With an avalanche of events and January platform change Blue Star Media is catching up with some of the events that dotted the post-Christmas landscape.  Today we look back at some action from Alabama the last few days of 2015.

MONTGOMERY, AL. – The holiday season is a time to reflect, give thanks, spread cheer, spend time with loved ones and in a baller’s world… watch some top players go head-to-head in completion.  That’s what happens yearly in the Alabama state capital.  The fourth annual BallN Powher Prep Invite Tournament is one of the premiere events to showcase elite athletes.  This year’s three day event (Dec. 28-30), didn’t disappoint.  It has grown to host 50 plus teams and was held at two venues, Faulkner University and Robert E. Lee High School.  Teams from the neighboring states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and various locations across the state of Alabama were in the line-up.  Winning all three games, the ladies from Little Rock Central (Ark.) were eventually crowned tournament champions.

Center and 2017 grad Unique Thompson (Faith Academy, AL) was awarded MVP honors.  Others receiving accolades and being named to the All-Tournament team were:  Senior Jasmine Walker (Jefferson Davis, AL / Florida State Signee), Sophomore Ajah Wayne (Homewood, AL), Sophomore Zipporah “Zippy” Broughton (Robert E. Lee-Montgomery), Sophomore Lakhlian Rankins (Faith Academy, AL), and Senior Kiara Williams (Little Rock Central, AR / Arkansas Signee).

Let’s take a closer look at the all-tournament team members and a few other standout performers.

Unique Thompson – 2017 – 6-3 – Center – Faith Academy – (AL)

You can pencil her in as an automatic double-double on a nightly basis.  She’s long, athletic, with long arms, legs and runs the floor with ease.  She’s a smart, effective, low post player (with back to the bucket) that has the ability to step out and hit the short jumper.  Good defensive player that controls the paint and boards.  Thompson has no problem putting the team on her back and leading them to victory.  Big game player!

Zipporah “Zippy” Broughton – 2018 – Point Guard – Robert E. Lee – (AL)

A true point-guard in every aspect of the word/position.  She handles the rock, making sharp, precision passes with the right velocity that put her teammates in the best position to score.  The handles are outrageous, and the court vision is eagle-eye sharp.  Fast in the open-court with the dribble.  Great anticipator on D, she lures her opponent into making passes that seem to be the right one to make, before she jumps the passing lane to make the steal.  Unselfish team leader that has the ability to score at will but, has the smarts to get her teammates going first.  Calm laid back demeanor, never rattled.

Ajah Wayne -2018 – Forward – Homewood – (AL) 

Have you ever heard the saying, “the quiet ones are the ones you most have to be aware of/fear,” or something to that effect?  Well, Wayne embodies that statement.  She’s soft spoken and at first glance appears just to be another ball player.  Not quite.  Blow the whistle, toss up the ball, stand/sit back and watch the transformation.  She instantly goes into “ferocious mode.”  Not wild and crazy but, I won’t be denied getting the job done mode.  She’s active all over the court, baseline to baseline, and sideline to sideline.  Her motor is in constant overdrive (controlled of course).  The sophomore has good handles and moves well without the ball, which allows her to roam the floor and find the open spots to score.  She above average inside (back to bucket), and outside (face-up) game, with the ability to take you off the dribble.  Excellent foot movement on defense, allows her to defend in the open-court.  Aggressively and successfully hits the boards on both ends of the court with great success.

Laklian Rankins – 2018 – Guard – Faith Academy – (AL)

She’s listed as a guard but, it’s obvious she’s a point guard.  Her size and skill-set are traditionally those of a point guard.  She’s a leader, a floor general, has the handles, and the passing ability that one must possess to fulfill this position.  Her head, her heart and what she does is that of a shooting guard. She is not shy.  She can score whenever, and from anywhere on the floor.

QUICKHITTERS

Hanna Barber – 2018 – Point Guard – Homewood – (AL)

Excellent handles, quick off dribble, good passer.

Michaela Bennifield – 2018 – 6-1 – Small Forward – Southwest Dekalb HS – (AL)

Bennifield is a forward who uses her size to grab boards and to finish them off. She is a good ball handler who also possesses the skills to step out and knock down jump shots.

Daisha Bradford – 2018 – 5-6 – Guard – Leflore HS – (AL)

Bradford is a combo guard who can knock down the open shots. She is also a good finisher in transition as well. She finishes strong through contact and can knock down her free throws

Atayia Bridges – 2017 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Lanett HS – (AL)

Bridges is a small point guard that plays well beyond her size. She rebounds with the bigs and can finish after grabbing the board. She shows good touch from long range and can also drive the lane and finish in the paint. She also finds her teammates often, setting them up with good looks from the field.

