Category: Girls Basketball

Super 25 Regional High School Girls Basketball Rankings: Week 2

The 2019 Super 25 Week 2 HS Girls Basketball Regional Rankings have been released. Check out the top high school teams in each region!

USA TODAY High School Sports will make Super 25 Regional Rankings for girls basketball this season as selected by the USA TODAY High School Sports staff with weekly rankings in five regions — Northeast, Midwest, South, Frontier and Pacific. These are the preseason girls basketball rankings for the 2019-20 season.

MORE SUPER 25:

Girls National | Boys National | Boys Regional

*Records are through December 10

NORTHEAST

Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.

  1. Riverdale Baptist, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (4-0)
  2. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Maryland (4-2)
  3. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland (1-0)
  4. South Shore, Brooklyn, New York (3-0)
  5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (2-0)
  6. Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey (3-0)
  7. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Maryland (3-2)
  8. St. John’s Catholic Prep, Buckeystown, Maryland (3-0)
  9. St. Rose, Belmar, New Jersey (0-0)
  10. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, New Jersey (0-0)

SOUTH

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

  1. Paul VI, Fairfax, Virginia
  2. Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa, Florida (6-0)
  3. Westlake, Atlanta (4-1)
  4. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tennessee (5-1)
  5. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Virginia (3-0)
  6. Southeast, Raleigh, North Carolina (5-0)
  7. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando (6-0)
  8. Hazel Green, Alabama (16-0)
  9. Ramsay, Birmingham, Alabama (13-0)
  10. Greensboro Day School, North Carolina (12-0)

MIDWEST

Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

  1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minnesota (6-0)
  2. Edison Academy, Detroit, Michigan (1-0)
  3. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (7-0)
  4. Africentric, Columbus, Ohio (3-1)
  5. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (10-0)
  6. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minnesota (6-0)
  7. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Indiana (8-1)
  8. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (5-0)
  9. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (4-1)
  10. Bay Port, Green Bay, Wisconsin (3-0)

FRONTIER

Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

  1. DeSoto, Texas (12-0)
  2. South Grand Prairie, Texas (16-1)
  3. Duncanville, Dallas, Texas (14-3)
  4. Cherry Creek, Colorado (2-1)
  5. Fremont, Utah (5-0)
  6. Northside, Fort Smith, Arkansas (4-1)
  7. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-5)
  8. MacArthur, Irving, Texas (7-4)
  9. Bishop Miege, Kansas (1-0)
  10. Grandview, Aurora, Colorado (3-0)

PACIFIC

Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.

  1. Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif. (6-1)
  2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, California (7-1)
  3. Centennial, Las Vegas, Nevada (0-0)
  4. Long Beach Poly, California (4-0)
  5. Etiwanda, California (6-2)
  6. Cashmere, Washington (1-0)
  7. Centennial, Corona, California (6-1)
  8. La Jolla Country Day, California (8-0)
  9. Mountainside, Beaverton, Oregon (2-0)
  10. Shadow Mountain, Phoenix (8-0)

Paul VI goes from unranked to second in Girls Basketball Super 25

Check out the Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings for Week 2! See who made it…

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At the expense of some of the best teams in the country, Paul VI (Fairfax, Virginia) is off to a 5-0 start.

Paul VI routed then-No. 10 Christ the King (Middle Village, New York) 64-26, and followed that up with a 67-58 victory over then-No. 12 Westlake (Atlanta).

FULL RANKINGS: Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings, Week 2

Paul VI didn’t rank in the top 25 for Week 1, but those key wins plus a perfect start equaled a high spot in Week 2 of the rankings. The team came in at No. 2.

And it isn’t the only team that entered the top 10 of the ranks this week.

Westlake moved into the top 10 of the rankings this week after a 4-1 start to the year.

