High-Flying Hamilton Heights Lady Hawks Return 4 Starters

Massengill, Balogun Expected To Lead Squad This Year

  • Tuesday, November 7, 2017
  • special to The Chattanoogan.com
Hamilton Heights' Lady Hawks went 28-2 last season and with four returning starters hope to be ranked among the nation's top 10 teams this year.
Hamilton Heights' Lady Hawks went 28-2 last season and with four returning starters hope to be ranked among the nation's top 10 teams this year.

The Hamilton Heights Lady Hawks have high hopes entering the 2017-2018 basketball season and they appear equipped to meet those high expections.

The Lady Hawks return four starters from last year’s team that went 28-2 and was the runner-up in the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Championship in New York City. Most national ranking services have indicated that the Lady Hawks will be ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams.

Hamilton Heights will participate in 10 national events, including the prestigious Title IX Holiday Classic in Washington, D.C., the Raatz / O’Shea Classic in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Memphis vs The World in West Tennessee.

The girls will conclude their scheduled season at the National Association of Christian Athletes National Championship in Dayton, Tennessee, but hope to also make a strong postseason run.

The Lady Hawks return two seniors who are nationally ranked by ESPN 6-foot-1 Elizabeth Balogun (No.

25) and 6-1 Jazmine Massengill (26).

Balogun has verbally committed to Georgia Tech and Massengill has committed to Tennessee.

The girls’ program also returns sophomores, 6-7 Kamilla Cordova and talented 6-1 Treasure Hunt.

Cordova is ranked third in the nation by ESPN and the top-rated post player while Hunt is ranked No. 10 nationally and the country’s No. 1 wing.

The Lady Hawks also return sophomore Ruth Balogun, who has added tremendous skills and strength to her game. And 6-2 junior, Jessica Jitoboh, rounds out the returning players for the Hamilton Heights squad.

Joining the Lady Hawks this year is a 5-6 senior from Portugal, Marta Rodriguez, who is already garnering NCAA Division 1 attention.

Also on the roster is Chattanoogan 5-6 Alivia Smith.

Rounding out the Lady Hawks are a pair of juniors from the Dominican Republic -- Esmery Martinez and Maria Manzano. Both girls participated in the Nike Basketball Without Borders this summer, where the 6-2 Manzano was selected the tournament’s MVP.

Hamilton Heights is coached by Keisha Hunt and her assistants are Jame Stone and Raven Hunt. Cameron Russell is the Hawks Strength and Conditioning Coach.

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)

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