself or her teammates. She is a great teammate who goes hard constantly. Danielle is an inside-outside player with great hands. She can hit the three, and she is strong enough to compete inside. Her sister, Cameron, is in the Class of 2014 and she has committed to Harvard.”

All Star Girls Report analyst Bret McCormick has been following the Stealers for a number of years.

“Brian always has well-coached, fundamentally sound kids who know how to play the game. They do a nice job,” McCormick said. “Kargo is a skilled combo guard. She is a smart player with a nice step-back jumper, and she can hit the three. Nieter is a good athlete with an aggressive mindset. I think she could play the two, three or the four spot. She just has a good all-around game. Foster is a good all-around player who can do whatever her team needs. Craven is a strong, athletic point guard. She is aggressive and crafty, and she can hit the deep three.”