Overview

The Rose Classic, established in 2006, has become the benchmark brand for organized, competitive basketball for the female student athlete.  The Rose Classic creates a unique atmosphere where these student athletes can grow athletically and socially.  Since its inception, the "Rose" as it is affectionately known, has attracted some of the nations top talent that has gone on to have success in college, overseas and the WNBA.  Some standouts that have participated in the "Rose" are Epiphany Prince (Rutgers/Chicago Sky), Kia Vaughn (Rutgers/NY Liberty), Shannon Bobbit

Along with our friends at All Star Girl’s Report Kenny Kallina has been the only grassroots basketball analyst to public club basketball rankings for the last four years on a national level. This year we kick of the 2013 travel season with our Pre-Season Top 100. We will be doing a post spring evaluation ranking for our next poll. If you should be ranked – Email KennyKallina@Gmail.com and nicely tell me why.

The Bull once again sits atop the club basketball world until he is dethroned.

1. Tennessee Flight (Murfreesboro, TN)
2. Cal Sparks Gold (Los Angeles, CA)
3. All Ohio (Columbus, OH)
4. Cy Fair Shock (Houston, TX)
5. Tree of Hope (Seattle, WA)
6. North Tartan (Minneapolis, MN)
7. Kentucky Premier (Lexington, KY)
8. Epiphany Prince Elite (New York, NY)

{ScheduleBrackets}

By Seth Walder / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Bishop Ford head coach, Mike Toro, knew exactly what he had in his point guard, a leader, Aaliyah" the Rabbit" Lewis. After leading the Lady Falcons JV team to an undefeated city championship as a freshman, the 5-foot-5 sophomore had to adjust to the physical play and speed of the varsity game and competing against some of the nation's best players in the CHSAA.
 

J. Fenelon
Aaliyah Lewis

Lewis just finished her junior campaign and guided her team to a 22-6 record, while averaging 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals per game.NYCHoops.net got a chance to speak to her high school head coach, Mike Toro about Lewis' future.

Toro said, "Aaliyah is

J. Fenelon
Lisa Blair chooses Ohio State

6-foot-6 Nazareth Regional senior Lisa Blair makes her call to play her college ball in Big Ten.After coming home from her last schedules visit this past week at LaSalle University, Blair decided this weekend to choose Ohio State.

Blair held scholarship offers from over 20 schools after enjoy a great summer evaluation period. At the end it came down to Ohio State, South Florida, Morehead State and LaSalle.

NYCHoops.net spoke to Apache Paschall head coach Nazareth Regional and director of Exodus about Blair's commitment "It has to be

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Last week, for the first day of classes Brianna Butler (5'11" G), formerly of PA's Penn Charter, enrolled at one of the top girls basketball school in the city and perhaps the nation.

M. Wingate
Brianna Butler

In a move that would change the landscape of Girls basketball, Butler has enrolled at Nazareth Regional high school

Nazareth High school strikes gold, after enjoying a great first year season as a girl's basketball Program. The Lady Kingsmen, who would eventually win the state and federation title, also made some noise on the national level participating in some of the nation's premier girls basketball events in their inaugural year.

Bu

RIP Tayshana "Chicken" Murphy You will surely be missed!

Joy Keh for News

Tayshana Murphy, 18, was shot and killed while running from the gunman, police say.

A high school basketball star was shot dead inside a Manhattan housing project Sunday in a slaying her family believes was a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Tayshana (Chicken) Murphy, 18, one of the top-rated basketball players in the country, was killed i

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

5-foot-8 Bishop Ford guard, Shanice Vaughn's hard work in the month of July has her sorting though schools in the month of August.         Prior to the live period, Vaughn has heard from 5 northeastern schools. After playing in events in Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia with the Exodus NYC travel team, her recruiting has expanded to the Southwest, Mid-Atlantic and the South.

Exodus coach Jahar Vann said, "Shanice had a great summer one of the top players on the road with us that was not on the Elite Exodus NYC team."

