Wyomissing senior Amaya Stewart, Wilson junior Laila Jones, and Berks Catholic senior Madison Langdon are the three returning All-County players in the Berks Girls Basketball League and recently concluded their AAU seasons with Philly-based programs.
Stewart and Jones played together on K-Low Elite — the AAU program founded by former Villanova and current Philadelphia 76ers player Kyle Lowry — under head coach Kanisha “Nish” Edwards, who played at Reading High and graduated in 2008.
Reading High 2025s Yamilex Rodriguez and Tamyia Collier also played on K-Low Elite’s 17Us under Edwards.
K-Low Elite wrapped up its season July 22 after it traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the Run 4 Roses, Splash, and National Championship tournaments. One of the team’s highlights of the offseason was a 5-0 record and Platinum Division championship at the NE2K Clash of the Clubs event in Houston.
Stewart made the All-Tournament team in the Blue Platinum Division at Run 4 Roses and City of Basketball Love’s (CoBL) standouts lists for the Ohio Basketball Philly Takedown in April at Westtown School in West Chester and the Select Events Prime East event in June at Spooky Nook in Manheim.
“I played with some of the best of the best girls,” Stewart said. “Not only have I grown as a player, but as a person as well. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is communicating on both sides of the floor, not only defense.
“The biggest thing I’ve been working on this offseason is becoming physically stronger. I have had a strategic weightlifting schedule that I have been disciplined to. I have been weightlifting to not get bigger, but to be stronger in areas of need.”
“I’d say the biggest leap (Amaya’s) made this year is opening up her mid-range shot,” said Edwards, who is also Stewart’s personal trainer. “Opening up her 3-point shot was also a big emphasis over this AAU season. Definitely still working on her handles to get her ready for college so she can play that ‘4’ or ‘5’ position depending on which school she chooses.”
The Spartans’ 6-1 forward and reigning Berks Player of the Year has offers from Temple, Maine, Tampa, USC Upstate, and Bethune-Cookman listed on her X (formerly Twitter) page, but mentioned a handful of additional low-major Division I offers and interest that she will reveal on her own terms.
“In the past week, I’ve had a lot of new colleges (show interest), but some previous ones that I already have, like Maine, have been showing a tremendous amount of interest,” Stewart said. “No secret that I do have offers, but the big reveal won’t be until signing day.”
Jones, the Bulldogs’ 5-7 2026 point guard playing up a year, was also on CoBL’s standout list for Ohio Basketball Philly Takedown and an honorable mention choice at Select Events Prime East.
“The main thing I’ve learned is you have to know your role, and knowing how you fit into the team you’re playing for,” Jones said. “Throughout this summer I’ve spent countless hours in the gym embracing my touch on the basketball. Not only focusing on perfecting one thing but allowing myself to bring out the weaknesses in my game.”
Jones said she’s working on becoming stronger, defense, perfecting her shot, finishing, and accepting pace.
“Just being more aware of what’s going on in the game,” Edwards said of Jones’ improvements. “I feel like her IQ has grown a bit more this year. Just being able to find her role and picking and choosing her spots.”
Rodriguez, the Red Knights’ 5-4 point guard, was an honorable mention by CoBL at Ohio Basketball Philly Takedown. Stewart and Rodriguez were also listed as CoBL standouts for their play in the All-City Classic in May at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. Edwards has seen vast improvements in Collier’s game and thinks she’s poised for a big senior season.
“Lex is definitely overlooked and flying under the radar a bit,” Edwards said of Rodriguez. “I feel like Tamyia is going to have a breakout year. She averaged around 10 points per game and I’ve seen her shot really start to open up.”
Berks Catholic’s 5-4 2025 point guard Langdon finished her AAU career playing for Lady Runnin’ Rebels 17Us Red under head coach HJ Kelly.
Lady Runnin’ Rebels also played in Run 4 Roses and then finished its season in Atlantic City for the Hoop Group Showcase League Championship. Runnin’ Rebels went 4-0 at the Comets Tournament in early June.
“I had a great time competing with my friends against really good teams this season,” Langdon said of her final AAU season. “When you’re competing against really good competition, you definitely learn to be stronger, more aggressive, and learn to create different shots for yourself.”
Langdon also mentioned trying to improve her leadership skills and mid-range game while continuing to polish her 3-pointers, finishing at the rim, and ball handling.
“She played off the ball a lot and did a great job doing that,” Kelly said. “She became a better screener and helped teammates get open without having the ball in her hand. I thought she did a great job with her decision-making off the ball.”
Langdon mentioned Division III’s Gettysburg and Susquehanna as schools that have been in contact with her.
Stewart (19.5 points per game), Langdon (16.5), and Jones (16.1) were three of the top five scorers in Berks County last season and are looking forward to applying the new skills and lessons they’ve learned throughout AAU during the high school season.
“My expectations for the next high school season is to win with my team,” Langdon said of the Saints. “This year we plan on taking it one game at a time and competing as hard as we can as a team. We basically have our whole squad back.”
Stewart said she hopes to win another county and district championship with Wyomissing, noting the challenge of filling spots left by Annie McCaffrey, who graduated, and Audrey Hurleman, who injured her knee in the spring.
Jones mentioned the goal of reaching 1,000 points and helping lead Wilson deeper in the BCIAA, District 3, and PIAA playoffs.
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