DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md.– Each year the holiday season begins with a celebration of Thanksgiving that, in turn, evolves into the tradition of gift giving until we ultimately welcome in the New Year a month after all the fun began. Basketball really isn’t really much different. We’re always so thankful for the start of a new season and certainly enjoy the generosity and giving of the many holiday tournaments before we finally turn the page on the calendar and look to the new year. It’s always fun to see if the holiday spirit lasts for those teams who were quick out of the gate.
It’s December and we’re well into our basketball holiday season at this point. The Journey to the Tourney and the Art Turner Memorial are already behind us (See links below) and our latest holiday celebration focuses on the 10th annual She Got Game Classic.
Journey to the Tourney
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/buckeye-black-friday-ball/
Art Turner Memorial
https://www.bluestarmedia.org/art-turner-memorial-2018/
Featuring 127 teams, this years participants came from 11 different states, the District of Columbia as well as some visiting folks from Canada and Australia. The action took place on 10 courts across four different venues in Maryland and one in Virginia. Next up on the 2018 Holiday Tour is the gold standard of scholastic basketball, the Nike Tournament of Champions set in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun.
Before we head West, here are some of the standouts form the 10th She Got Game Classic. As always they’re in alphabetical order and represent nothing more than the thoughts of the writer. Yes, Angel Reese, Samantha Brunelle and many others were in action but, with so many teams and locations it’s always tough to see them all. Rest assured we’re already aware that we may have missed a few we’ve seen before and many we haven’t. You can read our past coverage of many of the established individuals and we’ll look forward to catching the new ones next time around.
Tabitha Amanze – 2022 – 6-3 – Post – Blair Academy – Nice size…Long build…Plays with effort…Spin move on the block has some possibilities…Works for position…Got on the offensive boards…Watch closely
Jakia Brown-Turner – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – Bishop McNamara (North Carolina State) – Lean athletic and showing off more length…Creates and scores in multiple ways…Tools are there to get to the rim but pull up is efficient with good elevation…Called on the floater a time or two with a high release point…Shot fake is more and more effective…Assertive on the offensive boards
Yasmeen Chang – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Gulf Coast (University of Miami) – Dynamic guard…Physically strong…Aggressive mentality…Looks to develop looks off the dribble…Crossover works for her…Elevates on the pull up…Shot is off the shoulder to some
degree but touch is in place…Body control is there in traffic around the rim…Well suited for physicality of college game
Paris Clark – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Long Island Lutheran – Impressed once again with both play and potential…A threat both in transition and the halfcourt…Exceptional rebounder from the perimeter…Makes plays for her age…Can make an impact on both ends…Elevates in traffic…Lateral speed on ball defensively is exceptional
Dominique Darius – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Blair Academy – Nice length and athleticism in the backcourt…Looking to penetrate…Slashes into traffic…Jumper has good elevation and a smooth release…Range is there to force opponents to close out…Ballskills are there to work effectively in the halfcourt or to take it herself in transition when needed…Works well and active on the weakside of the floor defensively
Tamia Davis – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Southeast Raleigh (Kansas) – Solid point guard…Lots of speed with the ball…Attacking mentality…Mixes up her attack…Creates shots and improves passes…Pull up is there…Sees the floor in transition…Assertive on both ends…Looking to make the pick on ball
KK Deans – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Westridge Academy (West Virginia) – Strong and dynamic point…Attacks…Plays the game at full speed…Turns the corner hard off screens and defenders…Mixes up speed and direction…Hesitation…Plays with good instincts…Sees the floor in transition…Dictates the pace of the game…Quick and harassing on the ball defensively
Jennifer Ezeh – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – New Hope Academy (Duke) – Size and frame…Can work and finish with contact down low…Good hands, handled weak passes…High post drive is an option…Runs the floor well in transition…Good defensive agility for size…Will continue to advance
Sania Feagin – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Forest Park – Established top tier prospect…Has the physical size and build…Agility is exceptional both offensively and defensively…Can work down low as well as from the elbows…Dropstep is effective…Jumphook has reach and high release…Does have her mind made up on the catch at times…15 footer is a threat…Can be an impact on the glass…Still realizing the parameters of her game
Jamia Hazell – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Southeast Raleigh – Athletic and aggressive at the point…First step creates space…Got into traffic for both shots and passes…Floater and pull up come with good ball control and consistency…Step back provides separation for the jumper…Lots of tools to dictate tempo…Allowed her frustration to show on occasion
Abigail Hsu – 2019 – 5-11 – Wing – St. Thomas Aquinas (Columbia) – Versatile wing…Active with and without the ball…Cuts hard…Knows what she’s looking for…Improves options for teammates off penetration and passing…Good length on defense…Anticipates one pass away…Good instincts
Diamond Johnson – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Neumann Goretti – Small, strong and explosive…Utilizes change of speed and direction like a pro…Attacking to score off the move…Keeps her dribble on the hesitation and reattacks…Jumper is sound…Range is there…Floater works as the bigs rotate her way on penetration…Makes plays all over the floor
