15th Annual Naples Holiday Shootout

St. John Neumann High School is the host venue for all the action and the college recruiters have been out in force from the tip of the first game.  To catch up on all of the results follow the event on Twitter at @NHShootout or click on the link below for more information.

http://naplesholidayshootout.com/

Nationally ranked programs can be found from top to bottom in both brackets and with that caliber of competition comes some special talent.  Some we’ve seen before and others are catching our eye for the first time.  Here are just a few of the standouts from the first two rounds of competition.

Kalani Brown is the kind of player folks take notice of the moment she walks in the gym.  One of the few players actually bigger than her listed size, Brown minimally stands a legitimate 6-6 and has a frame that makes her an imposing presence at both ends.  The Salmen High School (Louisiana) junior has been among the who’s who of in the 2015 class from day one and for much more than just her size.  The ability is there to get up and down the floor and she’s puts it to use every possession.  Her lateral speed is impressively quick for someone her size and advanced court awareness helps her put those quick feet to good use.  Her posting is aggressive, there’s always a target up and she has a good understanding of passing angles.  Brown actually receives a surprisingly low number of touches given her physical skills and attributes but capitalizes on virtually every opportunity.  She even knocked down a 15 foot trail shot in round two just to add to the challenges for opponents.  Needless to say she’s a game changer on the defensive end and an enormous contributor on the boards.  The only limits she’ll face will be those she places on herself. 

Few conversations about the top tier of the 2015 class have ever occurred without the name of St. Pius X (Georgia) guard Asia Durr being prominently mentioned.  The 5-10 guard has long been well established as one of the most dynamic players with the ball in her hands on the scholastic level.  The ability to create both shots and passes make her a challenging match up for virtually any opponent.  Durr uses a change of speed and direction about as effectively as any player in the game.  A brief hesitation brings defenders out of their stance and allows her to have her way on the break or in the halfcourt.  She and her teammates were upset in round one in Naples by a competitive Barron Collier team in a game that found Pius never getting comfortable at either end of the floor.  It also revealed the need for Durr to take a “selfish” approach for the good of the team.  There are times and situations that a dominant player needs to step up and forget about sharing the ball.  Conversely, it’s important that her teammates understand the need to exploit the asset they have and look for her and her opportunities.  Sharing the load is a great concept, particularly after you have a double digit lead.

Elizabethtown (Kentucky) is going to enjoy the services of standout Erin Boley for several more years with the 6-2 swing player listed on the roles of the 2016 class.  A rare combination of size, build and skills, Boley should have the recruiters lined up out the door and down the street at the highest level.  Filling out and playing with a more assertive and physical style, she consistently creates her own looks off the dribble both in transition or halfcourt sets.  Her reads and decision making are quick on the catch and often exploits defenders who fail to close out in a timely fashion.  Her first step is lengthy and deceiving in terms of how quick she can accelerate by an opponent.  The form and confidence that she has both around the rim and from the perimeter is text book and serve her well.  Defensively she’s a challenge because of her size and strength which commands height yet at the same time her ballhandling screams for a perimeter match up.  While she is an offensive juggernaut, there are times her shot selection could use a little fine tuning and a further understanding of how to keep defenders occupied when the ball is in a teammate’s hands.  There’s plenty of effort defensively and she’s productive on the boards often bypassing the outlet and taking it herself in transition.

If there is such thing as a “quiet killer” in describing a basketball player, then you would have to look at Napheesa Collier.  Despite being known coast to coast by every opponent, recruiter or media member, she still seems to slip up on folks in producing big game after big game.  The Incarnate Word Academy (Missouri) junior isn’t dramatic or flashy in her play, just effective to a degree few others in the 2015 class can lay claim to.  Lean and athletic at 6-1, she simply tends to take opportunities and make the absolute most out of them.  She’s strong off the drive and can finish in traffic.  The speed and quickness are there to be a factor on the break with and without the ball.  She crashes and converts on the offensive boards with good reads and uncanny timing.  The perimeter shot is going to have to evolve further and add consistency but given time she can knock down her share now.  Having a talented and deep bench affords her the freedom of not receiving the complete focus of opposing defenses.  Collier is an active asset on the front of the press and anticipates well away from the ball.  She’s the one you want to play with…not against!

