Plymouth Whitemarsh seniors Kaitlyn Flanagan, Lainey Allen & Jordyn Thomas were recognized for committing to continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level. (Photos provided courtesy of PW girls’ basketball)
Lainey Allen – University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Basketball)
Major: International Business
Final list of colleges: Maryland Eastern Shore, Georgia State, Norfolk State
Reasons for choosing Maryland Eastern Shore: “They have an excellent business program, and their coaching staff and their team for the athletic program is very welcoming. They're just good people in general. Also, their campus is a small campus, but it’s not too small. Teachers will have that one-on-one time with you during the season which I really liked.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I started playing at a competitive level in seventh grade, but I didn’t really think about college basketball until my eighth grade year when – during my first AAU season – I had a college coach look at me during my last few games. I liked the recruiting process, and I decided I wanted to stick
with it and definitely take it to the next level.
“I committed Oct. 16. I did an official visit to the school, and I decided to commit right then and there.”
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “I’m excited for Lainey – I think Maryland Eastern Shore is a great fit. The coaches are excited about her and her potential. Lainey is someone who missed a season due to an injury and missed another one due to COVID – last year was cut really short. She’s been kind of playing catch-up ever since. Heading into this year, she’s in phenomenal shape, and I think she’s going to open a lot of eyes this year. We’re excited to see her have a successful senior year. In terms of Lainey moving on to the next level, I think she’s really going to be a force at the next level once she continues to get that playing experience under her belt. Everyone goes through that freshman transition from high school to college, but I think she’ll really be a force at the next level with her size and her speed and ability to run the floor. She’s a very talented student as well, so she had a lot of opportunities academically, but we’re definitely very excited to see her continue on. I think she’ll be someone who steps in as a freshman and really challenges for serious playing time.”
About Lainey:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: The Notebook
Favorite music: R&B/Hip Hop
Kaitlyn Flanagan – College of the Holy Cross (Basketball)
Major: Undecided
Reasons for choosing Holy Cross: “I really loved the team and the coaching staff after talking to them, and after visiting campus, I knew it would be a great fit. I committed in early January of my junior year. Once they offered me, I was like, ‘I think this is what I want to do.’”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I have been playing basketball since first grade. Obviously, every kid thinks about playing in college. I didn’t seriously think about it – ‘Oh, I could actually do this ‘ - until seventh or eighth grade. The recruiting started in ninth grade, and my high school season is when I first started talking to coaches. Throughout AAU seasons, I formed a connection with them, and I ended up committing.”
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “Three things come to mind with Kaitlyn – number one is the athleticism. She is not just fast but quick. She has a very quick first step and is quick on the defensive side of the ball too. She is someone who can create transition by getting steals with that quick first step and the natural instincts she has. The next thing is her basketball IQ. From day one as a freshman, she has been able to memorize all five spots on the floor, and that’s what you need from a point guard. You need a point guard that knows not only what she’s supposed to do but what all the other kids are supposed to do. The last thing that sets her apart is her toughness. She plays soccer, and she has that soccer toughness to her. Sometimes we talk in practice – you have to tuck the ball like a running back when you’re going through the crowd and absorb contact and finish through contact, and she’s been able to do that since her freshman year. Last year, we played CB West in a physical game, and she carried us in the second half where it was her driving to the basket, absorbing contact and getting three-point plays or absorbing contact and dishing to one of our post players.
“Kaitlyn going to Holy Cross – it will be the fifth straight year of having a point guard in the Patriot League with Taylor O’Brien being at Bucknell. Having watched Taylor at Bucknell for four years, I think Flanagan will be able to step in and have a successful career at Holy Cross. Again, Holy Cross is a high academic institution, and Flanagan is a very talented student. I think her style of play, her athleticism is going to allow her to have a very successful career within the Patriot League. I know she’s very excited about the coaching staff there. Coach (Maureen) Magarity made the move from New Hampshire to Holy Cross and has started to turn that program around. We’re always excited when a kid goes somewhere big but still gets to play some games nearby.”
About Kaitlyn:
Favorite food: Cucumbers
Favorite movie: Mulan
Favorite music: Christmas Music
Jordyn Thomas – Thomas Jefferson University (Basketball)
Major: Health Sciences
Reasons for choosing Jefferson: “They were the school that really catered to my academic and athletic goals and aspirations. I really liked the programs they offered and the different fields that I can go into. I just feel like being able to play basketball at the same time I’ll also be able to get the education that I really wanted since forever is a plus. Being able to learn and come out of school with a good job and also being able to play basketball for four more years is amazing to me.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “It probably started in seventh grade – that was when I started playing higher level competition of basketball, and I realized I wanted to make somewhat of a career out of this and spend a lot of time working on my craft and getting better and being able to reach that next level.
“The recruiting started end of sophomore beginning of junior year. I verbally committed to Jefferson this past summer.”
Coach Dan Dougherty says: “Jordyn going to Jefferson playing for Tom Shirley – I think that’s the longest lasting legacy in our school. It goes way, way back. Coach Shirley is a PW guy, and year after year, someone from PW has been playing at Jefferson – this is the first year we don’t have someone at Jefferson that I can remember. Alynna Williams just graduated two years ago, and before Alynna, it was Tylor Magnus and Natalie DiRenzo. There’s a giant banner of Tammy Greene hanging in their gym. She’s a PW girl too. I know Jordyn is very excited, and we’re very excited for her because, again, we can go to her games and watch her play. Jefferson is a top-notch Division 2 program. They’re a team that competes for their conference championship, and they try and make noise in the Division 2 Tournament each year. I think Jordyn will be a great fit there. Jordyn is the modern-day post player where she can score down low, but she’s also a kid that can shoot above 40 percent from the 3-point and stretch the teams out. One of the things coach Shirley liked about Jordyn and we love about Jordyn is her ability to communicate. Most college coaches will say – gyms will be loud, but you should hear kids communicating, and Jordyn is excellent at that. She’s been the anchor of our defense, our press for four years, and I think she’ll be able to bring that to Jefferson with coach Shirley’s up-tempo style of play and wanting to play inside out.”
About Jordyn:
Favorite food: Coconut Shrimp
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite music: Hip Hop/Rap
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