FRANKLIN, Tenn.—The advent of the Nike Girls Elite Basketball League added new elements to the landscape of club basketball for the 2014 Spring and Summer NCAA evaluation periods. With the dangling carrot of an invitation to Nike Nationals we’ve seen a different competitive approach to games, a sense of urgency in players and teams, the reevaluation of travel and event participation and newfound interest in the success and failures of other teams.
With two qualifying rounds out of the way and the field set for Augusta the jury is returning positive verdicts on the impact of the EYBL. The naysayers are there but most often the negative reviews are coming from those not invited to the party in the first place. While the final chapter won’t be written until the end of the month, last weekend saw Chicago and Nashville each host half the field for the last chance at a coveted bracket spot.
The “Southern Regional” (to borrow from the NCAA) hosted the 16 teams of the Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore Divisions. Set within the framework of the 472 team Battle in the Boro, the final games provided some impressive play, a little drama, a few overtimes and even a couple blow outs. In the end 12 teams punched their tickets while four were left looking into a new destination for the home stretch of the summer tour.
For a rundown on the Nike Nationals / EYBL field and final divisional standings, follow the link below.
Today we take a look at the teams who were in Tennessee and just how much southern hospitality they found on the courts of the A-Game Sports Complex in Franklin.
Unfortunately for the City Rocks things didn’t go much better in the second round than they did in Hampton back in April. Their 0 and 5 slate doubled to 0 and 10 losing all five games by an average margin of 17.2 points. They did put a scare in the Tennessee Flight during a two point loss but it was their only single digit gap of the second round and just one of three in the entire schedule. The final stats had them 30th in the league both in scoring and scoring defense leaving them on the outside looking in for the final round of play in Augusta. Hannah Friend, a 6-0, 2015 wing, led the way in scoring all five games in Franklin as well as overall for the City Rocks at 12 points a game. Friend also offers up a strong defensive effort at times particularly anticipating off the ball. Point guard Kiana Patterson led the assist category and showed an ability to spot up with range to keep defenders honest. Junior 5-8 point guard Abby Okeefe has sound skills, a solid jumper and is aggressive on the defensive end of the floor. Fellow 2016 Emma Guy has some promise at 6-3 including a hard to find hook shot she demonstrated a couple of times.
All Iowa followed up their 3 and 2 performance in round one with the same record in Franklin and a firm hold on the second spot in the Moore Division. A one point loss to the Philadelphia Belles as well as a 15 point loss to undefeated Cy Fair were the speed bumps they encountered in Tennessee. They finished ninth in scoring over the 10 game schedule and were 14th in scoring defense. Seeing her first action since the USA U18 Trials (foot), Jessica Shepard shook the rust off to lead the way in scoring in four of five games but will be with the red, white and blue rather than AIA when Augusta rolls around. The ultra-versatile Shepard led all scoring over 10 games followed by Makenzie Meyer. Shepard ranks third in overall EYBL scoring after two rounds. Meyer, a 2016 point guard, plays an assertive, smart game while shooting 47% from the floor and an impressive 40% from three point range. Another 2016, Courtney Joens, joined All-Iowa for the second round and produced impressively in her first five games. Nice size, 5-11, combines with perimeter skills and an aggressive approach making Joens a difficult match up.
After a strong run in Augusta last year, All Ohio has to live with the disappointment of no return engagement this summer. Things did go better in Franklin with two wins than Hampton where they claimed just one out of five. Making several roster additions since the spring, the folks from the Buckeye State were competitive losing the three contests in Tennessee by an average of just 8.3 points per game. A tremendous improvement after their four first round losses came by way of a 17 point average. As a team they were 22nd in scoring and 20th on the other side of the ball. Senior Cierra Rice continued to be the primary offensive spark for All Ohio. She paced the scoring in both rounds and led the team over 10 games with an 11.6 average. The 5-9 penetrator gets to the hoop at will and is effective in traffic. Another 2015, Deja Turner, utilized speed and an attacking mentality as well as a nice touch to contribute offensively. Cierra Hooks was a new addition that offered up some strong play as a 2017 point guard. Valencia Myers, a 6-2, 2018 post, continues to advance her game showing some good work on the block and a strong effort on the glass. Another highly regarded 2018, Bexley Wallace, also was added to the roster and had some moments as well.
