#DaFuture of Women’s Basketball - The 2024 Girl’s Basketball Class in #TheCarolinas
#DAFuture of Women's Basketball - The 2024 Girls Basketball class in #TheCarolinas
Being able to watch and evaluate girl’s basketball players over the years has allowed me to watch the game grow. I started with my own daughter and then expanded when I moved to Charlotte, NC and started Carolina Girls Hoops Report in 2017. On November 1, 2019 I hosted my second annual Middle School Open Run event. Two players I expect to carry the torch for Women’s basketball into #DaFuture attended - Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards. I watched Joyce and Sarah throughout 2018 & 2019 and this was the first time that they both attended one of my events, it was special because I made sure that everyone in attendance was able to see them compete twice throughout the night by placing them in opposing colors. The cover picture featuring them both was taken following the event. I knew that they were going to be special and that their careers would forever be intertwined. Not just because they live in bordering states, but because they were going to be known globally.
HOW IT STARTED
I first watched Sarah Strong at Proehlific Park in Greensboro, NC - my friend Christy Brooks grabbed me and said you got to come watch this girl play. Sarah was playing for the same organization that Christy coached with called Team Felton. I pull up to the court and proceed to see Sarah grab a rebound and drop off a pass to her teammate. Moments later she corrals a defensive rebound and goes coast-to-coast but misses the layup. I could tell that she was elite because at 5’11” she showed the court vision and skills to perform at a high level. Following the game Christy introduces me to her mother Allison Feaster and I go ahead and log her into my mental database as a player to keep my eyes on. I first watched Joyce Edwards at Carolina Courts (Indian Trail) playing for the SC 76ers program that is based in Columbia, SC. Joyce was a long and lean athlete in 7th grade and could handle the ball like a guard. Joyce would block a shot or steal it from an opponent and then push it up the floor looking for her teammates to pile up her assists. I believe she could confidently score at any time, but seeing her teammates score and be involved was way more important. Following this game I connected with her coach Frank Williams and later used this connection to get her mother’s phone number so I could invite Joyce to my evaluation camps.
On that November 1st night as 8th graders they played against each other twice. Once in a regular game and again in the All-Star game. Everyone in attendance was seeing #DaFuture of Women's Basketball.
HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
Joyce Edwards started her high school career earlier than Sarah Strong because living in South Carolina Joyce was able to start playing Varsity basketball in 7th grade. Joyce immediately was the best player on the team even if the upperclassmen knew it or not. Over her six years playing for Camden HS Joyce put up some staggering numbers throughout her career.
Games: 162
Points: 3,966
Rebounds: 2.012
Assists: 535
Steals: 671
Blocks: 423
Joyce led Camden to three straight SCHSL AAA State Championship games. Camden won the 2023 and 2024 State Championships. Joyce suffered her only defeat in a Championship game to her current South Carolina teammate Milaysia Fulwiley and Keenan HS. That matchup is one of the best games I have ever witnessed.
Sarah Strong started her high school career at Fuquay-Varina High School and played extremely well during her first year. Sarah transferred to Grace Christian as a sophomore and took everything to another level. During her three years at Grace Christian, Sarah won three straight NCISAA State championships in 3 different classifications: 1A in 2022, 2A in 2023 and 3A in 2024. The NCISAA allowed Grace to move up in basketball because of their dominance in previous years and I don't think this will ever happen again. Sarah by the numbers:
Games: 109
Points: 2,302
Rebounds: 1,628
Assists: 431
Steals: 323
Blocks: 243
GOLDEN GIRLS
USA Basketball is something that young girls dream of and when these two ballers had their chance they took full advantage of the opportunity.
Sarah Strong has won Four Gold medals with team USA - Three Gold Medals in FIBA 3X3 U18 World Cup competitions (2022, 2023 and 2024) All of the competitions were held in Hungary. Sarah also won a FIBA U-18 Women’s AmeriCup in 2024 that was held in Colombia, South America. That means in 2024 she was a double Gold Medalist ( Someone check the records on who has ever done that before ?)
Joyce Edwards has won Two Gold medals with team USA - 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup team and also in 2024 FIBA U-18 Women’s AmeriCup team.
Both players accumulated individual awards while competing at these international events. I hope they will have many more opportunities to represent our country on the USA Senior National Team.
MCDONALDS ALL AMERICAN GAME
One of the top accolades for any high school player is being named to the prestigious McDonald's All-American game. Sarah and Joyce were selected for the 2024 year. I made the trip to Houston, TX to watch the game and witnessed greatness in action again on the court. Sarah Strong started off the game with a great scoring run and would finish with a Double-Double of 11 Points and 12 Rebounds. Joyce would have a great 2nd half and would lead all scorers with 19 Points and would add 3 Rebounds and 2 Steals in the game. The voters of the MVP could do nothing else but award them as CO-MVP winners of the game and that was a fitting finish for their high school careers.
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE
Joyce Edwards and Sarah Strong were the two most recruited players in America in the 2024 recruiting class, Sarah finished her prep career as the #1 recruit on the ESPNW List. Joyce Finished as the #3 recruit and they both had their choice of schools. Sarah Strong chose to attend the University of Connecticut for legendary coach Geno Auriemma. Joyce Edwards decided to attend the University Of South Carolina and their legendary coach Dawn Staley. Sarah and Joyce made great decisions and it has shown with their play on the court this season.
Sarah Strong Freshman Year:
Points: 16.1/ Game Average
Rebounds: 8.8/ Game Average
Assists: 3.6/ Game Average
Big East Freshman of the Year
1st Team All Big East
National Freshman Of The Year ( WBCA )
Joyce Edwards Freshman Year:
Points: 12.7/ Game Average
Rebounds: 4.8/ Game Average
Assists: 1.1/ Game Average
First -Team ALL SEC
SEC All Freshman team
Freshman All American
NOT DONE YET
Both South Carolina and UCONN have made it to the 2025 NCAA Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Could we see a rematch of the 2022 title game with UCONN and South Carolina ?
Could we see Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards match up during the final shot of the game to see who will take home their first National Championship ?
Back on November 1, 2019 at Talbert Recreation Center in Mooresville, NC. I knew these two young women’s careers were going to be forever shared and compared against each other. I did not need a crystal ball, just my knowledge of talent and skill evaluation to see that they were special. Now the world gets to see that they are #DaFuture of Women’s basketball.
ENJOY THE 2025 FINAL FOUR and watch Sarah Strong and Joyce Edwards shine on this big stage. They were built for this!
Peter London
Carolina Girls Hoops Report