NEW ORLEANS, La.– Basketball on the Bayou is always a great event if you are looking for a good blend of talent from all over the nation. And just like a good bowl of gumbo the event 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 2013 Bayou.
It’s always good to watch good guard play and Missouri Phenom PBR point guard Alecia Sutton, from St. Ann, Missouri caught our attention. At 5-8 she’s very athletic and does a great job attacking and creating off the bounce. Sutton finishes at the rim and has a nice midrange jumper as well as a sweet three point stroke. Sutton, a 2016 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.
Coming off her experience playing for Team USA Asia Durr showed why she is considered by many to be possibly the top prospect in the 2015 class. Attacking and finishing in traffic as well as dropping dimes to cutting teammates the Douglasville, Georgia native has excellent command of her dribble plus she attacks with either hand equally well. The 5-10 Durr uses her size and great court vision to her advantage dishing out no look passes. She played with a mature calmness draining timely three pointers and clutch free throws to help her Pistols squad take home the Bayou top division championship. Durr has an explosive game and it’s easy to see why she has standing offers from multiple BCS programs.
A quality athletic big is always a commodity and 6-2 Napheesa Collier, who hails from O’Fallon, Missouri, has the chance to be just what everybody seems to be looking for. The 2015 Collier has a long athletic college body. She rebounds the ball at highest point, runs the floor and finishes well in the paint. Collier has a nice midrange shot plus a low post and face up game. Collier has the potential to be a dominate force at both ends. Already well-established, she still has a tremendous upside for more. Can’t miss BCS prospect.
Everyone loves a good fight. We had the pleasure of watching a “Clash of the Titans”. On one side was newcomer Kasiyahna Kushkituah from Austell, Georgia. On the other was USA 16 under Gold Medalist Lauren Cox from Flower Mound, Texas. The 6-3 Kushkituah has a long athletic build, long arms nice wing span. She defended the post like a lioness protecting her cubs. The 2017 prospect was blocking shots and battling for every rebound. Additionally, she ran the floor well, and showed ability to finish in paint with either hand. Kushkituah did an excellent job battling in the paint against the 6-4 Cox playing extremely well and demonstrating that she deserves to be considered amongst the best in a talent laden 2017 class. With added strength and continued development Kushkituah has a chance to high major prospect.
Versatile bigs are always in demand and 2016 forward Jasmine Walker from Montgomery, Alabama will be just that…in demand. Walker is an athletic with a college body. She has the ability to play on the perimeter shooting the ball well out to the 20 foot range. At the same time, she has all the moves on the low block and a nice face game to boot. Walker defends well in the post and possesses a knack for blocking shots or grabbing rebounds. She tends to fall in love with her perimeter game but Walker can take over a game in the paint as well. Once she learns to put the two together on a consistent basis Walker should be Top 20 prospect.
Cara Ursin, a 5-7 rising ninth grader from Kenner, La. plays with a game that was everything coaches like to see and more. Reminding me of a younger version of Kentucky freshman and McDonald’s All American Linae Harper, she’s the prototypical college combo guard. Ursin has a sweet 3-point shot, attacks off the bounce and has a great knack for creating buckets. There’s great court vision and no fear about taking the big shot. Even better was the fact that she plays lockdown defense. Ursin, much like Harper, rebounds extremely well for her size using her unbelievable hops. Definitely one to watch.
Quickhitters
Mikayla Coombs – 2017 – 5-9 Guard – Buford, GA – Smooth midrange shot…Very sweet stroke from beyond the arc…Good ball handling skills…Went right and left equally well… Very athletic and finishes…strong in paint
Kelsey Marshall – 2018 – 5-8 Guard – Davie, Fla. – Solid athletic and very scrappy at both ends…Good handles…Not afraid to attack…Excellent passer…Three point stroke…Solid defender…Huge upside
Jordan Danberry -2015 – 5-8 Guard – Conway, Ark. – Extremely athletic…Explosive off the bounce…Great passer with excellent court vision…Solid on ball defender…Good handles…Speedy
Bianca Jackson – 2017 – 5-10 Guard – Montgomery, Ala. – Long and athletic…Great court vision…Solid on ball defender…Shoots well from 15-20 feet…Mature calmness…Ability to attack the paint…High basketball IQ
Kaitlyn Rogers – 2016 – 6-2 Forward – Birmingham, Ala. – 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 – Navarre, Fla. – Long armed and athletic…Great body…Rebounds well…Nice face up game…Finishes well at the rack…Defends post…BCS prospect
Tyra Johnson – 2016 – 5-8 Guard – Decatur, Ala. – 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
Rekha Berry -2016 – 5-4 Point Guard – Mobile, Ala. – Handled the ball…Smooth hesitation dribble…Made good decisions…Smooth three point stroke…Scrappy player….Good on ball defender…Patient and composed…Will only get better with time
Theresa Ekhelar – 2015 – 6-6 Post – Woodbridge, N.J. – Great length…Runs floor…Communicates well…Tough…Battles on the boards…Good foot work…Strong low post defense…Finishes in paint…Huge upside
Natasha Mack – 2016 – 6-3 Post – Lufkin, Texas – Long and athletic…Runs the floor…nice low post game on both ends…Worth watching