Blackman (Tennessee) is making noise in every poll nationally and for good reason.  Lots of depth, lots of athleticism, and, even better, lots of youth.  Setting the pace for the Lady Blaze is dynamic sophomore point guard Crystal Dangerfield.  Barely her listed 5-5, Dangerfield is on the attack from tip to buzzer.  Her speed with the ball in her hands is beyond what most players can hope for just getting out and filling the lanes.  She’s constantly forcing opposing defenses to react and rotate while developing looks for both herself and her teammates.  The ability to change direction on a dime at full speed is something you’re not going to find in too many other players on the high school or even college level.  There seems to be a focused effort on distributing the ball more effectively and it’s paying dividends on the scoreboard.  It’s also paying off in leading to more options for herself spotted up or off the pull up.  On ball defensively she can turn a ballhandler time and again plus the quick hands are a threat to any sloppy skilled match ups.

Montverde Academy (Florida) dropped their opening two games but it wasn’t due to the performance of Oklahoma signee Gileysa Penzo.  The 5-10 guard played with a maturity and confidence that says she’s more than ready for the next level.  Her size on the perimeter goes hand in hand with sharp skills to allow her to make plays within sets or off the break.  She slashes effectively with a long first step and can call upon a soft pull up or a reliable floater.  Penzo gets out and runs the floor looking to create options whether she’s handling the ball or just filling the lanes.  Even in the halfcourt she’s an active cutter and a challenge to any defender.  The versatility is there to play almost every spot on the perimeter offensively and even, to a degree, defensively.  Well suited for both the college game and Sherri Coale’s style.

A well-coached and disciplined Christian Academy of Knoxville, Tennessee split their first two games and got plenty of production from established point guard Anna Hammaker.  Solid and strong at 5-8, she’s got a great understanding of the game and the skill set to take advantage of offensive options and defensive breakdowns.  The left hander works well within the disciplined and well-spaced sets of Coach Steve Denny.  She can attack off the dribble while still reading the cuts of her teammates and deliver the pass for a better option.  Her own cuts create looks at the rim or lead to her pull up jumper.  The change of speed keeps defenders on their toes and she’s willing to use it multiple times on a single drive.  Hammaker is an effective defender and has no problem when thing get physical.

Coaches love improvement and Blackman’s (Tennessee) Meme Jackson may just be defining the word.  Not that she was starting in a bad place mind you.  This is simply a good player who’s taking her game to an even higher level.  We saw great advances in July and then even more at the Turkey Jamm over Thanksgiving weekend.  Now a month later there seems to be more assertiveness in her game and a maturity that the college folks love more each day.  With and without the ball she’s active on the offensive end of the floor.  She can create her own looks both on penetration or coming off screens.  The 5-10 Jackson shoots a “true” jumper and elevates above most defenders for good looks at the rim.  There’s also greater production on the boards which will keep coaches at any level happy.

Myers Park (North Carolina) opened with a win in Naples but ran into a tough road with Blackman in round two.  Despite the loss, junior guard Aliyah Mazyck offered up some of the most competitive play among all the teams.  At 5-9 she’s strong, physical and more than willing to use it.  Good individual skills allow her to create and get to the rim but she also has a pull up to resort to if defenders rotate and take away her options.  She uses a change of speed that shows off some impressive acceleration once her match up comes out of a stance.  Mazyck called on a step back that created plenty of space for a good look from behind the arch.  A couple of times she was drifting on shots which led to less than desirable results.  Lots of tools are in place and the physical, attacking style will serve her well at the next level.   

Jakia Davis and her Barron Collier teammates pulled off the big upset in round one taking down Asia Durr and Pius X.  A long, lean forward at 6-1, Davis moves with a fluidity that a lot of guards can only hope for.  Her athleticism is a challenge for defenders of any size.  In a round two loss she went straight at Salmen’s 6-6 Kalani Brown without hesitation.  Results were mixed but it showed a “no fear’ mentality and a confidence college coaches like to see.  The ability is there to take one or two dribble drives from both the baseline and the high post.  The jump hook is an option and she gets off the floor on the release.  Davis also demonstrated that she’s a sound option with the trail jumper on the break.  Her vertical serves her well on the glass and defensively.