Camille Buckhanon – 2018 – Center – Talladega – (AL)

Size, decent post game and rebounder, light on feet. Buckhanon is a center who uses her size to dominate the paint. She grabs mostly every rebound that comes off the glass, and has the ability to put it back in the basket. She keeps the ball high after rebounds, which makes it hard for defenders to bother her put back attempt. She is also a good passer out of the post and can knock down her FTs. She also contests every shot in the paint which makes it tough for defenders to score on her.

Makaylla Bullard – 2017 – Point Guard – Bob Jones – (AL)

Bullard is a point guard who plays bigger than her size. She is the floor general on her team and sets her teammates up using good court vision and awareness. She can shoot the floater after she penetrates defenses.

Allyiah Curry – 2017 – Small Forward – Pleasant Grove HS – (AL)

Curry plays small forward but could play the guard at the next level. She can score from the post but can also handle the ball and shoot from the outside. She fights hard for rebounds and can score after she brings in the board.

Maori Davenport – 2019 – 6-4 – Center – Charles Henderson HS – Troy – (AL)

Davenport is a center who can do it all. She is a rim protector who constantly gets blocks or changes shots. She stays on the boards. On the offensive end she runs the floor hard which leads to easy to lay ups. She posts hard and shows good post moves when she receives the ball. She can knock down midrange jumpers, and hits her FTs.

Tierra Davis – 2019 – 6-3 – Center – Sidney Lanier HS – (AL)

Davis has huge potential for a freshman. She rebounds well on both ends of the floor. She also contest every shot in the post, which leads to a lot of blocks and altered shots. She can finish in the paint with both hands, and shows touch from the FT line.

Brooke Hampel – 2018 – 6-3 – Power Forward / Center – Hazel Green HS – (AL)

Hampel is a forward who makes a living on the backboards. She grabs rebounds on the defensive end and gets them out quickly, and grabs them on the offensive end and scores. She also can score from the post, as well as finish with both hands in the paint.

Crystalyn Hill – 2016 – Shooting Guard – Pleasant Grove HS – (AL)

Hill is a shooting guard who rarely turns down open shots. She is a volume shooter who can shoot from three, as well as drive to the basket and finish. She is just as aggressive on the defensive end, where she cause turnovers by playing passing lanes.

Jaz Hill – 2016 – Shooting Guard – Leflore HS – (AL)

Hill is a crafty guard with a knack for finishing in the paint. She also can knock down open shots from long range, as well as midrange. She is a tough on ball defender which makes it tough for opposing guards

Caitlin Hose – 2018 – Hazel Green HS – (AL)

Hose is a pass first PG that can shoot the long ball. She has the ability to split the defense and set her teammates up with the good looks.

Morgan Hunter – 2019 – Shooting Guard – Notasulga HS – (AL)

Hunter is a young shooting guard with a lot of upside. She has a high motor and competes for every loose ball. On the offensive end, she is a slasher who draws a lot of contact and finishes through it.

Abigayle Jackson – 2017 – 6-2 – Forward – Little Rock Central – (AR)

Jackson is a forward who can score from the midrange and the post. She post aggressively and has a variety of post moves to score the ball. She can finish in the paint with either hand. Fights for every board. She is also a high energy defender that gets her hands on a lot of shots.

Alexandria James 2016 – Guard – Notasulga HS – (AL)

James is a shooting guard who is very aggressive on the defensive end. She applies constant pressure to ballhandlers and stays in the passing lanes. On the offensive end she flashes with good passing, as well as the ability to get to the rim and finish.

Japonica James – 2016 – 5-10 – Guard – Leflore HS – (AL)

James is a physical forward who posts big, and can finish when she gets the ball. She fights for every rebound, and is able to reel in the majority of them. She also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim as well. Athlete.

Deja Jones – 2016 – 6-2 Power Forward / Center – West Florida HS – (AL)

Jones is a forward/center hybrid who posts big and can finish in the paint after she gets the ball. She fights for every rebound and with her size and athletic ability, she is always a factor on the glass. She contests shots and makes it tough for opposing teams to score.

Journey Jones – 2018 – Point Guard – Carver HS – (AL) 

Jones is a scoring PG with a knack for knocking down outside shots. Not only can she knock down the open shot, but she can also penetrate the D and score from midrange as well. Plays passing lanes on the defensive end which leads to her getting steals often.

Tyiesha Juhan – 2016 – Shooting Guard – Mt. Zion – (GA)

Juhan is an explosive shooting guard who can score from anywhere on the floor. She has the ability to create her own shots off the dribble, as well get teammates good looks with her court vision. Good ball handling and being super quick makes her very hard to stay in front of.

