Notes from Oscar Smith/Smithfield/Norview Scrimmage
by Alexis Platt, recruit757
It did not come as a shocker to hear that JaNaiya Quinerly is a high class of in the Hampton Roads area. Quinerly grew up in a house full of athletes.
The middle school phenom has an older brother, Nhyre Quinerly, who plays defensive back at East Carolina.
“My big brother is my inspiration. He always talks to me about school,” Quinerly added. “I really look up to him because he refocused with school and his behavior and is now playing college football.” Her father, John Quinerly, was also a standout football player at Norfolk State University.
Quinerly, led Blair Middle School to a third consecutive city championship this past season. Admittedly, she fell in love with basketball much sooner than middle school.
“I first started playing basketball when I was in second grade and my first year i played with all boy,” she added. “ My dad is really tough on me, he always tries to push me out of my comfort zone to make me better.”
Quinerly was the manager for high school state-championship-winning team Lake Taylor when former LT standout point guard and current Temple Owl Feyonda Fitzgerald attended. Fitzgerald was apart of the Lady Titans state-championship winning ball club in 2013, setting a VSHL record with 96 points in three tournament games.
“I look up to ‘Fey’ she is the best in the game right now and I love how competitive she is,” Quinerly said. “ I use to always play ‘Fey” one on one and she always use to beat me one on one, but now I’m pretty sure if she came back and we stepped on the court I could beat her.” She plans to go play for head coach Saundra Sawyer and win a couple more state championship.
Unlike most female basketball players growing up, her dream school {as of now} is Duke, who most recently featured former Princess Anne standout and current member of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, Elizabeth Williams.
“Not many people look at Duke because they aren’t that good right now, but I am confident that if i go there I can make a great name for myself,” Quinerly said.
“I want to be the best, I want people to talk about me like they talk about ‘Steph Curry’, Im going to work hard to get where I want to be,” Quinerly said.
-Alexis Platt
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