"A lot of schools have been calling me but I forgot off the top on my head because I've talked to so many schools. I would like to set up some visits before I start school," said Vaughn

Asked about where schools see her positioned, she replied, "Most the school are looking at me as a combo guard."

Vaughn wants to expand her horizons as far as picking a college. "I need to explore the world more," said the talented guard. "I want to get out of New York so distance will not play a factor on where I go to school."

According to Exodus Basketball Representatives Vaughn is actively being recruited by Hofstra, Iona, and Central Connecticut, Stony Brook, Texas Southern,

Rising Lab Museum HS senior Jennifer Ramirez has made a point to get herself noticed this July.

 

Jenny Ramirez

NYCHoops.net got a chance to catch up to Ramirez at the Summer Rose Classic at Fordham University and she spoke about improving her game as well as improving.

After leading her school team to a 13-6 record while averaging 18.89 point, 6.56 assists and 6.56 rebounds per game, the 5-foot-6 point guard took her game to another level this summer.

"I've been working hard on my game, mostly my left hand and my shooting," said Ramirez.

Ramirez's AAU coach Jaywana Bradley (Long Island Lightning Dingle) said, &quo

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

BRONX, NY - Fordham University host site for the 2nd annual Rose Summer Classic basketball tournament.

This NCAA certified Live Recruiting Event feature many of the top girls travel teams from around the northeast and many highly-recruited student-athletes.

Tyese Purvis - 5'10" W (Francis Lewis HS, Jamaica NY 2012) Tyese is one of the do it all types, she plays in the post against bigger players, has great instincts and understands how to play help side defense. She is a good rebounder for her size she has a good first step and can create her own shot; she is also a very good free throw shooter. Much improved ball handler.

Batouly Camara - 6'1"F (Graphic Communication Arts HS, New York NY 2014) Camara is a Very Physical player for someone competing against players three years her seniors. She rebounds very well on both ends and of the floor.

Ogechukwu Uwanaka - 5'11" F (Bronx Science for Math 2012) Uwanaka is a coach's dream everything starts with her defense; does a good job keeping everything in front of her. She contests shots and the ball and will always be found in rebounding situations. She is always involved in loose ball situations on the floor.

Jennifer Ramirez - 5'6" PG (Lab Museum United HS, New York NY 2012) Ramirez has speed and quickness that allows her to get to the rim at will. Showed t

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

BY Christopher Lawlor
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Monday, May 23rd 2011, 3:25 PM

Pace for News

Cori Coleman is heading to Cleveland State after leading Bergtraum to its 13th straight title.

Cori Coleman, the main catalyst down the stretch for the Murry Bergtraum girls' basketball team, said Monday she's signing with Cleveland State.

Coleman, a Daily News first team All-City member and finalist for city player of the year, chose the Vikings over Stony Brook and

BY Mark Lelinwalla
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Saturday, April 9th 2011, 5:05 PM

Here is the schedule for this weekend's Rose Classic Super Jam at Bishop Ford in Brooklyn:

SATURDAY

10:30 a.m. – St. Mary’s (L.I.) vs. McKee/Staten Island Tech

12:15 p.m. – Herbert Lehman vs. Manhattan Village Academy

2 p.m. – H.D. Woodson (D.C.) vs. Manhattan Center

3:45 p.m. – Benjamin Banneker vs. Bishop Ford

SUNDAY

12:15 a.m. – St John Villa vs. Leon Goldstein

2 p.m. – Long Island Lutheran vs. Midwood

3:45 p.m. – Holy Trinity (L.I.) vs. Francis Lewis

5 p.m. – H.D. Woodson (D.C.) vs. Moore Catholic

MONDAY

10:30 a.m. – Leon Goldstein vs. Herbert Lehman

12:15 p.m. – Trenton Catholic (N.J.) vs. H.D. Woodson (D.C.)