The Sparks followed up a 2 and 3 effort in round one with another 2 and 3 slate the second time around. Playing without standout guard and leading scorer Jaelyn Brown who was in a boot, Elbert Kinnebrew’s squad dropped three games by an average of 15.3 points but grabbed two wins to snag the last invitation in the Moore Division to Nike Nationals. The Sparks were 17th overall in scoring but struggled defensively finishing 10 more spots down the food chain at 27th. Ayanna Clark offered up some strong play in Brown’s absence leading the Sparks with a 10 game scoring average of nine points per outing. Clark, just a 2017, is a 6-2 power forward with an assertive attack on the interior and a willingness to mix things up. Senior point guard Tania Lamb paced the scoring in Tennessee leading the way in three of five games. The 5-7 point guard gets into the paint and has a knack of getting herself to the line time and again. Dijonai Carrington continues to up her game and find more comfort on the floor despite still wearing the knee brace. The 5-11 junior has all the tools and is also showing more and more diversity in her attack.
The Flames may be demonstrating more depth than any other team in the EYBL. Their 5 and 0 run in Franklin came even with two players needing crutches before all was said and done, including standout guard Mikayla Boykin. More impressive is that the five wins come on the heels of three in a row to wrap up round one in Hampton. Wins over the Fairfax Stars, Tennessee Flight and Georgia Pistols last week should have the Flames making noise at the end of the month. However, their Achilles Heel may be on the defensive end of the floor. While they’re third in EYBL scoring they stand just 18th in scoring defense. Boykin still led the way in scoring in three of five games and posted a 13.3 team leading average over the entire schedule. The dynamic 5-9 guard can create her own off the dribble and has the stroke to be just as effective from the perimeter. Senior point guard Kaila Ealey is second in scoring and leads the way in assists with 3.2 per game. Impressive as play went on was roster addition Cocoriea Foy. The 5-11, 2015 combo is productive both on the break and in the halfcourt and has the tools to be an impact player at an elite level. Another 2015, Amber Richardson, is a physically strong guard who makes plays and is assertive defensively. Classmate Grace Hunter is also strong, skilled and works hard from the tip. On the younger side, 2017 Kayla Jones is a solid 6-1 forward who has individual skills and makes lots of plays on the boards as well as defensively.
Cy Fair is one of two teams who finished the 10 game, two round schedule with an unblemished record. They sailed through the division games and three cross conference games by an 18.4 point per game margin of victory. The last five games saw only the Miami Suns come within nine but none could get any closer. They topped the overall scoring by over six points more than the next team and finished respectably at 13th in scoring defense. Impressively, their depth and margins on the scoreboard allowed for 10 players to average double figure minutes. Lashann Higgs led the way in scoring with a 13.5 average that came as a result of 51% shooting from the floor and a 41% effort from long range. The majority of her scoring came in round one as Higgs hit double figures in just two of five games in Franklin. Jordan Hosey continues her steady output producing 10.8 points a game and a team leading 6.3 rebounds each time out. With one of her more impressive performances over the course of an event Erica Ogwumike offered up legitimate scoring support both on the break and in the halfcourt. The 5-10 senior guard is shooting right at 60% from the floor and three point distance. Kennedy Leonard may well be the recognized but unsung standout among this talented group. The best one word description is that she’s “involved” in virtually every play when she’s on the floor. The 5-9 guard is a factor scoring, leads the team in assists and is a deceptive athlete with better speed that you might think. Nancy Mulkey continues to develop and refine her skill set. At 6-9, she’s a factor defensively any time she’s on the floor and Coach Al Coleman is working to get her more assertive and involved on the offensive end. The junior has come a long way in a year and is still just scratching the surface. If you’re not impressed by 2017 swing player Deauzya “Di Di” Richards you probably need an optometrist appointment. Length and athleticism are just the start. At 6-1 she can create off the dribble, has speed with the ball in her hands and can deliver off the drive, pull up or perimeter. Also, keep an eye on 2018 post Charli Collier who has seen very limited minutes but has lots of tools.
