The Wisconsin LadyStars was established in 1998 to educate, develop team building skills, and illustrate the benefits of hard work and determination. The mission of the organization is two-fold with both the athletic and youth development components being of equal importance.

When this mission is accomplished the LadyStars program assists young ladies in their goals of playing Division 1 basketball on full scholarships...that is our goal...and we have been successful!

         

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of
self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the
best that you are capable of becoming."

- Coach John Wooden

"When I am playing basketball, I am playing to win...NOT to score...Not to Rebouund, or excel in a particular area...BUT to WIN!! That means I am a REBOUNDER, a SCORER,  a PASSER, EVEN...a CHEERLEADER!! It means I'm to be an example of what having a WINNING ATTITUDE is all about!! I'll have an attitude of UNSELFISHNESS that keeps me "craving" for more CHAMPIONSHIPS for my team, NOT "GLORY" for myself!! It means I will set an example at EVERY practice by practicing HARDER than anybody else!! It means I will "CHALLENGE" myself, I will set GOALS!! It means, I will think WE and NOT "ME" , EVERYTIME I step onto the COURT!!

- Magic Johnson, by way of Terri Mitchell - Marquette Woman's Head Coach

Thoughts From Lisa Leslie

Q: What advice do you have for high-school athletes that want to play college or pro sports?

A: Take everything one step at a time. You need to be realistic about how hard it is to get an athletic scholarship or to make it to the professional level. You need to work just as hard in the classroom as you do on the court or ball field, not only to show the person recruiting you, but also because getting good grades in high school can lead to your being eligible to receive numerous academic-related scholarships. Very few athletic scholarships cover all the expenses that go along with attending college. The higher your grade point average and ACT/SAT scores, the better chance you have of obtaining more money to attend college.

Lisa Leslie,
University of Southern California All-American
Los Angeles Sparks forward
3-time Olympic basketball champion

June 29, 2008

The LadyStars Middle and High School teams exploded on the Madison scene by rolling over the competition to win the GOLD medals at the American Family Badger State Games!!  Both teams played extremely well, and the middle school team overcame great adversity after losing starting point Raven Major to a concussion earlier in the week with her Pius league team, and Jade Wong to a severe sprained ankle during pool play.  They finished the game with 6 players, since the other "Big 4"  8th graders play "up" with the high school team. Kudos to Coach Mike who coached a magnificent Championship game while challenging his team to come back from a 10 point deficit to win the GOLD!!

The high school team was in high gear winning the first game 36-13, the second game 62-25 and the last game 52-15!! It was truly a dominating team performance by a solid team that is peaking with 4 straight championships in a ROLL!! Next up the Adidas Jamboree in Naperville, IL. July 6, 2008...with a night Showcase game against the powerful Chicago Hoops Express II team...we will be ready!!

June 26, 2008

The Wisconsin LadyStars (15) team total outworked the Wisconsin Playground (17U) team tonight at the Children's Outing Association (COA) High School League Championship Game 36-22  NaNa Martin (Vincent HS 2010) was unstoppable, with 15 points and 20 rebounds!! Andrea Gilliam (DaCula High, Ga 2010), Gabby Levac (Arrowhead HS, LeHigh Recruit 2010)  and Sydney Howard (Vincent HS 2012) controlled and created the pressure, and our new kid on the block, Alexis Eckles (Rufus King 2012) attacked the basket from all directions, including several unbelievable reverse layups.  Jennifer Blunt (Riverside HS 2011, and Nafeshia Holifield (Shorewood HS 2012) worked with NaNa to control the backboards!!  A total team effort...peaking at the right time as we prepare for the July NCAA Evaluation Period. Almost forgot...in the Final Four Game...the !5U's beat up on the Wisconsin Together 17U team!! Our girls held them to 2 first half points...2 free throws!! That team included Ashley Birts (Vincent 2009), Morgan Woods (USM 2008), LaQuisha Young (Hope School 2008), Mercedes Clayton (Riverside 2008), and Shavon Dillard (Hope School 2009)...they had NO answer for the "Young Guns"...they passed the mantle!!

Kudo's to Janelle Adams who chose not to play against her LadyStars teammates, because as she said...she had her best AAU basketball years (2003-2007) with the LadyStars and could not play against us...she never did...that is loyalty...once a LadyStar...a LadyStar 4Life!! 

