She Got Game Classic - DC and Capital Invitational 2024: Again, a Winning Combination!
Pictured: Amelia Sow of Seminaire Saint-Francois (Quebec, Canada).
Thursday through Sunday is must see in DC.
December 17, 2024
In its 15th year, The St. James She Got Game Classic DC, presented by Kaiser Permanente with Volkswagen also a sponsor, was held during the weekend of December 13-15, 2024, with the primary site being at The St. James (an amazing multi-sport complex) in Springfield, Virginia. On Thursday, December 12, the Capital Invitational (in its fourth year), sponsored by Events DC, was again held at Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC. Games from Capital Invitational were livestreamed on BallerTV and Monumental Sports Network while games from She Got Game DC were livestreamed on BallerTV.
Capital Invitational consisted of eight games (two at a time) on adjoining courts at Sidwell Friends. The teams from the Metro DC area played teams from out of the area on a pre-set by invitation (no entry fee) basis except for the Duncanville versus IMG match-up. Of the seven games involving locals, DC area squads won six. St. John’s College (DC) defeated (pre-season ranked by some outlets) Whitney Young High School (IL) 55-49. Paul VI Catholic High School (VA) defeated Manchester High School (VA, out of Richmond area) 49-46 in overtime. Nationally ranked Sidwell Friends School (DC) defeated Florida power Palm Bay High School (FL) 55-50. The Potomac School (VA) defeated perennial NYC power South Shore High School (NY) 58-46. Nationally ranked Bishop McNamara outclassed a solid Central Pointe National (FL) 62-38. Bishop Ireton (VA) overwhelmed (was over early) Canadian Crestwood Prep 66-48. In the one loss by area schools, North Carolina power Winston Salem Christian beat Bullis School (MD) 58-53. In a battle of out-of-area powers IMG Academy (FL) defeated Duncanville High School (TX) 67-55. The majority of the teams from Capital Invitational stayed to play in the St. James She Got Game Classic which started the next day. Approximately 40 college coaches and 15 media attended.
The St. James She Got Game Classic DC saw 194 teams play one to three pre-set games. An event record of 177 college coaches (mostly representing NCAA D1 schools) attended one or more days of the event. There was talent all over the 10 courts at The St. James with the biggest complaint by college coaches being insufficient seating (college coaches must sit separately from parents.) with the ‘big games’ often packed to overflow. As a writer following the prep game, I consider NIKE TOC (held in Arizona before Christmas) and this combination of two events to be the two most talent-dense events nationally of the high school season. If you want to show how good your high school team is, these are places where you can make your mark!
Best performing teams present
Bishop McNamara (MD)
Double digit victories on Thursday vs a good Central Pointe National and a dominating 47-24 win versus IMG Academy (FL) on Saturday garner the Maryland based squad this honor. Consensus pre-season nationally ranked, they defend well with balanced scoring.
Royal Crown Prep (Ontario, Canada)
The team has multiple major division 1 prospects and would be a national level team if located in the USA. They defeated three quality American-based squad: Winston Salem Christian (NC) 52-44; Example Academy – National (IL) 53-38; Cannon School (NC) 70-36
Players below are in alphabetical order with listed height, position, graduation year and school (state in parenthesis). Many more from these events could have been recognized. Those below generally stood out for performance and/or major division 1 upside.
Manuella Alves, 6-3, center, 2025, IMG Academy (Florida)
Committed to Illinois, Alves appears to be lighter on her feet and more active in the paint than when seen last season. She scored 14 points in her team’s win over Duncanville.
Pictured: 2027 C’India Dennis.
C’India Dennis, 5-4, point guard, 2027, Creekside High School (Georgia)
Dennis is considered one of the top players in Georgia’s 2027 class. She led her team to two victories at the event running her team and scoring via attacking the rim or shooting on the perimeter. She posted 21 points in a 55-31 win over South Garner High School (NC).
Yohana Fami, 6-1, power forward, 2026, Royal Crown Prep School (Ontario, Canada)
Fami is a long, quick leaper finishing well around the rim. She keeps on the move and has a way to get to the glass making stick-backs. She posted 18 points in beating Cannon School. Word in the gym is that she has major division 1 offers.
Pictured: 2026 Autumn Fleary
Autumn Fleary, 5-7, point guard, 2026, Sidwell Friends School (DC)
Ranked number 14 in the 2026 class, Fleary handles and distributes well as a point and can shoot it as well as most shooting guards. She posted 21 points in a 55-50 win over a strong Palm Bay High School (FL) team.
