With many rising freshman and sophomores making their elite club circuit debut, spring evaluation weekend is always the perfect time to get a look at some new basketball talent. This year’s Boo Williams Nike Invitational was packed with some very impressive fresh faces that will be players to watch in July.
It’s hard to tell that 2015 Taylor Murray (Odenton, Md.) is the ‘baby’ on a very talented Maryland Belles team because she carries herself like a seasoned veteran. Not only does she have track-star foot speed but she can also handle the ball and make passes without slowing down. Her defense is what really turned heads this weekend, as she racked up steal after steal against some of the best guards in the country. Her ability to defend the ball full court with her lateral speed and quick hands will remind you of a young Odyssey Simms.
Sports fans know the similarities between point guards and quarterbacks in their respective sports and after watching 2016 Anna Wilson (Richmond, Va.) running the show for BWSL Richmond you wonder what tips she picked up from her big brother Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson. Wilson is extremely confident at the point and is the consummate playmaker. She can pass off the dribble and finds open teammates from just about any angle on the court. Her shot mechanics are smooth, effortless and accurate and she has the ability to stop and pull up from mid-range as well as beyond the arc. Big brother needs to make room for another star in the family.
Garner Flames 2014 Center Azura Stevens (Cary, N.C.) will initially grab your attention in the layup line because she’s a legitimate 6-5, but once the game starts she’ll keep your attention with her basketball skills. Stevens has solid footwork and balance around the basket and she can run the floor like a guard. She seemed very comfortable both taking perimeter shots within the flow of the offense and handling the ball in the open court. Stevens looks like she’s on her way to a breakout club season and we should expect her name to be mentioned among the top posts in next year’s junior class.
Aryn McClure (Queens, N.Y.) New York City Bulldogs and Aneah Young (Baltimore, Md.) Maryland Belles were a couple of wing players in the 2015 class that demonstrated a nice upside. McClure, at 5-11, is an explosive rebounder that can attack the offensive and defensive glass. The 6-1 Young has a nice face up game and showed that she’s comfortable playing on the perimeter as well as in the paint.
Albany City Rocks has a reputation for turning out some of the most exciting guards in country and 2014 Deandra DeRosa (Conn.) is no exception. DeRosa is a flashy ballhandler with a whole a lot of flavor. The 5-5 lefty can score the ball in a variety of ways. From the perimeter she can stroke it long range or create her own shot off the bounce. Another left-hander, rising freshman Kaela Hilaire (Queens, N.Y.), had a stellar tournament for New Heights. Hilaire is the prototypical New York City point guard with the perfect combination of basketball skills, grittiness and seems to have a motor that never quits. At 5-3 she isn’t afraid to attack the basket offensively or battle on the defensive end against bigger and stronger players. Playing varsity at Floral Park (N.Y.) as an 8th grader has put her in the position to be an emotional leader on the floor..
Backcourt mates and sophomores to be Destinee Walker (Occee, Fla.) and Angela Jerigan (Orlando,Fla.) from the Central Florida Elite were two of the most athletic guards in the gym this past weekend. Jerigan has a great athletic build and at 5-8 can score in traffic with either hand while defensively impose her will on opponents. The 5-10 Walker is a crafty scorer who embraces the word attack at both ends of the floor. She’ll attack seams offensively and is assertive on the ball defensively.
