NORTH AUGUSTA, SC—With so much talent on hand it’s easy to get caught up in watching just the top division every year at Nike Nationals. While there are plenty of talented underclassmen “playing up”, the junior division provided plenty of prospects for the college folks to put under the magnifying glass. Take one trip to the “upper” gyms and you’re going to see some of the rising prospects that are soon to be on the main stage for their Swoosh sponsored programs over the next couple of club seasons. In our championship coverage of the Philadelphia Belles win over the Cal Sparks we profiled six standouts from the junior division. (See link below) Today Prentice Beverly takes a look at just a few of the “young” prospects in the junior division that no doubt improved their status among the large contingent of recruiters on hand…Mark Lewis
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Californians are known for being laid back and 2017 Jayda Adams of Irvine, California displayed plenty of calmness. Adams is a long, 5-10 athletic shooter that seems to find a way to score. The ability is there to attack and finish in traffic as well as hand out assists. Adams has an excellent command of her dribble and she penetrates with either hand equally. A solid defender, she uses her size and athleticism to disrupt things for West Coast Premier opponents. She played with a mature composure for her age draining plenty of timely shots. Adams has a smooth game and with continued development has a shot at being a solid DI prospect.
In a class that has an obvious shortage of shooters, 2015 wing Aubree Brown from Bensalem, Pa. is an excellent spot up threat with the sweet stroke that schools are struggling to find. Brown, another Philly Belle, has decent handles and is a good passer. At 6-0, she uses her long arms to be a solid defender and grab rebounds at both ends of the floor. Brown has a well-rounded game that includes lots of energy and hustle, something else that coaches love to find.
Quality, athletic bigs always catch the eye of coaches and evaluators and 6-2 Keasja Peace, who hails from Toledo, Ohio, has the chance to be just what those folks are looking for. Peace has a long athletic college body that helps her rebound the ball at highest point, run the floor, and finish well in the paint. Her midrange shot is a work in progress but she does have a nice low post, face up game. Peace, of the Michigan Crossover, has the potential to be a dominate force at both ends. A 2016 with a tremendous upside.
It’s always good to watch good guard play and the Tennessee Flight 15U Silver’s point guard Makayla Timmons from Columbia, Tennessee caught our attention. Standing 5-6, Timmons creates off the bounce and finishes consistently at the rim. At the same time there’s a nice midrange jumper to call upon when helpside comes her way. Using her great court vision, the 2015 Timmons does an excellent job of involving her teammates. She’s very athletic and does a great job of attacking on both ends of the floor.
We always enjoy watching a good big and 6-3 Makayla Stanley of Glen Allen, Virginia was an absolute pleasure to see in action. Stanley has a long athletic build, a nice wing span and defends the post like a lioness protecting her cubs. She blocks shots and battles for virtually every rebound. Offensively, she ran floor well and showed an ability to finish in paint. At the same time, the potential is there to step out and knock down the three. Stanley appeared to be just as comfortable on the perimeter as she was at home down on the low block. The Boo Williams 15U standout has great hands and all the tools to be a special player. Stanley played well and showed that she deserves to be mentioned amongst the best in a talent rich Class of 2017.
Big guards are always in demand and a joy to watch. The Philly Belle’s 5-11 Aneah Young, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, did a good job of keeping our attention. She’s very athletic and does a great job of creating off the bounce. Young uses an impressive vertical to finish at the rim, but also has a nice midrange jumper as well as an effective 3pt stroke to call upon. She does an excellent job communicating with her teammates on both ends and is a solid on ball defender. A 2015 definitely worth watching, she lets the game come to her and finds a way to help her team.
Quickhitters
Nadia Fingall – 2017 – 6-2 Post – Essence – Navarre, Fla. – Athletic post…Great body…Long arms…Rebounds well…Nice face up game…Defends in the post… Finishes at the rack…BCS prospect
Kayla Rogers – 2016 – 5-7 Guard – Essence – Jacksonville, Fla. – Smooth and athletic…Good handles…Crisp passer…Sees the floor…Nice midrange jumper…Three point range…Solid pull up…Good defender…Nice upside
Deja Jackson -2015 – 5-9 Guard – All Iowa Attack – Grinnell, Iowa – Handled the ball well…Smooth hesitation dribble…Makes good decisions…Three point stroke…Scrappy….Assertive on ball defender…Patient and composed…Will only get better with time
Bexley Wallace – 2018 – 6-1 Forward – All Ohio – Pickerington, Ohio – Great length…Runs the floor…Communicates well…Tough…Battles on the boards…Good foot work…Strong low post defense…Finishes in paint…Well established already
