The Mecca 2025: Four Days with Something for Everyone!
Archbishop Wood's #1 Ryan Carter and #30 Emily Knouse keyed the big upset of Long Island Lutheran.
Players and Team Reviews from NYC
January 31, 2025
Started in 2011 and held annually, The Mecca brought together high school, academy and prep teams to play one or more pre-set games over the four-day period of January 23-26, 2025, at the Gauchos Gym in the Bronx, New York. By my count (see photo of the board of attending colleges below) 73 colleges attended one or more days of the event presented by The Lady Choz (the girls’ arm of the New York Gauchos [an adidas-sponsored club]). Why no schools below the NCAA D1 level attended is a bit puzzling as there were plenty of prospects available for lower levels!
Game of the event:
Archbishop Wood (PA) 69-66 OT Long Island Lutheran (NY)
This was not expected to be super competitive. Even though LuHI (as the New York-based school is called) was by this writer’s account over-ranked by several polls as top 5 earlier in January, the team still deserved 6-15 national recognition in what now appears as a down year for elite high school teams. One might say there is more parity (to some extent due to major injuries to elite players on very highly ranked teams).
Archbishop Wood came into the contest 13-4 having what might be called a quality, but not quite top 25 worthy year with three of the five losses to teams outside the top 25 sector. LuHi came in 13-1 having wins over several teams that are (as of this match) or were nationally ranked in at least one poll. With quality guard play, LuHi led 29-22 at half and 46-40 after three quarters. Wood was being kept afloat by three-point shooting. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Wood’s sophomore Ryan Carter, who often initiates the offense and then looks to get the ball back in the key, dominated with scoring in the paint and at the foul line (6 points). She put her team over the top with 8 of her team’s 12 points (all in the key or from the foul line) in overtime and finished with 20 points and player-of-the-game honors. Carter was greatly assisted by senior Emily Knouse (St. Joseph’s commit) with 18 points (5 triples) for the contest.
LuHi was led by sophomore Taylor Brown with 16 points (mostly attacking the rim) and junior Emily McDonald with 14 points. In the end, LuHi’s difficulty defending at the rim was the difference as it was to an even greater extent in the recent loss to IMG (FL).
Very best players present:
1. Saniyah Hall, 6-2, guard/forward, 2026, Montverde Academy (FL)
Having seen Hall in person in four different events, no single player has impressed this writer with all-around play able to score at all levels, make great passes for assists, rebound well and come up with big defensive plays even though she is better known for her offense. At this event, Hall led Montverde to double digits wins over Legion Prep Academy (TX) and Royal Crown School (Ontario, Canada) both teams loaded with future NCAA Division 1 players. She should be seen as a candidate for national player of the year, not just top player in the 2026 class as rated by ESPN HoopGurlz.
2. Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, 6-2, forward, 2027, Bullis School (MD)
Ranked #2 in the 2027 class by ESPN HoopGurlz, Wilson-Manyacka has improved her range to beyond the arc now a threat to score at all three levels with her muscular but mobile build. She posted 23 points in her team’s 63-56 win over Central Pointe Christian National (FL).
3. Nyla Brooks, 6-2, small forward, 2025, Bishop Ireton High School (VA)
Recently named a McDonald’s All-American, Brooks exhibits a smooth stroke from the mid-range and behind the arc. The North Carolina commit posted a total of 30 points in her team’s two wins in New York.
4. Jocelyne Grier, 5-8, shooting guard, 2026, Winston Salem Christian National (NC)
Orally committed to Boston College, Grier continues to impress (seen previously in Jacksonville, FL in November). She combines above average athleticism with perimeter scoring 40 points in her team’s two wins in New York.
The College Program board at the Mecca in NYC.
Below are some of the players who showed out in a noteworthy fashion. Listing is alphabetical with height, position, graduation year and school State location of school is in parenthesis. Many worthy players discussed in recent articles or mentioned above may have been omitted below.
Sophia Acuna, 5-9, point guard, 2027, Central Pointe Christian National (FL)
Acuna was Mexico’s starting point guard in last summer’s FIBA U17 championships. She is slowly learning that often the best pass is the simple one. Talented as to shooting the three and creating, she sometimes turns the ball over aiming for the more spectacular play. She posted 15 points in a 63-56 loss to Bullis School.
GG Banks of Ursuline Academy (DE). Photo Courtesy of Twin Vizuals.
GG Banks, 5-9, point guard, 2027, Ursuline Academy (DE)
Banks is currently ranked #6 by ESPN HoopGurlz for 2027. She is of medium build with strong handles and surprisingly good ‘ups’ for her size. Lacking support, she posted 21 points in a 87-46 loss to Monsignor Scanlan (NY).