Sierra Canyon (California) junior Kennedy Burke has been on the west coast radar for some time and the active 6-1 wing / forward offered up some evidence why.  Good individual skills are in place that allow her to create and take advantage of mismatches.  She exploits the bigs with good ballhandling and uses her size and build efficiently against smaller match ups.  She runs the floor well and can be a factor both in starting the break as well as filling the lanes and finishing it.  Burke has her moments defensively and anticipates well off the ball.  Consistency seems to come and go for her and will be a huge asset in making her the impact player she’s shown at times.

Montverde (Florida) also has the services of another signed senior in Fifi Ndour who is bound for Central Florida.  Long and athletic, the 6-1 wing has plenty of tools to call on now and at the next level.  Very active and constantly looking for her shot, Ndour has the ability to score inside or to convert from the perimeter.  The jumper wasn’t dropping but the form is in place as well as the range to keep defenders honest.  On the catch she can seal opponents with a long first step that covers plenty of ground and gets her most of the way to the rim.  The ability and willingness to pass the ball are there and she delivered several nice interior passes with plenty of zip on them.  She’ll need to keep the shooting percentage higher and more consistent to take advantage of the options she creates.  Her wingspan makes her a challenging on ball defender both in the halfcourt and pressing situations.

Edgewater (Florida) dropped their opening two games but demonstrated some aggressive and athletic basketball.  Guard Angella Jernigan played both the point plus off guard and provided plenty of firepower at both spots.  The 5-7 junior is an explosive athlete and makes things happen with the ball in her hands.  She’s a challenging match up for any defender one on one and can get to the rim time and again.  Her crossover is sharp and gets defenders leaning creating a path to the paint.  Jernigan will take it all the way but can also use a high flying floater as well.  She nailed some long range jumpers but also forced a few.  Consistency in both her attack and field goal percentage will be key for her in the future.

Paul VI (Virginia) overcame a slow start to win their first round game but ran into a challenging Incarnate Word team for a second round loss.  Playing without injured Louisville signee Ariana Freeman, the Lady panthers are looking for folks to step up and Jonquanae Cole seems to be in a position to do that.  The results aren’t there yet, but the tools are.  At 6-4, the junior has a solid build and frame plus better mobility than most her size.  Good strength is there and she’s posting aggressively.  She can read and take what’s offered and finish at the rim.  She’ll need to become more adept at creating her own looks against straight up defenders as well as adding the face up game that’s a necessity for players like her at the next level.  Cole gets out and runs the floor and is active on the glass.  All the tools, the rest is up to her.

If you’re looking for an excuse to make some trips to Florida over the next several years, take a look at Rennia Davis of Ribault in Jacksonville, Florida.  Just a freshman, the possibilities and potential are off the charts if she makes the commitment.  Lean and athletic at 6-0, she has a wiry build and plenty of speed and agility to serve her at both ends of the floor.  There’s solid ballhandling already in place and she’s comfortable taking it into traffic on the break or into the paint.  Davis has a smooth and fluid stroke as well as some good range to force defenders to close out on the catch.  She does force some passes at times but it also reveals what she’s seeing on the floor and her vision is promising.  A lack of strength is an issue defensively to a degree at times but the reach and footspeed more than offset the issue.

Even with seven seniors on the roster, Toledo Rogers (Ohio) is still a young team in many ways.  On the interior 6-2 sophomore Keasja Peace is a promising work in progress.  The colleges have already taken notice, her game is evolving and the possibilities are obvious.  The left hander is agile and can move off cuts as well as get out and run the floor in transition.  She’s got a good first step to attack from the elbow and shows no hesitancy about mixing things up once she gets inside.  It’s obvious she’s been taught some post moves but the ability to read and make decisions will have to catch up for them to be productive for her.  Willing to play physical on the defensive end and has the tools to be a double figure rebounder if she’ll put her mind to it.