EAE IS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF FANDOM AND WORK THROUGHOUT ASIA. LET US NOT FORGET THOSE PLAYERS WHO PAVED THE WAY!
JORDAN ELLIOTT was the defintion of point guard. She was the motor who led a dynastic Seoul American Team to incredible success at the dawn of the decade. She eventually took her talents to West Point where she competing at the D1 level.
‘Jordan was one of the best leaders I’ve had the honor to coach during my 44 years as a NCAA Division One Coach. As a 2 time Team Captain, she was an impact player on teams that advanced to 3 consecutive National Postseason Tournaments and won 2 Patriot League Championships. Her character, toughness and leadership was instrumental in creating a winning culture that continued after her Graduation in 2015." -United States Military Academy (West Point) Head Women's Basketball Coach Dave Magarity "...Where some of our girls were good at multiple sports, she was a pure basketball player. She had such good basketball IQ and made every player around her better; she was a true leader on the court... She made an already great team, an elite team." -SAHS Head Basketball Coach Bill Ratcliff "Elliott was a pure backcourt general for the two-time Far East Division I champion Seoul American Falcons in her years with the team. Not only one who could flawlessly thread that pass through the seam to a wide-open teammate for the three-pointer or a driving cutter for a layup, but one who helped keep her teammates' heads focused on task. One who would point out flaws but was just as quick to praise great work. A true team leader as well as an individual star." -Stars and Stripes Sports Reporter Dave Ornauer 
SHANIQUE LUCAS can pretty much score from anywhere on the court. She has multiple Far East MVPs and Titles and has lead her Bangkok team to championships all over Asia. She is now playing NCAA D2 ball at Union University in Tennessee.
“Shanique has made an impact in our basketball program and within our team immediately. She is super talented and has the perfect team attitude. She averaged about 14 points a game our last 12-15 games. Much of our improvement this year as a team was due to her development. She will be a great player in our program. We are really excited about her future. Even though she is an amazing basketball player, her Character is her best attribute!” -Union University Head Coach Mark Campbell "Shanique has always been a stand-out Athlete in whatever sport she has competed in. Being a gifted athlete, Shanique won many Cross Country races and Track titles. She led her school teams in Volleyball, Soccer and Softball. From an early age she showed she had a flair for Basketball and was soon playing in boys teams. Her tenacity, drive and leadership helped her ASB team win numerous titles in Thailand and through SE Asia - along the way being awarded numerous individual honors. She exemplified what it means to be a Student Athlete by finishing HS as the schools’ Vale Dictorium (Student President and Prom Queen). She and her sisters continue to make this Coach proud everyday." -ASB Head Coach (and proud Father) David Lucas "Shanique is probably the most gifted female international school player I have seen since coming to South East Asia. She is not only a fantastic player but also a great student and human being. She is the ultimate role model for young female players in South East Asia." -Thailand Women's National Team Coach David Bobalik 
MARIA VAUGHAN was a talented scorer for her loaded Kadena team. She was a smart player who had the ability to finish with either hand regardless of who was guarding her. She went on to play NCAA ball at Pine Manor College in Massachusetts.
"A 'do-it-all' player at the point guard position, Maria Vaughan was an absolute dynamo! From her arrival on campus, Maria exhibited a quiet confidence and leadership prowess that demanded respect from players and coaches. No task was too tall as she excelled on both ends of the floor. "Her immediate impact led to a 21-4 record (best in school history for one season) as a freshman with an 85 (points per game) national team average in scoring and a second-place finish in the conference. Not to be outdone, Maria returned for her sophomore season with laser focus and the responsibility of leading a different group of ladies to a common goal. With the ball in her hands every possession, Maria helped to change women's basketball history at Pine Manor College. She led the team to the school's first Great South Athletic Conference Championship and first ever D-III NCAA tournament appearance. I cannot say enough about this young lady. Her energy, drive, and good-natured competitive spirit extended beyond the court and into the classroom, locker room, and campus community as well. Maria Vaughan clearly is in the top 1% of players I've had the pleasure to coach." -Pine Manor College Head Coach Dr. Benjamin S. Akins "I had the pleasure to Coach Maria her entire basketball career at Kadena High School. Maria was a great floor general and knew how to get her teammates involved in the flow of the game. At the same time, Maria knew when she needed to take over. She was the ultimate teammate making her teammates better by demanding them to always perform at a level of excellence that surpassed the competition. Mediocrity was not allowed. Maria helped usher in a winning tradition during my coaching tenure at Kadena. She was the type of player any coach would want to lead their team. She played on both ends of the floor, always guarding the other team’s top player, never taking any plays off and leaving everything on the court. I would take Maria Vaughn into battle on the court with me any day because at the end of the day I knew regardless of the outcome, she was going to give it her all and demand that from her teammates as well." -Kadena Head Coach Will Ware "Whether playing the No. 2 guard position and hitting outside shots with total aplomb or after she converted to the No. 1 guard post and became the sort of quiet but assertive leader that every coach dreams of, Maria Vaughan was the consummate coach's dream player. It went far beyond statistics, which Maria had plenty of. It was the background, learning the strict fundamentals of the game thanks to her Japanese upbringing on Okinawa, that made her so solid a player and earned the undying respect of her teammates. It was a sibling network, the Vaughan family, with Maria as the vanguard, and helped make Kadena competitive every year she was in the lineup." -Stars and Stripes Sports Reporter Dave Ornauer 
KELLY HARDEMAN was long, lengthy, and tough as nails. She was a shooter who could score inside and out. She went on to play at Azusa Pacific University in California before going on to play professionally in Australia.