Courtney Lee – 2017 – Point Guard – Ramsay HS – (AL)

Lee is a scoring point guard who is also has tremendous passing abilities. She has the ability to drive the paint and finish with either hand, or stay outside and hit the three. She is always looking to push the ball up the court which leads to easy opportunities for her teammates.

Kiaira Moore – 2017 – Power Forward – Bob Jones – (AL)

Moore is a power forward who is very aggressive on the boards, on both ends of the floor. She has the ability to explode off the floor after her initial jump which leads to a lot of rebounds. After pulling in the board she can finish in the paint through contact.

Shatavia Moore – 2018 – 5-10 – SG – Keith HS – (AL)

Moore is a slashing lefty with a lot of potential. She can get to the rim and finish in traffic, as well as find open teammates while driving. She also plays aggressively on the defensive end and is always in the passing lanes.

Natalie Nicks – 2017 – 5-7 – SG – West Florida HS – (FL)

Nicks is a shooting guard who is very disruptive on the defensive end. She plays vicious on ball defense, as well as the passing lanes and comes up with a lot of steals. On the offensive end, she can score by slashing, or by shooting from long range.  She has the ball handling ability to beat her defender and the court vision to make the right pass.

Nautika Philpot – 2017 – Point Guard – Auburn – (AL)

Small guard with good handles who also has great ball control and makes the smart play. She can finish in the paint amongst defenders and is tenacious on the defensive end of the floor.

Destiny Ramos – 2018 – Power Forward – Faith Academy – (AL)

Ramos plays forward but also has the skills to play the off guard. She can shoot from range and can also score from the post. She is a tough rebounder and can finish in traffic after she gets the board.

Lakhlian Rankins – 2018 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Faith Academy – (AL)

Rankins is a shifty point guard who can hit the three, but who is also crafty enough to finish in the paint amongst the bigs. She is a suffocating defender, which lead to her forcing a lot of turnovers. She isn’t afraid to take the big shot.

Takeisha Reasor – 2016 – Power Forward – Pensacola HS – (FL)

Reasor is a relentless rebounding power forward. She finishes well after offensive rebounds, and gets defensive rebounds out to her guards. She sprints the floor well, and shows big in the post. She can also score, after she receives the ball in the post.

Victoria Samuel – 2016 – Point Guard – Pensacola HS – (FL)

Samuel is a quick ball handling point guard with the ability to blow by her defender and score, or set her teammates up. She plays the passing lanes very well which ends in steals for her often.

Terri Smith – 2017 – Guard –  Sparkman – (AL)

Deadly three-point shooter with crazy range.

Olivia Staples – 2018 – Shooting Guard –  Carver HS – (AL)

Staples is a young combo guard who has a lot of potential. She can penetrate defenses, and gets to the rim with ease. She is very active on the boards for a smaller guard and also very active on the defensive end of the floor.

Ahyiona Vason – 2016 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Jeff Davis HS – (AL)

Vason is a point guard who can score from anywhere on the floor. She has great court vision, along with good ball handling which makes her a valuable playmaker. She is also a very tenacious defender, who makes it tough for other guards to set up their offense.

Maranda Walker – 2017 – Shooting Guard – Pensacola HS – (FL)

Walker is an off guard that can knock down open shots. She is also a slasher who can finish once she penetrates the defense. She makes the right decisions and the smart plays on the offensive end. She is a suffocating defender on the defensive end as well.

Jada Walton – 2017 – 5-8 – Shooting Guard – Southwest Dekalb HS – (GA)

Walton is a combo guard who can shoot the deep ball, as well as slash to the cup. She also has the court vision to find open teammates. She also plays the passing lanes well on defense, which leads to numerous skills.

Nicole Webster – 2017 – Point Guard – Bessemer HS – (AL)

Webster is a small guard with very high motor on both ends of the court. Suffocating on-ball defense leads to frequent steals. Sets teammates up with passes that leave them in scoring position.

Eboni Williams – 2018 – Guard/Forward – Hoover – (AL)

Great defender, decent post game, good foot movement.

Tykeria Williams – 2016 – Point Guard – Robert E. Lee HS – (AL)

Williams is a shifty point guard who can handle the ball. She can shoot 3 ball but can also penetrate and score in the paint, along with a nice midrange jumper. She aggressively pressures opposing ball handlers which leads to turnovers.

Victoria Williams – 2018 – Shooting Guard – Bessemer HS – (AL)

Williams is a shooting guard who is constantly slashing to the rim. After she penetrates the defense she can finish with floaters or get all the way to the rim. She also shows some touch from long range.