Other than Paul VI, there are four new teams to enter the rankings this week: Poly (Long Beach, California), Hazel Green (Hazel Green, Alabama), South Shore (Brooklyn, New York) and Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

Super 25 Regional High School Girls Basketball Rankings: Week 1

The 2019 Super 25 Week 1 Girls Basketball Regional Rankings have been released. Check out the top teams in each region!

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USA TODAY High School Sports will make Super 25 Regional Rankings for girls basketball this season as selected by the USA TODAY High School Sports staff with weekly rankings in five regions — Northeast, Midwest, South, Frontier and Pacific. These are the preseason girls basketball rankings for the 2019-20 season.

MORE SUPER 25:

Girls National | Boys National | Boys Regional

*Records are through December 3

NORTHEAST

Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.

  1.  Riverdale Baptist, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (3-0)
  2. Christ the King, Middle Village, New York (0-0)
  3. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Maryland (2-2)
  4. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Maryland (2-1)
  5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland (1-0)
  6. South Shore, Brooklyn, New York (0-0)
  7. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (0-0)
  8. Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey (1-0)
  9. Roland Park Country, Baltimore, Maryland (0-0)
  10. St. Rose, Belmar, New Jersey (0-0)

SOUTH

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

  1. Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa, Florida (4-0)
  2. Westlake, Atlanta (3-0)
  3. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tennessee (3-1)
  4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Virginia (1-0)
  5. Southeast, Raleigh, North Carolina (4-0)
  6. Lake Highland Prep, Orlando, Florida (5-0)
  7. Hazel Green, Alabama (8-0)
  8. Miami (Florida) Country Day (2-1)
  9. Ramsay, Birmingham, Alabama (12-0)
  10. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Atlanta, Georgia (5-1)

MIDWEST

Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

  1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minnesota (5-0)
  2. Detroit Edison Academy, Detroit (0-0)
  3. Africentric, Columbus, Ohio (1-0)
  4. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (4-0)
  5. Maine West, Des Plaines, Illinois (7-0)
  6. Fairmont, Kettering, Ohio (3-0)
  7. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (9-0)
  8. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Indiana (7-1)
  9. Southfield A&T, Southfield, Michigan (0-0)
  10. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minnesota (5-0)

FRONTIER

Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

  1. DeSoto, Texas (6-0)
  2. South Grand Prairie, Texas (14-0)
  3. Northside, Fort Smith, Arkansas (2-0)
  4. Duncanville, Dallas, Texas (11-3)
  5. MacArthur, Irving, Texas (7-2)
  6. Cherry Creek, Colorado (0-0)
  7. Fremont, Utah (2-0)
  8. Westlake, Austin, Texas (12-2)
  9. Bishop Miege, Kansas (0-0)
  10. Grandview, Aurora, Colorado (0-0)

PACIFIC

Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.

  1.  Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, California (3-1)
  2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, California (5-0)
  3. Centennial, Las Vegas, Nevada (0-0)
  4. Etiwanda, California (3-1)
  5. La Salle, Union Gap, Washington (0-0)
  6. Centennial, Corona, California (3-1)
  7. Mountainside, Beaverton, Oregon (0-0)
  8. Windward, Los Angeles, California (6-1)
  9. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, California (0-0)
  10. Sunrise Mountain, Phoenix (6-0)

Desoto jumps to No. 1 in Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings

There’s a new No. 1 team in the Super 25 High School Girls Basketball Rankings this week. See that and more in the latest rankings.

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The start of a season can bring big changes in the Super 25 Rankings: teams can move up multiple spots with wins or drop out entirely with losses.

In Week 1 of the Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings, one of those changes came at No. 1.

Desoto (Texas), which ranked No. 11 in the Preseason list, has started the year 6-0 and is now atop the Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings. The team showed out at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, taking down then-No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California).

FULL RANKINGS: Super 25 Girls Basketball Rankings, Week 1

The Preseason No. 1, New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Maryland), was there for a reason. The team went on a dominant run in the GEICO Nationals last season that culminated in a national championship victory. The team has strong returners such as Jada Walker and Delicia Pinnick, and also added Delaware-committed Tara Cousins and Flera Vinerte, who committed to San Diego State. However, the Tigers have gotten off to a rocky start, losing two of their first four games.

