Straight out of NC, Charlotte Dream Elite believes that they have all the weapons to be a vital competitor in this league. This organization has slowly but surely progressed over four years with the same expectations. The coaching staff wants to provide a platform for athletes to be seen, develop from the ground up, take care of the players, and guide players through the education process. “Dream Big, Work Hard, Stay Humble”, is the motto that this organization portrays through it’s athletes.
Charlotte Dream Elite’s 17U team is highly motivated and gracious of this opportunity. You can bet your top dollar, they’ll be looking to make some noise this year.
First up representing this team is Ashlee Shaw (CG, 5’8, 2024). She attends West Caburras high school. Shaw’s game will stand out just because she’s a natural born competitor. Coach Holm praised this athlete claiming she’s one of the best 2024’s in the area. This athlete is aggressive on offense, always on the attack looking to exploit the weak points in defenses. Quick first step to beat defenders and follow the opposing teams’ best ballhandler. Shaw is a well rounder player who can score from all three levels and knows how to lead by example.
Ashley Farmer (CG, 5’5, 2022) is the prime leader for this team. She attends Clover high school. Farmer is one of the older kids on the team so she knows the ropes. She leads vocally and through her play. Not only can she create opportunities for herself but she sets her team up for success as well. Being the floor general comes with a lot of responsibility, but Farmer makes it look easy. She can dice up the defense, score at ease, and makes sure everyone on the team is involved. The small things stick out when it comes to basketball. The coaching staff claimed this athlete is not only physically tough but mentally tough as well. Her bounce back game is impressive.
Next up is Imelda McMenamin (F, 5’8, 2022) who attends Charlotte Catholic high school. For this 17U team, she may be the anchor defensively. She plays the passing lanes well, has the ability to guard anyone on the floor, and has a motor that does not stop. Offensively, she needs to be accounted for. She’ll knock a shot down well beyond the three point line. This athlete also attends a 4A high school. Academically, she can go to school anywhere in the country.
IoAnna Giannopoulou (Post, 6’1, 2022) who attends Myers Park high school. Fun fact, this athlete is originally from Greece! She’s only been here for 2 ½ years. She used to play a lot of PG/SG, but outgrew that role in a very short amount of time. Even though she hit a massive growth spurt, she holds the skills she learned at the guard position and transitioned it to the post. Therefore, she has great footwork, the ability to play faceup and back to the basket, and can extend her shot to beyond the arch. IoAnna is going to be an interesting player to see.
Khalia King (SG, 5’8, 2023) attends Kings Mountain high school. This athlete is brand new to the program but has grown into a massive role for the team. King was almost like that missing piece. She has all the leadership qualities a coach asks for, and her work ethic is second to none. Athletically, she is a true shooter who can create her own shot and is always moving. Defensively, she is a menace being 5’8 because she can defend multiple positions. She has grown into a asset for this 17U team.
Lily Davis (Post, 5’11, 2022) attends Mooresville High School. Davis grew early so she’s always been a tall kid which made it easier to teach her a specific role. In the post, she’s physical, knows how to get position, rebounds and blocks shots aggressively. Currently working on extending her range to have a solidified inside out game. All in all, Davis is a tough kid in the post.
Alongside Davis is Zion Duncan (Post, 6’2, 2023) who attends Victory Christian High School. Duncan has been playing basketball since 6th grade and comes from a family with a basketball background. Zion’s dad played at UNC Charlotte, and her sister currently plays college basketball. This athlete is a force on the low block! She knows how to make quick moves to score, pure back to the basket player, powerful rebounder and shotblocker. Her lanky build just makes her that much more of an issue. She has the ability to block shots without jumping. She has a strong basketball IQ and knows to hold the ball above her head rather than at her body when she rebounds. The little things make Duncan a great player.
This team is looking like a force to be reckoned with! They have the necessary pieces to compete with a lot of teams and with the platform we’re creating they’ll get the opportunity to do just that. Welcome to the Insider Exposure League Charlotte Dream Elite!