Stefanie Kulesza – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing – Conrad School of Science – Demonstrating more and more that the wing is home for her…More physical growth could be on the horizon…Assertive with the ball on the catch…Can improve both her looks and her passing options…Off the drive can finish with contact or deliver the interior pass…Sees the floor…Cuts hard and with intent…Expanding game with elite potential
Aliyah Matharu – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Bishop McNamara – (Mississippi State) – Attacking point guard…Creates options in transition and the halfcourt…Crossover and change of speed keep opposing match up guessing…Accelerates off her moves…Can finish at the rim or off a fluid pull up…Sees the floor and can make the smart pass…Range is there to keep defenders honest
Olivia Miles – 2021 – 5-10 – Point Guard – Blair Academy – Established point guard continues to add to her game…Added strength makes her even more challenging to defend…Ballskills are sharp and allow her to develop both shots and passing options…Set up passing both with fakes and misdirection looks…Quicker release is there on the pull up…Good body control in traffic…Anticipates defensively…Impressive understanding of the game as it evolves
Nile Miller – 2022 – 5-10 – Wing – Paul VI (N.J.) – Length…Wiry build…Good wingspan…Somewhat upright but has the tools to create off the dribble…Gets into traffic…Elevates among bigs rotating on defense…Follow through is inconsistent…Got on the boards…Size is an asset on defense…Strength will come with age and maturity
De’Aja Richardson – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Westridge (Tennessee State) – Versatile guard…Can find her own looks and opportunities…Form and range are there…Fluid stroke…Utilizes cuts and screens well…Reads and anticipates defensively
Aislynn Riggs – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – Oakland Mills – Nice size and frame…Runs the floor well…Shot is off her shoulder a bit…Got on the boards…Active without the ball at times…Stood up some on defense
Anissa Rivera – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – National Christian – Always worth noting…Had stronger moments than just a week ago…Consistency is a work in progress to allow her to capitalize on potential…Got on the boards…Can finish among the bigs or get by smaller and quicker defenders…Changes shots on the defensive end…Keep watching
Madison Scott – 2020 – 6-2 – Wing/Forward – Bishop McNamara – Continues to add depth to her game…As versatile as you’ll find on the scholastic level…Length and athleticism challenge defenders big and small…Explosive without looking so…Length of first step keeps opponents sealed and scrambling…Showed an enthusiasm with her teammates…Made plays on both ends of the floor…Triggered the break both off the glass and getting out in the lanes…Defining herself among the elite
Tyinhia Skinner – 2019 – 5-2 – Point Guard – National Christian – Creating and scoring from the point…Small but speed and quickness more than offset…Gets defenders leaning or coming out of their stance…Shooting the ball with confidence…Touch is there both from the perimeter or on the pull up…Ultra quick on the ball defensively
Jordan Smith – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Abington Friends – Smooth guard…Lean build…Strength will come…Effective in transition…Lefty…Could still grow a bit…Change of speed serves her well…Uses both hands…Defends
Jasmine Stevens – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward/Wing – Forest Park – Combination of size and perimeter skills…Solid frame…Ability to put it on the floor…Can be assertive on the drive…Tools are there to finish on penetration or deliver the sharp pass…Pull up came through…Got on the boards…Just scratching the surface
Celeste Taylor – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – Long Island Lutheran (Texas) – Had moments in challenging game…Shot still coming and going…Making herself an impact beyond scoring…Made a strong defensive impact…Had some scoring runs…Baseline floater connected…Effort was exceptional…Assertiveness sets her apart from others…Consistency will evolve
Destiny Thomas – 2019 – 6-4 – Post – Forest Park (Central Florida) – Continues to be an elite physical presence on the block…Lets perimeter players know where she wants the ball…Attacks aggressively on the catch…Reads defenders…Goes up strong…First step is there on the face up move…Gets on the offensive boards…Quick outlet on the other end…Consistency has really evolved
Rayne Tucker – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Riverdale Baptist (James Madison) – Physical and strong #4…Active without the ball…Works to be an option…Gets out in transition…Quick moves on the catch…Makes plays…Handles bigger defenders confidently…Makes opponents work…Got up on the glass…Will put a body on someone defensively…Potential is there to add to her game
Lee Volker – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing – Paul VI (Va.) – Continues promising play…Stepping up as needed…Showing depth to her skill set…Using ballskills to improve her options and those of teammates…Patient on the catch…OK with physical play…Works defensively
Makayla Waleed – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – St. Vincent Pallotti – Showed some speed and quickness…Used both hands well…Step back was there…Got into the paint for both shots and passes…Had some moments
Jada Walker – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – New Hope Academy – Well known young point…Dynamic with the ball in her hands…Tools are there to improve both passing and scoring options…Pushes it from make, miss and turnover…Speed with the ball is elite…No reservations about taking it among the bigs…Looks to make an impact by the possession…Continues to add to a strong skill set
Jy’Nyla Whittelsey – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Conrad School of Science – Lots of size…Big frame…Looking for the ball on the block…Holds her ground…Showed off a mid-range touch…Got on the glass…Has taken strides over the past year…Making herself an option
Cire Worley – 2023 – 5-9 – Wing/Guard – Abington Friends – Young promising perimeter threat…Good size already for age…Touch and range are very impressive…Release is low and out front to a degree at this point…Runs the floor well…Fluid athlete…Good understanding of how to make herself an option…Can create some of her own looks…Stepback creates plenty of space…Lots of tools and possibilities
