Beverly’s Bonus from the Boro here are my thoughts on 10 additional prospects some you know and some you will get to know.
2017
Brianca Jackson the 5-9 Montgomery native and FBC SE Mo, is an upper-level athlete blessed with a long athletic frame. Jackson’s basketball ability combines well with her genetic gifts her father is Alabama State University head basketball coach Lewis Jackson and mother Freda Jackson is the head women’s basketball coach both were standout performers at ASU. Jackson is effective using her length and explosiveness around the basket and has the ability to shoot the ball from 15-18 feet when defenses give her a step of space. Jackson is the kind of prospect who has all the tools to be a name we will mention for years to come.
2016
Age is only a number and if you need proof of this checkout 13 year old 6-0 Jaclyn Brown of Cal Sparks Gold from Murrieta, California. Brown is a very athletic guard with good hops long arms with good ball control skills. She battles for every possession and attacks at both ends. Brown the energetic lefty is rough around the edges but with continued development and time in the gym she has the natural ability and skill sets that can make her a special player. Keep your eyes on this young lady she is a piece of coal that will be molded into a diamond.
2015
The Springdale, Maryland native the 6-2 forward Dejanae Boykins who plays for BWSL Boo fit right in alongside highly regarded 2014 6-4 Jatarie White. Boykins pounded the boards at both ends of the floor. She hit the offensive glass extremely hard and cashed in on several put-backs. Boykins scored several buckets from the low block as well. She also contributed several assists to slashing teammates. Boykins played a major role on the defensive end clogging up the paint. She has good size and runs the floor. Boykins blocked several shots and came up with some timely steals. Boykins is a young talent and has the chance to very good.
If you’re looking for an athletic interior player that plays hard and hustles then the 6-4 Cierra Porter from Columbia, Missouri and Missouri Phenom is your prospect. She has a long athletic body with long arms that take up space in the lane. Porter plays a very aggressive game at both ends of the court. She has a nice low-post game and finishes well in the paint or gets to the line where she is a good free-throw shooter. She also showed that she has a smooth face-up game. Porter used her long arms and good leaping ability to dominant the boards. Defensively she defended the low post and perimeter extremely well with a fearless, reckless abandon, blocking several shots. She played a very mature game and is an excellent young prospect.
2014
If it is true coaches like big guards they are going to love Aliyah Huland El, the 6-3 guard from Randolph, New Jersey and the New Jersey Sparks. She is a BCS prospect with the total package with an long athletic frame. Huland El played with a motor that wouldn’t quit, wasn’t afraid to dive for loose balls and she ran the floor like a gazelle. Huland El was really smooth handling the rock in transition with a nice change-of-direction dribble. She showed off her well- rounded game posting up, attacking off the bounce, facing up and knocking down the mid-range jumper and 3 point shot. Huland El was just as comfortable on the wing; she used her ball handling skills and nice spin move to score in the paint. She has a really soft touch from 10 to 22 feet. Huland El rebounded really well, grabbing the ball from its highest point. Defensively, she creates havoc for opposing players by jumping the passing lanes and either finishing off the break or creating for her teammates. Huland El is an excellent on-ball defender and showed the ability to defend multiple positions. Huland El is fundamentally sound game. She is truly the total package.
Bianca Cuevas the 5-5 speedy guard from Exodus NYC and the Bronx, New York played extremely well. Cuevas showed why she is considered to be one of the best point guards in her class. She used her killer crossover, coupled with her explosive first step, to attack the paint looking to score or dish to slashing teammates. Cuevas used her speed and quickness to get out and finish off the break weaving in and out of traffic handling the rock equally with both hands. Cuevas also showed that she can consistently stroke the mid-range jumper as well as be a threat from beyond the arc, forcing opponents to choose their poison. Cuevas showed the ability to translate her speed and athleticism to pay great dividends on the defensive end forcing turnovers and cashing in on the other end. Cuevas is a top notch point guard with a big time game.
2013
The 6 foot 2 Emmonnie Henderson, from Edwardsville, Illinois and Team Adidas St. Louis, is a unique player with a college body, broad shoulders, long arms and an athletic lower body. Henderson had her one-of-a-kind game on display, she showed off her leaping ability, her power game, mid-range and 3-point stroke. Henderson was vicious on the offensive glass; she attacked the paint hard and would either score or draw the foul and in some instances she got both. Henderson was surprising very agile and nibble on her feet for her size. Defensively she was solid; she showed the ability to defend multiple positions. Henderson will need to improve her shot selection and conditioning, but has the necessary tools to play at a high level.
The former North Carolina commit from Raleigh, North Carolina and the Carolina All-Stars, 6-4 Briana Day, who recently reopened her recruitment, had her entire repertoire on display. She played with a tremendous amount of energy and was matched up opposite Alyssa Rice, a 6-3, 2014 post prospect. Day attacked Rice off the dribble, finished well in the low post, and didn’t shy away from contact. Day did an excellent job blocking shots and rebounding. She also made several mid-range pull-up jumpers. Day did a great job of hitting the open man and cutters. She is an excellent communicator, showed that she has the ability to defend on the perimeter as well. Day must continue to gain strength otherwise her style of play will be a perfect fit for any up-tempo program.
It’s always fun to watch a shooter knock down shots from long range and Miami, Florida native and AOT 5-10 guard Tiffany Suarez has a sweet stroke from behind the arc. Suarez is feisty and crafty and finds a way to get her shot off. She stroked multiple treys. Suarez finished well off the break; attacked the rim; and either finished or dropped dimes to her teammates. Suarez also displayed a nice mid-range touch. Defensively, she played aggressive on-ball defense. I expect Suarez the Virginia commit to have a solid career in the ACC.
The one commodity that everyone is looking for is a shooter and scorer who plays defense. The 5-10 guard Tiana Karopulos, from Tinley Park, Illinois and X-Citement Elite, literally put on a shooting exhibition; she knocked down shot after shot scoring from every angle imaginable. Karopulos reminds me of former Ohio State All American and current WNBA rookie Samantha Prahalis. Karopulos stroked several 3 pointers, midrange spot-up jumpers, and pull-up jumpers. She does a great job working hard to get herself open. Defensively, Karopulos is a solid on ball defender forcing her opponents into several turnovers. She is a very good athlete who makes the tough plays look easy. Karopulos played with a smooth quiet swagger. Karopulos was arguably the best shooter in the gym. She also showed a knack for getting her shot off from anywhere on the court. Karopulos is a definite BCS caliber player.