Amari Byles, 6-2, forward, 2026 Faith Family Academy (TX)
Ranked #17 for 2026 by ESPN HoopGurlz, Byles does a lot of things for her team, ranging from scoring at mid-range and in the key to rebounding to making a quality assist as her team split its two games in New York.
Zhen Craft, 6-3, power forward, 2025, Bishop McNamara High School (MD)
The Georgia commit has for years been considered a high level prospect due to the combination of height and superior athleticism. This year she has become more productive on a game-to-game basis scoring, rebounding and defending in the key area. She posted 17 points in the win over 61-45 win over Legion Prep Academy (TX)
Aaliyah Crump, 6-1, small forward, 2025, Montverde Academy (TX)
Coming to Montverde from Minnesota where she led her team to a state title last year, Crump has continued to develop as a perimeter threat. The Texas commit (recently named a McDonald’s All-American) is a quality 3-point shooter with size and mobility. She posted 32 points (7 3’s) in her team’s two wins at the event.
Rieyan DeSouze of Legion Prep Academy.
Rieyan DeSouze, 5-7, point guard, 2026, Legion Prep Academy (TX)
Injured for the early portion of the season, DeSouze is showing why she is considered one of the top point guards (ranked #36 by HoopGurlz) showing strong handles, three-point and mid-range stroke while running her team. She posted 12 points in her team’s 61-45 loss to Montverde Academy.
Amayah Garcia, 5-11, shooting guard, 2026, Faith Family Academy (TX)
Ranked #49 in the 2026 class, Garcia is a quality perimeter shooter with size and adequate mobility. She posted 40 points (6 triples) total as her team split its two games at The Mecca.
Logyn Greer, 6-3, small forward, 2025, Friends’ Central School (PA)
Having seen Greer on occasion over the years, it appeared she was more high-level prospect (due to agility, height and developing skill set) than high level player. She now is performing with poise hitting perimeter shots inside and beyond the arc. The Colorado commit posted 12 points in the 52-47 loss to Winston Salem Christian.
Madison Howard, 5-8, guard, 2026, Monsignor Scanlan High School (NY)
Athletic and skilled, Howard (worthy of major D1 interest) is just a solid all-around guard who can do a bit of everything, In the win over Ursuline, she posted 22 points including two threes.
Leah Keyes, 5-11, shooting guard, 2025, Virginia Academy (VA)
Committed to George Mason, Keyes exhibited a nice stroke from behind the arc hitting four triples for 12 points in a 55-48 win over Nazareth Regional (NY).
Keira Kilkenny, 5-11, shooting guard, 2027, Norfolk Christian School (VA)
Other players on this young Norfolk Christian may have more rep but Kilkenny (offers from majors down) stole the show posting 27 points (5 threes) in a 75-34 win over Austin Prep (MA). She moves well, but as a young player, she still needs to fill out a bit more.
Raygen Leigh, 6-0, small forward, 2030, S3 Academy (VA)
When a player is functioning on a big stage at such a young age, that is often a name to know for the future even though barely a factor here.
Makylah Moore, 6-1, forward, 2025, Nazareth Regional High School (NY)
An unsigned senior with a couple of lesser D1 offers, Moore turns off evaluators by looking in need of better conditioning. Perhaps so, but the girl has game! She initiates the offense and then releases to score in the paint or at mid-range. She posted 18 points in the loss to Virginia Academy. Hopefully, she helped her recruiting prospects with this performance.
Addy Nyemchek of Red Bank Catholic.
Addy Nyemchek, 6-1, forward, 2026, Red Bank Catholic High School (NJ)
Nyemcheck’s best days on court are ahead of her (in the majors if she so desires). With size and nice stroke, she is very light on her feet posting 12 posts in her school’s 52-41 win over Christ the King Regional High School (NY).
Nevaeh Roberson and Zhen Craft of Bishop McNamara.
Nevaeh Roberson, 6-2, small forward, 2027, Bishop McNamara High School (MD)
Transferring in this fall from a less followed DC program, Roberson is not as well known as several of her teammates. She is a long, athletic player who can attack the rim. Range is still a work in progress but major D1 schools should be monitoring her maturation.
Destiny Robinson, 6-0, forward, 2026, St. Mary’s High School (Manhasset, NY)
Of medium build, Robinson (having offers from major D1 down) can score in the paint or out on the perimeter. She posted 23 points in the 83-44 win over The Mary Louis Academy (NY).
Zya Small, 6-2, power forward, 2027, Friends’ Central School (PA)
Small is another sophomore still in the maturing phase. Strongly built, small scores mostly in the paint but can step to shoot the three. Majors should be monitoring maturation.
Divine Tumba, 6-3, forward, 2025, Royal Crown School (Ontario, Canada)
Committed to Pitt, Tumba (medium-solid build) moves well looking to attack the rim but can step out to hit from beyond the key. She posted 12 points in a 49-48 win over PHH Prep (AZ).