Aliyah Gregory Commits to UCF

Hard work pays for Senior guard Aliyah Gregory of Strawberry Crest HS as she is a future commit to UCF.  UCF Head Coach Joi Williams will be very satisfied with her rising star.  Coming into the season Gregory leads the girls basketball program with 22.1 PPG., 6.7 RPG., 5.9 SPG., 4.9 APG.  Crest as made another historic milestone with Gregory being their first female basketball player in the Crest era (2009-present) to be offered a NCAA Division 1 Athletic Scholarship.  Since 2009 when the doors of Strawberry Crest officially opened, the basketball programs for the boys and girls have produced multiple college bound athletes to play basketball on Scholarship( Reggie Burke II, Brandon Channer, and Devin Diggs).   This is a great accomplishment for a school to achieve in their first 5 years in existence.

Bay Area Hoops as been following Gregory since 2010-2011 her freshman year when she averaged 14.8 per contest. Gregory was always a raw but special talent.  Over time she has step to the challenge and made improvements in her game to help her basketball abilities to perform on the court.  Girls Coach La’tosha Lewis has stayed very stern with Gregory over the years and that has helped with her basketball growth.  In addition, she is no stranger to the class room with a 4.4 GPA.

Gregory was raised in a solid environment by parents Kim and Ramone Gregory. In a recent interview with Gregory she mentioned her inspirations and motivations to succeed.  “I am inspired by setting a good example for all of the younger players that look up to me as well as making my family proud. I had to overcome obstacles of losing my aunt at the end of my freshman year due to domestic violence and that left me a little hopeless for a while that was something tough to get through.”  Gregory stated switching AAU travel teams halfway through last summer (Essence last season to FGB Organization) was also tough.

They say some things make a person stronger and her case this unfortunate situations has done that.  “Faith is the reason I made it because I really had to trust in God in order to make it through the process and without God I wouldn’t have the skill set I have today.”

For the upcoming season which starts soon we expect nothing far from great from Gregory as she displays her growth and talent to:  her family, peers, and coaches.  Bay Area Hoops projects Aliyah Gregory to be the 2013-2014 Player of the Year.  Good luck Aliyah!!