2 p.m. – Western (Md.) vs. Moore Catholic

3:45 p.m. – Bishop Ford vs. St John’s Prep (BOYS GAME)

5:30 p.m. – Bishop Ford vs. Nazareth (league game)

7:15 p.m. – Bishop Kearney vs. Holy Trinity (L.I.)

For more on this event, the Nazareth MLK weekend showcase and the Mika/Crown Classic on Monday, stay tuned to NYPost.com

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Holy Trinity's 5-9 Katie Poppe can flat out shoot the ball. If you leave her open, she usually makes you pay. Tough as nails, Poppe, a junior, is a physical player who is not afraid to mix it up. As a freshman she averaged 10 points at Garden City HS and was named all county as a freshman. As a sophomore she averaged 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Due to injury, her sophomore year was cut short.

NYCHoop.net spoke to Poppe about what she plans to study and school location. " I want to major in business and Finance. I'm mostly looking in the northeast and mid Atlantic, but I would go further if it was the right situation"

Fresh off her Fall Nike Rose Classic All-star appearance, Poppe look's in mid season form. She can shoot, rebound, defend and hit open teammates. Her game has taken a big jump from last year as she is playing with more confidence.

Holy Trinity head coach, John Lipani says, "Katie is a player who all coaches love to have on their side. She can help your team win in so many different ways. Katie still has room for improvement which makes me happy because she has not reached her potential yet. As she continues to work hard I expect great things from Katie."

There seems to be a consensus with regard to Poppe's potential. According to coach Lipani, t

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

New Jersey resident, Bre'shay Ali is a 6-foot guard who plays her High School ball in Brooklyn, NY at Nazareth Regional High School. After being one of the most dominant players in the play-offs at the Nike Rose Classic Fall Edition.

This slashing athlete is fluid in transition and is adept at playing three positions. Versatile and multitalented, Ali has what most recruiters would say is 'the package.'

Ali spoke with NYCHoops.net about her future plans. "I am still waiting to see what happens in the evaluation period to see what is the best option for me. There has been some though and talk of me going to prep school."


Nazareth High school head basketball coach, Apache Pascall, talks about his star. "As a freshman, Bre'shay and Bria Smith were projected to be two of the top guards in their class. Unfortunately, Ali was plagued with injuries from breaking her foot, tearing her ACL. Now in her senior year, this is the healthiest she has been in years she is back to playing on the rim and doing all the things she used to do Wining MVP of the Rose was the beginning of a good year for her."

According to Ali, she is currently being recruited by Rutgers, UNC, Louisville, and Pitt.
 

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

FORT GREENE, NY - The Championship weekend at the Nike Rose Classic (Fall Edition) brought out lots of talented girls. Some old faces and many new young talents. The action kicked off with a great all-star game, followed by the Championship game between Exodus NYC vs. Harlem USA.

West All-Stars Beat-up East All-Stars, 72-57

The West guards ambushed the East in the 4th quarter to walk away with the

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY - With the open roster policy many teams took full advantage of it for the playoffs at Rose Classic. JHS 113 was jammed packed with spectators on Saturday to take in these playoff goodies.

Douglass Panthers Squeaks past NJ Sparks, 46-44

The Sparks gave a valiant effort but at the end the Douglass Panthers would sink the Spark. This game would have no love lost between the teams. Douglas Panther would jump out to an early lead and would keep control at half 25-16. With 3:00 to play in the third quarter NJ Sparks Teana Muldrow 6'1" W ( East Orange HS, NJ 2013) hit a 3 point shot to cut into the Douglass lead 25-19. With 2:05, NJ Spark's Erika Brown 5'7" G (J.F. Kennedy HS, NJ 2013) hit an and 1 lay-up to reduce the Panther Lead to 27-21. To end the Third Quarter Douglass Panthers held a 27-23 lead. With 6:40 to play in the 4 quarter, Douglass held a 5 point lead, 31-26. NJ Sparks would apply a full court press that provided multiple turnovers. NJS would turn into the turnovers into points to close the margin, 31-29 with 5:05. Douglass would never waiver their lead from this point, with 1:39 ahead 40-35, NJ Sparks's Africa Williams hit a 3 pointer to close the gap at 40-38 with 1:35 to play. It would then become a free throw exhibition. Douglass' Zaire Oneil 6'

By Lindsay Schnell
Special to HoopGurlz

It's a good thing Brianna Butler didn't start school until well into September because the 5-foot-11 guard from Philadelphia had a lot to do between the end of summer hoops and the start of her junior year at William Penn Charter School. And none of it had anything to do with basketball.