After going winless in Hampton back in April, Essence grabbed two wins in round two including a critical tie breaking four point win over the West Coast Premier. No other team in the field of 24 has less than four wins but it’s a safe bet Kim Davis Powell’s crew isn’t complaining. Their other win came over the City Rocks by a 65 – 34 score. Ironically it’s not the defensive end that has been costing Essence games as it is with so many others. They’re 8th in scoring defense but are managing just 46.5 points per game putting them 28th of all 32 teams offensively. Nobody on the roster is averaging double figures but the minutes are distributed extensively making it a challenge to rack up the numbers. Kristian Hudson is active and aggressive both with and without the ball. The 5-7 senior is effective off the drive and pull up but will beat you off the cut as well. Nadia Fingall keeps having her share of moments this summer and the 6-2, 2016 post is refining her basketball skills to be more in line with her eye catching athletic attributes. Ja’Tavia Tapley didn’t have her best outing this time around but it’s hard to not take notice of the size, mobility and evolving skills of this 2016 forward. Rennia Davis may not be finishing well (29%) but the 6-2, 2016 swing player has the tools and moves that make you look. She’ll need to cut back on the turnovers as well as she leads the team during EYBL competition.
The Stars ran the table back in April and added three more to the total in round two. In eight wins they’ve averaged a margin of victory of 15.4 points per game while their two losses have come by just one and four points in back to back games with the Flames and Flight. Aggie McCormick’s squad is setting the pace for the entire EYBL defensively holding opponents to a league leading 43.7 points per game average. They come in at number 14 of 32 on the scoring list but at 8 and 2…it’s more than enough. It’s no coincidence the league’s leading scorer and assist leader are both on the same team. Kelly Koshuta is textbook at taking what options are in front of her and converting (62% fg). She’s assertive posting on the block and reads well on the catch. The 6-2 senior isn’t going to create as much as she’s going to exploit whatever the defense is giving. A lot of what the defense gives is a result of the attack from 2015 point guard Marta Sniezek. A 5-7 fireball, she’s without a doubt one of those you would rather play with than against. Sniezek is smart, skilled and competitive on par with anyone she’ll line up against. She also has 30 assists more than any other player in the EYBL. Stephanie Jones has had some solid moments as well. A 6-2 junior, she’s long and athletic with some fluid movement on both ends of the floor. Her ballhandling is sharp for her size and she runs the court. Consistency will have to come for her down the road.
There haven’t been many times over the years that you would find the Georgia Metros struggling as this year’s team has. Coming up short in all ten EYBL games, their margin of loss at both events was 18 points. They finished last in scoring defense giving up an average of 63.9 points per game, 20 more than the league leading Fairfax Stars. They fare only slightly better offensively coming in at 29th among their fellow Nike teams. Another stat costing the Metros was their league leading turnover total of 164 and their turnover margin of -5.8 per game. Over 10 games Keondria Calloway averaged 8.3 points per game that included 12 of 32 shooting from three point range. Senior Nikki McDonald averaged 6.1 while Briunna Freeman contributed 6 more as well as 5.3 rebounds. Ra’Shika White is a junior post with some tools. She’s active at 6-3 with some possibilities that she could really develop with the right focus. Jenna Brown, a 5-9, 2018 guard, may not have the stats that will make you sit up and take notice but her play and potential will. She’s fluid, athletic and active and has a solid skill set to build on.