It was an ALL WI. LadyStars vs. WI. Playground Championship night!!  Our middle school team lost to WI. Playground in the earlier game.  The game was close most of the game until Playground made a down the stretch run...that we did not answer.  We were without Alexis Eckles(Rufus King HS 2012), who played in the COA middle school league with her schhol team Siloah MS, and was not eligible to play...in addition Sophie Lichte (Reedsburg HS 2012) was at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. playing against Sparta, WI  Top ranked HS summer team in an exhibition game before the MN. Lynx WNBA game...Sophie dominated with a double/double 15 points, and 15 rebounds...it certainly will be interesting when we see Playground's middle school  team again...the Rivalry continues!!

Dear Parents/Players:

First and foremost, I would like to thank ALL the parents that braved the torrential rains, wind and flooding to make it to Saturday’s days…it is a testament of your commitment to you daughter’s development and our club!!  We had a GREAT weekend, going 9-0 and winning 2 Championships in this weekend’s Laker Classic. Both teams were executing our plays very well, and playing as a unit.  To beat 4 Lakers teams in a roll, all by double digits, is a great accomplishment, and we should all be very proud!!  It is our 3^rd consecutive tournament Championship, and our 4^th overall this 2008 AAU season; including our 15-0 COA Middle School Winter League Championship in March.  Now…on to the Badger State Games June 27-28^th in Madison, WI…Let’s go for 5 in a roll!!

June 3, 2008

The Wisconsin LadyStars teams are headed to the Children'sOuting Association (COA) playoffs on next week as the #2 seeds after both finishing with 1 lost during the regular season. The 15U teams only lost was to the Wisconsin Together 16U team in Overtime, yet we beat there 17U team by 8.  We also beat Wisconsin Playgrounds 17U team by 7 in a close game, while we both had only 1 lost, and we gave them their only lost, we came into the league after the 3rd game; therefore they were 11-1 and we were 9-1, generating the #2 seed for us.

Both teams will start playoffs next week, the 15U team will play on next Monday at 6:45, the 13U/8th graders playoff schedule will follow.  COA is located on 24th and Burleigh if anyone is intersted in seeing the highly competitive play offs!!

Coach Dale Gilliam

May 27, 2008  

Congratulations to our 15U team players with the help of a couple key 13U players as we won this weekend’s FTG Curtis Hawkins Memorial Championship at UW-Parkside!!  Both Saturday games were close against Wisconsin Pride and the Racine Thunder (featuring Super Freshman Sam Logic), yet the team came out on Sunday and decisively won both games against the Lake County Challengers, the last game against the Illinois Magic 53-21!!

All the girls played well together!! After getting to either the Championship or Final Four in all our previous tournaments, it was great to get a BIG Championship as we move closer to the July NCAA Evaluation Period!!  Now we have to keep the Championship streak going as both teams get ready this Sunday at practice for next weekend’s Laker’s Classic tournament June 6-8, in Waukesha.  

May 23, 2008

Dear 15U Parents/Players:

April 25, 2008

Alexis Steward (Sheboygan North HS, Harvard U. Recruit 2009) and Sydney Howard (Vincent HS 2012) were both selected by the coaches that played against our team to the USJN Windy City Classic All-Star team!!  Both girls played exceptionally well, and both exchanged periods when they ran the team from the point guard position...congratulations to both Alexis and Sydney!!

Coach Dale Gilliam

April 20, 2008

The 15U Wisconsin LadyStars finished 12th out of 32 teams in the highly competitive Windy City Classic this weekend!!  The Windy City Classic is one of few Midwest April Period NCAA Evaluation Events. Our team took 2nd in Pool Play, and qualified for one of the 4 Prestigious Sunday Final 4's!! The NCAA will only allow a team to play in 5 games in a weekend.  Therefore all teams are competing for wins and "maximum" point spreads during Pool Play.  There were (8) 15U pools, all those Pool winners advanced to the top 2 Final 4's.  The team that won our Pool, the Minnesota Suns placed 4th, and their other 15U team placed second, so they had 2 teams in the Top Final 4 (1-4th)!! 

The LadyStars were in the first group of 2nd Place Pool Play finishers (9-12), and we played one of the top programs in the US, the St. Louis Sparks.  The test of a Champion, is to have the heart to fight back when you are down.  We were down by 2 at half, and their lead grew to 22 points in the second half!!  We found a group of girls that began to jell, and we fought back with a huge run to get the lead down to 5 with about 90 seconds left in the game!!

We fought so hard that we lacked the energy to close, and ended up losing by 7, YET they won by about 30 last year when we played them in Pool Play, so they KNOW when we see them next it will be our win!! The Sparks have an "uptempo" pressure, trapping, aggressive style of play, which very few of our girls experience, except when we play in USJN/NCAA Events. We will have to play more of these type of tournaments to prepare for the July NCAA Events, because when you get to the Final 4, you will see these type of teams.  If you can not handle the pressure, aggressive style of play, you certainly will get "blowed" out of the gym!!

