• ACCOUNTABILITY

    Acknowledging and taking responsibility for your actions as a player, student and teammate.

  • PERSEVERANCE

    We will face adversity on and off the court, but we will always work to find solutions.

  • GROWTH MINDSET

    Regardless of where you start, all players have the ability to improve each day.

  • COLLABORATION

    We cannot succeed as a unit unless we all support, encourage, and trust in each other.

NEW YORK GRIT

NEW YORK GRIT

The New York GRIT is a non-profit girls basketball program dedicated to serious athletes who are committed to excelling in the sport they love. Our program is designed for young women who not only want to perform at the highest level on the court but also strive to be strong, disciplined, and confident individuals in every aspect of their lives.

Our program is built on four pillars: accountability, perseverance, growth mindset and collaboration. Our experienced coaches foster an environment where these four pillars are celebrated, ensuring our athletes not only become better basketball players, but also build skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Our ultimate goal is simple: to ensure that every graduate of the program has the opportunity to play college basketball while laying the foundation for a successful adulthood. We provide guidance, mentorship, and resources to help each athlete reach their full potential — in the classroom, on the court, and in their personal and professional lives.

The road to success requires both grit and heart, and we are here to support each athlete every step of the way. At the New York Grit, we are not just shaping basketball players; we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

MEET THE COACHES

ALAN FLEISHER
Co-Founder & Head Coach of the 17U Team
USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach

Coach Alan brings over twenty-five years of coaching experience to the court. When his son started to show an interest in baseball, Alan began his coaching career in 1995 as a Youth Baseball Coach. After coaching his son’s team until 2004, he then transitioned to basketball as his daughter – Victoria – began getting seriously involved in the sport. Basketball was Alan’s primary sport through childhood, and it ultimately helped him earn a college degree from Earlham College. From 2004 to the present, Alan has coached both boys and girls ages 8-19 years old and has helped many of them use basketball as a tool to gain access to a college education. Alan’s passion for the game is profound, and he aims to instill this same drive in each of his players. Ultimately it is Alan’s goal to help every student-athlete achieve excellence both on and off the court.

VICTORIA FLEISHER
Co-Founder & Assistant Coach of the 17U Team
USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach

Basketball has been a part of Victoria’s life since childhood, thanks to her father’s passion for the game. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Victoria was a dual-athlete in high school, excelling in both basketball and lacrosse, and later played both sports at Bard College, where she earned her BA in Literature. Since graduating in 2014, she has thrived as the CEO of a successful commercial moving and storage business, while also dedicating herself to coaching. As a co-founder of the New York GRIT, Victoria has over 11 years of coaching experience, driven by a passion for mentorship and helping athletes grow on and off the court. Her greatest reward is passing on the life-changing lessons basketball has given her to the GRIT community.

CHERKIRA LASHLEY
Head Coach of the 16U Team

Cherkira Lashley is an educator, coach, and mentor committed to creating transformative learning environments through restorative and culturally responsive practices. She currently serves as Upper School Dean and Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Poly Prep Country Day School, where she just completed her first season as head coach, leading the team to the semifinals and a third-place finish. After spending one year as an assistant coach at Poly, she has continued to build a program rooted in growth, discipline, and community. Outside of school, Cherkira is the Girls Program Co-Director at Brooklyn Youth Sports Club and head coach of NY GRIT’s 16U team, helping young women of color access basketball development and college opportunities. A highlight of her coaching career came in 2018, when she led Friends Academy to the Nassau Conference Finals, ending an eight-year playoff drought.

CAMILLE EDWARDS
Assistant Coach of the 16U Team

Camille S. Edwards is a school leader, educator, and professional development coach deeply steeped in the areas of (1) leadership development, (2) community engagement, and (3) program design. She currently serves as the Director of Student Affairs of Friends Academy, and has 7 years of senior administrative leadership experience in all matters of student affairs including – DEI, health & wellness, student support services, etc. Outside of Friends Academy, she is the founder and principal consultant of Camille Simone Consulting, and leads independent schools, non-profit organizations, colleges/universities in the areas of (1) equity & inclusion, (2) organizational culture, and (3) sustainable change. Camille serves as the Girls Program Co-Director of Brooklyn Youth Sports Club and the Personal Development Coach & Team Manager of NY GRIT’s 16U team. Camille’s most passionate about guiding young people to discover their intra-personal gifts in an effort to unlock their full potential as leaders and make sustainable change in the world.

BRAD WETHERELL
Assistant Coach of the 16U Team

Coach Brad is a former basketball coach at Friends Academy, where he chairs the Upper School English Department. He is also a widely published writer and enjoys counseling students on their college application essays.

LOOKING TO RECRUIT
GRIT TALENT?

Reach out to our coaching staff to learn more about standout athletes and upcoming showcases.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE GRIT FAMILY?

Please fill out our form, and you will hear back from a member of the Grit coaching staff. Only passionate and focused players who are willing to commit to the college recruitment process should inquire. Go GRIT!