MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama is host to several holiday tournaments, most of which are a combination of boy and girls teams. The BallN Powher Prep Invitational may have set the bar pretty high for showcase events with 13 of the 20 teams currently ranked the state of Alabama and Florida in their perspective classifications. Faulkner University provided the perfect venue and atmosphere for the players, coaches and fans. There is a multitude of tournaments and showcases spanning across the country. I decided to split my time between two in particular the BallN Powher Prep Invitational and the Dwight Madison Classic both in Montgomery, Ala. The following players from both events caught my eye with noteworthy performances
Lee High School sophomore Areleatha Gipson, the 5-6 cat-quick, ultra speedy guard played a stellar all-around game. Gipson likes to attack off the dribble, with either hand, looking to create contact and finish in traffic. She also showed the willingness to manufacturer her shot by attacking off the bounce as well as consistently draining the spot up jumper and three pointers. Gipson did a great job of pushing the ball up the floor on made and missed baskets. When the other team made a run to cut into the Lady Generals lead, Gipson calmly drained several big buckets and converted back-to-back steals into points, putting the game out of reach. Gipson played aggressive at both end of the court and has a knack for being around the ball. She dropped several timely dimes in crunch time as well. She rebounds well for her position. Gipson has all the tools to be a big time point guard. Gipson has BCS conference potential written all over her game.
If you’re looking for an athletic all-around player that plays the game the way it is supposed to be played, then 6-2 freshman Kaitlyn Rogers, Wenonah High School out of Birmingham, Ala is your prospect. She has a solid body with long arms that take up space in the lane and was opposing coach worst nightmare at the back of Wenonah’s full court press with numerous steals. Rogers plays a very aggressive game at both ends of the court. She has a nice low-post game and finishes well in the paint or gets to the line where she is a good free-throw shooter. Rogers also showed that she has a smooth face-up game and is not afraid to put the ball on the floor. She used her long arms and good leaping ability to dominant the boards and push the ball up the floor. Defensively, Rogers defended the low post and perimeter extremely well with a fearless, reckless abandon, blocking several shots. Rogers has a tremendous upside a BCS caliber prospect.
Junior Shakayla Thomas, the reigning Alabama 5A Player of the Year from Sylacauga High School in Sylacauga, Ala. Thomas, the explosive athletic 6-1 wing showed the ability to play on the perimeter as well as in the low post. In the low post she used a very nice up-and-under move to effectively score. Thomas likes to face up and attack off the dribble, finishing at the basket or stroking the short pull-up jumper. On the perimeter, she can knock down the mid-range or 3-point shot. She loves to get out and finish off the break and used her excellent body control to adjust in mid-air to get her shot off against taller defenders. She has a series of spin and hesitation moves that create space to finish at the rack. Thomas rebounds extremely well and can defend on the perimeter or post quite effectively. Thomas can score in bunches. She scored 37 points in the game against highly ranked Faith Academy, 22 of which came in the first half. Thomas has a mature game with a WNBA body. Thomas game and body is unmatched in her class and should be considered among the best.
LSU signee Jasmine Rhodes, the Faith Academy senior is an extremely athletic guard with the ability to play multiple positions. Rhodes played with a motor that wouldn’t quit, wasn’t afraid to dive for loose balls and she ran the floor like a gazelle. Rhodes was really smooth handling the rock in transition with a nice change-of-direction dribble. She showed off her well- rounded game posting up, attacking off the bounce, facing up and knocking down the mid-range jumper as well as draining several 3 pointers in a scoring duel with Sylacauga’s junior Shakayla Thomas. Rhodes finished with 29 points to Thomas’s 37. Thomas won the scoring battle but Rhodes’ Faith Academy team got the win. Rhodes was just as comfortable on the wing; she used her ball handling skills and nice spin move to score in the paint. She has a really soft touch from 10 to 22 feet. Rhodes rebounded really well, grabbing the ball from its highest point. Defensively, Rhodes creates havoc for opposing players by jumping the passing lanes and either finishing off the break or creating for her teammates. She is an excellent on-ball defender and showed the ability to defend multiple positions. Rhodes has the rare trait of being a super athletic with a fundamentally sound game. She is truly the total package. LSU Coach Nikki Caldwell is getting a good one in Jasmine Rhodes.