You have to go with girls that are ready...NOW...aggressive...NOW...that is why it is called a "TEAM"...you have different players with different skill sets.  Good teams are not a one size fits all situations!! You need the ability to go to different players with different skill sets throughout the game. If something is working, you must stay the course to try and win the big games!! That is how good teams win...they have "unselfish" players and parents...YES parents...that have brought into the concept of...TEAM FIRST...the only concept that builds Championship teams!! 

We are commited to getting to a group of players and parents that are committed to the "TEAM FIRST"  concept, because as TEAM goes, so does each players opportunities increase exponentially!!  If the TEAM never makes it to the Final 4's, than no one will be seen by the college coaches!! Most girls get an opportunity in a big game, unless your child just does not fit at all with the style of play that the other team is displaying...a player MUST be effective right away to stay in a big game...we can develop "Big Game" mentality, YET it can not be developed in the BIG GAME...it is simulated in practice...that is where it is taught...in PRACTICE!! 

Coach Dale Gilliam 

April 13, 2008 

Next weekend is the USJN Windy City Classic, our April 2008 NCAA Evaluation Event. Division 1 and 2 College coaches can only come out 3 times per year, 1 weekend in April and October, and July 6-31st. We support the US Junior National's Windy City Classic since it's inception.

 Iowa State Univ. Cyclones; Kansas , Univ. of Jayhawks;  Louisville, Univ. of Cardinals;  Loyola Chicago, Univ. of Ramblers;  Massachusetts, Univ. of Minutemen;  Miami Univ. Hurricanes;  Michigan State Univ. Spartans;  Missouri , Univ. of Tigers;  Missouri State Univ. Bears;  Niagara Univ. Purple Eagles;  Northern Illinois Univ. Huskies;  Northern Iowa, Univ. of Panthers;  Notre Dame Univ. Fighting Irish;  Ohio State Univ. Buckeyes;  Ohio Univ. Bobcats;  Purdue Univ. Boilermakers;  Rice Univ. Owls;  South Dakota State Univ. Jackrabbits;  Southern Methodist Univ. Mustangs;  St. Louis Univ. Billikens;  Troy State Univ. Trojans;  Wisconsin , Univ. of Badgers,  Wisconsin-Green Bay, Univ. of Phoenix;  Wyoming, Univ. of Cowboys 

Division 2:

Lewis Univ. Flyers

Divsion 3:

Junior Colllege:

 Dodge City Comm. College Lady Conqs; Ellsworth Comm. College Panthers; Penn Valley Comm College Scouts

Coach Dale Gilliam 

March 6, 2008

Congratulations to the 13U/8th grade team that cruised 15-0 to the 2008 Children's Outing Association's Winter Middle School League Championship!! The team played a hard fought Championship, yet beat the Silver Spring Neighborhood 8th graders 25-12. 

Utilizing our trademark "pressure/trapping" defense, which caused havoc all night for our opponents!!  The team was lead by the strong leadership of Sydney Howard (8th) who was named the league and tournament MVP.  The team had solid guard play by starting point guard Alice Gilliam (6th), Jazzmin King (8th), and a new addition Raven Major (8th) who played well.  Kadiah Ford worked the glass well for us too in Nafeshia's abscence

The surprise of the team has been our new "twin towers" Jasmine & Jade Wong (8th) ...who both dominated the backboards and created tremendous pressure with their length and outstanding quickness.  The stead Morgan Harris (7th), who came off the bench and handle the pressure of the other team very well, Morgan's play was critical to weathering their mini run.

Both Nafeshia Holifield (Creighton University recruit/8th) and Kristin Kreh (just in from Pittsburg, Pa/8th) missed the Championship game for personal reasons, yet contributed mightly to the success of the team!! 

Again Congratulations to culminating the Winter Session with a solid performance and reaching our goal of running the table in the league!!

Coach Dale Gilliam     Coach Chuck Howard     Coach Mike King     Coach Tee Carson (new) 

Our current rosters and player profiles are available for your review.  Pictures will be added in the next week or so, as well as more detail information on player accomplishments...stay tuned!!

Coach Dale Gilliam 

June 13, 2008

We are fortunate to add 2 new Corporate Sponsors to our growing list of LadyStars supporters.  The first new sponsor being Kathy Levac's (Gabby's mom) firm, Health & Wellness Enterprises LLC and also Glen Quarry's (Kristen's step-dad) The Sound Quarry .

