With women basketball players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese garnering national headlines at the professional level, and women’s college basketball getting as much attention as men’s, there’s never been a better time for women’s basketball at every level. But those pro and college teams have to get their stars from somewhere, and SPIRE Academy is doing its part.

Former SPIRE hooper and SEED Project alum, Khady Leye, who plays for Maryland’s Towson University as a freshman, was just named the Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Week. Playing in two games for the Tigers in the Puerto Rico Clásico, Leye averaged 12.5 points and 7 rebounds per game. Against Youngstown State, she had a career-high 19 points off the bench on 9-13 shooting.

Salma Khedr is another former SPIRE baller who’s doing her part to keep NCAA basketball exciting. Salma is a freshman at Western Kentucky University, and the Lady Toppers have racked up an impressive 7-2 record this year. Playing for SPIRE, Khedr showed WKU what she would bring to the court, averaging 16.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Congratulations to Khady Leye and Salma Khedr on their post-SPIRE achievements! We look forward to hearing (and reading) more about these two hoopin’ hotshots, and we’re sure we will.