CHANDLER, Ariz.—Annually the Nike Tournament of Champions brings together some of the most talented players and teams in scholastic basketball. With so much talent on hand we thought it might be interesting for each of our Blue Star Media representatives on hand to offer a daily “One-and One” evaluation of one player and one team that might not yet have landed on the radar of those following the high school and club basketball circuit. Naturally we’ll have plenty of post event individual evaluations of established and evolving talent, but these are the teams and individuals who made us look twice while courtside in Chandler.
Action continues Friday with the first tip offs scheduled for 10 a.m. For complete brackets and results follow the link below.
http://www.niketournamentofchampions.com/events/schedule.cfm?id=52
One-And-One from the TOC: Day One
Prentice Beverly
Every team in America needs a player like Pinewood’s 5-7 Gabi Bade, a 2015 guard from Los Altos Hills, CA. She is not flashy, she may or may not lead your team in scoring but Bade will definitely fill out the stat sheet. Bade is that player that dives for that all important loose balls or takes a game saving charge. She’s simply a coach’s dream. When asked which is her favorite, offense or defense, Bade chose DEFENSE. Ironically, for a player that loves defense she finished with a game high 20 points and drained four 3 pointers helping Pinewood overcome a deficit and defeat Lake Washington (WA). Bade is a high energy prospect with a high basketball IQ working hard at both ends of the floor. As mentioned, she has a sweet stroke from behind the arch as well as a quick first step which she uses to attack and finish in the paint. She would like to attend UCLA but remains wide open, even legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden would love watching her play. Bade is the type of player that every program needs.
The Miramonte Matadors from Orinda, Calif. is my team of the day. The Matadors don’t have a player over 5 feet 11 but that doesn’t stop them from rebounding and getting out on the break. The Matador’s do an excellent job of applying pressure on their opponents and box out effectively to finish their defense. Miramonte cruised to an easy 76-38 victory over ThunderRidge in the opening game of their first trip to the Nike TOC. The Matador’s placed five players in double figures in the first round win. Point guard Carly Gill is the team’s only senior and junior Megan Reid is a potential D-I prospect who also plays soccer. Coach Kelly Sopak has a very young talented squad. Freshmen Keanna Delos Santos is an excellent shooter at 5-5 while 5-11 Uriah Howard is an athletic forward. Also 5-11, guard Sabrina Ionescu can stroke it from behind the arc. The Matador’s maybe young and small in size but they will make you choose your poison because even Coach Sopak doesn’t know who’s going to lead the way in the scoring column. My advice to opposing coaches is defend everyone leave no one open.
Prentice Beverly is a National Evaluator for Blue Star Media and the owner of Balln Prep Girls. He also works for Girl Powher Showcases, National Roundball Academy and is the Author of “Navigating the Maze” a grassroots reference guide to women’s college basketball recruiting. Beverly has spent 15 years coaching high school and club basketball and resides in Montgomery, Alabama.
Lisa Bodine
Although they have 12 state titles Campbell County, Wyoming barely registers a blip on the national high school radar. In an early morning contest against St. Anthony’s (Long Beach, Calif.) senior point guard McCorra Ford did a little bit of everything to help the Camels shine on the national stage. Ford is a feisty leader who is not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve and leave it all on the floor. At 5-6 she is everything you want in a lead guard. A solid ball handler with the ability to break down defenses, possession after possession Ford pushed the tempo delivering a variety of slick passes to her teammates. Defensively, she anchored the team’s press and made it extremely difficult for St. Anthony’s guards to make clean entry passes into Duke signee, center Kendall Cooper. During a crucial stretch in the final quarter with St. Anthony’s making a run, Ford nailed a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 8. Unfortunately, she also got hit with a technical foul for clapping her hands and saying “Let’s go” with a little too much emotion, at least according to the referee. Of course this just made Ford more vocal from the bench not only cheering her teammates on but sharing the coaching duties with veteran coach Mitch Holst. She called out plays and defensive assignments as she made sure her team stayed focused. Once Ford was back on the court she kept her cool and helped her team secure a 55-50 win in the Anderson Division. According to her coaches she only has received offers from a local Davison II and junior college. By the end of the tournament that may well change. A player with her skill, leadership and toughness will be a welcome addition to any college program.
In their first trip to the Nike TOC, Sacred Heart from Louisville, Ky. put on a clinic on how to run a 5 guard offense. Without a player in their starting lineup taller than 5-9, they handed a much bigger Lynnwood(Lynnwood, Calif.) squad a 55-52 loss by pushing the tempo and scoring transition buckets. DaiJia Ruffin, a 5-9 junior forward, demonstrated the ability to secure a rebound and handle the ball in the open court which allowed Sacred Heart to jump out to an early 12 point lead. The Valkyries roster is filled with unselfish players like 5-6 junior Raven Merriweather and 5-4 sophomore Gretchen Samsel who are scrappy on ball defenders and can score from anywhere on the floor. Lynnwood made a late push to cut the lead to 3 exploiting Sacred Heart’s obvious fatigue but they pulled together as a team to hold on and seal the victory.
