MOORESVILLE, N.C.—Considering the pace of today’s game, it’s only appropriate that a community that goes by the nickname of “Race City USA” plays host to some up and coming prospects on the “fast track” to promising basketball futures.  Mooresville, North Carolina is the proud home to multiple NASCAR teams and their shops along with a litany of other peripheral auto racing businesses.  Last Friday it also played host to “Friday Night Lights” (Apologies to Texas High School Football), a single session event showcasing 76 young athletes representing the 2023, 24 and 25 classes.

Presented by New York Girls Hoop Report and Carolina Girls Hoop Report, the showcase piggybacked the long running and highly regarded Providence Day School Super Scrimmage held the following day just down the road in Charlotte.  In turn, along with Blue Star Media, multiple national scouting and media services already in town were on hand Friday to take in the action and get a glimpse of some of the talent looming in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For a look at our Super Scrimmage coverage from Saturday, follow the link below.

https://www.bluestarmedia.org/providence-day-super-scrimmage-2018/

Before we provide some evaluation quickhitters from the inaugural Friday Night Lights, we need to offer an important reminder to coaches and parents regarding the importance of accurate and complete information.  Event operators have their hands tied in terms of what they can provide to recruiters, evaluators and media by what is shared with them up front. Time and again rosters are lacking in important identification information that may shortchange an athlete’s opportunity to be evaluated or even recruited.  The wrong number, age or contact specifics may ultimately lead to a missed opportunity.  The Friday Night Lights roster had correct information on the whole but multiple addresses were incomplete and several players have been left out of this coverage for that reason.  The missing information was not provided by the parents during the registration process. While hardly basketball life or death at these young ages, it’s critical to remember many careers have hinged on being seen just once by the right person at the right time.  You just never know when or where that one moment might be. It’s not enough to just get her to the gym folks.  I’ll pass the collection plate now.  Sermon over, amen.

On to those players who had moments on Mooresville.  

Drew Alexander – 2023 – Wing/Guard – Cary, N.C.– Combination of size and athleticism already…Physically strong for age…Attacking mentality…Good acceleration out of moves…Crossover is there…Active both with and without the ball…Lots of promise

Sydney Barker – 2023 – Point Guard – Durham, N.C.– Skilled with good instincts…Reads the defense and the floor…No hesitancy…Pushes and attacks on the break and in the halfcourt…Mixes speed and direction effectively…Makes plays time and again

Kyla Bryant – 2023 – Guard – Salisbury, N.C.– Individual skills…Hesitation works well for her…Creates her own looks…Nice floater is in place…Can spot up…Needs to use teammates to keep defenders honest

Betsey Burnett – 2023 – Guard – Charlotte, N.C.– Nice ballhandling…Crossover…Nice form on the jumper…Has tools…Moments 

Kiara Croskey – 2024 – Guard – Sumter, S.C.– Athletic guard…Can take it to the rim…First step is quick…Accelerates on the catch…Interior passing off the drive…Overdribbles at times

Reychel Douglas – 2023 – Wing/Guard – Raleigh, N.C.– Athletic with depth to her skill set…Fluid…Gets into the paint…Frame shows room for growth…Creates both shots and passes…Occasional forward motion on the perimeter shot…Lots of possibilities 

Amiyah Ferguson – 2023 – Guard – Stephen, S.C.– Lefty…Athletic with some speed…Got into traffic…Vision and passing are there

Ella Hobbs – 2024 – Post – Lake Norman, N.C.– Nice size and frame for age…Tools are there to evolve…Made herself a presence on the glass…Needs to become more assertive to make use of physical tools…Watch closely

Kymora Johnson – 2023 – Point Guard – Richmond, Va.– Physically strong guard…Keeps defenders guessing with her attack…Hesitation move is sound…Handles contact on penetration…Delivers the ball as rotations come on penetration…Pull up is a weapon…Vision and passing are there on the break

Zamareya Jones – 2024 – Point Guard – Greenville, N.C.– Dynamic and feisty…Limited size at this point…Quick and assertive with the ball…Mixes up direction and pace…Can make the tough pass off the drive…Floater is there…Choices need to evolve in transition

Jordyn Latter – 2023 – Guard/Wing – Charlotte, N.C.– Athletic with some length…Some ballhandling…Can slash at times…Made some plays…Left hand needs attention 

Kirsten Lewis Willard – 2023 – Guard – Mooresville, N.C.– Attacks…Upright at times…Sees the floor…Looks off her passes efficiently…Skilled…Change of speed…Turns the corner penetrating…Pull up is in place

Olivia McElroy – 2023 – Forward – Cornelius, N.C.– Has some length…Scraps…Plays with some versatility…Can deliver the ball at times…Shot is more a “push” right now

Corrie McLaughlin – 2023 – Forward – Knightdale, N.C.– Length…Good wingspan…Athletic build…Could be true #4…Has her made up at times without reading…Smooth and fluid…Gets up and down the floor…Will advance with physical play as she fills out

Comari Mitchell – 2024 – Guard – Richmond, Va. – Slashing guard…Crossover is low and quick…Impressive speed with the ball…Can spot up some…Low release point on her shot right now 

Keegan Morris – 2025 – Point Guard – Ruckersville, Virginia– Awareness for age…Ballhandling and passing are sharp…Knows the game…Good skill set that serves her well…Size will come with age

Anaya Muhammad – 2023 – Guard – Greenville, S.C.– Wiry and athletic in the backcourt…Utilizes speed and quickness…Recognized and capitalized on the give and go…Strong passing in transition…Had her mind made up before the catch at times…Anticipated well on the defensive end

Maraja Pass – 2023 – Guard – Charlottesville, Va.– Athletic and attacking…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Crossover gets defenders leaning…Vision and passing strong both in halfcourt and transition…Makes her share of plays…Quick on the ball defensively

Jyana Salton – 2023 – Guard – Charlotte, N.C.– Active in the backcourt…Looking to attack…A factor on the break or out of sets…Pull up is there…Quick release…Settles too quickly at times…Anticipates one pass away defensively…Athleticism is there

Kyah Smith – 2023 – Guard – Richmond, Va.– Diverse guard for age…Develops her own looks…Can improve passing angles…Reads well for age…Hesitation move is strong option for her…Crossover……Fluid stroke is in place…Shot selection has to be defined…Impact potential at both ends 

Jakieya Thompson – 2023 – Guard – Hope Mills, N.C.– Athletic guard…Some solid ballhandling skills…Reads and feeds the post…Slashes through traffic…Can get to the rim

Ella Weaver – 2023 – Wing – Ruckersville, Va.– Versatile…A little size…Some ballhandling…Can post up as needed…Handled contact…Plays upright at times…Gets out in transition…Decent form spotting up

Reese Wilson – 2024 – Wing/Guard – Charlotte, N.C.– Active…Textbook foundation to skills…Plays with effort…Understands the game for age…Defends 

Mia Xerras – 2023 – Guard – Charlotte, N.C.– Strong use of ballskills…Hesitation is effective…Floater had a moment or two…Change of speed is mixed up well…Narrow base to a degree on shot at this point…Left hand needs to evolve

Cristiana Young – 2023 – Point Guard – Winston Salem, N.C.– Quick and athletic guard…Penetrates at will…Body control is there among the bigs…No issues with contact…Down floor passing…Speed shows on both ends…Assertive on ball defender