For Nubia Haynes, it’s all about finishing.
The Manhattan Village Academy senior has been on a steady course of improvement both individually and with her team. The Hawks program is just seven years old and the 6-foot-1 Haynes is one of the big reasons the PSAL Class B team is coming off its first ever playoff appearance and victory.
“I’m trying to go all the way,” she said.
Haynes is averaging 19.5 points and 16.6 rebounds per game and has Manhattan Village sitting atop Manhattan B West with a 9-3 record. She and junior guard Grace Geist, who have played together the last three seasons, form a formidable inside-outside combination, with Haynes being able to dominate in the paint.
“They know each other’s games really well and take on a leadership role,” third-year Manhattan Village coach Evan Russell Groat said. “They complement each other really well, Nubia inside, Grace knocking down shots from the outside … We don’t see a whole lot of girls her size, but we have seen a few.”
One of the keys to Manhattan Village’s success is Haynes continuing her development as a player. She is a raw talent with tremendous athleticism. Haynes has the ability to get up and down the floor, is strong around the basket, is an excellent rebounder and is expanding her range. Part of the problem for Haynes is staying focused and aggressive playing against smaller competition.
“I try to always stay on her about doing the little things,” Groat said. “You can develop bad habits against some of these teams with smaller girls.”
Added Haynes: “I should be crashing the boards, finishing every shot, trying to stay out of foul trouble.”
She was able to test herself against a high level of competition this summer playing travel ball with Manhattan Center coach Jaywana Bradley and Long Island Lightning Dingle. It showed her just how much and what she needed to improve on to compete at the next level.
“I feel like with AAU the competition is way different,” Haynes said. “It’s more competitive because there are girls that I’m playing against that are as big as me.”
She is looking to expand her perimeter game and jumper to the elbow and the free throw line. Still Haynes has plenty of skills that are appealing to college coaches. She has interest from Adelphi, New Haven, Southern Connecticut, Winston Salem and more Division I schools are starting to come calling.
“A big girl, if they are going to be mobile, they are going to run for you and they got hands then they know they can work with them,” Bradley said.
Haynes possesses all of those skills and hopes to use them to lead Manhattan Village as far as they can go in the PSAL playoffs to finish her high school career. Half the battle is mental – being aggressive and playing up to her capabilities.
“I’m just trying to stay with my AAU mentality,” Haynes said. “Not trying to let the height get to me.”