SUPER 25 BOYS BASKETBALL: TOP 25 | REGIONAL

New Hope Academy’s first loss of the season came to Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 61-59, in overtime. Mount Notre Dame moved up from 18 to No. 9 this week after a 4-0 start. The Tigers’ second loss came to Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Maryland), another undefeated team in the top 10 of the Super 25 this week. Riverdale Baptist has started 3-0. Both of New Hope Academy’s losses were good enough so that it was able to stay in the rankings this week at No. 15.

There were four new teams to enter the rankings. South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas),  Duncanville (Texas), Maine West (Des Plaines, Illinois) and Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Florida) were all new to the rankings.

Reigning ALL-USA POY Azzi Fudd learns from Kobe Bryant

Azzi Fudd got the chance to workout with NBA legend Kobe Bryant and came away with valuable gems.

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Five days a week, St. John’s College High School (Washington, D.C.) shooting guard Azzi Fudd wakes up at 5 a.m. to get to her physical therapy appointment for intense training to get her surgically repaired knee back in tip top shape.

Fudd tore her ACL and MCL while competing in USA Basketball’s 3×3 tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo., in mid-April.

RELATED: ALL-USA Girls Basketball Player of the Year

“I’m taking my time with everything,” Fudd said. “I’ve started back practicing and working out on the court. My goal is to come back better than ever.”

She took big step in that regard “a few weeks ago” when she was in Los Angeles for the espnW: Women + Sports Summit; she carved out time to get in a workout with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, who was running his daughter Gigi and her teammates through drills.

Photo: Kobe Bryant coaches his daugher Gigi's team at the MAMBA Sports Academy (Photo: @overtime/Twitter)
Photo: Kobe Bryant coaches his daugher Gigi’s team at the MAMBA Sports Academy (Photo: @overtime/Twitter)

“We did a lot of skill work; I wasn’t moving as much at the time, but it’s Kobe,” Fudd said. “Any time you get a chance to workout with one of the greatest players of all time, it’s big.”

Fudd formed a friendship with Gigi, who Fudd said has star potential.

“She’s young, but she’s really talented,” Fudd said. “She’s gonna just keep getting better and better. You can already see that having Kobe as a dad/coach makes her fundamentals and IQ really, really high.”

As for Kobe’s gems to her during the workout, Fudd said the former Laker taught her the importance of total body control.

RELATED: The Azzi Fudd Blog

“He told me I need to be able to separate movements in the top half and the bottom half of my body,” Fudd said. “That way the defender won’t be able to read me as well because it all looks the same. It made a lot of sense. He’s amazing. I know that I got better in just that one workout.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

The Azzi Fudd Blog: Back on the court, well wishes from Kobe Bryant and more

Reigning ALL-USA Player of the Year Azzi Fudd blogs about working her way back from torn ACL, getting well wishes from Kobe Bryant, Thanksgiving and more.

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St. John’s College High School (Washington, D.C.) junior shooting guard Azzi Fudd is the No. 1 player in the ESPN HoopGurlz 100 and is the reigning ALL-USA Player of the Year. Fudd led the Cadets to the GEICO Nationals title game this season and is being pursued by nearly every high major college in the country. Now Fudd, who is currently working her way back from a torn ACL and MCL, has agreed to give USA TODAY exclusive access into her world by chronicling everything from his recruitment to his everyday life in a blog.

What’s up world, Azzi here, it’s been a few months, but I want to update you guys on what’s been going on.

RELATED: Azzi Fudd is the ALL-USA Player of the Year

Right now, I’m about five and a half months out of surgery and I’ve started practicing a little bit with my team. I don’t have a set return date, and I’m not rushing the process at all. I don’t know if I’m going to play this year or anything like that.

