PHOENIX, Ariz.— Day two of the 2019 Nike Tournament of Champions is now in the books with 50 more scheduled games added to day one’s efforts. All seven divisions moved one round closer to determining who will take the floor Saturday in hopes of claiming some Nike hardware to carry home with them for Christmas. On hand from opening tip to the final buzzer, Blue Star Media is offering up some quick looks nightly at some of the days notable performers as well as championship wrap ups from Saturday’s division finals.
For a look at our “Featured Five” from day one, follow the link below. Check back with Blue Star Media from more from the 23rd annual Nike Tournament of Champions tomorrow and Sunday.
https://bluestarmedia.org/nike-toc-2019-day-one-featured-five/
Today we feature five more players who made the most of their opportunities on a day when players like Te-hina PaoPao and Jada Walker were going head to head and coaches like Sue Phillips and Karen Weitz were facing off. It’s the 23rd annual Nike Tournament of Champions…Day Two.
Let’s start today’s five with a look at a young guard / wing from Bishop O’Dowd (California) who fell 43 – 37 to Archbishop Mitty (California). Amaya Bonner, a 6-0 sophomore, passes the eye test right out of the gate. Long, lean and athletic, she’s smooth and fluid in the backcourt exploiting good size against predominantly smaller match-ups. Her skill set is refined for her age and allows her to handle the ball in both halfcourt and transition scenarios. Add in good speed and agility and you’ve got a legitimate, multifaceted threat. Her shot has sound form and a soft touch to go along with good elevation providing her plenty of clean looks at the rim. Those same attributes translate to the defensive end of the floor and make her potentially an impact player both offensively and defensively. Bonner has the length and vertical to produce on the boards but will need additional strength as she matures to clear space with bigger and stronger opponents.
Few players provide the complete production that Long Beach Poly’s (California) Lily Buggs provides. Though Poly came up short in their match-up with Riverdale Baptist (Maryland), the 5-9 junior was a factor in virtually every aspect of the game. She’s attacking the rim on the catch. She’s a force on the boards even among the bigs. She’s assertive and aggressive defensively. If there’s a loose ball she’s after it on the floor. To quote football coaches, she’s “flying all over the place”. Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t just someone making hustle plays. Buggs is skilled, well coached and focused. She plays the game with intensity and is the type of athlete who sets a standard for those around her and would raise the level of both games or practices. This is the kind of player you would much rather play with than play against.
Sometimes it takes a spark to get a stagnant team to pick up the pace and find their rhythm in a challenging game. Sophomore point guard Mary McMorris of Centennial (Nevada) provided that spark in the Bulldogs match-up with Archbishop Mitty (California). Though the final score went Mitty’s way at the buzzer, the well-known McMorris was impressive in her relentless attack. She’s explosive off the dribble and can turn the corner at speed forcing defenders to look for help from weakside teammates. Despite her limited size (generously listed at 5-5) McMorris carries good physical strength and has no reservation about taking it in among the bigs. We’ve seen her create perimeter looks in the past with sharp ballskills and an effective stepback. On the ball defensively, the combination of both quickness and strength give her the tools to turn ballhandlers again and again. McMorris changes the pace of the game when she walks on the floor.
Mitty got a strong performance in that win over Centennial from junior Katie Springs. The 6-0 swing player impressed in multiple ways and was critical down the stretch of a one possession overtime game. Good size and deceptive athleticism provides the tools for Springs to be a factor both as a scorer or facilitator. With the ability to finish both ways, the interior attack is smooth and confident and also successful versus players possessing more size. On the drive she’s aggressive and utilizes her body to create space and protect the ball. Springs also finds offensive opportunities coming her way off the glass with successful second looks. The form and touch are there as she demonstrated the ability and confidence to knock down 15 footers. Defensively that size and ability to move make her an asset with the tools to create and exploit smaller opposition. There could still be more advancement on the horizon for the talented junior.
JuJu Watkins has been a presence on the radar for several years now yet it still seems odd to finally see the freshman in a high school uniform. The explosive young Windward guard stands 6-0 and is comfortable at any position on the perimeter. Watkins obviously likes creating her own looks off the dribble and is much more than effective in her attack. As teams adapt she’ll be drawing crowds and will have to dig deeper in her tool box to keep the opposition honest. A sound jumper is there and comes with the range to force defenders to close out more aggressively than they might prefer. There’s an element of power in Watkins game already but it’s a smooth, fluid and continual version rather than just that occasional explosive burst. She’s the kind of player that can wear you down baseline to baseline across the course of an entire game. Like any promising freshman there are always rough edges to smooth out and experience to gain, but Watkins has the tools and patience to embrace the process in order to make the most of the obvious possibilities.
