Now in its fifth year, the NC Team XPress has been steadily strengthening, and the summer of 2017 should be a big one for the High Point, NC, based organization.
“We have been growing, and I think everyone knows about some of our high level kids,” said Coach Melvin Heggie. “But, we also have a group of kids that we believe are premiere kids, but they’re just a little unknown right now. This summer, that will change. I think this will be a humongous summer for us.”
One step in that journey will come at the 2017 Virginia Beach Classic, which will be played on April 28-30, with the entire event held under one roof at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
The Convention Center is located just minutes away from the beach, and the venue should be loaded with college coaches from all levels. The area will be hosting the Virginia Beach Classic and the Nike Boo Williams will be 30 minutes away that weekend, and expectations are that over 600 coaches will be scouting the events.
Among the young standouts competing for NC Team Xcel will be Jacee Busick (6-0, W, 2020), Shelby Darden (6-4, P, 2020) and Nakia Weston (5-4, G, 2020).
“Jacee is as versatile as they come,” Heggie said. “She can shoot, attack, rebound and pass the basketball. She is something of an unknown right now, but she won’t be unknown for long.
“Shelby is a hybrid. She is a slim, athletic post player who can run the court like a deer. She has great hands, and she is very good at passing out of double teams. Shelby has a great IQ and a great motor, and she is getting stronger.
“Nakia is a waterbug. She is tough and fearless, and it is impossible to stay in front of Nakia because she is do quick and good with the ball. She is also a great passer who seems to find passing lanes that no one else sees.”