It takes a special type of player to become a fan favorite in New York City. It takes grit, fearlessness and undeniable skill to captivate the hearts of the people of New York. 

In 2018, there are few players that are as popular in New York as Dashawn Davis. Honestly, what is there not to like to about Dashawn? Davis is from the Bronx, Edenwald Projects to be exact. Davis is tough as nails on and off the court. Make no mistake about it, the talented combo guard is must see in NYC on the courts right now. He embodies what the city represents. So while many are making their mass hiatus, the crafty combo guard is pulling the city as close as possible. 

Davis loves Dyckman. Davis loves Our Savior Lutheran. Davis loves New York.. and they all love him back. 

Recently we sat down with Davis to discuss playing for the New York Lightning, his recruiting process, his thoughts on numerous players leaving NYC and more. -Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter

Tough - marked by absence of softness, very hard to influence, uncomprimising  determination.

Angel Reese is tough.

The Team Takeover forward is the type of player you want on your side for sure. She’s relentless offensively, constantly attacking the rim. Defensively she’s a game changer. Reese is vocal and active. She never backs down or lets up. It’s no surprise that she’s a top 20 player in the class of 2020.

Recently we sat down with Reese to discuss playing for Team Takeover, Playing on the EYBL circuit, her mindset defensively and more. - By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter

When I was 9 years old, I talked to my parents about playing basketball in between track season. I tried it out and fell in love with the game. I come from a sports family. My mom ran track at the University of Tennessee and my dad played football at Middle Tennessee and went on to play in the NFL.

“I'm a playmaker, and I'm going to score. At the end of the day, my job is to put the ball in the basket.” -The Flash, a.k.a. Dwyane Wade

“I Get Buckets,” is a term used far too often by today’s youth. Scoring, is an art form. We have all seen players score at a torrid pace for a short period of time. The few players that can get a basket, regardless of the help defense stacked against them, are special.  The “40 Ball,” is chased by many, but attained by few.

Today we start a new feature series called “Running The Wings,” which discusses the the fine art of scoring from the wing spot (or shooting guard, small forward) on the floor. Make no mistake about it, the players in this section, get buckets.

Next up is Breanna Beal. The dynamic scorer plays AAU basketball on the Nike EYBL for the Midwest Elite. According to ESPN, Griffin is ranked #12 in the 2019 class.- By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter.

Words by Jaida Patrick, as told to Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter

My first couple of year of high school I went to Long Island Lutheran. That was an amazing experience. The atmosphere was very rigorous and tough, but in a good way. Practices were long. The training aspect was intense and I loved it. I love my coach there as well. I ended up transferring for family reasons after my sophomore year.

“I'm a playmaker, and I'm going to score. At the end of the day, my job is to put the ball in the basket.” -The Flash, a.k.a. Dwyane Wade

“I Get Buckets,” is a term used far too often by today’s youth. Scoring, is an art form. We have all seen players score at a torrid pace for a short period of time. The few players that can get a basket, regardless of the help defense stacked against them, are special.  The “40 Ball,” is chased by many, but attained by few.

Today we start a new feature series called “Running The Wings,” which discusses the the fine art of scoring from the wing spot (or shooting guard, small forward) on the floor. Make no mistake about it, the players in this section, get buckets.

Next up is Aubrey Griffin. The dynamic scorer plays AAU basketball on the The Hudson River Breeze. Last season, Griffin posted a guardy stat line of 28 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals per game.  According to ESPN, Griffin is one of the top 60 players in the 2019 class.- By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter.

Jordyn Oliver is a quiet storm. Relentless, yet controlled. Her game grabs your attention but isn’t overbearing. Oliver can fill up the box score without dominating the ball. Her game, like the genre of music, is smooth. There isn’t much Oliver can’t do on the floor. She scores at will, but is a tremendous passer. She loves to hit the glass and can defend multiple positions. It’s not far-fetched to think that Oliver may be the best two way guard in the class of 2019.

Recently we sat down with Jordyn at the Nike EYBL Nationals in Chicago to discuss playing for CY Fair, marketing of WNBA players, why Texas has the best basketball in America and more.  --By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter

I first started playing basketball at Sanford when I was in the 8th grade. I played on varsity my first year. It was a bit hard adjusting to the speed at first, but through the years I have gotten better. My coach and I have developed a very strong relationship. I can talk to him about anything. He was there for me throughout the recruiting process. My time at Sanford has been great. I love the school and appreciate everything they have done to support me in the classroom and  on the court.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Nothing is better than the July Live Period!

Scouts, fans and college coaches pack gyms to catch the next great star. As media and fans we have our viewpoint on the event, but nothing is more authentic and pure than the view of the athlete. It's only right that we hear things from the players themselves and view things through their eyes. Below is the diary entry by Kateri Poole at the Bluestar 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the diary, Poole discusses her journey at the camp. -as told to Christian Mordi @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter

The dawn of a new era.

The Patrick School is known nationwide as one of the premier basketball programs in the United States. Players come from all over the tri-state area to be apart of the program. One of the key factors to staying relevant is to always be ahead of the curve in regards to the needs of the basketball community. Coach Chavannes has done that with his new initiative called The New Jersey Basketball Academy.

The cutting edge program will mesh high level basketball training with a strong school curriculum. Coach Chavannes will provide the best of both worlds in regards to books and basketball in an effort to prepare kids for the next level.

Recently we sat down with The Patrick School Coach Chris Chavannes to discuss D.J. Sackmann, The New Jersey Basketball Academy and more. - by Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Instagram and Twitter