NAPLEA, Fla.—The new year is here, 2016 is a memory and we’ve got lots of good basketball in front of us over the next couple of months. Before we move on to what’s next we thought we would take one last look back at the 18th annual Naples Holiday Shootout that wrapped up just before we rung in 2017. Our first coverage features capsules of the two championship games won by Miami Country Day (Florida) and West Campus (California) as well as a look at a dozen of the standouts on hand in South Florida. For a look back, follow the link below.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/naples-holiday-shootout-wrapping-2016/
As we glance in the rear view mirror one more time we offer up some quickhitters on some of the finals participants and other prospects who offered up strong performances in Naples.
Namiko Adams – 2017 – Guard – West Campus (California) – Dynamic athlete…Ability is there to develop her own looks…Explosive first step…Elevates on jumper and pull up…Ballskills are quick and diverse…Gets to the rim…Takes chances defensively…Uncommitted
Maria Alvarez – 2019 – Combo – Miami Country Day (Florida) – Picked up where she left off in Arizona…Mixes up her attack…Works well with talented backcourt mates (Marshall/Lewis)…Understands passing angles off penetration…Reminded observers of her range and touch…Deceiving quickness…Assertive on ball defender…Physicality will have to come
Aaysia Berry – 2018 – Post – Miami Country Day (Florida) – Post with a solid build…Becoming more consistent in finishing down low…Impressive awareness of her positioning on the catch…Works to be an option on a successful perimeter oriented team…Will mix it up at times…Defense could use more consistency
Zakijah Franklin – 2019 – Guard – Winter Haven (Florida) – Athletic, quick and attacking…Lefty with sharp individual skills…Hesitation and crossover draw defenders out of stance…Makes plays in transition and halfcourt…Gets in a stance and defends
Madison Greene – 2019 – Point Guard – Pickerington Central (Ohio) – Continues to advance her already impressive game…Strong ballhandling and passing in traffic…Sees the floor with pressure…Crossover and acceleration…Can finish with contact…Has both the form and range…Assertive on ball
Naz Hillmon – 2018 – Forward/Post – Gilmour Academy (Ohio) – Steady improvement from established prospect…Strength and a willingness to use it…Outworks most she lines up against…Effort on both ends…Comfortable up high, mid and low post… Reads on the catch…Sin move is evolving…Gets on the offensive boards…Confidence and awareness
Kiara Jefferson – 2018 – Guard – West Campus (California) – Wiry, athletic guard…Pushes the ball at opportunity…Can slash and get into the paint…Jumper is there with range…Slight build has her bouncing off defenders at times…Quick hands and feet in her own defensive effort
Alexis Johnson – 2017 – Wing – Kinkaid (Texas) – Indiana signee…Strong, physical and athletic…Can create her own off the dribble…Solid frame serves her well on penetration…Factor in transition…Elevates on the pull up…Floater is there…Shot selection has moments
Emily Kelley – 2017 – Wing – Gilmour Academy (Ohio) – Winthrop signee…Shooter with impressive touch beyond the arch…Works hard to be an option…Reads while cutting…Can put it on the floor to a degree…Smart, well coached player
Turkstra Maryama – 2020 – Forward – St. May’s (Ontario – Canada) – Nice size with an athletic build…Agile and can run the floor…Decent strength for age…First step is sound…Has some ballhandling…Young with possibilities
Jarya Outten – 2017 – Point Guard – Fort Myers (Florida) – Furman commit…Small but strong and attacking…Ballhanding is low and quick…Gets to the rim again and again…Pull up is there…Interior passing could use a little sharpening… Gets off the floor for size…Scored her 1000th point
Maliya Perry – 2019 – Guard/Wing – Pickerington Central (Ohio) – Skill set continues to be refined with depth…Shot the ball deep with consistency and confidence…Active with and without the ball…Gets out in the lanes on the break…Scrappy defender…Watch closely
Desrael Schnyder – 2018 – Guard – Loranger (Louisiana) – Athletic and active guard…Gets out on the break…Can create some off the dribble…Handled traffic well on way to the rim…Versatile skill set…Focused effort is there…Aggressive on ball defensively
Kia Sivils – 2018 – Guard – Sacred Heart (Kentucky) – Marshall commit…Athletic guard…Active with and without the ball…Demonstrated speed on both ends of the floor…Always in the middle of the action…Made plays
Jahari Smith – 2018 – Forward – Bolingbrook (Illinois) – Long, lean and athletic forward…Evolving skills…Agile and runs the floor with the guards…A little ballhandling is there…Passes the ball well…Quick on the catch down low…Lots of possibilities defensively…Promising progress
Erin Toller – 2020 – Point Guard – Sacred Heat (Kentucky) – Small but solid and strong…Plays with a low center of gravity…Attacks off the dribble…Ballhanding is sharp and quick…Can make moves at speed in transition…Aggressive on ball defender at times…Young with promise
Bexley Wallace – 2018 – Post – Pickerington Central (Ohio) – Finding her stride once again…Playing physical and aggressive…Looking to create her own of one and two dribble drives…Ballskills and passing serving her well as a post…Got on the glass…Conditioning is evolving