It’s all to be determined.

My first few practices back were really, really hard because biking and being on the elliptical are so much different than getting up and down the court. That was rough, but just being out there with my teammates made it all better because I’ve missed it so much!

I wake up every morning at 5 a.m. to go to physical therapy.

After that I go to school and later I have team workouts so there are days where I’m really tired and days where I go harder than other days so I have to just be careful with how my body reacts every day.

What makes it easier is having the support of my family; my younger brothers come to the gym and rebound for me when I need to get shots up and my parents help with whatever I need.

RELATED: Azzi Fudd leads St. John’s to the GEICO Nationals title game

That’s made this whole process so much better!

I’ve had a lot of coaches call and text me just checking in and encouraging me throughout the process so that’s been cool too.

I’m fortunate to be able to build a lot of cool relationships with people I look up to so before I went in to surgery Natasha Cloud, Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Tolliver all wished me well with my surgery. Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant wished me well too, so that was cool!

OK, so I’ve got to tell you guys that junior year is really hard in the classroom!

Haha, I’m making it, but the workload is tremendous! It feels like there’s so much work and not enough time.

I’ve worked really hard and right now I have all A’s and a few B’s so I’m proud of that.

I think my favorite class right now is Pre-Calculus. It’s hard, but it’s one of those things where if you get it, you’re good.

I’m really ready for Thanksgiving too.

A lot of people like to look past Thanksgiving for Christmas, but I love Thanksgiving too.

At my house we have a few Thanksgiving dinners; we’ll go to a family member’s house one day and then the next day we’ll have dinner at my house.

Of course, Black Friday shopping is fun too, so I’m looking forward to all of that!

OK, guys thanks again for reading but I have to go finish up this Pre-Cal homework.

I’ll be back soon with another update soon!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Don’t forget to follow Azzi Fudd:

Twitter: @azzi_35

Instagram: azzi35

Indiana HS basketball player Lilli Frasure has 3 triple-doubles in 5 games

Lilli Frasure is averaging an astounding 28 points, 17 rebounds, 8.6 steals and 5.2 assists with three triple-doubles in the first five games.

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. — Lilli Frasure almost seems embarrassed to answer questions about what she’s been doing on the basketball court over the past two weeks. Or maybe she just doesn’t have answers. Because what she’s been doing doesn’t seem like it should be happening.

Most early-season stories come with a small-sample-size caveat. And to some extent, that asterisk should be applied here, too. But whether it’s November or February, there’s no denying the facts.

The facts say this: Lilli Frasure, a 5-10 guard at North Judson (Indiana), has three triple-doubles and two double-doubles in her first five games of the season. The junior is averaging 28 points, 17 rebounds, 8.6 steals and 5.2 assists per game.

She had 26 points, 20 rebounds and 11 steals against Rensselaer Central. She had 34 points, 11 rebounds and 13 steals against Hebron. She had 28 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists against Argos.

MaxPreps measures all sorts of statistics, including double-doubles. Frasure’s five would tie her with Cannelton freshman Kendall Hale for most in the state. MaxPreps doesn’t have a category for triple-doubles. Safe to say no one else has three.

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But ask Frasure what her best skill is on the court, and she immediately deflects to her teammates.

“I love being able to get others involved,” she said before the team’s win Tuesday night over Argos. “I love when I get an assist and someone gets an and-one. That’s the best feeling ever. I just love playing with the people I do.”

Does she pay attention to the numbers she puts up?

“Kind of,” she said. “I feel like everyone does. But not too much. The most important thing to me is the team aspect.”

Frasure goes so far as to admit she always has goals for herself. What are some of those?

“I want to rebound the best I can and have the most assists I can because I know it helps my team out in the long run,” she said.

Frasure’s dominance is utterly impressive but not altogether surprising. She’s been a force for each of the past two seasons. Last season, she averaged 19.6 points, 9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.9 steals. As a freshman, she averaged 21.6 points, 9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.3 steals. This is just the next step.