Please check out their firm's services and support their and all of the LadyStars Sponsors businesses!! 

March 17, 2008

Please take a look at our 2008 Wisconsin LadyStars Sponsors tab to the left!!!  These company's have joined the ranks of those that desire to give something back to their community, and get their logo's on the 2008 Wisconsin LadyStars Warm up Shooting Shirts.

Those Warm up Shooting Shirts and your logo will follow our girls throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and head to Memphis, Tennessee, and Indianapolis, Indiana. !!

We certainly will represent the State of Wisconsin and your company well!!  Please contact Coach Dale Gilliam for more information on Sponsorship...No sponsorship is too small for our club...they all help our girls reach their goals of being the Best in the Midwest!!

Don't forget to support our Sponsor's Products and Sevices...it is a great community gesture, yet they have meaningful products services to offer your families and businesses!!   Remember The Wisconsin LadyStars is an Affiliate of the National AAU and is a registered 501c3 Not for Profit Organization for tax deduction purposes.    

Coach Dale Gilliam

WOW...another feather in her cap...Janelle Adams was recently nomiinated for the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game!!  This is one of the greatest honors that could be bestowed on a high school basketball player!!

Janelle has been out until last week with what I call tired legs...she runs cross counrty for Rufus King in the Fall, plays big time hoops for King in the Winter(this year's City Conference Gold Division Player of the Year, she is a first team all conference Goalie on the King Soccer team, and has plays competitve AAU basketball all Spring and Summer!!

My advice to her was to concentrate on the Gold Ball...the State Championship...and rest those legs...of course she didn't and played the last game against Milwaukee Vincent on Friday to help King win the outright City Conference championship!!

What a girl!! She is doing us proud in LadyStars land!! 

Congratulations to Janelle Adams one of our favorite, explosive, most coachable players that ever wore a LadyStars uniform her 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. 

Janelle and her family selected Cleveland State University over several "High Major" Division 1 Programs  (see below Janelle's letters of interest while playing for the LadyStars). 

We wish Janelle the best and will be continue to support her during her Senior year at Rufus King High and beyond!!  

Adams makes choice

King standout picks Cleveland State

By ANTHONY WITRADO
awitrado@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Oct. 22, 2007

Milwaukee King basketball standout Janelle Adams has given an oral commitment to attend Cleveland State University, bypassing interest from the likes of Loyola, Duquesne, Boston College and Temple.

She chose Cleveland State because she said she had a high comfort level while taking her official visit. It didn't hurt that former teammate and 2006 City Conference player of the year Stephanie Crosley has already completed her first season at the school.

"I felt that it was just the right fit for me," Adams said. "The coaches made me feel comfortable.

"Stephanie was part of my decision, but not too much. It's nice that she's there, and people ask me that, but when I was thinking about the decision, sometimes I didn't even think about her."

Adams averaged almost 15 points last season to lead the Generals to a 21-3 record and into the state tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals to La Crosse Logan. Adams has started all three seasons she has played at King and is expected to be the team's catalyst this season. She also runs cross country and is an all-conference soccer player.

She was happy to make the decision before the season started, saying it takes some extra weight off her shoulders.

"It was getting kind of hard," Adams said. "I was just making all the visits, and I was missing a lot of school and some cross country meets."

King coach Alina Cunningham said it would be difficult to part with one of her favorite players.

"She's just an awesome kid," Cunningham said. "I can't even dream up a kid like her. It will be hard to let her go."

December 1, 2007

- This Sunday December 2, 2008: Practice at St. Aloysius (92nd & Greenfield) 5:00-7:00 PM (New start time!!)

- Next Weekend Saturday -Sunday December 8-9. 2008: FTG Winter Blast II - Libertyville, Illinois ( Near Gurnee, IL.)

- Sunday December 16, 2008: Practice at St. Aloysius (92nd & Greenfield) 5:00-7:00 PM (New start time!!)

- Saturday, December 29th, 2007, Heritage Christian HS. Holiday Tourney  - Milwaukee, WI. (One Day only)

- Saturday January 12, 2008: Practice at St. Aloysius (92nd & Greenfield) 2:00-4:00 PM (New Day and time!!)

- Saturday - Sunday, January 19-20th, 2008, Nicolet HS  Middle School Tourney - Milw., WI

- Saturday January 26, 2008: Practice at St. Aloysius (92nd & Greenfield) 2:00-4:00 PM (New Day and time!!)

- February and March Practice dates and times to follow (more tournament dates will probably be added)...

 - Saturday - Sunday Feb 23-24th, 2008, Midwest Hoopfest, Rockford, IL.