West Point player had a good travel hoops tour during July:
GDW Analysis:
WEST POINT: Two things went well for Laklin Shadix during the month of July.
Travel basketball and traveling.
The student athlete at West Point, about to start her sophomore year, plays travel hoops for the Southern Starz. The program is based out of Huntsville and has become well known for competing at a high range level.
Shadix and her 15 under teammates started their tour in July in Louisville, Kentucky at the EYBL event, "Run for the Roses."
The Starz compiled a lot of success in the "Bluegrass State" getting a No. 3 national seeding once the event concluded.
Shadix then worked her way into Chicago for the EYBL Nike National Championships.
More competition against quality foes from across the country, Shadix and the Starz would put themselves in the opportunity to display a sound formula when it came to being on the winning side.
The final weekend of July enabled Shadix to receive an invitation to the NCAA Basketball Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Shadix was placed on Team Presbyterian with the group playing five games in a span of three days.
The opposition consisted of teams from Portland, UC Irvine, Iowa, Cal Baptist and Princeton.
Shadix has been with the Starz organization for several seasons, moving up in age division play.
The 6'0" wing player received recognition as a prospect to watch coming from the Southeast Region.
Prior to July, Shadix and her West Point crew got in plenty of good time on the hardwood in AHSAA playdays.
West Point battled teams at Supreme Courts in Guntersville and would be seen by Gameday Weekly in events at Hartselle High School and Good Hope High School.
Shadix is the last of her sister family at West Point. Her older sister, Lexi, concluded her career with the Lady Warriors in 2020, earning a berth to the Elite Eight in the 5A playoffs.
Liberty, three years older than Laklin, said goodbye last season with West Point posting 24 victories for coach John Welborn and a good playoff run that got them to the Sweet 16 of Class 5A.
Liberty accepted an offer to play volleyball at Snead State Community College then new basketball coach Kenny Hill invited her to join the roster for 2024/25.
Laklin and her mates at West Point will go into the new season with optimism of more success to be achieved. Despite losing Liberty Shadix, Kylee Quinn and Hailee Wheeler to graduation, the Lady Warriors do return experience with Laklin in her sophomore season as well as the sister combination of Jaelyn and Camryn Faulkner, both sophomores as well. Kealie Harbison had a good summer and will provide shooting and perimeter scoring for this will be her junior year in a West Point uniform.
Basketball for Laklin has gone well in hand. She has seen 42 victories for her high school program the past two years with back to back area championships.
Her time in travel basketball has prospered for she has had the opportunity to be placed on a group with rising talent like Belle Hill of Mars Hill Bible, Reese Davis of Deshler and Ace Austin of Spring Garden.
Shadix also showed of being versatile. She mixed her hoops time with her volleyball team in July, taking part in playdays West Point served as host the 2nd and 4th weekend of the month.
The volleyball venture can officially start Monday when AHSAA allows teams to practice for the first time.
West Point has a new volleyball coach in Meagan Cagle, who built a winner at Cullman High School. GDW was able to see West Point use this situation to put themselves in a good position to challenge for the top spot in Cullman County and 5A, Area 15 this upcoming year.
Photo of Laklin Shadix (20) and the Faulkner sisters, Jaelyn and Camryn during the EYBL "Run for the Roses" in Louisville, Kentucky July 16.
Photo courtesy of the Shadix family.
