NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – After an extensive national search, The Apprentice School Director of Athletics Jeff Egnot has named Ieshia Small the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach for the Builders.

“I am super honored and blessed to be given the opportunity to lead this program,” said Small. “To be able to give back to the game that helped groom me to who I am today is something I am very appreciative of. I am looking forward to using my basketball experience and connections to this area and program to build the culture of not only winning basketball games, but setting these women up for their careers after going through The Apprentice School.”

Small has spent the last two seasons on staff as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator while also serving as an Assistant Athletic Director for the Builders. Her responsibilities as Assistant Athletic Director have included athletic facilities oversight as well as day-to-day athletic operations support. Small also assists with event management of all athletic events and helping to coordinate external and special events to promote Apprentice Athletics.

“Throughout the interview process that saw applicants from all over the nation, Ieshia really stood out as the clear choice to take our women’s basketball program to the next level,” said Egnot. “She has the basketball IQ and coaching experience to push this program to the forefront of the USCAA and also the ability to get young women to want to be a part of this historic program here at The Apprentice School. We could not be more excited for the future of the women’s basketball program!”

Small came to Apprentice after playing five seasons internationally, including in China, Hungary, Ukraine and Poland. She averaged over 14 points per game in her career as a professional. She graduated from Maryland in 2018 and has also been an assistant coach for 17u Nike EYBL for Essence Girls since 2018. Small was a former McDonald’s All-American in high school and won two Big 10 regular season championships during her career as a Terrapin.

Additionally, Small was a Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida during her high school campaign and won Big 10 Sixth Woman of the Year in her senior season at Maryland.

What They Are Saying About Ieshia
“Ieshia is a fantastic hire for The Apprentice School!  She comes from a championship pedigree and knows how to win.  Ieshia is a fantastic communicator and connector who will outwork anyone.  She is a rising star in the profession.  Under Ieshia’s guidance, these young women will grow, mature, and learn in every aspect of life both on and off the court. She will have an immediate impact on all of them.”
– Brenda Frese, Head Basketball Coach, University of Maryland 

“Ieshia Small has the basketball IQ and passion to lead the Apprentice School Women’s Basketball program. In this role, she will create an environment for the players to grow mature and become productive citizens while winning championships.”
– Kimberly Davis Powell, Program Director/Head Coach over Essence Girls basketball Nike EYBL
McDonald All-American voter

“The Apprentice School hit a home run with this hire! Coach Ieshia understands everything it takes to create a winning culture that will lead to success on and off the court. She will immediately elevate the program.”
– Britney Anderson, Assistant Coach, Illinois Women’s Basketball 

“Ieshia is a great hire for all the right reasons, She’s a winner, values family and culture and she’s authentic. Whether as a player or coach she finds a way to bring great energy every single day. She’s been apart of numerous successful programs as a coach and a player so she knows what it takes to run a successful program.”
– Chris Ayers, Assistant Coach, Clemson Women’s Basketball 

Image and story courtesy Apprentice Athletics/Walker McCrary

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Due to hardships and injuries within the program, the remainder of the 2024-25 Apprentice School women’s basketball season has been canceled.

Any single game tickets purchased for remaining home games for the women’s season will be refunded within 3-5 business days.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

DIX HILL, N.Y. – Amaya Ray recorded her second triple-double of the season as #8 Apprentice won a 79-46 contest over #14 Five Towns Friday night.

The Builders (8-6) opened the game on a 10-2 run and continued to stretch their lead throughout the entirety of the contest, leading by as many as 35 points late in the third quarter.

Ray finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to get her second triple-double of the year and in program history. The sophomore guard finished two steals shy of a quadruple-double. Ashawnti Williams was one steal shy of a triple-double, recording 10 points and 12 boards.

Jada Eleby finished with a game-high 23 points, while Jada Bryant had another double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Apprentice will be back in action tomorrow at #12 Berkeley with tipoff set for 1 p.m.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Jada Bryant had a game high 33 points as eighth-ranked Apprentice took down visiting Massasoit Sunday afternoon in the MLK Classic 72-43.

The teams traded leads early, but with the score tied 4-4, Apprentice (7-5) ended the first quarter on a 16-0 run to take a 20-4 lead. The Warriors (3-7) cut the margin to as few as 11 in the second quarter before the Builders pulled away in the second half.

Bryant’s 33 points is good for a tie for seventh place in the Apprentice all-time single game scoring record. She brought along 18 rebounds to get her seventh double-double of the season. Jada Eleby finished with 12 while Nyla Jackson had 10. Amaya Ray pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out eight assists.

The Builders will next be in action against Virginia State, ranked 10th in NCAA Division 2, on Tuesday on the road. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School women’s basketball team opened up their 2024 portion of the season with a 57-48 win over Virginia Wesleyan Wednesday night.

After a tightly contested first period, the Builders (6-4), ranked eighth in the USCAA Division 1, opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run to push a two-point lead into double digits. The lead hung around 10 points for the majority of the game until the start of the fourth quarter when Apprentice used a 7-0 start to the final period to take its largest lead of the day at 16 points, 50-34.

The Marlins (3-11) battled hard to trim the lead to as few as seven with under two minutes to play, but the Builders hit shots in the waning moments to quell any momentum in the visitors’ favor.

Jada Bryant led all scorers with 17 points, adding 13 rebounds to her tally for a double-double, her sixth of the year and third straight. Jada Eleby finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards. Nyla Jackson had 11, while Ashawnti Williams put up 10.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com