ACC recruits make up Holiday Invitational girls field
There are a number of ACC recruits and prospects in this year's HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational girls tournament, which is made up of eight teams from North Carolina.
The teams in the tournament include Athens Drive, Broughton, East Wake, Hillside, Knightdale, Millbrook, Riverside (Durham), and Riverside (Williamston).
Kaila Ealey is one ACC recruit that will be playing in the tournament. The 5-foot-8 guar is a four-star prospect, according to ESPN, and she has verbally committed to NC State. According to the recruiting website, Ealey is the No. 16 guard in the Class of 2015.
Last season, Broughton compiled a 20-4 overall record.
Millbrook also features an NC State recruit. Sophomore guard Kai Crutchfield committed to NC State this summer. The 5-foot-8 Crutchfield is the No. 8 guard in the Class of 2017, according to ESPN.
There's another high-level sophomore at Millbrook though. Dazia Powell, a 5-foot-9 guard, is ranked the No. 7 guard in the class by ESPN. Powell has yet to decide where she will play her college basketball.
Millbrook compiled an impressive 24-4 record last season, advancing to the 4-A eastern regional semifinals.
NC State has one more recruit playing in the Holiday Invitational – Riverside (Williamston) forward Kayla Jones. Standing at 6-foot-1, Jones is the No. 7 forward in the Class of 2017, according to ESPN. Riverside fell to Bishop McGuinness in the state championship game last season, the only loss of the year for the 29-1 Riverside team.
Riverside (Durham) also features an ACC recruit. Senior forward Mone' Jones, ESPN's No. 11 forward from the Class of 2015, has committed to Virginia. ESPN rates Jones as a four-star prospect. The Pirates finished last season with a 19-9 record and advanced to the 4-A eastern regional semifinal.
Hillside advanced to the 4-A eastern regional final last season, knocking off Millbrook in the semifinal game. The Hornets compiled a 24-6 overall record. Justin Lyon, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, returns this season for Hillside. Lyon is a three-star prospect according to ESPN, and has verbally committed to Davidson.
Charlotte recruit Grace Hunter will lead Athens Drive into the Holiday Invitational this season. The Jaguars posted a 15-9 overall record last season, including a 10-4 mark in the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference.
Two teams from the Greater Neuse River Conference round out the field – East Wake and Knightdale.
East Wake finished last season with a 20-4 overall record. The Warriors were led in scoring by two underclassmen – Kianna Wynn (senior) and Angel Rizor (junior). Wynn averaged 14 points while Rizor averaged 12 points per game.
Knightdale is coming off a 17-7 season last year. The Knights feature junior point guard Mikayla Wilson who is rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.
The match-ups and brackets for the Holiday Invitational will be released a future date, but games will be played on Dec. 26, 27, 29, and 30 at Cary Academy. The championship game will be held on Dec. 30 at Broughton High School.
Girls team list
Athens Drive (Raleigh, NC)
Broughton (Raleigh, NC)
East Wake (Wendell, NC)
Hillside (Durham, NC)
Knightdale (Knightdale, NC)
Millbrook (Raleigh, NC)
Riverside (Durham, NC)
Riverside (Williamston, NC)
Follow Nick Stevens on Twitter @NickStevensHSOT
