Tip-Top Exposure
Covering the Southeast's Finest
RANKINGS * CAMPS * EVENTS
Origin of Girls' Exposure Basketball in the Southeast
History of Girls' BB Exposure in the Southeast
Growing up as the child of a high school teacher and basketball coach in Tangipahoa Parish and Kentwood, Louisiana, I have vivid memories of accompanying my father to state championship basketball and football games when I was six or seven. These experiences exposed me to many exceptional players from Louisiana and Mississippi, shaping my unique perspective.
Around age 10 or 11, a visit to Collis Temple, the first African American basketball player at LSU, introduced me to "STREET'S AND SMITH," the nation’s premier basketball publication. This magazine ignited my passion for basketball and player recruitment, leading me to eagerly anticipate each annual edition to study top talents from our region and nationwide.
This passion fueled my desire to assess players and follow their journeys through college and into professional careers. At a young age, I delved into recruiting evaluation, which eventually led me to promote girls' basketball talent in the Southeast.
Initially, my focus was on boys' basketball. During college, I started coaching boys' AAU basketball, searching for promising players and guiding them to AAU State Tournaments and BC All-Star Camps. My involvement with the BC All-Stars from 1981 to 1988 was pivotal, laying the groundwork for establishing the premier girls' basketball exposure camp in the Southeast, "Stars of the South". which thrived from 1994 to 2005.
Our camp, "Stars of the South", and our tournament, the "Deep South Classic," were the first major platforms for showcasing girls' basketball talent in the Southeast. While many notable events have emerged since then, these were the pioneers.
The success of girls' exposure basketball in the Southeast wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering commitment of some remarkable trailblazers.
They dedicated their time and resources to bring the best players to our "elite" exposure events and showcases.
The Trailblazers
**Alabama**
Denise & Gerrod Johnson - Birmingham - AL Roadrunners
Emmanuel Bell (RIP) - AL Roadrunners
Kevin Thornton - Gulf Coast
Mike Ellen - AL Elite
Coach Killings - Birmingham
**Arkansas**
None
**Florida**
Kimberly Davis-Powell - Tallahassee - Essence Kaola King - Fort Lauderdale HS
Steve Martin - Orlando area
Miguel Diaz, Paul Torres, Obel Cruz
- Miami Suns
Denise Novak - Miami Edison HS
James Henry
Stanley Robinson - Tampa
LaDawn
(John McGraw - came later)
**Georgia**
Kevin Powell - GA Liner 76ers
Ken Griffin - GA Liner 76ers
Guy Coleman - GA Dream Team - Stars of the South - Founder
Anthony Jackson - GA Dream Team
Tim Phelps - GA Dream Team
Mike Woods - GA Jaguars - Columbus
Lonnie Freeman - Columbus (RIP)
Joe Foster - Blazers
Sylvester Waller - GA Dream Team
**Kentucky**
Jay Collins
**Louisiana**
Jack Harrell - Baton Rouge
Matt Young - New Orleans
Terry Addison - Greensburg
Errol Rogers - Lafayette
Gerald McGee - Baton Rouge
**Mississippi**
Ted Williams - Jackson, MS
Virginia Jackson- Jackson - Jackson, MS Faye Norris - Jackson, MS
**North Carolina**
Delaney Rudd - Greensboro
Marlon Hardy - Fayetteville
Dee Hardy - Fayetteville
George Williams - Fayetteville
Brian Robinson - Winston Salem Stealers Ovester Graves - Durham - Triangle Lady Knights
Earnie Norris - Raleigh
Wendell Holmes - Raleigh area
Dorian Williams - Fayetteville
**South Carolina**
Lamont Wakefield - Greenville area
LaCheryl Smith - Greenville area
Willis Holiday - Clemson area
John Ross - SC Stars
Charles Eubanks - SC Stars
Tim Valentine - Greenville Area
Jerome Dickerson - Palmetto 76ers
**Tennessee**
Jeff Woodard - Memphis - Blues City Runners
Cleve Harris - TN Tigers
Ross Jordan - TN Tigers
These individuals have witnessed numerous outstanding players. If there are others who deserve recognition, please send a text to 678-673-8241 to have them added.
The Stars of the South and USA Stars have seen over 100 WNBA Draft picks emerge from their camps and events. Notably, six of the top
25 WNBA scorers have participated in our events.
All-Time WNBA Scorers
Seimone Augustus (LA)
DeWanna Bonner (AL)
Candice Dupree (FL)
Sylvia Fowles (FL)
Maya Moore (GA)
Lindsey Whalen (MN)
Many great players have showcased their talents at our events. The list is extensive, but their contributions are undeniable.
This is magazine that started my drive to evaluate talent:
1976-77 Street's and Smith
BC was instrumental in the development of exposure basketball. Click on the image below. Look under the state of Louisiana on the page—Coleman, that's me.
