The Story Behind the Movement

"Like most great ideas... It all starts with a dream - and then a conversation!"

In November of 1999, CoachLeah held a meeting of the minds with friends and colleagues, Terrell Battle and Michael Moore, formerly of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The three had worked together on several Minnesota Timberwolves Community Relations youth projects over the years and Coach Leah had recently finished an internship with the organization while pursuing an MBA in Non-Profit Management.

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After sharing her vision to host a weekend activity culminating with an event that would showcase female basketball players, Battle and Moore vowed their support and Diamonds in the Rough was born. As the initial four-person senior level Board of Advisors was formed adding Mark Ahrens, the University of St. Thomas Director of Community Outreach as Frazier Foundation's CFO, the next steps included forming a selection committee and recruiting volunteers that shared the same vision.

 

The original selection committee members that included, Monteff Dixon, Crystal Flint, Andre Gilbert, Dr. Mitchell McDonald, and Treka McMillan, sacrificed numerous hours of their free time and gave of their evaluation talents to select girls from the Twin Cities metroplex through the high school basketball season [November - March] . That same group would assist in providing the best NCAA "Div. 1 type" basketball experience for deserving varsity players selected to participate in activities for the next three months leading up to "Diamonds Weekend."

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Although the Fall 2022 relaunch of Diamond in the Rough has changed the criteria to remove athletics as a requirement and has shifted the focus to include suportive services in physical image and social emotional wellness to tall [6feet+] girls aged 14-16, we are extremely proud of the Diamond in the Rough Alum that have paved the way for the future Diamond in the Rough Fellowship cohorts.

 

The following is a list of all selected Diamond In the Rough Alum. In addition to being the mothers of young scholars of their own, many of these former scholar athletes have achieved numerous additional distinctions on and off the court over these past 20 years. Inaugural members listed below are in Bold. 

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As we all know, "Diamonds are forever!" #ForeverADiamond

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Listed Alphabetically - Please check back often for updates and to see more of what your favorite "Diamond" is up to:

• Allison Aubuchon - Attended Minnehaha Academy - Class of 2001

• Kristin Ambros - Attended The Blake School- Class of 2000

• Jessica Asp - Attended Park Center High School - Class of 2002

• Tia Battle - Attended Maple Grove High School - Class of 2001

• Rochelle Bell - Attended Champlin Park High School - Class of 2001

• Renada Blackburn - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2002

• Ty'Rai Bronson - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2004 

• Annika Boyd - Attended Minnehaha Academy - Class of 2003

• Kendall (Boyd) Tyson - Attended The Blake School - Class of 2005 - Currently serves as Vice President, Business Strategy & Analytics at Seattle Kraken [NHL] [Learn more about Kendall here]

• Kandis Brown - Attended Lakeville High School - Class of 2004

• Faith Bucannon - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2003

• Nakia Carlisle - Attended St. Paul Central High School - Class of 2002

• Dr. Charity Clay - Attended The Blake School - Class of 2001 - Currently a university professor at Xavier University

• Jessica Dickey - Attended St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall - Class of 2001

• Monet' Dixon - Attended Houston ISD Jack Yates High School - Class of 2016. Institute for AALAX Arts Advisor, Spoken Word Artist and Author. Published a compilation of original poetry, Esther 4:4: Once Upon the Tales of a Tall Girl. Recently named an Executive Officer of Tall Girls United.

• Nadia Eldeeb- Attended St. Paul Henry Sibley High School - Class of 2000

• Ashley Ellis-Milan - Attended St. Paul Central High School - Class of 2005 - Currently Head Girls Basketball Coach at East Ridge HS and works for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx as a front office executive.

• Rikiee Ellis - Attended St. Paul Central High School - Class of 2001

• Shalandis Evans - Attended Minneapolis Roosevelt - Class of 2002

• Christina Ford - Attended St. Paul Johnson High School - Class of 2002

• Dr. Chelsea Frazier - Attended Breck High School in Golden Valley - Class of 2006 - Currently Professor of African American Literature at Cornell University and Founder of Ask An Amazon

• Tanisha Gilbert - Attended Champlin Park High School - Class of 2000

• Patricia Hall - Attended DeLaSalle High school - Class of 2004

• Natalie Hopkins - Attended St. Louis Park Hugh School - Class of 2000

• Tiffany Hunter - Attended Minneapolis Patrick Henry High School - Class of 2001

• Angie Hutchinson - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2002

• Kim Johnson - Attended Mounds View High School - Class of 2002

• Mia Johnson - Attended Minneapolis North High School - Class of 2004

• Rachiel Jobes - Attended St. Michael High School - Class of 2000

• Desirae Jones - Attended DeLaSalle High School - Class of 2001

• Jill Kalvick - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School- Class of 2000

• Kellie Kavanaugh - Attended Rosemount High School - Class of 2004

• Jamie Kienitz - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2004

• Chloe Lewis - Attended Breck School - Class of 2001 - Currently working as a Freelance Producer and Project Manager.

• Tanika Massey - Attended Minneapolis Thomas Edison High School - Class of 2004

• Phyllis Matthews - Attended Minneapolis Edison High School - Class of 2002

• Tiara Medlock - Attended Minneapolis North High School - Class of 2000

• Randi Meissner - Attended Armstrong High School - Class of 2000

• Rashida McKenzie - Attended DeLaSalle High School - Class of 2001

• Whitnee Miller - Attended Minneapolis Thomas edison High School - Class of 2003

• Kyann Patterson - Attended Minneapolis Washburn High School - Class of 2002

• Hanna Peljto - Attended Osseo High School - Class of 2000

• Lauren Podratz - Attended Osseo High School - Class of 2000

• Farmoe Roberts - Attended St. Croix Lutheran - Class of 2000

• Tanysha Scott - Attended DeLaSalle High School - Class of 2001 - Currently Head Girls Basketball Coach at Roseville High School - State Championship as Coach. Currently Second Vice President of the Minnesota Black Basketball Coaches Association.

• Te'Aira Small - Attended Minneapolis Roosevelt High School - Class of 2002

• Allina Starr - Attended DeLaSalle High School - Class of 2013 - Currently a certified personal trainer as well as the founder and Owner of "Built By Starr light." 

• Laraea Starr - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2003 - Currently serves as founder of Starr Babysitting and 

• Tocarra Stevenson - Attended Minneapolis Henry High School - Class of 2001

• Arianna Taylor - Attended Houston [TX] Phyliss Wheatley High School - Class of 2018 - A transfer from UTEP, joined the Texas Southern University Women's Basketball team in 2020. Recently graduated with a BA in Communications and entered the transfer portal with up to two years of eligibility remaining.

• Krystal Taylor - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School - Class of 2002

• Michele Thomas - Attended St. Paul Arlington High School - Class of 2001 

• Tisa [Thomas] Mitchell - Attended Minneapolis North Community High School Class of 2000 - Currently Asst. Girls Basketball Coach at Cretin Derham Hall HS.

• Kate Townley - Attended St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall High School - Class of 2000

• Ty Underwood - St. Louis Park High School - Class of 2001

• Jawana Williams - Attended Park Center High School - Class of 2001

• Vel Williams - Attended St. Paul Central High School - Class of 2001

• Ashley Viehauser - Attended Minneapolis Washburn High School - Class of 2005