FAIRFAX, Va.— While scholastic and club basketball most certainly has a business element to it, on occasion, it’s refreshing to see the focus of an event pointed in a different direction than someone’s bank account or retirement fund. For 12 years the Art Turner Memorial has served as an opportunity for Paul VI Coach Scott Allen to recognize and pay homage to his late grandfather while at the same time provide one of the highlights of the early season traffic jam of tournaments.
Serving our country proudly in World War II, Turner embraced the “community” that comes with and surrounds sports. A true family man, he shared his love of country, family and sports with his long time wife Catherine and of course a grandson who occupies the bench these days at Paul VI. Turner passed away in 1998 but his legacy lives on through his family and the annual Tip-off Classic.
That legacy will move to a new setting next season with the opening of PVI’s new facility. However, for one last time the Art Turner Memorial welcomed 20 teams to the current campus for three days of action Friday through Sunday. Teams from Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and the District of Columbia filled out the pre-determined schedule of 15 games. The college recruiters were out in force once again as were Media and recruiting services taking a look at established and evolving talent on hand for the 12th annual Art Turner Memorial.
Even with the best of scheduling the twists and turns of life and basketball always has a hand in who actually takes the floor. Azzi Fudd (St. John’s) is still rehabbing that knee. Rain Green (Roland Park) is cleared for practice but not for actual games while teammate Mir McLean had a family emergency. Nat Marshall (Christ the King) was also sidelined due to injury while Eniya Russell (St. Vincent Pallotti) had a date with the SAT. Yet if you think there was a shortage of high profile players you need to get much more familiar with young names like Rice, Donovan, Clark, Tall, Quimby, Thomas, Tilman, Latson and more. As you’ll read below, the upperclassmen still had some strong efforts but the next generation is already biting at their heels.
Ryanne Allen – 2022 – 6-1 – Wing – Archbishop Wood – Impressive size and build in the backcourt…Length is an asset on both ends of the floor…Ballskills are there to improve both shots and passes…Has a smooth, fluid shot and touch…Forces defenders to close out and play honest…Possesses the tools to be effective posting smaller or less agile players…Active without the ball…Repositions well in terms of making herself an option…Lateral speed on defense could use some fine tuning versus smaller match ups
Doreen Ariik – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Life Center – Work in progress…Flashes are impressive…Long and lean but agile with good speed…Plays with plenty of effort…Instincts are evolving more still a thought rather than reaction…Understanding is there…Application is quicker and more confident each time out…Connected from 15 feet a couple of times…Great focus…Getting there
Kaylah Barnes – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – National Christian – Left handed forward…Deceptive agility…First step is there…Smooth stroke…Has a baby hook around the rim…Strength serves her well on defense
Kayla Beckwith – 2020 – 6-1 – Guard/Wing – Bullis – Size with perimeter skills….Lots of versatility in her game…Challenged by pressure at times…Can put it on the floor both in transition and in the halfcourt…Lean, athletic build allows her to slash through defensive traffic…Decent form is there as well as range to force deeper close outs…Had some moments on the boards from the perimeter…William and Mary signee
Abby Cater – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Elizabeth Seton – Athletic and strong in the backcourt…Plays with an attacking mentality…Skills are there with slight refinement still needed…First step is quick and long…Keeps active without the ball…Cuts hard to be an option…Penetrates with authority…No reservations about physical play on either end…Can spot up effectively with time…Makes plays
Paris Clark – 2022 – 5-9 – Combo – Long Island Lutheran – High profile prospect continues to advance her game…Fluid and athletic…Making decisions and plays at speed…Assertive with the ball…Turns the corner hard off the dribble…Step back is aggressive and creates plenty of room…Interior passing is more and more instinctual…Vision is there in transition…Has depth to offensive arsenal…Quick hands on ball defensively
Hannah Derje – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – Elizabeth Seton – Impressive size and frame…Gets up and down the floor well…Passes the eye test…Works for position…Needs a more aggressive and assertive approach with physical tools she posesses…Converted some opportunities…Drop step is sound…More tools should come with age and maturity…Critical time to elevate game
Sophia Diehl – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Roland Park – Long and somewhat lean forward…Plays with intensity…Nice inside-out skill set…Quick read and release…Good stroke and touch…Ballskills are sound and can get her to the rim…Agile on defense…Strength needs to be added
Jadyn Donovan – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Sidwell Friends – Dynamic well known prospect continues to evolve…Mixing her attack up more and more…Much more active without the ball…Working her way through traffic smarter…Elevates on the floater and pull up…Gets out in transition…Makes herself an option…Active and impact defender but must be smarter with fouls…Keep watching
Phoenix Gedeon – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Life Center – Power player…Physically strong…Plays with intensity…Skills are in place with slight rough edges to them…Knows her strength and how to apply it to her game…Works her way into traffic…Odd one hander is surprisingly effective as a floater…Agility is impressive for build…Uses her body efficiently on both ends…Rebounds with authority
Saniyah Glenn – 2022 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Christ the King – Tough weekend…Narrow frame comes with impressive athleticism…Has the skills to develop her own looks and exploit smaller defenders at the same time…Demonstrated speed both with and without the ball…Can push it in transition or get out in the lanes…Slithers into traffic and rises above the crowd…Can deliver some sharp passes on penetration…Pull up is there and form translate to deeper on the floor…Strength will have to evolve to handle more physical defenders
Tyler Gray – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Elizabeth Seton – Dynamic and athletic point guard…Left hander…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Gets into the paint…Nice touch on the floater…Can control pace of the game
