BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Spring is in the air and with the April Evaluation Period on the horizon this weekend, many club teams nationwide used last week to prepare and to get their feet wet at events close to home.

One such event is the Heat Ball Showdown, hosted by the Alabama Heat at Thompson High School just outside of Birmingham. Programs from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi gathered for two jam-packed days of tune up with plenty of talent on display.

BallNPrep and Blue Star Media correspondent Prentice Beverly double teamed with us Saturday and even live streamed a marquee early spring match up between FBC United Hunt and the All-Alabama Roadrunners. There was no shortage of well-known talent on display in that one, but they were far from the only prospects in the gym.

There was some big time young talent just scratching the surface, as well as some diamonds in the rough who will be looking to catch more eyes this summer. Here are a few such players who stood out this weekend.

Unrayasia Barclay – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Alabama Heat 2021 Curry – Has some legit wheels…Long, athletic, and agile…Great in the passing lanes…Still developing basketball skills but big time tools to match the potential

Anaya Boyd – 2020 – 6-0 – Point Guard/Guard – FBC BounceNation 2019 Jay – Bigger guard who can play the point well…Nice body control on both sides of the ball…Impressive hesitation and finish…Long stride helps…Makes plays 

Yaubryon Chambers – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Team Brandan Wright 2019 Gold – Length plus athletic ability equals lots of rebounds…Has some legit hops …Handles and passes for a forward…Assists in the post…Range to the arc…Plays with noticeable fire at times…Stepped up against high end competition 

Connie Clark – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Alabama Heat 2019 – Bigger guard…Likes to drive to the basketvfrom the wing or facing up in the high post…Scoops and finishes with either hand…Quick and physical on defense…Under the radar to a degree

Essence Cody – 2023 – 6-3 – Post – FBC The Family 2023 – Huge, mobile young post…Already slapping glass on lay ups…Advanced understanding of how to get position for the ball inside…Does her work without the ball…Ready when she gets it…Catches the lobs over the top to finish…Big, powerful rebounds…Can take it to the house on her own off turnovers 

Maori Davenport – 2019 – 6-4 – Forward – All-Alabama Roadrunners 2019 – High end athleticism…Big time rebounder…Gets her hands on a ton of shots in the paint…Will face up and drive…Hard to stop her from getting to the rim…Works in the post as well…Sky is the limit 

De’Mauri Flournoy – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – FBC BounceNation 2021 Jay – Lanky guard who can play on or off the ball…Scorer’s mentality Produces in multiple ways ways…Has a mid-range game and a floater at her disposal…Shows some of the vocal leadership needed at the point…Flashes big potential 

Rachel Hagar – 2021 – 6-0 – Post – OFW-Stars 2020 – Blue collar post…Runs the floor and plays hard…Strong and tough…Grabs the ball…Doesn’t play around…Range is right to the arc…Active in screen and roll game…Snatching boards…Potential is there 

Bria Harmon – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – FBC Kay 2019 – Purdue commit…Scorer at the guard spot…A real problem for defenders in multiple ways…Pull up jumper is good, even from beyond the arc…Great passer…Pressures the ball defensively…Two way threat 

Sade Harrell – 2021 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – FBC BounceNation 2021 Jay – Versatile player with lots of athletic tools…Can handle and pass in transition…Bouncy and strong…Long reach leads to rebounds and shot alterations…Dances her way through the lane to finish through contact…Impact player 

Zoe Kerr – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Team Brandan Wright 2022 Gold – Poised lefty combo guard…Decisive, quick handle…Three ball is good off the bounce…Handles very well in traffic…High IQ…Keeps it simple…Great on defense…Plays to win 

Kristen McMillan – 2023 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Alabama Heat 2021 – Has the build, size, and skill of a much older player…Will shoot the three and pull up mid range shot…Pushes it on her own…Good feet…There’s some burst in there when she has the ball…Will hear this name for the foreseeable future 

Iyana Moore – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – B Wright 2021 Gold – Taller wing / guard can really get to the rim…Embraces the contact…Wraps it up in the paint and finishes…Young athlete with nice skill set …Should be primed for a nice summer 

Mia Moore – 2021 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – FBC Mo YoungGunz – Has that next level gear with the ball in her hands…Can attack and create for herself and others…Good head on her shoulders…Explosive player at times…Three point shot is becoming a weapon as well 

Jaylan Sherrod – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – All-Alabama Roadrunners 2019 – Fleet-footed lead guard…Continues to grow her game…Jump shot has continued improving…Making plays on both sides of the ball…Really can get into ball handlers on defense…Quick with the ball…Gets to rack often 

Taylor Smith – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard/Guard – Alabama Heat 2020 – Combination of skill and athleticism…Plays under control…Tight with the ball…How she gets into people defensively really stands out…Point production in different ways 

Naomi Smitherman – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Alabama Heat 2021 – Super bouncy…Long with quick ups at her disposal…Rebounds out of area…Has the raw physical traits…Watch and see how her game develops 

Daryana Thompson – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – B Wright 2021 Gold – Young interior presence…Great mobility and rim runs…Pulled some impressive boards…Showing some toughness and physicality inside…Makes a good effort to just go and get the ball 

Anna Vereen – 2023 – 5-11 – Forward – FBC Playmakers 2022 –Physically gifted…Made some noise playing a year up…Gets rebounds and takes them coast to coast…Long strides…Lots of boards…Keeps it high and goes right back up to score…One to see more of 

Sasha Washington – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – FBC Hoopstars Brown – Lanky young forward…Big time look…Plays at the top of the press…Can move her feet and cause some problems defensively…Can catch, rip over the top, and finish…Gets up easily to snatch boards…Has some of that “it factor”…Loads of opportunity 

Ava Grace Watson – 2024 – 5-7 – Guard – FBC The Family 2023 – Young…Athletic guard who can shoot the ball…Defends and handles it as well…Nice passer in tight spaces…Lots of athletic gifts that run in the family…Skill set is in a good place at this age