Read the rest of the story at the IndyStar.

Super 25 Regional High School Girls Basketball Rankings: Preseason

The 2019 Super 25 Preseason Girls Basketball Regional Rankings have been released. Check out the top teams in each region!

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USA TODAY High School Sports will make Super 25 Regional Rankings for girls basketball this season as selected by the USA TODAY High School Sports staff with weekly rankings in five regions — Northeast, Midwest, South, Frontier and Pacific. These are the preseason girls basketball rankings for the 2019-20 season.

TOP 25: Super 25 Preseason Girls Rankings

ALL-USA PRESEASON: Girls Team | Boys Team

*Records are from last season

NORTHEAST

Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.

  1. New Hope Academy, Landover Hills, Maryland (40-3)
  2. Riverdale Baptist, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (32-7)
  3.  Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Maryland (31-4)
  4.  Christ the King, Middle Village, New York (18-4)
  5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland (23-4)
  6. South Shore, Brooklyn, New York (24-3)
  7. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (20-9)
  8. Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey (9-6)
  9. Roland Park Country, Baltimore, Maryland (26-2)
  10. St. Rose, Belmar, New Jersey (28-3)

SOUTH

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

  1. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tennessee (22-3)
  2. Tampa Bay Tech, Tampa, Florida (29-3)
  3. Westlake, Atlanta (30-0)
  4. Princess Anne, Virginia Beach, Virginia (25-1)
  5. Miami Country Day, Florida (26-2)
  6. Southeast, Raleigh, North Carolina (25-6)
  7. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Atlanta (26-6)
  8. Carver, Columbus, Georgia (33-0)
  9. Butler, Matthews, North Carolina (28-3)
  10. Hoover, Alabama (34-1)

MIDWEST

Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

  1. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minnesota (32-0)
  2. Detroit Edison Academy, Detroit (27-1)
  3. Africentric, Columbus, Ohio (28-0)
  4. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Indiana (27-1)
  5. Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati (27-2)
  6. Maine West, Des Plaines, Illinois (35-0)
  7. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (22-7)
  8. Southfield A&T, Southfield, Michigan (24-2)
  9. Milwaukee King, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (18-3)
  10. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minnesota (24-2)

FRONTIER

Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

  1. MacArthur, Irving, Texas (28-9)
  2. DeSoto, Texas (30-7)
  3. Northside, Fort Smith, Arkansas (28-1)
  4. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colorado (24-4)
  5. Fayetteville, Arkansas (20-5)
  6. Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission, Kansas (24-0)
  7. Allen, Texas (32-7)
  8. Duncanville, Dallas, Texas (31-6)
  9. Fremont, Utah (21-2)
  10. Grandview, Aurora, Colorado (23-5)

PACIFIC

Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.

  1. Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif. (33-1)
  2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, California (28-5)
  3. Centennial, Las Vegas, Nevada (31-2)
  4. La Salle, Union Gap, Washington (27-0)
  5. Mountainside, Beaverton, Oregon (14-11)
  6. Windward, Los Angeles, California (26-6)
  7. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, California (25-3)
  8. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, California (21-9)
  9. Hamilton, Chandler, Arizona (26-5)
  10. Cashmere, Washington (22-3)

Louisiana 3-sport athlete Gabby Brabner relearns how to play after arm paralysis

Gabby Brabner, a three-sport athlete at St. Thomas More in Louisiana, relearned to play volleyball, basketball and softball after her arm was paralyzed.

At one time or another, we have heard about the importance of cherishing every moment.

Because within the blink of an eye, life as we know it could be gone.

And while Gabby Brabner did cherish every moment, nobody can prepare for the unthinkable.

On Aug. 4, 2017, during a St. Thomas More volleyball retreat at Three Mile Lake in Port Barre, the unthinkable did happen.

