CHICAGO, Ill. – The McCormick Convention Center was home of the Nike Girls EYBL Round two for half of the league’s 32 teams. The action was in full swing from the opening tip and we had the pleasure along with 250 plus college coaches, including a few sitting in the Spike Lee seats, to see the final five games leading to Augusta. The competition was fierce with teams fighting for a coveted spot and bracket seedings for the upcoming Nike Nationals. Today we take a look at one standout from each team that had some moments in Chicago.
Danielle Rauch– Albany City Rocks
Coming off the bench, Danielle Rauch provided a spark for City Rocks. The 2018 guard was quickly able to process the flow of the game and find a way to contribute. Rauch is comfortable playing either guard position. She reads the defense well and has a knack for exploiting weaknesses to get into the paint. As a rising sophomore, Rauch has two more club seasons and will definitely be a player to watch.
Bria Rice -Tree of Hope
The University of Colorado commit is ultra-quick with the ball in her hands and is at her best when she is pushing the Tree of Hope pace in transition. Rice doesn’t need to score for her team to be successful but she can get to the basket when necessary. She is a great passer and has a knack for delivering to her teammates sweet spot. However, there is a tendency to be prone to turnovers when she over-penetrates.
Leonna Odom – Cal Storm
As one of the top prospects in the 2016 class, Leonna Odom‘s basketball skills are well documented. Odom’s explosiveness and length allow her to impact the game on both ends of the floor along with her ability to play at rim level. She is capable of scoring from the perimeter but she is more comfortable creating off the dribble. However, against physical defenders she can struggle to find a rhythm. Consistency from Odom will be key if the Storm hope to make it to the Nike Nationals finals once again.
Janelle Bailey – Carolina Flames
The 6-3 junior to be’s stock is on the rise after her performance this weekend. Bailey’s game is a homage to the good old days when post players wanted to bang down low. She is extremely disruptive with the ability to keep opponents from scoring in the paint because she is willing to fight through contact. Offensively, she is still raw but is showing improvement in her back to the basket pivot moves.
Donnetta Johnson – Epiphanny Prince Elite
She might have been a newcomer to the Nike EYBL but 2018 guard Donnetta Johnson is already on the radar of major Division I scouts. Johnson is a lefty with basketball acumen to play anywhere on the perimeter. When focused she has the ability to take over a game, especially with her ability to grab a rebound and push it up the court. All the tools are there for Johnson to be a franchise player for Epiphanny Prince Elite in the future.
Jacaria Allen – Miami Suns
Even though she only had two double figure games during the Chicago session, Allen was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. She is an explosive athlete with a college physique who can get to the basket at will. Defensively Allen can guard multiple positions with her ability to dictate the offensive player’s movement. At times Allen’s shot selection is questionable but when she focuses on letting the game come to her good things happen for the Suns.
Aaliyah Wilson – DFW Elite
Wilson has been one of the most consistent players in the league so far this year. She was only held to single digit scoring once during this session and shot 40% from behind the arc. Even when her jumper isn’t falling Wilson finds way to stay involved like dishing out some key assists in a tight game against Tree of Hope.
Ali Andrews – Midwest Elite
One of the keys to Ali Andrews game is her ability to execute a play, a often under appreciated skill. At 6-2 she excels in high/low sets where she consistently makes the right pass or takes a good shot. Andrews has the ability to face up and occasionally step out to the 3 point line help space the floor for Midwest Elite.
Megan Walker– Boo Williams
It’s really true Jesus Saves. With the game on the line and her BWSL squad trailing with 12.5 seconds on the clock, 2017 top prospect Megan “Jesus Shuttlesworth” Walker (See “He Got Game”) had the ball converted a clear out opportunity attacking to finish at the rim and getting the and one. Walker bounced back from the previous game in which she missed a pair of game tying free throws that would have forced overtime. At 6-1 she showed why every major D-I college coach in the country was courtside. Both a smooth athletic all around shooting guard or small forward that finds a way to help her time get the win, Walker can help you a variety of ways. Attacking off the bounce, knocking down the mid-range jumper or leading the break from her own rebound are all in her skill set. She also has the ability to be a lock down defender that loves to jump the passing lanes. Walker will need to be more constant shooting the three ball. Otherwise “Jesus is the Truth”.
Valencia Myers – All Ohio Black
Post players are always in demand and the 6-3 Myers has all the tools and is already a highly recruited prospect. She has good hands, runs the floor well and does a good job of finishing in traffic. Offensively, Myers has a nice low post game with a college body. Her game will only get better with time.
Jinaya Houston – All Iowa Attack Nike Elite
All Iowa Attack won the Brittney Griner Divison with a 9-1 record and 6-1 Jinaya Houston is a key contributor to that success. She is a long athletic big guard that fills the lane and finishes off the break. The 2017 Houston also has a nice shooting touch that extends out to the three-point arc. She defends well and rebounds well off the glass at both ends.
Brittney Reed – Cal Sparks Gold
If you’re looking for a tough big guard that puts in the work at both ends, look no further than 5-11 Brittney Reed. The 2016 standout is an explosive threat that loves to attack and finishes well with contact in traffic. Getting the basket and drawing the foul puts a smile on her face. She uses her long arms to deflect passes and jump into passing lanes. Reed has a nice midrange jumper with good command of her dribble. In a word Reed is a “warrior”.
Ciara Thompson – Central Florida Elite
We loved watching 2016 guard Ciara Thompson. She plays the game the way it supposed to be played. Thompson has an athletic, college ready body and does a good job attacking the paint with a knack for getting buckets. Thompson also has a nice low post game that she uses to her advantage versus smaller guards. Defensively, she is a tough, hardnosed, in your face defender. Thompson rebounds her position well and flat out gets it done.
Amaya Finklea– New England Crusaders
Finklea is a 6-3 post that loves to battle at both ends. She did a good job rebounding and finishing in the paint. Finklea has good court vision and is a good passer in high low situations. The 2017 grad also runs the floor well. She’ll need to continue to develop her low post game and face up options.
Autumn Truesdale– NY Lady Choz
Truesdale is a 5-11 small forward that is long, athletic and does great job defending. She works extremely hard at both ends. Truesdale, a 2016, finds a way to score and does all the intangibles to help her team. Great energy and attitude are major assets.
Erika Cassell– Team Elite Pointer
Cassell, a 6-2 forward, has a nice college body that she uses to rebound well at both ends. A good interior passer, she also has a knack for drawing fouls with her own attack. The 2016 Cassell is solid defensively and does a nice job of closing out on the perimeter.