"She has three books to read before school starts, so this little break has been good for her," Mitzi Mitchell, Butler's mom, said, with a laugh.

It was a well-deserved break, for sure. For the second consecutive summer Butler and Mitchell spent hours and hours in the car driving from Philadelphia to New York City. At minimum it's a two-hour trip but Butler says there are days they've been stuck in the car for four hours. And that's just one way.

But it is a small sacrifice to make in order for Butler to play with Exodus NYC, one of the premier teams in the Big Apple.

After spending three summers with the Philly Belles, Butler decided she wanted to stretch herself and get outside her comfort zone. She was "looking for a new challenge" according to Mitchell. Butler had played one tournament with Exodus and enjoyed being pushed by the likes of

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

The summer was very good to 6-3 senior Tiffany Jones from Nazareth Regional high school in Brooklyn, New York as she saw her stock go up in the national rankings.

Jones currently hold scholarship offers from Big East, Big Eight, ACC and Conference USA schools.

At this point, she's only looking to achieve two things as the 2010 -11 season rapidly approaches; Win a states championship and chose a college that will benefit her both Athletic and Academically

Jones, who played last season for nationally power St. Michaels Academy High school in NY , was a second team All-state Performer as a junior. Due to St Michaels closing it this past spring, the senior has transferred to Nazareth Regional high school In Brooklyn, New York. She will be coached by her Exodus AAU coach and former St Michaels Academy head coach Apache Paschall.

NYCHoops.net got a chance to catch-up and speaks with Jones about her new school and recruiting. "The move to Nazareth is not all that bad. I'm from the Lower East Side so I had to commute to midtown at St Michaels," said Jones.

This smooth forward can finish with both hands, defend around the rim and has 3 point shooting abilities. Nazareth High School assistant coach, Lauren Best expounded on Jones's abilities saying, "Tiffany Jones

Joe Fenelon
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

Press Release

NYChoops.net

The expectations for the USA Women's U18 National Team in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship were great. So were the results.

With an 81-38 victory over Brazil (3-2) on June 27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the USA finished 5-0 in the tournament and won its fourth straight gold medal against the top 18-and-under international competition in the FIBA Americas zone, including Central, North and South America.

"I was nervous going into this process, and I know, looking back now at our margin of victory, that maybe I shouldn't have been as nervous," said Jennifer Rizzotti, USA and University of Hartford head coach. "But you want this team to meet the expectations of the accomplishments of teams in the past, and you want this team to measure up as one of the greats to ever play at U18. So, yeah, those were high. But after three weeks of being here and working hard, this team improved at a very rapid rate, and I was very proud at what it turned out to be."

The victory over Brazil caps a tournament in which the USA flourished from the start. In winning five straight games, the USA outscored its opponents, 467-188, for an average margin of victory of 55.8 points - by far a tournament best.

In addition to that, the USA led the Championship in 11 different statistical categories, including sco

BY Mark Lelinwalla
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Saturday, June 5th 2010, 3:24 PM

It's the Fall of 2005 and Anton Marchand, Cleon (Silk) Hyde and Troy Lemond have an idea.

The childhood friends from Fort Greene are already fixtures on the city's boys basketball scene and have just completed their fifth summer of running the Conrad McRae tournament in Prospect Heights, an event doing so well it has an apparel deal with Nike.

But the trio notices a void in the city's basketball scene. What's missing? A top-flight tournament to showcase the best girls talent the city has to offer.

The need first comes to their attention via Epiphanny Prince, Bergtraum's star guard and a fellow Fort Greene product.