Serenity Hardy, 5-9, shooting guard, 2026, Winter Haven High School (Florida)
Medium-solid in build, Hardy can come at you with force on the drive or shoot the three (had three in posting 19 points in a 43-40 win over Archbishop Wood, one of the top teams in Pennsylvania).
Pictured: 2027 Samari Holmen.
Samari Holmen, 5-8, guard, 2027, Duncanville High School (Texas)
While her team lost 67-55 to IMG, Holman put on a show posting 28 points via the three (six) or drives. This athlete has a major D1 future down the road!
Madison Kocis, 6-0, shooting guard, 2026, St. John Vianney High School (New Jersey)
Of medium build, Kocis plays smart knowing when to shoot. She scored 19 points (three triples) in a 59-26 win over Grandview Prep (FL).
Pictured: 2027 NyAir McCoy.
NyAir McCoy, 5-4, point guard, 2027, Bishop McNamara High School (Maryland)
McCoy may be small but her contribution to her team’s success is quite large. She helps run the offense, scores (mostly via driving), delivers big assists and defends well. Size may keep her out of the majors, but she is worth consideration at that level.
Carib Morris, 6-1, small forward, 2029, Finest BBall (North Carolina)
Morris is very young but already has a strong building. She is much room for growth in her game but she posted 16 points (four triples) while leading her team in scoring in a win over 53-36 win over Somerset Academy – Canyons (FL). Major D1 schools should be monitoring her maturation.
Camille Nesmith, 6-4, center, 2026, St. Johns College High School (DC)
Nesmith is long and a bit thin, still needing to fill out some. She has good hands, finishing well around the rim. She posted 18 points in the win over Whitney Young. Given ever-present shortage of posts, major D1 schools should be monitoring her progress.
Alana Pinnock, 5-11, guard, 2028, Somerset Academy - Canyons (Florida)
Pinnock has all the right stuff physically (athletic medium build, height, speed, agility). She is a good driver with good court vision. She needs to go left more and build shooting range, but likely a future major leaguer.
Abuna Ruop, 6-9, center, 2026, Norfolk Christian School (Virginia)
The saying is “you cannot teach height” and Abuna has an abundance of it in a long, medium build. Her hands are good but raw as to scoring with rebounding appearing a stronger skill at this time. A major D1 school will take her and hope to fill in the gaps.
Pictured: 2026 Taylor Sofilkanich.
Taylor Sofilkanich, 6-4, center, 2026, St. John Vianney High School (New Jersey)
Ranked #38 in the 2026 class by ESPN HoopGurlz, Sofilkanich displayed adequate mobility and nice low post moves in posting 18 points in the win over Grandview Prep (FL).
Amelia Sow, 6-1 small forward, 2027, Seminaire Saint-Francois (Quebec, Canada)
Medium-solid in build, Sow is active moving without the ball and showed great poise with the ball when under pressure. She sees the court well and is an above average passer. She can hit the 3 but is more of a driver able to finish with either hand. She posted 15 points in a 42-37 loss to Central Pointe National (FL). Should be getting major division 1 looks!
Jordan Speller, 5-7, point guard, 2027, Grace Christian Sanford (North Carolina)
Ranked #21 in the 2027 class, Speller is a lefty who comes at the basket hard finishing against contact with either hand.
Pictured: 2026 Morgan Stewart.
Morgan Stewart, 5-10, guard, 2026, St. Johns College High School (DC)
Having mid-major offers, Stewart was impressive (handling/scoring) in beating (55-49) Whitney Young which has quality guard play. She posted 21 points, scoring mostly via the drive but did show a mid-range stroke. Worth checking out by modest major D1 programs!
Sanai Troutman, 6-0, shooting guard, 2025, Bullis School (Maryland)
Signed with D1 Robert Morris University, Troutman posted 22 points showing the three and driving although her team lost to Winston Salem Christian 58-53.
Taylor Williams, 5-8, point guard, 2028, Paul VI Catholic High School (Virginia)
Paul VI is a better team this year compared to last thanks in part to this lead guard. She does a bit of everything from driving to shooting the three while taking a significant role in running the offense. She scored 10 points in an overtime 49-46 win over Manchester High School (VA). Word in the gym is that she already has major division 1 offers!