Reana Mohamed will be looking for a break out season for TMLA. (Kendall Rodriguez)
When asked about his backcourt, Mary Louis coach Kevin White’s response was simple.
“We will be OK,” he said with a smile.
That’s easy to say when you have a trio of talent guards led by George Mason-bound senior Karin Robinson, a junior in Reana Mohamed primed for a breakout season and a budding sophomore in Jasmine Nwajei. All three are creative off the dribble and can score at will for stretches.
“I think even if they double we always have someone we can look for to pass it to,” Mohamed said. “I think we can be really good and explosive.”
The 5-foot-6 Robinson, who is in her fourth season on the varsity, is one of the city’s best all-around players. She matured both on and off the court last season. Robinson, who was named a team captain, showed the ability to dominate games on both ends of the floor as evident by her 30-point, 20-rebound performance against Archbishop Molloy last year. She wants to contribute more than stats as she looks to be consistent, more vocal and a leader with TMLA striving to again be in the upper tier of CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Division I.
“She has to run the team more,” said White, who stepped in after Joe Lewinger took a leave of absence. “She has to be accountable for her actions because everybody sees her as one of the better players in the city. She is enormously talented. She has no idea how good she can be.”
Mohamed is hoping to show off her talents, including an improved jump shot, on a nightly basis. The junior is a great slasher to the basket and excels in the transition. Nwajei is still a raw talent, but scored 48 points during a regular-season game against Bishop Loughlin on the JV last year. Both have put in extra work on their perimeter games. Sophomore Kristen Podlovits and junior Deirdre Ray will add depth in the backcourt.
“I think it’s going to be an excellent experience,” Robinson said. “Jasmine is young, but she is crafty with the ball and so is Reana.”
The Hilltoppers, who fell to Christ the King in last season’s Brooklyn/Queens title game, won’t be the deadly 3-point shooting team they were a year ago with the graduation of Jackie Kresse, Jackie Hogan and Kelly McNamee, nicknamed “The Bomb Squad.” They lost eight seniors, but will be bigger and deeper in the front court. Injuries and inexperience left Avis Benjamin as the lone post with any size and defensive stopper Christy Calderon played bigger than she was.
“Every post player that we needed seemed to have something against them,” senior Julia O’Connor said. “Just this year having height in the post and on the wing just helps.”
O’Connor, who transferred from the Convent of the Sacred Heart last season, needed a season to adjust to the physical and mental challenges that come with playing in Brooklyn/Queens. The NYU-bound forward spent the offseason getting stronger and shooting more.
“I put up shot after shot this summer,” she said. “I can’t even remember the number.”
Junior Liz Gully, who is 6-foot, is back after missing nearly all of last season with an ankle injury. TMLA got a talented transfer in versatile 6-foot forward Brianna Harris from St. Anthony’s. The Pace-bound senior fits perfectly into the Hilltoppers’ up tempo style and can be a threat both in the post and on the perimeter.
“She is quick, fast on her feet and creative with the ball,” Robinson said. “I thought she was the last key to our team – the last piece.”
TMLA has been among the elite of Brooklyn/Queens in recent years. It’s a place they plan on staying with Christ the King, emerging Bishop Ford and new addition Nazareth, which has been the talk of the league.
“Everyone forgot about Mary Louis,” Mohamed said. “But we can be a little X-factor team.”