Basketball on Bayou – Taste of Basketball Gumbo

NEW ORLEANS, La.— Basketball on the Bayou is always a great event with 268 teams playing in front of over 300 colleges and close to 400 college coaches and scouts from all over the nation. The atmosphere and mixture of players were just the right ingredients to make for a great event. And just like a good bowl of gumbo the Bayou always leaves you somewhat satisfied yet wanting more.  Blue Star Media made it point to check out the talent of all ages.  Below is glimpse at several players along with some quick hitters from the 2015 Bayou. 

Myah Taylor 2017 5-7 PG AL Southern Starz 2017

It’s always good to watch good guard play and Taylor, from Olive Branch, Mississippi caught our attention.  At 5-7 she’s very athletic and does a great job attacking and creating off the bounce. Taylor finishes at the rim and has a nice midrange jumper as well as a sweet three point stroke. Taylor, a 2017 prospect, responds well to adversity. She did a great job navigating through pressure defense and involves her teammates.  Being a solid on ball defender makes it all worth watching.

Unique Thompson 2017 6-2 AL Southern StarzComing off her experience trying out for Team USA and fresh off an AAU 11th Grade DI National Championship with teammate Myah Taylor, Thompson showed why she is considered by many to be a top 25 prospect in the 2017 class. The Theodore, Alabama native has an athletic build with long arms. She is a strong presence in the paint at both ends of the court. Thompson is a smart low post defender with the ability to block shots without picking up silly fouls. She moves and runs the floor extremely well while boxing out and hitting the boards at both ends. On the offensive end she’s an effective low post scorer but not afraid to knock down the short jumper as well. Thanks to her added confidence and swagger since our last viewing Thompson is looking at multiple major DI offers. 

River Baldwin 2019 6-5 Alabama Heat Elite

We always enjoy watching young post players and Baldwin definitely fits the bill. Baldwin banged down low and runs the floor well. We were impressed with her toughness and athletic ability. There’s a solid frame and college body and she didn’t shy away from contact. Baldwin finished well in the paint and used her long arms to rebound effectively. She has a nice touch around the rim and a nice face up game. Baldwin played with a lot of emotion as she attacked the boards with reckless abandon.  She needs to further develop her footwork and agility to take her post game further. She defended quite well and with a lot of effort in the paint. Her game is still evolving definitely worth watching. Baldwin has major DI potential.

Dene Mimms 2018 6-4 Lady Pumas Platinum

A quality athletic big is always a commodity and 6-4 Dene Mimms, who hails from New Orleans, LA has the chance to be just what everybody seems to be looking for. She rebounds the ball at highest point, runs the floor and finishes well in the paint. Mimms has a nice midrange shot that extends out to the 3pt line to go along with a decent low post game. She must add strength to her long athletic frame. Mimms is work in progress with a tremendous upside. 

Natalie Kelly 2018 6-2 Lady Pumas Platinum

Kelly has a long athletic build, long arms with a nice wingspan. She defended the post really well. Additionally, she ran the floor well, and showed ability to finish in paint. Kelly did an excellent job battling in the paint for rebounds at both ends. Looking forward to watching Kelly’s continued development. 

Jazime Massengill 2018 6-0 Tennessee Xtreme

Versatile big guards are always in demand and Jazmine Massengill from Harrison, Tennessee will be just that…in demand.  Massengill is an smooth athletic point guard with a college frame. She has the ability to play multiple positions. She has excellent command of her dribble, which includes a killer crossover, which she uses to attack the paint and drops dimes or finishes at the rack. Massengill has a sweet shot that extends out to 3pt line with the ability to be a lockdown defender. She plays with a lot of swag and expect Massengill to be considered among the top of her class.

Camryn London 2016 5-7 G Alabama Road Runners

London is a laid back two-guard that has a nice, smooth jumper. She knocks it down with good accuracy and moves well without the ball to get open for her shot.  Her demeanor is to wait for the game to come to her.  However, when she’s aggressive and attacking the basket, which she does well, she puts the defense on their heels making it easier for her to get her shot off.  London has nice handles and is a solid defender. 

Elizabeth Balogun 2018 6-1 Tennessee Xtreme

Balogun is long and lean with a good reach. She anticipates every move and reacts with cat-like stealthiness.  This allows her to be a step ahead of her opponents.  On offense she has three point range with catch and shoot ability.  Her best asset/strength is putting it on the floor. Balogun knocks down the mid-range jumper effortlessly and when challenged keeps her dribble takes it to the hoop finishing strong or droping the dime to an open teammate. Balogun has the length and desire to be a lockdown defender. Balogun can and will do it all. Keep eyes on. 

Sarah Andrews 2020 5-7 Lady Jets

Andrews is special and on another level. She has Jewel Lloyd athleticism as a 5-7 point guard. She has a high motor and a very high basketball IQ.  Beautiful arc on her 3 point shot that touches nothing but net. She finishes at the rim with great body control and catches lobs.  Defensively she can impact the game on the ball in the passing lanes and with super athletic shot blocking.

