FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville Tech women’s basketball will field a seven-player roster full of new faces this season.
The Trojans begin play in late January, a start delayed by the NJCAA in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Head coach Henry Cowan said the shift to spring has provided his team, which will feature just one returner, time to develop and jell.
“We’ve been able to work on skill development,” the coach said. “But at the same time, the urge to get on the court is there all the time.”
Sophomore forward Rhiannon Hooper, who played in every game as a freshman, is the lone returner from last year’s squad.
“Rhiannon brings energy and consistency,” Cowan said. “She’s a team player, she holds herself accountable, and she’s a great student. You’re going to see a jump in her development this season, too.”
Joining Hooper in the frontcourt will be 5-foot-8 sophomore Alyssa Borja, a native of Seven Springs, N.C., and 6-foot-2 center Dominique Vassar.
“Dominique gives us size, but she’s also a natural leader,” Cowan said. “She’s vocal and encourages everybody on the team.”
Vassar is one of two players from Fayetteville’s Seventy-First High School on the team. Caliyah Bumbrey, who will be the Trojans’ shooting guard, is also a Seventy-First product.
Freshmen Makenzie Ranson of St. Pauls, N.C., Troyshika Shaw of Kinston, N.C., and Maya Carver of Frisco, Texas, flesh out the Trojans’ backcourt.
Cowan said the additions of Ranson, Shaw, Carver and Bumbrey to the Trojans’ backcourt will bolster the team’s strengths — shooting and defense.
Cowan said the team has come together quickly and adapted to the hurdles raised by playing through a pandemic.
“Obviously, this is difficult for athletes at every level, from high school up through the professionals,” Cowan said. “But the girls are staying positive, and they’re working for each other. We’ve got a good mix of players, and I’m excited.”