"Kelly was a player whose motor never stopped running. On both offense and defense she was relentless. She never lost faith in herself or her teammates. Kelly’s drive to be the best made her practice and work harder than everyone else. Genetics didn’t hurt either." -APU Head Coach T.J. Hardeman "Kelly was a rare combination of size, speed, and intelligence that you don’t often see, especially in Southeast Asia. She was a sharpshooter who could handle the ball and would beat people inside and out on the offensive end and then was relentless defensively, never giving teams a break. Her leadership and love for Jesus on and off the court helped keep everyone excited about their role and motivated to use their abilities to play the game not just to win, but to represent Christ while doing so!" -Faith Academy Head Coach Joshua Manthe 
BRITNEY BAILEY was a highly harolded multi sport athlete. Her size and strength helped her dominate thoughtout high school and would eventually lead her to play both basketball and volleyball at NCAA D2 Anderson University in South Carolina.
"Britney has been incredible for our program. After a little adjustment to the college game, she has stepped up big this past season. She’s a dominant rebounder and her quickness allows her to guard multiple positions. We look forward to her seeing her continued growth with our program." -Anderson University Head Coach Jonathan Barbaree “Britney Bailey is one of the most hardest working and determined athletes that I’ve coached at Guam High School. Her eagerness to be the best athlete goes above and beyond expectations.” -Guam High School Head Coach Joseph Taitano |
EMME WARNKEN became a star in Korea and APAC. Her ability to carry her TCIS team up against bigger and stronger competition and often win was incredible. She was a fierce competitor and a nightmare to guard.
"Emme was a joy to coach. She was able to take over games in multiple ways, but her ability to finish with either hand against any defender was special. Most of all she played the game with passion, versatility and instinct. She was always willing to make the right play for the benefit of the team - whether it was a pass, drive or shot. She was so mentally tough and able to stay calm under extreme pressure. Her greatest asset was her attitude on the court - it was always positive and encouraging to all her teammates." -TCIS Head Coach Zane Warnken "Emme was one of the toughest players Ive ever had to coach against. She was athletic but it was her skill and IQ that made her dangerous everywhere on the floor... If her shot wasn’t there she would find and put her teammates in a position to succeed. She made everyone on the team better and she did it with class. Great ball player." -Rival Head Coach from YISS Jeremiah Davis 
LIZ GLEAVES was a special athlete who could simply do it all. Literally, she was a FAR EAST MVP multiple times in 3 sports. She was legendary for a freakish vertical leap that gave her an advantage over anyone. Oh yeah, and she could ball all day!
"Liz Gleaves is the best athlete I have ever coached in any sport. She was almost meta-physical and could anticipate things before they happened. Despite her incredible athletic ability in multiple sports, she was extremely humble and always looked after her teammates and put the goals of the team above her own. I never heard her complain about an injury, a coaching decision, a teammate, or anything." -SAHS Head Basketball Coach Bill Ratcliff "In 40-plus years of covering high school athletics in the Pacific, Liz Gleaves was truly a one-of-a-kind athlete. She could play every position on the basketball court, even the post, and play it with pure aplomb, even as diminutive as she was -- 5-foot-3 -- but with a vertical leap unlike any I've ever seen. Despite her ability to do it all, she was as humble as the day is long; just as eager to get her teammates involved as she was to make the big play. All about helping her Falcons win." -Stars and Stripes Sports Reporter Dave Ornauer 
JOYLYN PANGILINAN was a gifted scorer from Guam who had a neverending motor. She was tough and physical and nothing seemed to shake her. She continued her basketball career playing for a top university in the Philippines.