The Pistols came out of Hampton undefeated with impressive wins over All Iowa and the Tennessee Flight. They chalked up three more wins last week in Franklin but dropped games to Fairfax and the Flames by 15 and 6 respectively. They finished the first two rounds of play 7th in scoring and 16th in scoring defense. The Pistols led an often ignored but critical stat in that they allowed the fewest offensive rebounds to their opponents among all the Nike teams with just 86 in ten games. Ayana Mitchell actually led the way in scoring producing at a 15.8 clip while shooting 60.7% from the floor. Smaller than her listed 6-2, Mitchell is athletic and agile in the paint. The 2015 forward is patient with the ball and can get to the rim from the elbow or trail spot. Asia Durr rejoined her team after a Gold Medal run with the USA U17 squad and continues to demonstrate the gold standard for backcourt play in the 2015 class. Her change of speed and direction combined with NFL acceleration is virtually unstoppable. Her assist to turnover ratio is going to need some attention regardless of the rest of her offensive game. Fellow senior Meredith Schulte has a good stroke on the wing as well as the range to keep defenders extended. In the post Victoria Harris offers a physical presence that will be critical if the Pistols want to be in the mix in Augusta. The 6-3 senior needs to be a consistent factor with her strength and posting to facilitate the attacks of Durr and Mitchell.
Going 2 and 3 back in April set the Kentucky Premier up for a challenging road in Franklin to claim a spot in the Nike Nationals field. Those losses came by an average of 4.6 points and made every game in round two essential to their survival. They came through with flying colors with a 3 and 2 record including an 18 point comeback win over the resurgent Philadelphia Belles and an overtime win against the Miami Suns. The Premier rank 21st in scoring and stand 12th in scoring defense as they move on to their first ever appearance in Augusta. Maci Morris led the way averaging 12.5 points on 49% shooting from the floor and a 36% production from long range. The 6-0 wing has lots of tools and is comfortable attacking off the dribble and can handle the contact despite her lean build. Highly regarded Erin Boley continues to produce contributing 11.3 points on 49% shooting as well as 42% from three point land. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider it includes a 2 for 10 effort against the Belles. Point guard Alexis Robinson didn’t have standout numbers but is very capable and a deceiving athlete. Junior post Krys McCune provided some strong interior play for the Premier. At 6-3 she’s been on the radar for some time and is beginning to provide more consistent production and physical play. Lots of tools are there including a vertical that allows her to be a presence on the boards. Senior guard Anna Hammaker, classmates and 6-6 posts Cheyenne Hooper and Nora Kiesler all provided moments.
The Miami Suns came out of round one with a solid 3 and 2 record but found the going tougher when they took the floor again in Franklin. When all was said and done they had grabbed two more wins but dropped three critical games while still hanging on to a spot in the field of 24. While they struggled scoring at times (20th) they cracked the top ten in scoring defense standing 9th heading into the final round. Senior guard Crystal Primm led the way scoring at 14 points per game and for good measure she added 5.7 rebounds from the backcourt. The athletic 5-10 guard can get to the rim but will need to reel in the turnovers in Augusta. Top tier post Beatrice Mompremier produced 9.6 points and leads the league in rebounding at 11 per game. The 6-4 standout is one of those exceptional prospects who continues to add to and refine her game. Her ability to create her own looks is really improving and she even took it coast to coast off a denied outlet one time. Unfortunately for the Suns, Mompremier has a date with the USA U18 team that conflicts with Nike Nationals. Devin Gray is the long ball threat for the Suns connecting on 24 of 64 to this point. The senior guard has an instinctual game with and without the ball. On the younger side you have to pay attention to Chelsie Hall who only played in round two. A wiry, 5-8 guard, she’s athletic and attacking with the ability to score off the drive or on the jumper. Shooting percentages will have to improve but as a 2017 she’s worth watching.
