PeachStateBasketball.com – Philly Freedom Stars – October 28, 2014

Class of 2016 post Anndrea Lloyd essay on cold war of Lindenwold, N.J., is one of many talented prospects within the Philly Freedom Stars organization. Photo cred – Ty Freeman/PSB

The Philly Freedom Stars is an organization that empowers kids to get to the next level through basketball. Coach Urian Garner and his team of coaches consistently challenge their players to improve themselves physically and in the classroom. A self-proclaimed ‘farmer,’ the seeds that he sows are on the basketball court and in living rooms of the families he works with. His mission of investing in kids in his community is currently paying off. However, the Freedom Stars have a new crop of players on the horizon that have yet to pay dividends.

By: @JLHemingwayPSB

Program Director

Urian Garner

Program Headquarters

Philadelphia, Penn.

PeachStateBasketball.com Tournaments attended

Tip-off Classic
Real Deal in the ‘Ville Shootout
End of the Road Championships

Notable Players

Julia Braungart – 2016
Brittany Garner – 2018
Imani Lewis – 2018
Anndrea Lloyd – 2016
Ayanna Mazyck – 2017
Natalie Rhine – 2018
Aliyah Stephens – 2017
Taiah Thornton – 2016
Sydney Wagner – 2017

Program History:

Garner got his start in grassroots basketball while coaching for a local boys organization called the RBK All-Stars. While there he coached future NBA Lottery picks such as Michael Kidd-Gilcrest and Dion Waiters. In addition, he coached Malik Wayns who was a McDonald’s All-American and would later play in the NBA with the essay social service Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers. By 2012 his original team of players would have multiple division 1 scholarships including his son, Malik Garner, was co-captain at University of Maryland Baltimore County last season as a sophomore.

Alliya Butts will suit up for the Temple Owls this year. Photo cred – Ty Freeman/PSB

At the time the boys program began, his daughter Erin was only eight years old and beginning her development as a ball player herself. As Garner says, “The teams that Erin were playing on at the time were not exposure based. We knew we had to build something for girls in this area to help them get to the next level.”

The challenge to build a team that could promote her daughter while helping her develop began immediately. Coach Garner added players such as Alliyah Butts, Ashli Jeune, Chanelle Perry and Chelsea Woods. Thereafter the Philly Freedom Stars were created. At the time these players were young and unknown. Garner says, “I am most proud of the fact that we took these kids when no one else wanted them and helped get to where they are at today.”

This organization turned into one of the nation’s best teams by the time these ladies were seniors in high school. Today each one of these players are doing research paper on the roster at a Division 1 school across the nation. Erin Garner, ranked No. 68 in her class, is poised to contribute for coach MaChelle Joseph at Georgia Tech. Point guard Alliyah Butts, ranked No. 85 in her class, will play at Temple this season. Ranked No. 136 in her class, guard Chanelle Perry projects to be quality contributor for coach Audra Smith at Clemson. Chelsea Woods signed at St. Joseph’s and Ashli Jeune will play at Rutgers this season. Both could contribute in big ways for their respective squads.

That success is far from being fleeting. As Garner adds, “This year we had a total of 22 teams of both boys and girls programs.” It is those type of numbers that will add up to lasting success and untold impact within all of the communities that they represent.

Program Notes from Urian Garner:

Presently the Philly Freedom Stars boast of a strong 2016 and 2017 class. Anndrea Lloyd of Lindenwold, N.J., is a 6-foot-3 post player in the class of 2016 and headlines the upperclassmen. She shoots the ball very well for a post player and has picked up recruiting interest as a result. A number of schools along the eastern seaboard have expressed interest including Penn State and Howard. She is complemented by guard Taiah Thornton of Cherry Hill, N.J., who Garner calls the “best good ways to end a research paper guard in the program.” Although Thornton is somewhat under the radar, her breakout summer led her to gain calls a variety of calls from schools including VCU and Maine.

Julia Braungart Philly Freedom Stars. – Photo cred – Ty Freeman/PSB

Class of 2016 guard Julia Braungart of Southampton, N.J., is a high academic prospect who shoots the ball exceptionally well from the perimeter. Her recruitment has involved schools such as Bucknell and Penn. She is joined in the backcourt by 2017 slashing guard Aliyah Stephens of Mullica Hill, N.J. Stephens is a good student in her own right as she is being recruited by high academic schools like Georgetown and Hofstra.

Garner has high praise for another class of 2017 guard tandem in his program. Sydney Wager of Phoenixville, Penn., is a skilled guard who Garner has nicknamed “White Chocolate.” Her silky smooth game has coaches from all over the nation calling to recruit her. While left-handed guard Ayanna Mazyck of Philadelphia, Penn., is a super aggressive wing that picked up interest from the University of Kentucky in the eighth grade.

Future:

Although Garner and the Freedom Stars have a number of well recruited prospects in the junior and sophomore classes, look for them to be a prominent team within the grassroots community for many more years after that. essay on my favourite game cricket Class of 2018 post Brittany Garner of Merecrville, N.J., already projects to be one of the best players to ever come through the Freedom Stars organization. After our evaluation of her at the Real Deal in the ‘Ville Shootout in July and at the End of the Road Championships in September, she quickly enters the picture as an ELITE 25 Watch-list player for her class.

Garner is joined by combo guard Natalie Rhine of Orefield, Penn, and forward Imani Lewis of Trenton, N.J. Both class of 2018 prospects project to be contributors for the Philly Freedom Stars in years to come. Coach Garner is not finished planting his seeds quite yet as he already has three middle school prospects that will be recruited heavily in upcoming years. Class of 2019 guards Kayla Burnett, Myasia Jackson and Taliyah Rahman have already positioned themselves for bigger things in the future.

Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com. The service is used by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves on the selection committee for the EBA All-American, Fab Five and Super 64 Camps. He has been involved in the community since 2002 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. He is also the publisher of CoachHemi.com You can reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on twitter @JLHemingwayPSB