Meet the inaugural Link Academy girls' basketball roster for the 2023-24 season
The Link Academy boys made the GEICO Nationals title game in its first three years of existence. We'll now see how the Link Academy Lady Lions fare in their inaugural season.
Link Academy is set to debut its girls' high school program with Brad Soucie as the head coach. He served as the Liberty University men's basketball associate head coach for six seasons and has 27 years of coaching experience at the Division I level — 21 being alongside Liberty men's head coach Ritchie McKay at different spots during his lengthy coaching career.
Here's a look at the first Lady Lions roster.
Regan Williams, 2024
Williams is a Kansas signee from Kansas City. She was a three-year starter at Park Hill South where she scored 10.6 points and grabbed 6.9 rebounds per game last season. Kansas coach Brandon Schneider praised her motor, versatility on defense and rebounding.
More: How Link Academy turned into a national power in 2 years — and what's next for the school
Journey Taylor, 2024
Taylor is a 5-foot-8 point guard from Irving, Texas. She's touted as a solid defender. Details on her collegiate recruitment are limited.
Ja'Nyla Bush, 2024
Bush may be the prize recruit of the Beth Cunningham era so far at Missouri State. She could be the Lady Bears' point guard of the future after winning two state championships including one at Vashon last year where she averaged 15.4 points while shooting 49% from the field and 40% from deep.
Yves Cox, 2024
Cox is an athletic 6-foot-4 forward out of the Dallas area who holds offers from Abilene Christian, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Howard, South Carolina State and others. She averaged 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds last year.
More: Branson's Link Academy wins GEICO Nationals championship in second year as a program
Bre'Aria Cannon, 2024
A 6-foot-0 shooting guard from Tennessee, Cannon recently signed to play college ball at Eastern Kentucky. She's one who can score from all over the court and is praised for her speed on the court.
Camiah Muldrow, 2025
Muldrow is a 5-foot-7 combo guard from Atlanta who moved to Branson. She was considered one of Georgia's top combo guards in her class before moving.
Paelyn Gilmore, 2027
Gilmore is another incoming local freshman who decided to go the Link route instead of playing for Republic. She's a 5-foot-3 guard whose shooting ability is already receiving plenty of praise.
Gabrielle Troy-Mebane, 2026
Troy-Mebane is a 5-foot-8 standout from North Carolina. She stood out as a freshman who averaged 9.6 points per game and was celebrated for her shooting ability.
More: Link Academy wins 2023 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions over Sunrise Christian in first appearance
Anaya Perry, 2027
Perry is a 5-foot-7 guard from Springfield who elected to start her college ball with the Lady Lions. She is the younger sister of former Kickapoo standout and current Marquette guard Zaide Lowery.
Lailah Hatcher, 2025
Hatcher is a 5-foot-7 guard from Kansas City. She holds an offer from Kansas City and is praised for her handles and ability to pull up for a jumper. She's a standout with her summer Missouri Pheom program and is ranked as the No. 28 player in the state, according to Prep Hoops.
Sami Mancini, 2025
Mancini is a Webb City prospect who is bound to attract a lot of college attention. The Dominant Dozen selection from a year ago is a 6-foot-6 center who averaged 17 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1% from the field. She holds offers from Missouri State and Vanderbilt while also receiving plenty of attention from Oklahoma State.
Chanel Shuler, 2026
Shuler is a 6-foot-3 power forward from Texas. She was ranked as Prep Hoops' No. 1 power forward in her class before moving and No. 22 overall. She's touted as a powerful player at both ends of the floor and for how well she plays defense.
Brooklyn Brandon, 2027
Brandon is a 5-foot-9 forward and another Springfield prospect who will start her basketball career playing on a national schedule. Brandon, Perry and Gilmore played together through the Stingers Basketball program.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Link Academy 2023-24 girls' high school basketball roster
