Today’s AAU spotlight is on an organization that appears to get bigger and stronger each year. Four years ago Tom Sclafani, President of Coaches Choice USA joined forces with the Long Island Lightning who has the largest AAU program in the County, with 110 girl’s team’s alone. Currently there are 26 teams under Coaches Choice Lightning in NY/NJ. Last year Lightning basketball sent over 40 players to scholarship schools. However, when you talk about the Coaches Choice teams in New Jersey, there is only one place to start, and that’s with the premier Lightning team in NJ the team Miller Lightning 16U out of Central Jersey. The team is made up of stud players from around the state, and is coached by Lance Miller, the former Standout at Villanova University.
Team Miller is loaded with talent
TEAM MILLLER
Lance Miller was a star for Villanova
Coach- Lance Miller– Lance Miller has put his team, Team Miller on the map with hard work and put together a number of kids that may not have name recognition to the average fan, but who are not strangers to coaches. Miller trains all the kids in his program and actively plays in tournaments throughout the state. He has tremendous confidence in his players and believes they can play with anyone on the AAU circuit. Lance Miller was a great player while at Villanova, so he knows the work a kid must put in on the court. Miller’s team is loaded with a Player of the year, a Defensive Player of the year and All Country players. Miller has put together a team that will make coaches at every level smile. His team is easily one of the must see groups in April and July.
THE ROSTER
ADREANA MILLER- FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL– 5’10”- Senior- Swing Guard
One of the best players in New Jerey
She was the Somerset County Player of the year. She is the daughter of Lance Miller and, she has acquired the same deadly shooting stroke of her father. Miller is long and athletic; she can put the ball on the floor against any type of pressure. The Shooting range is that of a major college shooter. She can defend 3 positions right now. When she gets out in transition its light out…There is no question she is one of the best players, not only in Central Jersey, but the state as well…This is a MM lock if I have ever seen one. Also one of the nicest kids and families you will deal with…GREAT STUDENT TO BOOT!….This is the TOTAL PACKAGE folks.
MARY TROSSI- FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL– 5’4”- Senior- Point Guard
Trossi is a born leader
She was All Somerset County and one of the best floor generals in New Jersey with her blazing quick speed and total understanding of the game. She gets shooters and post players in the game, but knows when to take over on offense. Mary has the ability in transition to stop and shoot, or make the RIGHT pass. Trossi is a bulldog on defense, and one of the main reasons Franklin high school was ranked Top 5 in the state for most of the season. She is in the same category of PG as Morris, Campbell and Karcz of the Shore Conference. If she was in the shore, she would be a household name. Her leadership skills cannot be overstated and she is one of the most well liked and coach- able kids you will ever meet…MUST SEE POINT GUARD…
JADA WILDGOOSE- FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL– 5’10- senior- Forward
The “Goose is on the loose(in the Dark uniform)
Another All Somerset Country player and maybe the most underrated player in that county. This 5’10” forward does whatever it takes for her team. NOBODY PLAYS HARDER OR COMPETES HARDER. She attended NBS last fall and played against all the so called studs, and how do you say it…”kicked ass”. There may be those who question her size…MISTAKE! She will bury the 19 ft jumper and has an insane first step. Make no mistake when the goose is on the loose, she is tough to control. There are very few forwards with her passing skills. Her ability to beat you off the dribble and find shooters is rare in young players. THERE IS ZERO QUESTION in my mind that this young lady is a D1 player, because I watched in the fall against no less than 7 forwards who will be wearing D1 uniforms next year and she did damage to them….Jada Wildgoose is a total sleeper, so coaches pay attention if you want to steal one.
DAYNA SCALFANI- EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL– 5’10”- Senior- Guard
A program kid all the way!
Sclafani was a First Team All Middlesex County Player and a true winner. This is the true definition of a program kid. East Brunswick was dead for all practical purposes when she arrived 3 years ago. Last year East Brunswick was the #1 seed in the county, get the picture? Maybe her taking over 30 charges may move you, what about having one of the best shooting percentages in the county despite teams game planning for her most nights. What about her playing point as a junior and this year playing 3 positions. This is an old school folks… a kid who wins and cares less about numbers. How she is not the defensive player of the year is beyond me. Either the county doesn’t have one or maybe she doesn’t look the role. No jumping up and down and looking for attention. She slipped into NBS last year and made it clear from day one that she can play with anyone, without an adjustment because she knows how to play. I LOVE THIS KID, because she makes everyone around her better!...
JANE MAYFIELD- RUMSON HIGH SCHOOL– 5’6”- Senior- Guard
Mayfield may have the biggest upside of any player in the Shore
She was the Hoop Group Defensive Player of The Year. She is the best on ball defender in the state, and until I see a better one I’m sticking to my story. Now here is what nobody knows, she has the biggest upside of any kid in the shore conference. She is now finishing at the rim, and if she can do that, trust me she is a 1st Team All Shore type player. No guard in the shore has her combination of strength and speed. Her improvement in finishing at the rim could be the story of the spring. She is rapidly developing a stand still three point shot that will no doubt shock coaches this spring. Jane Mayfield folks has arrived, and with that expect a number of D1 schools to now be fighting for her signature…oh will I was right again!
Samantha Famulare- FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL– 5’9”- Senior- Guard
Sam shooting another winning shot!
She was a Hoop Group All Shore member and you know what that means. Go check the history of kids who have made All Shore… Yup, they were D1 uniforms. No kid in the Shore Conference hit more game tying or game winning shots last year. She is a not just a big time shooter, but she is also a big time scorer. Famulare can get to the rim and to the foul line as good as any pure shooter you know. Then throw in the fact that she is a big time defender who plays hard on every play with purpose! This young lady is special and another kid who will not fold under the pressure. She lives for the big moment and the big shot. Remember a lot of players want the big shot, but can’t make it. This kid can make the big shot. There is no question this kid should be on every coaches must see list and if you need a true scorer who does little things… congratulations Sam Famulare is your answer.
MELISSA HEATH- NORTHERN HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL– 6’1”- Senior- Forward
She is the Player of The Year In Bergen County. I have had a former Division one coach tell me she is one of the best players in the entire state. She already has D1 offers and it appears her upside is huge. Why? She is just coming into her body, as she has is getting stronger each year. But for now her ability to score and knock out 15 foot jumpers make her a player all coaches like. No question this is a young lady I am looking forward to watching play… All signals say this is the real deal.
TESS RICHARDSON- HUNTERDON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL– FORWARD
Athletic forward I will revisit down the road
MARAINE HARRIS KUIPER….WILL REVISIT AT A LATER DATE
SPECIAL NOTE
Team Miller Lightning 8th/9th grade teams are loaded and I mean loaded. Most of the kids on this team will be impact players the moment they enter high school. The Crawford twins will one day be First Team All-County players. Nicole Johnson is a future first team All-County. Diamond Miller who is only in the 7th Grade is a 5’9 point guard who can shoot, pass, score and many believe is one of the best 7th graders in the state. The rest of the group will one day be names all coaches will want to know.
The Coaches Choice Lightning Caverly is another 8th grade team made up of studs. Lead by two future all Shore Conference studs, Christina Antonakakis and Rosé Caverly this team will be playing Team Miller in the State Final May 3. Both of these young ladies will be impact freshman in the shore and both will be on every college’s wish list one day.
FINAL THOUGHTS-
Team Miller is now an elite program. Lance Miller has taken an area that was a basketball desert into a basketball oasis. There is so much talent in this organization, its almost shocking at times…
UP NEXT…THE MASONIOUS WILDCATS