by Shawn Nowlin
For die-hard sports fans in the community, every November, the same question is asked, “Who will win more games this year between the Patrick Henry High girl’s basketball team and the Lady Colonels?”
Fleming won 23 of its 30 games this year while their crosstown rivals won 17 out of 26 contests. During their three head-to-head match-ups, Fleming head coach Richard Wilson got the upper hand on his contemporary, PH head coach Blue Cook, twice.
The next best thing to winning a title for any high school player is being named All-State at season’s end. Of the thousands of girls that play basketball across the Commonwealth, only a select few annually earn that distinction.
This year’s honorees include Fleming freshman Amari Worsham and PH junior Jada Cook. Anytime Courtney Rice caught a Fleming or PH game this year, he says those two were clearly the best players on the court.
“I’m a huge high school basketball fan, and have seen some incredible players grace the hardwood over the years, many of who are currently competing on the college level,” Rice said. “Jada and Amari are right up there in terms of basketball IQ and work ethic. I think both have the talent to play at the Power 5 level.”
Jada’s season averages of 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals almost mirror Amari’s 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 assist averages.
Currently, Jada has 11 NCAA D-1 offers: Appalachian State, Gardner Webb, UNC Asheville, NC A&T, Presbyterian, Charleston Southern, Furman, Mount St. Mary’s, Monmouth, Radford, and Sacred Heart. At the trajectory she’s on, Amari will have the same opportunities, if not more when she is a junior.
Coaching his daughter is something Blue never takes for granted. One memory that both of them will forever cherish came during Jada’s freshman year.
“There is a picture of her guarding NC State commit Zaniah James, one of the best players in the nation at the time. While some would have been nervous, Jada just smiled and displayed tremendous composure. That’s how she approaches her studies and why she has a 3.8-grade point average. I told her that summer that if she puts in the work, she can finish her high school career as one of the most coveted players to ever come out of Roanoke,” Blue said.
He added, “Coaching Jada wasn’t the plan. Before becoming the head coach, I served as an assistant for two years. My overall record is 43 and 11. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people next year.”