Prince has

By Mark Lelinwalla
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Sunday, June 6th 2010, 4:00 AM

Each team in the Rose Classic must take at least one educational workshop, as part of the tourney's student-athlete developmental series that is provided every weekend during each cycle. The roughly one-hour seminars include topics on academic eligibility for student-athletes, breast cancer awareness, money management and nutrition. And a keynote speaker is brought in to conduct each workshop.

But co-founder Anton Marchand is exploring a topic he feels players, parents and coaches are dancing around - female basketball players dating each other.

"We want to address this issue because it's like taboo right now," Marchand says. "Nobody wants to address it and it's a big issue. ... I want to be as real as I can with this thing. There's an alternative lifestyle issue with women's (basketball). Women dating each other. It goes on a lot with these very young girls. We just want to have an open dialogue. We're consciously moving toward trying to figure out a way of how to present it to them respectfully, where they at least understand before they get into those typ

In the fall of 2005, Epiphanny Prince, former Bergtraum star and current Chicago Sky guard, spent a lot of her time watching the boys play at Nike's legendary IS8 tournament in Queens, when she really wanted to play in a tournament of her own.

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

In basketball, one tournament separates the women from the girls. The Nike Rose Classic, held in Brooklyn, NY is probably the preeminent girl event in the Northeast.

Up until now, the tournament has been totally dominated by Exodus NYC but according to tournament director Anton Marchand, this year may be different.

"In the five years we've held the event, Exodus has won four times," says Marchand. "The first year was won by No Limit."

Marchand says that four teams have a legitimate chance at finally taking the crown from the defending champs. "I don't think that Exodus is experienced enough to win it."

With that being said, Marchand listed the five teams to fear but still listed Exodus first. "They are the defending champs and they are still coached by Apache Pascall. They have rising junior Briana Butler from Philly, rising senior Lisa Blair who's 6'6" and rising senior guard, Briana Sidney."

Next on Marchand's list of teams to fear is New Heights Seniors. "They've gotta good chance to win it," said Marchand. The Bronx based team is coached by Rock Rosa and touts DePaul bound Shakura Washington from Murry Bertram and Sade Jackson. New Heights also has Seton Hall commit, Kadiedra Simmon

10:22 PM, May 1, 2010 ι By MARC RAIMONDI
 
You literally had to be there to appreciate Anton Marchand’s joke.

“I was trying to get Ronald to come, but he couldn’t make it,” the Rose Classic president and emcee said.

The Ronald in question was Ronald McDonald. And Marchand figured with all the McDonald’s All-Americans on the court in the Rose main event Saturday evening, why not ask the big man himself to come down to Brooklyn?

On one team, coach Lauren Best’s Golden Girls, was St.Michael Academy’s Jennifer O’Neill and North Babylon’s Bria Hartley. The other squad, Swagga is Back coached by Dinero Young, was a pair of out-of-towners: H.D. Woodson (D.C.) guard Ronika Ransford and Germantown Academy (Pa.) sharpshooter Maggie Lucas.

For those scoring at home, that’s Kentucky, UConn, Georgia and Penn State – in that order – being represented and about as much as star power you’re going to find in the girls game in one place. It was so big that another McDonald’s All-American – Bishop Loughlin’s Villanova-bound Jayvaughn Pinkston – was there to take it all in.

The game was everything one could hope it would be. But it was clear that Swagga ran out of gas in the end. Young’s squad was playing its third game of the day and the players just didn’t have their legs down the stretch.

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

The Nike Rose Classic is to girls' basketball what the iS8/Nike Tournament is to boys' basketball.

If you want to play the best of the best, then the Brooklyn, NY event is where you must come to show n' prove. McDonald's All-American, Maggie Lucas from, Germantown Academy in Philly did just that.

Last weekend, the 5-foot-8 shooting guard played in the competitive tournament with the Swagga Like Us team coached by Lenair "Dinero" Young, who boldly predicted that his team will win this year. The Nike Rose Classic which has been dominated by a stacked Exodus NYC team since the event's inception.