The Gauchos lost five games in a row in the middle of the two round, 10 game schedule but won their final two games to grab a bracket spot coming out of the Fowles Division. Wins over Essence and City Rocks wrapped up their trip to Tennessee as well as their bid for Nike Nationals. Paving the way for the New Yorkers was their effort on the defensive end of the floor that has them standing 7th among all teams after two rounds. Offensively they’re less productive scoring 49.3 a game leaving them ranked 23rd in the field. Brianna Fraser, a 6-2, 2015 forward paced the scoring at 11.5 and also pulled down 8.3 boards per game. Good size and strength makes her a challenging match up and she has the ability to create her own. She’ll need to do better than the 29 for 61 effort she’s had so far at the line to be a factor at the highest level. Another 2015, Ashanae McLaughlin, is a 5-8 guard with the ability to develop her own opportunities. Classmate Arella Guirantes is active and slashes to get through traffic. The pull up is there and she’ll get in a stance on defense. She has double the turnovers as she does assists and will have to take better care of the ball. One of the best combinations of size, build and athleticism is 6-5 senior Theresa Ekhelar. Physically, the potential is all there but the basketball part of the equation has a long way to go to catch up but you have to love the possibilities.
Losing three of their five games in the first round by an average of 8.6 points the Belles had their work cut out for them coming into round two in the Volunteer State. With the core of the roster having been part of the Junior Division Championship team at last year’s Nike Nationals, the experience and potential was there to get the job done. Mike Flynn coached the Belles during round one but called on long time club basketball coach, evaluator and recent college coach Kevin Lynch to steer the ship in Franklin. When the smoke cleared the Belles had snagged an invitation to the final round with a 3 and 2 mark that included wins over the Miami Suns and All Iowa Attack. The irony in the 5 and 5 record is that they were outscored, outrebounded and outshot from the floor over the course of 10 games. The Belles have no problem putting points on the board currently ranking 5th but getting stops is more of a challenge standing 29th in scoring defense. Nicole Munger continued her strong summer and leads the way in scoring at 14.5 points per game. Shooting 48% from the floor and connecting on 23 of 49 three’s she’s become a threat that requires defensive attention as the 5-10 senior crosses halfcourt. Fellow 2015 Taylor Murray continues to distribute the ball well racking up 52 assists against just 22 turnovers while posting 7.4 points. Brianna Jones averages 9.8 points per game and hit some critical shots but struggled from the floor at just 31%. Aubree Brown’s 46% from three point range was an asset as well. Ever improving and dynamic forward Christina Aborowa is a defensive presence, leads the way on the boards and is finishing more efficiency.
Flight came out of Hampton with two losses by a grand total of five points. Last week they claimed their first three games in Franklin on way to a 4 and 1 record and the fourth spot in the Fowles Division. The only bump in the road was a 75 – 58 loss to the Carolina Flames. The Flight can put the points on the board (4th) but struggle defensively currently standing 20th in scoring defense. In arguably the most balanced division, Flight finished behind the Flames, Fairfax Stars and Georgia Pistols who all came home at 8 and 2. Crystal Dangerfield is 5th in overall EYBL scoring and paces Flight at 16.8 points per game. She scores with a balance between penetration, pull ups and an effective long range attack (38%). Kaylan Pugh became a force to be reckoned with using a relentless attack that upped her scoring to 12.4 while grabbing 5.8 rebounds each game. Me Me Jackson was off her usual game hitting double figures in just one of the five contests but continued to demonstrate an ability to get to the rim and create opportunities. She’s still at 9.4 points a game and shooting 41% from three point range.
In a challenging ten games the West Coast Premier claimed one win in each round wrapping up their first EYBL schedule at 2 and 8. Ironically they missed the “cut” for Augusta by way of the head to head tiebreaker with Essence who they lost to by four. Their wins came at the expense of the state of New York as they got by the Albany City Rocks back in April and the Gauchos last week in Tennessee. Scoring was issue one for WCP as they rank 32nd in scoring offense at just 42 points per game. On the other hand they are 6th in scoring defense limiting opponents to 49.2 each time out. Senior guard Maddeline Dopplick leads the Premier players on hand with her 8.1 average that includes a 12 for 29 slate from three point range. Cheyenne Wallace is having a solid summer while posting a 7.6 point average and is pulling 5.2 boards. The 6-0 forward can work on the block but has some ballhandling that lets her operate from the high post as well. Junior forward Rebecca Lazuka has a strong lower body and plays with lots of effort. Jayda Adams, a 2017 guard, has good length and a stroke but settles much too quickly for the long ball.