Mariah Jones 2018 5-5 OK Dream Elite 17U

True points guard are a joy to watch and Jones is indeed a fun player to watch. Jones showcased all of the necessary skills to a college point guard. She used her speed and quickness to blow past opposing defenders and finish at the rim against bigger stronger players. Despites Jones size she finds a way to beat the double team and create for her team. Jones, a lefty, needs to develop a consistent 3 point stroke to go with her excellent command of the dribble to keeps defenses honest. She has very good court vision and a high level basketball IQ. She’s at her best when she pushes the ball and gets out in front of defense and once she does, no one is going to catch her. Jones a good on ball defender plays with attitude and toughness. Continue to watch. 

Taja Cummings 2017 5-4 FBC Mo 2017

Every team needs a quality floor general and point guard Taja Cummings of East Point, Georgia demonstrated a stellar all-around game. Cummings likes to attack off the dribble with either hand and looks to create contact as she finishes in traffic. She also showed the willingness to manufacturer her shot by attacking off the bounce but was just as comfortable draining the spot up jumper or three point efforts. Cummings did a great job of pushing the ball up the floor on both made and missed baskets. She played aggressive at both ends of the court and showed a knack for being around the ball. She dropped several timely dimes at crunch time as well. Cummings is a solid DI prospect.

Tatyana Wyatt 2017 6-3 FBC Mo 2017

If you’re in need of an athletic interior player that plays hard and hustles then the 6-3 Wyatt from Columbus, Georgia is your prospect. She has a long athletic body with an extended reach that takes up space in the lane. Wyatt plays a very aggressive game at both ends of the court. She has a nice low-post attack and finishes well in the paint as well at the end of the fast break. Wyatt also showed that she has a smooth face-up game. She used those long arms and good leaping ability to dominant the boards. Defensively she defended the low post and perimeter efficiently while adding several blocked shots. Wyatt has a nice upside that will translate well at the next level.

Jaelyn Richard Harris 2016 5-3 AD Peterson 

Every coach worldwide loves a player that competes on every play and is fundamentally sound, defends well and can flat out shoot. Richard Harris is a 5-3 cat quick point guard brings all of these things to the table. She showed the ability to knock down the midrange jumper and was be a sniper from behind the arc. Richard Harris displayed that she can run the point with the best of them. She handles the ball well with either hand and is a very good passer with blazing speed. Richard Harris showed that she is a solid on ball defender with sound defensive principals. Richard Harris is not flashy but she gets the job done. Don’t let her size fool you Richard Harris can get it done on the major DI level.

Quickhitters

Bianca Jackson – 2017 -5-11 Guard FBC Mo 2017– Smooth midrange shot…Very sweet stroke from beyond the arc…Good ball handling skills…Went right and left equally well… Very athletic and finishes…High IQ

Rhyne Howard – 2018 – 6-0 Guard Tennessee Xtreme – Solid athletic and very scrappy at both ends…Good handles…Not afraid to attack…Excellent passer…Solid defender…Huge upside

Nichel Tampa – 2017- 5-5 Guard FBC Mo 2017- Conway, Ark. – Extremely athletic…Explosive off the bounce…Great passer with excellent court vision…Solid on ball defender…Good handles…Speedy

Kaitlyn Rogers – 2016 – 6-2 Forward Alabama Roadrunners – Great length…Runs the floor…Rebounds well…College body…Good low post defender and shot blocker…Also has the ability to defend on the perimeter…Finishes in paint

Nadia Fingall – 2017 6-2 Post Essence Purple – Long armed and athletic…Great body…Rebounds well…Nice face up game…Finishes well at the rack…Defends post…BCS prospect

Brooke Moore – 2018 -5-6 Guard –FBC Mo 2017- Smooth and athletic…Good handles…Crisp passer…Sees the entire floor…Has midrange jumper and three point range…Nice pull up off the dribble…Good defender

Kaihla Carter – 2016  5-7 Combo Guard Alabama Roadrunners -Handled the ball…Smooth hesitation dribble…Made good decisions…Smooth three point stroke…Scrappy player….Good on ball defender…Patient and composed…Attacl

Dominque Banks – 2017 6-5 Post FBC Mo 2017 – Great length…Runs floor…Communicates well…Tough…Battles on the boards…Good foot work…Strong low post defense…Finishes in paint…Huge upside

Jessika Carter – 2018 6-3 Post Blazers Exposure Red – Long and athletic…Runs the floor…nice low post game on both ends…Worth watching

Kayla Whitehead – 2018 6-2 Forward AL Southern Starz 2018 – Long and athletic…Runs the floor…nice low post game on both…3pt stroke ends…Worth watching

Maori Davenport – 2019 6-4 All Alabama 2019 – Long athletic…Strong presence in paint…Runs floor…Finishes in lane…Chance to be special