Sarah Strong: The village that built a champion

Sarah Strong was talented enough to play for any AAU program she wanted, but she stayed with her father’s Strong Center team from 4th grade until she graduated.

Danny and Jones were looking to launch a competitive travel basketball program that would flow alongside the football and cheer programs at Smith. Danny entrusted Coach Streeter with a co-ed basketball team under the Center’s umbrella. Even in fourth grade, Coach Streeter could see something different on the basketball court. Sarah wasn’t just scoring. She was seeing the game before it happened. Her basketball IQ was higher than most kids on the floor, and the raw talent was undeniable.

“She was the best player on the floor,” he says. “And that meant she had to lead.”

That mattered to Sarah’s dad. He wanted someone outside of mom and dad, someone who could push her, challenge her, and pull the best out of her. The goal was to help her reach her fullest potential.

By 7th grade, the Center developed its first girls team, known as Lady Strong, emblazoned in pink. The village grew as Danny worked with Sarah and her teammates, along with Coach Willie McNair and Coach Brad Thompson, supported by Christina McNair and Shannyne Campbell.

Lady Strong began their rule of travel basketball for the next six years, competing from Kentucky to Florida. The team was special, and all members were among the top 100-ranked players in NC. Sarah led these rankings at the #1 spot. Many of these girls went on to play for Grace Christian and won three consecutive state championships. Many made All Conference and All State, while Sarah was State and National Player of the Year, winning the coveted Naismith Player of the Year Award. It was also the first time in school history that their team participated in the prestigious National Chipotle Classic in 2024.

Training wasn’t easy. Sarah worked out at Fuquay-Varina High School after practices, at The LAB, Wake Chapel Church, and even at the Sprott Center in Moncure. They trained wherever they could find space. Sometimes it was hard just finding a place to put a ball on the floor.

All the while, Sarah kept playing soccer with the exception of her first two years in high school, only to return in her Junior and Senior years at Grace Christian. Even after a few years off, she became All-Conference and All-State in soccer, and even played in a state championship match.

By the way, that game was at 3-1 when she had to leave early to catch a flight for an AAU basketball game. By the time she reached the airport, the other team had come back and won, maybe another state championship?

Eventually, Sarah made a decision. She chose basketball as her primary sport, not because she loved soccer any less, but because she didn’t want to continue to prove herself by playing with the boys.

In sixth grade, Sarah made a vision board. On it were two things: UConn and national championships. She still has that vision board today.

Fast forward, Sarah has won a national championship and received freshman of the year accolades while playing for UConn. What most people don’t realize is this:

Sarah was only playing at about 50–55% of her ability until she arrived at UConn.

And there’s still more to come.

Sarah Strong hoists up the McDonald’s All-American Game MVP trophy. Photo via Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Leadership was never optional. Coach Streeter made that clear early on. If Sarah didn’t do what she was supposed to do in practice, he didn’t punish her; he made her teammates work harder.

Not out of anger, but out of love. Because when you’re the best player on the floor, your actions affect everyone. That tough love earned Coach Streeter the name “Coach Extra”.

Sarah would ask, Coach Streeter “why are you so extra?”

Venting her frustrations for his unorthodox tactics to get a reaction out of her. It worked. Her teammates demanded leadership from her. She learned that leadership was about example.

From fourth grade on, Coach Streeter, Coach Jones and Danny worked with her consistently. By middle school, the message became even clearer: Don’t just be great, make everyone else on the team better.

Her family reinforced that every step of the way. Sarah was raised to be a giver. To care about her friends and teammates. To understand that it’s about the team, not the individual. That mindset didn’t come from a headline or a highlight reel; it came from home.

While the world is learning about Sarah now, the Village already knew.

It’s never been “I won.”

It’s always been “We won.”

Sarah Strong had a vision to play for the UConn Huskies. She did that and was integral to the Huskies winning a national championship. Photo via Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Sarah doesn’t chase accolades. She cares about her teammates. She wants everyone around her to succeed. Her mindset has always been simple: I’m going to do my best, and I’m going to make you better.

As the Center grew, so did our participant interests that included more teams, older age groups, and individual skills training. Coach Streeter founded New Heights Elite Basketball in 2017 and received assistance from Jones and Tim Hart (another Strong Center Coach).

Streeter made New Heights Elite an official LLC in 2020. His basketball journey started early. He picked up the game at 11 years old, earned a four-year scholarship to Mount Olive College, and played the game at a high level. But like a lot of former players, his perspective changed once he had kids of his own. That’s when it stopped being about points and minutes and became about impact.

He spent years before coaching at Kraft YMCA in Apex and Holly Springs, pouring into kids who just wanted someone to believe in them. He was introduced to a retired professional basketball player, and father to Sarah, Danny Strong, through another coach at the YMCA. The two connected instantly, same values same vision, and eventually began coaching together.

Today, New Heights Elite Basketball sits quietly in New Hill, North Carolina, but there’s nothing quiet about what’s happening inside those walls. Before the facility, before the headlines, there was just a love of the game, and a belief in doing things the right way. Coaches Streeter and Strong believe this still today.

The facility itself tells a story. It used to be a volleyball court, no heat, no air conditioning, just a place to come play basketball. During COVID, they rented the space for practice and planted a seed that started building something more. That seed was a punching bag he hung in the building as a way of claiming space (Mark 11:24), setting a goal of what will come to be. Four years later, he bought out the volleyball business, took over the lease, and upgraded the space. It now includes a full floating hardwood basketball court, a pickleball court, a weight training center, heating, and air conditioning. The New Heights Elite basketball facility is also used as one of the practice facilities for the Strong Center.

Kids come to New Heights Elite Basketball on weekends. On track-out. During holidays. It filled a real need in this area. To find out more, visit newheightselite.com for all your inquiries.

Coach Streeter doesn’t want it to be a place that just creates individual stars. He wants it to be a place that teaches fundamentals, team concepts, and the mental side of the game.

“We don’t promise you’ll be the best,” he says.

“We promise you’ll be your personal best.”

They work with kids one-on-one and in groups. Every trainer who comes in aligns with the same philosophy. Every child is individually assessed, so everyone, coaches, trainers, and families, are on the same page.

And they’re just getting started.

The five-year vision is bold: a campus where kids from across the country can come, middle school and high school athletes, a true one-stop shop with gyms, training, room and board, and mental preparation to match the physical work. This vision is also shared by the Strong Center through its partnerships and connections with our community.

The Strong Center fields travel basketball teams from the ages of 10 to 18, continuing the legacy of its beginnings and still building our village. Chad and Tracy Moose, Thomas and Tasha Jones, along with Corey and Mone Kinard manage the basketball programs today. More can be found at www.thestrongcenter.org.

Danny remains humble with the support of the many coaches, volunteers, parents, and participants. He said, “So thankful for the support and the growth of our village in everyone who has participated and volunteered”.

Even more meaningful? Bringing kids who came up through the program back to help train the next generation.

That’s the full circle.

They are not about hype.

It’s about impact.

It’s about team.

It’s about pulling the best out of everyone who walks through the door.

And if you want to understand why Sarah Strong is who she is today —

This is where the story really begins.

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