A’riel Jackson – 2022 – 5-9 – Guard – Bishop Loughlin – Tough outing…Ballhandling is strongest asset and Achilles heel at the same time…Much too reliant on putting the ball on the floor…Can be explosive and develop or improve opportunities…Needs to utilize same dynamic effort without the ball to challenge defenders and negate predictability…Many, many tools to call upon on both ends…Depth to skill sets will make the most of those tools
Raven Johnson – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Westlake – Well known dynamic offensive threat…Explosive with the ball in her hands…Plenty of speed on the break or in sets…Pushes from make, miss or turnover…Crossover is lethal…Pull up can come at full speed with eye catching elevation…Floater has a soft touch…Active hands and feet on defense make her an impact player on both ends of the court
Meghan Kenefick – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Paul VI – Solid and strong…Text book skill set…Gets out and runs the floor…Plays with effort…Can make plays…Good strength…Facilitator…Consistency will be an asset
Ta’Niya Latson – 2022 – 5-7 – Guard – Westlake – Established guard…Dynamic athlete still leaving defenders standing…Looking to penetrate both in transition and half court opportunities…Pull up is much more fluid…Floater is often creative with body control…On ball defense is aggressive….Weakside needs some sharpening
Jersey Mayfield – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – National Christian – Active guard…Works to be an option…Gets out in transition…Reads on the catch…Fluid stroke is there…Decent touch…Got on the glass for a guard…Strong on ball defender
Jayla Oden – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – McDonogh – Has advanced skills…Making plays and decisions at full speed…Challenging defenders in both half and full court scenarios…Always attacking…Pull up is there but can get to the rim…Perimeter stroke is sound and efficient…Needs to set up teammates more to keep defenders honest and create options for herself later…Quick and active on ball defender
Kaitlyn Orihel – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Archbishop Wood – Solid and strong in the backcourt…Smart…Plays with instincts…Range and touch force close outs on the catch by opponents…Uses body effectively on penetration…Navigates traffic…Plays with awareness of both teammates and defenders…Can make plays with contact…Scrappy and annoying defender…Exploits sloppy or soft play
Makaela Quimby – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – McDonogh – Established young guard…Adapting to high school game…Athletic and basketball skills are as obvious as ever…Choices need to evolve to the next level and become accustomed to bigger and physical defenders…Had moments…Shot is smooth and fluid…Elevation is there along with a quick release…Just need to pick spots more efficiently…All the tools
Chelsea Reeves – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – St. Joseph’s – Lefty…Good first step…Penetrates time and again…Strong enough to handle defensive contact…Can create and improve both shots and passes…Solid jumper with range…Consistency has to come
KiKi Rice – 2022 – 6-0 – Point Guard – Sidwell Friends – Established prospect continues to mature…Mixing speed and direction more often…Creating both shots and passes…Exploiting with hesitation move to get to the rim…Pull up is more challenging to read and comes with even more elevation…Physical strength has come and is an asset on penetration…Feisty and competitive on the defensive end of the floor
Fadima Tall – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Georgetown Visitation – Promising young forward…Athletic and strong…Nice mix of interior and perimeter skills…Can handle it some herself…Effective off the drive from high post and trail spot…Touch and confidence are there from three point line…Showed off a baby hook with contact…Has a presence on the glass…Potential meets effort…Real possibilities
Jaelyn Talley – 2022 – 5-11 – Forward – Paul VI – Undersized but strong and assertive…Active in the high post…Makes herself an option…First step gets her into the paint and traffic…Goes up with contact…Can spot up with decent form and time…Battles on the defensive end
Delaney Thomas – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – St. John’s – Young promising forward…Size and frame…Stays active with impressive agility…Good strength for age…Showed off some face up moves…Mid-Range jumper is solid…Ballskills are sound for position…Getting more and more physical defensively
Jade Tilman – 2023 – 5-9 – Guard – St. John’s – Speed and quickness…Some size in the backcourt…Pull up is there…Lots of agility on defense…Assertive on ball…Has depth to her game…Watch closely
Kadida Toure – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward/Wing – Good Counsel – Plenty of size combines with a more solid build…Deceptively agile…No reservations about putting it on the floor and attacking like a guard…Somewhat upright but decent ballskills to call upon…Strong shot fake creates some penetration…Can finish with bodies on her…Will use her bulk defensively…Crashes the boards from anywhere on the floor…Lots of possibilities with focused training
Brianna Turnage – 2021 – 6-2 – Wing – Westlake – Established elite status…Long, lean and fluid in all of her movement…Has good awareness and passing instincts…Gets off the floor and exploits physical length…Stroke and range are there but come with a somewhat narrow base…Gets on the offensive glass…Additional strength will be an asset on the defensive end and glass
Simona Visockaite – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – Long Island Lutheran – Deceiving and very effective…Lean build with some length…Works well in the high post or from a trail spot in transition…15 footer is there…High post drive is efficient with a quick and long first step…Solid set of post moves…Step through serves her well…Even called on a jump hook…Strength would be an asset
Lee Volker – 2021 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – Paul VI – Poster child for versatility…Productive in transition and halfcourt…Can finish inside or step out and knock it down…Good vision and passing instincts…Responds to a challenges or negative plays…Lots of effort on both ends of the floor
Makayla Waleed – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – St. Vincent Pallotti – Decent individual skills…Has some speed with the ball…Slashes into traffic…Impressive body control…Pull up serves her well…Focused defender…Digs in
Delaney Yarborough – 2022 – 6-2 – Post – McDonogh – Solid with size…Good frame for the future physical work…Got on the boards…Showed a move or two…Needs to initiate physical play rather than avoid it…Possibilities are there