Seeming to fly in talent from all over the country, including fellow McDonald's All-American Ronika Ransford from Washington, D.C., if Lucas is a sampling of the talent the Coach Young has compiled then it's clearly 'game on.' The Penn State bound senior not only scorched the nylon's but broke a tournament record in the process.

10:22 PM, May 1, 2010 ι By MARC RAIMONDI

You literally had to be there to appreciate Anton Marchand’s joke.

“I was trying to get Ronald to come, but he couldn’t make it,” the Rose Classic president and emcee said.

The Ronald in question was Ronald McDonald. And Marchand figured with all the McDonald’s All-Americans on the court in the Rose main event Saturday evening, why not ask the big man himself to come down to Brooklyn?

On one team, coach Lauren Best’s Golden Girls, was St.Michael Academy’s Jennifer O’Neill and North Babylon’s Bria Hartley. The other squad, Swagga is Back coached by Dinero Young, was a pair of out-of-towners: H.D. Woodson (D.C.) guard Ronika Ransford and Germantown Academy (Pa.) sharpshooter Maggie Lucas.

For those scoring at home, that’s Kentucky, UConn, Georgia and Penn State – in that order – being represented and about as much as star power you’re going to find in the girls game in one place. It was so big that another McDonald’s All-American – Bishop Loughlin’s Villanova-bound Jayvaughn Pinkston – was there to take it all in.

The game was everything one could hope it would be. But it was clear that Swagga ran out of gas in the end. Young’s squad was playing its third game of the day

12:53 AM, April 4, 2010 ι By MARC RAIMONDI

Mike Toro was teasing Shayra Brown unmercifully. The Bishop Ford coach was going to be on the opposite sideline of his star player when his Exodus Lady Falcons faced Brown’s Golden Girls in the Rose Classic on Saturday in Brooklyn.

Toro joked with Brown that she would only score five points. The Boston College-bound guard had that in about two first-quarter possessions en route to an 18-point performance in a 59-37 victory for her team.

Brown was potent and teammates Jelleah Sidney and Lashay Taft, a Baltimore native who will join Sidney at Syracuse next year, were excellent. Coach Lauren Best’s Golden Girls have to be the favorite to win this installment of the Rose – especially considering they were without Jennifer O’Neill and Bria Hartley, who were both playing in the WBCA All-American Game in San Antonio, Texas.

But all is certainly not lost for the Falcons. Guard Aliyah Lewis, a freshman who played JV at Ford, looked like a future superstar. She scored 17 points on pullup jumpers and fearless forays to the basket.

The best part of the game, which was definitely the main event of the day, was when Ford assistant Mary Gillespie entered the gym during the first quarter. Gillespie had mis

For the second consecutive season, North Babylon's Bria Hartley was named the Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence and high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court. Hartley is also a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Hartley led North Babylon to the Suffolk Class AA county championship game. She scored a Long Island playoff record 51 points in a 72-69 loss to Sachem East. The UConn-bound Hartley finished her career with 1,978 points. Hartley averaged 28.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 5.7 steals per game and the Bulldogs went 102-15 in her five years. Hartley will play in the McDonald’s High School All-American Game and the Nike WBCA All-America Game.

Hartley has maintained an A average and has volunteered on behalf of a local fundraising campaign for cancer research and as a math tutor in her school.

BY Mark Lelinwalla
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Tuesday, February 16th 2010, 12:45 PM

It takes 16 steps on a steeply pitched staircase to get to the front door of Jennifer O'Neill's home on Cauldwell Ave. in the South Bronx.

In a way, the long flight parallels the budding basketball career of the St. Michael Academy senior point guard, who entered high school as an untapped reserve player with Exodus and St. Michael's and took baby steps until she got to the top.

Last year, O'Neill led the Eagles to their first state Federation title and earned a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. Last week, the 5-4 guard was named to the 2010 McDonald's All-American team.

