Audenried’s Nasiaah Russell has been ‘dominating’ in her freshman campaign

As an eighth grader, Nasiaah Russell watched Audenried Charter School defeat Imhotep in last year’s Public League championship for the school’s first-ever crown.

Now as a freshman at Audenried, Russell hopes to play a key role as the Rockets attempt to win back-to-back Pub titles and establish themselves as a basketball powerhouse in the city.

The Rockets are led by junior Division I prospect Shayla Smith, who was last year’s Public League MVP, as well as senior forward Aniyah Howard. Samuel Fels transfer Senaya Parker also looks to add a spark with her scoring, but Russell brings a different dynamic to Audenried with her height and ability to read the game.

“I’ve been watching this team since seventh grade, so when I finally got onto the court, I knew I could perform,” Russell said.

Ever since middle school, Russell has observed Audenried from the sidelines. Now alongside players like Smith, who holds scholarship offers from Temple and St. Joseph’s, Howard, and Parker, Russell gets to showcase her skills. The 6-foot-2 center has averaged 7.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks in the first 10 games of her high school career.

“Nasiaah’s been dominating so far this season,” Smith said. “For her only to be a freshman, she’s doing really good. It’s going to be really scary when she gets older.”

» READ MORE: Audenried sophomore Shayla Smith sets a new Public League scoring record

Basketball runs in Russell’s family. Her uncle, Mardy Collins, played at Simon Gratz and Temple before getting drafted by the New York Knicks in 2006 and playing four seasons in the NBA. Her stepsister, Denae Carter, also is a forward at Villanova.

When she was younger, Russell recalled watching Carter working on her post moves in the driveway. She tried to replicate those skills and credits the post moves she uses now to Carter as well as her ability to finish down low.

“She would be outside practicing and training and I was like, ‘Let me see what this is about,’ " Russell said. “And I would do it with her.”

With Smith as the team’s leading scorer, Russell understands her role at Audenried. She’s aware the ball isn’t always going to be in her hands, but with much of the attention going to Smith, she also knows it’s on her to be ready to step up in big moments.

“I need to be there to help because a lot of teams are going to trap her,” Russell said. “I need to be available for her.”

The freshman is just getting started. Russell wants to expand her offensive game and improve her outside shot, but for now, she’s focused on the little things, like rebounding.

Along with another Public League championship, Russell has hopes of playing Division I basketball.

There will be growing pains and mistakes, but, she said, it’s all about the process.

“I just need to keep my head up,” Russell added. “If I make a mistake, then I have to forget about it. Maybe I’ll make a new mistake and learn from that one as well.”

This story was produced as part of a partnership between The Inquirer and City of Basketball Love, a nonprofit news organization that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area while also helping mentor the next generation of sportswriters. This collaboration will help boost coverage of the city’s vibrant amateur basketball scene, from the high school ranks up through the Big 5 and beyond.