Wheatley High’s Wildcats are preparing for another high-stakes season, led by a backcourt that has become the heartbeat of the program.
Senior guard Jamie Solomon, last year’s District 20-4A MVP and a 1,000-point career scorer, returns alongside junior Caria Thomas, the District Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-district selection. Together, they form a dynamic duo capable of carrying Wheatley deep into the postseason.
With head coach David Burrell emphasizing culture, leadership, and cohesion, and the majority of the core lineup returning, the Wildcats are poised to turn experience and talent into championship success.
“Last season for me was a movie,” said Burrell. “Tons of beautiful moments and a special group that bought into our vision.”
With several returning players from the 2024–2025 team that went 16-0 in 4A Region III District 20 play, Burrell hopes the returners can serve as the life force of the program as Wheatley builds upon that foundation.
“Their experience has prepared us for most situations,” said Burrell. “They remember the feeling of falling short in last year’s playoffs, so that keeps them humbled and hungry to get over that hump this year.”
While the Wildcats return a strong foundation, the season will largely hinge on the leadership and chemistry of their standout backcourt featuring Solomon and Thomas.
“Reaching 1,000 points and earning last season’s MVP honor were huge accomplishments,” said Solomon. “That recognition motivated me for this season. The MVP award boosted my confidence and showed I’m ready for a higher level.”
As a focal point in the backcourt, Solomon understands that the responsibility extends beyond scoring. She is tasked with facilitating the offense and mentoring younger teammates.
“Balancing scoring, distributing, and monitoring younger teammates can be challenging at times, but it’s about understanding them and what the team needs,” said Solomon.
A prolific scorer who averaged 23.5 points per game last season, Solomon often draws heightened defensive attention.
“Scoring the ball is all about confidence and being aggressive, but being part of a team is not just about scoring the ball,” said Solomon. “I know when to pass and when to take the shot; it’s all about reading the game. My younger teammates look for leadership not just on the court but off the court, as well. I set examples of work ethic and attitude.”
Thomas, who averaged 17.2 points per game as a sophomore, believes playing alongside has Solomon accelerated her leadership development.
“It taught me that leadership is about consistency and accountability, not just production,” said Thomas. “I learned that my habits, how I practice, communicate, and respond to adversity, set the tone for the team. Leading alongside Jamie is about trusting each other, staying connected, and pushing the team forward together. We complement each other and hold each other to a higher standard.”
Thomas sees the recognition as motivation rather than validation.
“It pushed me to stay humble, keep working, and not get comfortable,” said Thomas. “I learned that success comes from preparation, discipline, and staying focused on the bigger picture. This season, I’m focused on growth and impact.”
Burrell has seen firsthand how Solomon and Thomas complement each other and drive Wheatley’s success.
“With their leadership, it’s more about the actions,” said Burrell. “They lead by example. Whether it’s perfect attendance at practice or giving maximum effort during tough times, their teammates know they put in the work to earn all the respect.”
In Wheatley’s offensive system, Solomon and Thomas thrive in transition, using their speed to create multiple scoring opportunities and sustain a high-tempo attack. Their backcourt cohesion is central to the Wildcats’ postseason aspirations.
“This duo is a pleasure to watch every day…Both are very unselfish and thrive off each other’s energy. To have a high-level IQ passer in Thomas and a knockdown shooter in Solomon is a coach’s dream come true.”
David Burrell
“This duo is a pleasure to watch every day,” said Burrell. “Both are very unselfish and thrive off each other’s energy. To have a high-level IQ passer in Thomas and a knockdown shooter in Solomon is a coach’s dream come true.”
Even with a dominant backcourt, Wheatley’s depth and supporting cast will be essential to sustaining success throughout the season.
Senior forward Aniya Simmons has seen her role evolve within the system.
“My role has evolved to being more disciplined in setting them [Thomas, Solomon] up in the pick-and-roll and playing off their vision,” said Simmons. “They are an amazing backcourt that sets me up to be successful, whether it’s rebounding, them hitting me on the roll, or setting me up at the rim when they attack. Playing with them gives me free rein to reach my full potential.”
Simmons spent the offseason refining her game to prepare for an expanded role.
“Over the summer, I worked to be one of the players my competition would have to deal with,” said Simmons. “I worked on facing up against the defender, playing back to the basket, and full-court ball handling. With our guards being so good, teams like to trap them, so I made sure I was another threat, tightening up my ball handling and being able to finish at the rim through and over my competition.”
With much of the attention focused on Wheatley’s backcourt, Burrell emphasizes the importance of contributions from the team’s role players.
“This team has some very underrated players who are key components to our success,” said Burrell. “Those big rebounds from Aniya Simmons and Da’Nasia Parrish are essential. The tenacious defense from our other guards sets the tone for us each game. The underclassmen give us a great spark off the bench, showing that Wheatley has a bright future.”
While talent and statistics matter, Burrell emphasizes that Wheatley’s identity is rooted in culture, cohesion, and leadership, the intangibles that define championship teams.
“Discipline, Commitment, and Response to Adversity are the guiding principles of Wheatley’s team culture and leadership philosophy,” said Burrell. “If we consistently improve in these areas, we will not only be an elite team but also elite young women in life.”
Turning those principles into wins will require execution, resilience, and peak performance at the moments that matter most.
“Our primary goal is a State Championship,” said Burrell. “We will celebrate every small win along the way, but ultimately we want to make history by winning the gold trophy and gold medal.”
“I believe personal success comes through team success,” said Thomas. “When the team is winning and everyone is bought in, individual opportunities follow naturally. As a leader, my job is to do what the team needs, whether that’s scoring, defending, communicating, or lifting a teammate. I stay focused on winning first.”
Beyond wins and losses, Burrell measures success by growth beyond the court.
“Our success is in keeping our culture and becoming better young women,” said Burrell. “We expect scholarships and championships, but the ultimate goal is to develop championship habits in life.”
As Wheatley tips off the season, the focus is clear: execute with skill, maintain cohesion, and let the leadership of Solomon and Thomas set the tone.
“It feels great to have the local community behind Wheatley as we pursue another deep postseason run,” said Solomon. “It feels good to know that students, families, alumni, and community members support our success. That support pushes us and keeps us focused on representing Wheatley the right way on and off the court.”
With a proven backcourt, emerging contributors, and a culture built on leadership and cohesion, the Wildcats are ready to turn potential into performance.
“The community has always been in our corner because of the work and culture we’ve established for the program, built on the foundation set by our previous coach and in past years,” said Simmons. “We’re glad people really see the girls’ program as it is, which is dominant. It feels amazing and, honestly, empowering. Knowing Wheatley believes in us makes us want to play harder, lead with heart, and leave everything on the court, not just for ourselves, but for everyone who’s been with us every step of the way.”