"The kid basically worked her way from the last team on Exodus to the McDonald's game," St. Michael's assistant coach Lauren Best said. "She never stopped working."

O'Neill learned about the latest honor two weeks ago, but was still awed while watching the official announcement on ESPNU on Thursday.

Ask O'Neill and she says the accomplishment would have been impossible without the help of Jerry Powell, the renowned basketball skills trainer from North Babylon, L.I.

"It's the biggest accomplishment," she said. "Jerry told me I'd be a McDonald's All-American. I want to put 'O'Neill-Powell' on the back

BY Mark Lelinwalla

Tuesday, April 21st 2009, 2:51 PM

You might catch an occasional rerun of "The Golden Girls," a 1980s-era sitcom about four aging women who lived together in Miami.

On many weekends this spring, you can also watch The Golden Girls at the Rose Classic basketball tournament in Brooklyn. Beginning next fall, four of them will be playing together in Queens.

St. Michael Academy's Shenneika Smith, Mary Louis' Amanda Burakoski, Notre Dame Prep's Jennifer Blanding and Nadirah McKenith, from University HS in Newark, will all be freshmen at St. John's this fall.

The four future members of Kim Barnes Arico's Red Storm play alongside Janine Davis, a St. Michael's senior who is verbally committed to George Washington, and Kennedy's Teara Shaw.

What makes the Golden Girls unique is all of their players are signed seniors, with the exception of Shaw, who is still uncommitted.

It's customary for signed seniors to forgo the club basketball circuit. The feeling is, they're already college bound and there's not much to play for. Many summer ball tournaments prohibit signed seniors from playing.

But like the IS8 tournament for boys in South Jamaica, Queens, the Rose Classic encourages signed seniors to take their place on the court.

"These girls have nothing to do but sit around once they're signed and the (

St. John’s signee honored: NY Elite/Silver Bullets guard Eugeneia McPherson, who will play at St. John’s University in the fall, was given the Rose Classic MVP award for this spring. McPherson, who couldn’t play this weekend due to a broken nose, was surprised when tournament co-founder Anton Marchand called her name at halftime of the championship game Sunday.

“There are a lot of people who played better,” she said with a laugh.

Marchand said statistically, due to her consistency, she was a clear choice for the honor. With her, NY Elite/Silver Bullets probably would have made it past the quarterfinals Sunday. But that wasn’t the only reason she took it.

“She carries herself the right way,” Marchand said. “She’s respectful. We look for stuff like that. It’s not just her ability.”

McPherson, out of North Babylon (L.I.) HS, officially starts at St. John’s on July 6. The award, she said, was an honor because of past winners like Epiphanny Prince, Erica Morrow and China Crosby.

“Those people went on to do big things in college,” McPherson said of Prince (Rutgers) and Morrow (Syracuse). “Hopefully, I can do the same thing.”

The most improved award went to Positive Direction guard Karin Robinson, a sophomore at Mary Louis. … Brooklyn Saints forward Sha

NYCHOOPS.NET September 13, 2009

Rose Classic will be hosting this event at JHS 113 (R. Edmonds Learning Center) and Bishop Ford - from Saturday, September 05 2009 through Sunday, November 08 2009.The Nike Fall Rose Classic brings together many of the nation's top Club, Travel & AAU programs to compete on a highly visible stage. This tournament is by invitation only.

The Rose Classic Basketball Program is compelled to improve the quality of life for the girls of today through an educational and recreational program. Our programs will teach them the importance of academics, setting realistic career goals and encourage professional development. The administration and direct service staff at Rose Classic Basketball will use competitive basketball as a tool to teach our youth the essential life skills needed to become a productive member of society. We will teach our youngsters life skills such as teamwork, commitment, dedication and integrity and community service.