Brabner, an incoming freshman at the time, was severely injured in an accident while riding on a tube being pulled by a boat. The accident left her left arm paralyzed.

“She was in ICU for three days before being moved to pediatrics,” said Gabby’s mother, Ali. “It was all just a blur. We didn’t realize how serious everything was. She woke up in a neck brace and all swollen.”

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In addition to her left arm being paralyzed, the left-handed Brabner, who plays volleyball, basketball and softball for the Lady Cougars, suffered a broken right leg and left arm, broken finger and endured lacerations to her face. The left arm paralysis was a result of a severed artery.

“First thing I remember — because I was in and out of consciousness — is being in my hospital room with my parents, and I asked my dad, ‘Will I be able to play in the game next week?'” Brabner said. “(My first thought) wasn’t I’m missing school or that I’m left handed. It was am I going to be able to play? I didn’t know how serious it was.”

‘I wanted to prove the doctors wrong’

Brabner, who was one of only two freshmen to make the Lady Cougars’ varsity volleyball roster that year, ended up spending two weeks in the hospital. After a number of surgeries, she was determined to not only live life the way she deemed fit, but also to continue to pursue greatness in athletics.

However, the latter wasn’t going to be easy.

“I wanted to prove the doctors wrong,” said Brabner, whose Lady Cougars will face Vandebilt Catholic on Court 3 at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Division II quarterfinals of the state volleyball tournament at the Pontchartrain Center.

“In the beginning, because my arm is completely paralyzed, I was told sports was going to be very hard. I think a lot of doctors didn’t want to tell me straight to my face because they know how I am. But I know they told my parents, ‘She’s not going to be able to play sports.'”

Considering Brabner was expected to be a solid starter if not a star in all three sports, that was a tough pill to swallow.

Gabby Brabner as Teurlings Catholic takes on St Thomas More Volleyball. Sept. 3, 2019. (Photo: Scott Clause/The Advertiser)

“Gabby was always a really good athlete,” Lady Cougars softball coach Andria Waguespack said. “When she first tried out, you could see that she had the opportunity and the ability to be one of the best hitters to ever come through here.”

The journey back hasn’t been easy, but Brabner never gave up. The junior has since returned to playing all three sports — albeit with one arm.

She has had to learn how to play her sports right-handed. In softball, Brabner has learned to transfer her glove from her right hand to left hand in order to throw the ball similar to former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand.

“I never had the thought that I’m not going to play anymore,” Brabner said. “It was the opposite. I was like, ‘Why stop?’ I was already part of these teams, and my teammates had so much invested in me and pushed me, so I think I owed it to them to keep playing and stick with it.”

Read the rest of the story at the Daily Advertiser.

Five-star guard Deja Kelly commits to North Carolina women’s basketball

North Carolina got its second five-star player in the 2020 class: Deja Kelly.

Deja Kelly, a five-star guard at Duncanville (Texas) who has been nationally prominent in the girls basketball communities since the seventh grade, has made her commitment.

Kelly announced over Twitter on Monday that she has committed to North Carolina.

(Deena Byrd/Sportraits By Deena)

She plans to sign with the Tar Heels on Monday night, according to espnW.

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The 5-foot-8 guard, listed as the No. 17 player in the class of 2020, originally committed to Texas in seventh grade. But half a decade and a high school career passed, and Kelly decommitted in October.

She had interest in Texas A&M, Duke, Minnesota, Notre Dame and Oregon, according to ESPN.

Finally, in late July, the final school reached out to Kelly: North Carolina.

Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart convinced her Chapel Hill was the place she could contend and grow as a college athlete.

“She told me her plans for me, her vision to help build UNC into a national title team,” Kelly told ESPN.

Last season, Kelly averaged 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals in 22.3 minutes per game, according to MaxPreps. She helped Duncanville go 31-6.

Kelly is joining a UNC class that includes five-star forward Anya Poole, four-star guard Kennedy Todd-Williams and a pair of three-star players.