The John Wall Invitational 2025
Princess Anne High School, winners of the John Wall Holiday Invitational Wonderland Bracket (Photo credit: Natasha Swanson).
Princess Anne Repeats
January 7, 2026
Held December 26-30, 2025, at Southeast Raleigh High School and Broughton High School (girls finals played where the boys’ tournament was held) in Raleigh, North Carolina, Princess Anne High School of Virginia Beach, Virginia, repeated as champions of The John Wall Family Foundation (title sponsor) Holiday Invitational Basketball Tournament Wonderland Bracket (8 teams).
Besides the above, the event had a four-team Frances Pulley Bracket (won by South Mecklenburg High School of Charlotte, North Carolina 52-37 over host Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School) and a couple of single non-bracket games which featured several talented players mentioned below. The event, presented by Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation, started in 1972 as a boys’ event with the girls’ tournament added in 1995. Over the course of the girls’ side of the event, 32 women’s college programs (best college turnout of all the post-Christmas December 2025 events I attended) were present for at least one day of the event.
Wonderland Bracket Final: Princess Anne High School (Virginia Beach, Virginia) 70-57 Bullis School (Potomac, Maryland)
At the time this game was played, both teams were ranked in one or more national polls. However, the route of these two teams to get here could not have been more different. Bullis had already played (winning two) five teams which had at some point been ranked nationally by one or more polls. At the same time, Princess Anne had feasted on in-state opposition with no opponent coming closer than 39 points.
While Princess Anne may have looked a bit sluggish in dispatching first round opponent South Garner High School (Garner, North Carolina) 64-30, the team more than stepped up in semifinal slaying St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland) 82-54. St. Frances (ranked at some point in one or more national polls) is the only team to defeat nationally ranked Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Maryland). Bullis took care of business in the other semi taking down Mallard Creek (Charlotte, North Carolina) 64-40.
One question going into the final was would strength of schedule tip the scale in Bullis’s favor? Obviously, the answer was ‘no!’ One ace in the hole Princess Anne possessed was starting four seniors surrounding its star junior Micah Ojo. In fact, no underclass player besides Ojo scored for Princess Anne. Bullis’s junior star Ivanna Wilson Manyacka (no hyphen) had an experienced support crew be it more underclass. An interesting aside is that the two stars played together on the USA U16 team last summer.
As for the game, it was worthy of a final with Bullis up 32-31 at half. Princess Anne won the third quarter 19-8 and fourth 20-17. Manyacka (named Wonderland Bracket Most Outstanding Player) did her part posting 11 for 20 from the field, totaling 30 points but no other Bullis player reached double figures. Meanwhile Princess Anne placed four players in double figures led by senior Jizzelle James with 18 points. Wonderland Bracket MVP Ojo posted a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds plus six assists. All-tournament selectee Tristan Rickenbacker (East Carolina signee) added in 16 points for the victors. In final analysis, both stars shined but the Princess Anne support crew put their team over the top.
A good question to ask is how high should undefeated Princess Anne be ranked nationally given their otherwise in-state schedule?
In their favor, they decisively beat St. Frances of Baltimore which beat highly ranked Bishop McNamara and took down a ranked Bullis team. While Princess Anne will likely play a couple of other above average Virginia-based high schools, I think we can all agree that it would have been exciting if Princess Anne had had a chance to compete against a few more of the nation’s elite.
Do note that Virginia schools are not restricted by its state association as to travel as are about a half dozen other states.
Listed below are the officially selected players for the Wonderland and Frances Pulley All-tournament teams plus a few players that stood out to this writer from the non-bracket single games.
In all cases, players below are listed alphabetically with listed height, position, graduation year and school (location in parenthesis).
Special thanks to John Wall event staff for supplying all-tournament team information.
Wonderland All-tournament Team
Harleigh Clark, 6-3, power forward, 2028, South Garner High School (Garner, North Carolina)
One of several tall players on this team, Clark is starting to gain skills to match her athletic upside.
Amya Harrington, 6-0, power forward, 2027, Terry Sanford High School (Fayetteville, North Carolina)
Harrington is a strongly-built forward, mostly scoring in the lower paint but having some ability to step out.
Camri Hobbs, 6-1, forward, 2026, Mallard Creek High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
This mobile Western Carolina commit is a player looking to get to the rim.
Khloe Ison, 5-6, guard, 2029, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
Ison is a young guard with high upside capable of putting up big numbers but as a freshman it does not happen every game.
Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, MOP of the Wonderland Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational (Photo credit: Natasha Swanson)
Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, 6-2, forward, 2027, Bullis School (Potomac, Maryland) Bracket MOP
One of the very top players in the 2027 class, the strongly-built Manyacka can hurt the opponent inside and beyond the key.
Adora Nwude, 5-9, guard, 2026, Bullis School (Potomac, Maryland)
A Fordham signee, Nwude can hit the three and take it to the rim.
Micah Ojo, MVP of the Wonderland Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational (Photo credit: Natasha Swanson)
Micah Ojo, 6-1, guard/forward, 2027, Princess Anne High School (Virginia Beach, Virginia) Bracket MVP
Another of the top players in the 2027 class, versatility and high energy may be two of Ojo’s best traits. On the court, Ojo is everywhere!
Tristan Rickenbacker, 6-0, wing, 2026, Princess Anne High School (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
The East Carolina commit is strong attacking the basket finishing at the rim or cashing in at the foul line.
London Truesdale, 5-6, guard, 2030, Cannon School (Concord, Norh Carolina)
Truesdale came up big in moments shooting, driving and making key foul shots for her team which went 2-1 at the event.
Taylor Williams, 5-9, point guard, 2028, Bullis School (Potomac, Maryland)
Williams is a young lead guard with improving offensive skills and high major recruiting interest.
Frances Pulley All-tournament Team
Nykira Arrington, 6-1, forward, 2026, South Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, North Carolina) Bracket MVP
The Queens University of Charlotte signee led her team to the Pulley Division title with a baseline to basket game.
KB Brown, 5-6, guard, 2027, South Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Brown showed above average basketball IQ leading to quality assists along with a nice mid-range stroke.
Dariyah Harris, 5-10, guard, 2028, Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Brown showed three-level scoring in leading a young Southeast squad to second place.
Leena McField, 5-11, guard, 2027, Northern Guilford High School (Greensboro, North Carolina)
McField showed impressive driving ability complemented by a perimeter stroke to beyond the arc. The above is allowing her to regularly put up 20+ points per game this season for Northern Guilford.
Additional independent game players of note
Za'Miya Bynum (2028) of Queen’s Grant High School: one of the best prospects at the event (Photo credit: Bob Corwin)
Za’Miya Bynum, 5-9, guard, 2028, Queen’s Grant High School (Matthews, North Carolina)
Other than Manyacka and Ojo, Bynum was the most impressive girls’ prospect, granted it was only a single viewing. An above average athlete with three-level scoring ability, the showing would indicate a potential top 100 prospect for starters.
Brooklyn Twitty, 6-3, power forward, 2027, Gaston Christian High School (Gastonia, North Carolina)
Strongly built but mobile, Twitty looks to play further from the basket but scores near the rim. Given her mindset, building shooting range might be something to work on. She posted two productive games (both wins) at the event.