Wow is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Jeff Davis High School 6-3 freshman Jasmine Walker. Walker has all the tools to successful at the next level; she is very confident in her ball control as well as makes good decisions. Walker can score inside and out with a sweet stroke that extends beyond the 3 point arc. She has a nice array of post moves. Walker rebounds and runs the floor quite well. She has a college body that she uses to her advantage at both ends. Defensively, Walker protects the paint extremely well. She also showed the ability to defend smaller players on the perimeter. Walker size and game resembles that of Boston Celtic future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. With continued development Jasmine “The Big Ticket” Walker has the potential to be a Top 25 prospect. “The Big Ticket” already has several BCS offers on the table and it’s a safe bet that with continued viewings Walker will be a box office hit.
The 5-3 playmaker junior Morgan Willam from 6A #2 Shades Valley played an outstanding game against Alabama 5A #3 Faith Academy. William loves to attack the rim; she finishes extremely well with an array of acrobatic move or drops the ball off to slashing teammates. She keeps defenses honest with her silky smooth shot that extends out beyond the three point arc. William, a very good leaper for her size, has the ability to hang in the air to draw the contact and finish at the basket. She used her speed and quickness to consistently beat her opponent for the bucket. William played a solid game defensively, using her 5-9 wing span, jumping the passing lanes and forcing her opponent into several turnovers. Despite her size William has several BCS programs.
I always enjoy watching good guard play and Wenonah High School 5-9 junior guard Jameka Holmes was indeed a joy to watch. Holmes has a college-ready body and the competitive fire to go along with her versatile game. From tipoff to the final horn Holmes was constantly on the attack. Offensively she used her ball handling skills to create space to knock down three pointers or attack off the bounce finishing in the paint. Holmes stroked several mid-range jumpers as well attack off the dribble. Defensively, Holmes showed that can be a lock down defender. Holmes did a great job communicating at both ends of the court. Holmes has a nice game with DI talent.
Believe it or not I witnessed 5-7 senior Jai’Lyn Lover score a quiet 42 points to help her unranked 1A St. Jude team upset 1A #7 ranked Winterboro 69-61. Lover is forced to play in post for her small St. Jude squad but that didn’t stop her from scoring against taller players. In fact, Lover in the next two games put up 23 and 29 point performances averaging 31 points per game for the Invitational. Even more impressive was that Lover also pulled down 15 rebounds in St. Jude’s single game record. Lover will be a good fit for a NAIA or junior college program.
Blount High School 5-7 junior combo guard Whytney Singleton is feisty and crafty. Singleton stroked multiple treys. She finished well off the break; attacked the rim; and either finished or dropped dimes to her teammates. Singleton also displayed a nice mid-range touch. She had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Defensively, she played aggressive on-ball defense and made a living off of pressuring her opponent and creating turnovers. Singleton is a complete player fundamentally sound clutch performer made several big plays. She has the tools to be a sleeper Division I prospect.
Los Angles Clipper point guard Chris Paul’s nickname is CP3. Freshman Cierra Johnson the 5-8 athletic speedy combo guard from Blount High School Mobile, Ala. Johnson’s nickname is Cici, she might want to reconsider and change her nickname to CJ15 simply because her game resembles that of CP3. Johnson played extremely well. She showed why she should be considered to be one of the best guards in her class. Johnson used her killer crossover, coupled with her explosive first step, to attack the paint looking to score or dish to slashing teammates. Johnson used her speed and quickness to get out and finish off the break weaving in and out of traffic handling the rock equally with both hands. Johnson also showed that she can consistently stroke the mid-range jumper as well as be a threat from beyond the arc, forcing opponents to choose their poison. Johnson showed the ability to translate her speed and athleticism to pay great dividends on the defensive end forcing turnovers and cashing in on the other end. Johnson is a top notch point guard with a big time game.
Shades Valley junior point guard 5-3 Frantisha Tyson is content with playing solid defense and setting up her teammates. But come crunch time it seems as though she flips the switch, Tyson has the knack for making the big play when her teams it the most. Tyson, in a highly contested game with #3 Faith Academy, knocked down back to 3 pointers, the first tied the game and the second gave Shades Valley the lead for good. Tyson may be small in height but she finds a way to come up big when the pressure is on. She is a solid point guard with excellent handles and great court vision. Tyson is a good on ball defender and will help a low to mid DI program.