Rose Classic Basketball sets out to build a strong relationship with our youth and their parents to foster physical, moral and emotional growth. This relationship will make their youth basketball careers a lasting experience, which will have a positive effect on their lives. Rose Classic Basketball will be committed to providing our youth with a comprehensive program. They will be supervised and mentored by a team of young professionals. Our youth will

1.  THIS IS THE FINAL COPY OF OUR REVISED SCHEDULE……. 
2.  Coaches, if you can't pay in full at tournament start date 9/12 there is a minimum deposit of $200 in order to collect your uniform

3. There is a roster attached, please fill out and return. We are NCAA certified. We will have Division 1, 2 and 3 along with NAIA and JUCO coaches at our games.

4. I've ask that all coaches confirm that they are in, I've received many reply, if you haven't reply please do so, we have a waiting list of 12 teams dying to get in.

 List of teams

          EASTERN CONFERENCE
(ATLANTIC DIV.)

1. LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN 
2. STANNER 
3.  NEW HEIGHTS- BLUE 
4. NEW JERSEY GAZELLE  
5. TEANECK HIGH SCHOOL 
6.  LADY FALCONS

(NORTH

Say this about Lenair (Dinero) Young: if anything, he’s persistent.

The Swagger Like Us coach has been pestering Sachem East (L.I.) star Kristen Doherty, one of the top juniors in the state, to join his team at the Rose Classic since the bi-annual event started more than a month ago.

“He’s been asking me for like six weeks,” Doherty said.

The Boston College-bound, sweet-shooting guard finally had a free weekend and it couldn’t come at a better time for Swagger Like Us. With Team Prince clawing back from a big deficit, Doherty knocked down two clutch 3-pointers to seal a 77-70 win for her new squad Saturday in the Rose Classic semifinals at JHS 113 in Brooklyn. Swagger will meet Exodus NYC, which knocked off the Golden Girls, on Sunday in the final at 2 p.m.

“I’ve been working on that all season,” Young said. “Six weeks I’ve been on her.”

It certainly paid off. Doherty had 19 points and was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

“I love her game,” Swagger Like Us guard Alicia Cropper said. “I’ve never played with a shooter like her before.”

Cropper, a junior at Jefferson, led the way with 23 points. Curtis senior Victoria Macaulay, who is headed to Temple, had 12 points and Jefferson’s Takima Lucky added 10 points for Swagger Like Us.

Team Prince

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Rules and Regulations

4 8minute running time quarters the clock will stop on dead balls and free throws under 2min in the second and fourth quarter.

5 fouls

3 fulls and 2 30sec timeouts

Open Roster (you may bring a new player at anytime in this tournament)

Technical Fouls on coaches are $20 cash to be played immediately to the scorers table, tech must be paid in order for the game to continue. (NO EXCEPTIONS)

Forfeit- If Silk is not contacted which mean you either spoke to him on the phone or via email by preceeding thursday at 6pm there will be a $70 fee that must be paid before you play another game.

Coaches Reminder!!!!

To recieve your uniforms you must submit a payment in full by CASH, CHECK, OR MONEY ORDER NO EXCEPTIONS

The Teams who MUST attending the seminars are

Topic is Money Matters

Session I 1pm
Team#7(defenders stone)
Team#10(baseline 2)

Session II 215pm
Team#16(Team Pince 2)
Team#14(Brooklyn Exodus)

We will notify you before the session where to meet

IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND THESE SEMINARS AS A TEAM YOU WILL NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net

The Nike Rose Classic is slowly becoming the iS8/Nike tournament of girl's basketball in the North East. Forty top teams and hundreds of players competed weekly with the goal of participating in the playoffs and ultimately obtaining the coveted championship trophy. On Sunday, the quarterfinals took place and the Elite 8 battled in four games at JHS 113 in Brooklyn, NY.

Exodus NYC sends the Wave crashing down

In the opening game of the Nike Rose Elite 8, the Lady Wave of Thomas Jefferson HS came back from a 15-4 deficit on the Exodus NYC to take the lead, 31-28 late in the third quarter.

Exodus would however regain their lead and ultimately win, 43-40. Shenneka Smith was high scorer for Exodus NYC with 27 points while Alicia Cropper led the Lady Wave with 13 points.