"Such a fun player to coach and a better teammate to have. She can pull up from anywhere on the court! Her IQ is at a high level and her competitiveness is off the chart. If you had a chance to watch her play you were blessed!" -Guam National Team Coach Jimmie Yi "She had that winner attitude where she'd do anything to win. The ultimate competitor. Offense and defense, she was bringing it." -GSPN (Guam Sports Network) Patrick Lujan 
BESSIE NOLL may very well be one of the most talented basketball players on this list. She was a multi sport legend who took her talents from Japan to NCAA D1 Stanford University in California where she was a standout softball player.
"Bessie was, without a doubt, the best athlete with whom I have ever worked. She was a dominant basketball player who led our team in scoring all four years, won the Far East MVP her senior year... and basketball was NOT her number one sport. She played softball for Stanford University despite the fact that our high school did not have a softball program at the time, was a member of the US Women's National Baseball team. On top of her athletic career, she was also a decorated musician, brilliant student and simply a wonderful human being. People like Bessie do not come along very often; I am honored to have had the opportunity to coach her." -ASIJ Head Coach Steven LoBianco "We knew we were getting somebody special that maybe nobody else knew about. She's very athletic, she's got this little swagger about her." (Taken from ESPN) -Stanford and Team USA Head Softball Coach John Rittman 
MIA SAN NICOLAS is not just bigger then her competition, she is more skilled then they are. Her ability to move up and down the court and finish with either hand around the rim is why she is a Guam National Team player and US college athlete.
"Mia is a brave person and brave player. She moved to an unknown community and school with an unknown coach and teammates. This still amazes me! She fit right in with her roommates in the dorms and right in with her team! Mia never hesitated when it came to team buy in! She always put the needs of the team above herself. Mia is coachable and always a joy to be around. She understand winning and understands team - and we are so lucky to have her be part of our team here at Wenatchee!" -Wenatchee College Head Coach Rachel Bromiley "A wonderful person to coach, she always wanted to get better, tall, lengthy, great runner, and finisher around the rim. She has earned every accolade on her resume. We look forward to her future and she continues to play at the next level." -Academy of Our Lady Head Coach Jimmie Yi "Basketball runs in the blood and her solid family foundation was evident from the calm demeanor to the techniques of a low post player rarely found on the island. Even with one year washed out by injury, the impact is permanent." -GSPN (Guam Sports Network) Patrick Lujan |
click here to check out the boys all decade team
THE HISTORY: This list was created by several coaches, scouts and fans all throughout Asia to celebrate the next level acheivement that was accomplished by these student athletes and to also celebrate EAE's committment to cheering for athletes past and present for well over a decade. EAE is very thankful to all the coaches, fans, and reporters who sent us quotes and shared in our enthusiasm for this decade in the making project. We also want to thank the players for their hard work and committment to their gifts and passions. Almost 200 names were considered for this list!
In 2007, Luke Elie was coaching varsity basketball in Seoul when he decided to start a club basketball team for foreign school boys in Korea who desired to play ball at the next level. Luke was a former international school student athlete who went on to play college and professional basketball. Coach Luke used his many years of experience and networking to help train athletes and advise them through the college recruiting process.
His club eventually expanded beyond the borders of Korea and would eventually include female teams along with adding volleyball for boys and girls. The program was renamed East Asia Elite where the name has become synonymous with high school athletics in over 17 Asian nations. Luke, along with many other EAE coaches have had a chance to witness many of Asia's greatest prep basketball moments and meet most of thier stars.
Coach Luke never imagined that his desire to help student athletes would carry on past the decade, but now we are here. We hope and pray that we will still be able to do this in 2030!
In 2007, Luke Elie was coaching varsity basketball in Seoul when he decided to start a club basketball team for foreign school boys in Korea who desired to play ball at the next level. Luke was a former international school student athlete who went on to play college and professional basketball. Coach Luke used his many years of experience and networking to help train athletes and advise them through the college recruiting process.
His club eventually expanded beyond the borders of Korea and would eventually include female teams along with adding volleyball for boys and girls. The program was renamed East Asia Elite where the name has become synonymous with high school athletics in over 17 Asian nations. Luke, along with many other EAE coaches have had a chance to witness many of Asia's greatest prep basketball moments and meet most of thier stars.
Coach Luke never imagined that his desire to help student athletes would carry on past the decade, but now we are here. We hope and pray that we will still be able to do this in 2030!
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eae OFFICIALLY STARTED TO OFFER GIRLS BASKETBALL PROGRAMS IN THE SUMMER OF 2013. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DECISIONS WE HAVE EVER MADE! |