Lisa Bodine is a national evaluator for Blue Star Media. During her 20 years as a club and high school coach she has mentored many of the top players in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Kevin Lynch
When evaluating talent one of the first things I take notice of is the three E’s; effort, energy and enthusiasm. Talent will eventually come out as the game goes on, but when you see a player, run to center court, clap her hands in the “ok let’s get it on” manner, I take notice. Rock Bridge High School from Columbia, Missouri has that player in 5’11 guard Chayla Cheadle. Cheadle is a junior dynamo who has the skill and athleticism to be a successful player at the next level. Defensively, she causes major problems with her length and quickness. Her teammates feed off of her tips and steals while the havoc she creates helps with high percentage shots in transition. Offensively, her shot is sweet, especially in the mid-range. When pressured, she has the quickness to get by her defender and finish with an array of offensive moves. College coaches don’t have the time or patience to coach effort. With Cheadle, they won’t have too.
Just north of New York City, about a one hour drive sits the town of Ossining. Previously, Ossining was noteable for very little except being the home of the notorious Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Well things have changed because they are now known for something else; one heck of a girls High school basketball program. Coach Dan Ricci has put together a team that is both fun to watch and successful. Ricci’s team plays fast, shoots even faster and pressures the other team into playing its style. No one on the roster is over 6’0, but they are very good at disguising their lack of size by pushing the tempo and getting off quick shots, mostly by star guard Saniya Chong. The senior guard is one of the country’s fastest players and can score in bunches, including from deep range. The most impressive skill she has is the uncanny touch on her passes, especially the long outlets to her streaking teammates. Ossining also has many quality underclass players keeping the future bright for Coach Ricci. This may not be their last venture into the Valley of the Sun and the country’s best high school tournament.
Kevin Lynch has been a member of the Blue Star Basketball family for nearly 15 years. Lynch was regarded as one of the most successful and respected travel team coaches in the country. He was a coach for the Nike sponsored Philadelphia Belles for 14 years. Lynch has guided the program to a national title in 2003, and runner-up in 2005 & 2006. Lynch has had the opportunity to work with over 50 players that went on to compete at the Division I level. Including five McDonald’s All-Americans, seven WBCA-All-Americans, and 11 Parade All-Americans. Lynch is presently a member of the McDonald’s All-American committee
Mark Lewis
There are very few high school tournaments where you’re going to see an eighth grader make an impression. It certainly isn’t commonplace at the Nike Tournament of Champions but this year there’s a Class of 2017 standout well worth the time of recruiters and fans alike. Andra Espinoza-Hunter already stands 5-11 and has the skill set that’s going to allow her to take her game to any level she chooses to put in the commitment and effort for. Playing alongside standout senior guard Saniya Chong provides some freedom with opposing defenses committed to shutting down the UConn signee. On the catch Espinoza-Hunter is quick to attack off the dribble or with a quick release on her smooth, fluid jumper. Range is no issue and the step back is there to create some separation for her own looks. Shot selection occasionally has its moments for the young guard and her teammates but maturity and decision making will evolve with experience. The challenge for early standouts like Espinoza-Hunter is avoiding the plateau effect and continuing to advance her game on both ends of the floor.
The old coach in me is still impressed by some of the most basic and essential elements of the game. On the offensive end of the floor the concept of spacing is generally embraced by teams about as warmly as republicans seem to be snuggling up to President Obama. In the final game of the 2012 TOC’s first day, Archbishop Wood out of Philadelphia, Pa. utilized virtually every inch of their end of the floor forcing La Jolla Country Day to spread their defense. Making their use of the court all the more effective was their patience and active movement without the ball. Without a shot clock, it was challenging for the LJCD to maintain their intensity and ball pressure throughout each possession, particularly in the later stages of the game. Three seniors are particularly adept for Coach Jim Ricci at making the most of their offensive real estate. Jackie Pierson, a 5-4 point guard, is active and has the vision to read the floor and capitalize on defensive breakdowns. Colleen Young, 5-9, cuts effectively and with intent keeping defenders honest while Haley Scullion, 5-11, confidently works the high post. Spacing isn’t a guarantee to put points on the board but it is the equivalent of body punches in boxing leading some easy shots that can turn a close game into a knockout.
Mark Lewis is a national evaluator and photographer for Blue Star Basketball as well as the lead columnist for Blue Star Media. Twice ranked as one of the top 25 Division I assistant coaches in the game by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), he has more than 20 years of college coaching experience at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and Washington State. Lewis also serves as a member of the prestigious McDonald’s All-American selection committee.
