COLLIERVILLE, Tenn.–Elvis may have claimed the spotlight for himself in Memphis but it was W.C. Handy, Beale Street and the Blues that put the River City on the map long before the King swiveled his hips. While basketball and the Blues may not be two things you often want to see in the same sentence (Sorry Cavaliers!!) they do have something in common as American originals. Back in the day musicians made their way to the Mississippi Delta to hone their craft and this past weekend we had some players make the same journey to work on their skills and find their voice…in the gym anyway!
The fourth annual Insider Exposure Junior All-American Camp once again provided a brief respite from an overburdened tournament schedule for some much needed skill work and individual development. Across two days over 180 athletes representing 25 different states took to the floor of the H.W. Cox Community Center to work with St. Louis trainer Tony Condra as well as get in some competitive game action. Multiple media and scouting services were on hand to get a good look at a few upperclassmen as well as a bevy of promising talent from the next generation.
As always, space and time prohibit us from including all the standout performances but we have a few below that would have certainly made you look twice if you had been courtside. Then again, a few of the “less than stellar” efforts would have turned your head as well.
Folks, we’ve got an epidemic of horrible shot selection that is off the charts. Club coaches, high school coaches and trainers need to reel in the ridiculous “let it fly” mentality that seems to be running rampant throughout the game. Young players who believe simply the ability to get a shot off qualifies it as a “good shot” are setting both themselves and their teams up for failure. And don’t be fooled by making one or two. It’s when you light it up consistently day in and day out that you can look for the green light. Even Curry knows K.D. and Thompson have better looks at times. Wake up and play smart. College recruiters aren’t impressed by a shoot first mentality and field goal percentages that resemble the President’s approval ratings. We did see some strong players who can not only score it themselves but set up the teammates around them for better looks without wasting a possession on a wishful thought thrown up from downtown. They’ll be the one’s getting more and more interest as time goes by.
Back to the event at hand…
Cori Allen – 2023 – 5-9 – Nashville, Tennessee– Strong and attacking guard…Form and stroke are there on her shot…Hesitation move creates penetration…Crossover looked sharp at times as well…Delivered some sharp interior passes…Has tools
Chloe Anderson – 2023 – 6-2 – Romeoville, Illinois– Length and athleticism are there…Gets out and runs the floor…Hard cutter without the ball…High post drive…Got on the boards at times…Shot is off the shoulder to a degree…Needs to protect the ball going up inside
Faith Blackstone – 2020 – 6-0 – Durham, North Carolina– Wiry build with some length on the wing…Active with and without the ball…Tight, refined ballskills…Fluid with a lengthy stride for size…Makes herself an option
Amaya Blake – 2022 – 5-7 – Platte City, Missouri– Nice mix of skills…Can slash and get into the paint…Upright to a degree off the dribble but still makes plays…Crossover worked well for her at times…Plenty of effort on both ends of the floor
Kyrstin Bond – 2020 – 5-8 – Batesville, Indiana– Smooth, fluid stroke…Plenty of range…Strong ballhandling and vision in transition…Good understanding and decisions…Solid on the defensive end of the floor
Nevaeh Brown – 2020 – 5-9 – Midland, North Carolina– Athletic guard…Exceptional first step…Somewhat out of control but making plays…Improved each time out…Floater is high with a soft touch…Narrow base but decent release on shot…Tools
Endya Buford – 2020 – 5-7 – Olive Branch, Mississippi– Speed and quickness are there…Attacks with a sound change of speed…Floater is in place…Converts turnovers…Needs to be more active without the ball…Gets after it defensively on ball
Brynn Farrell – 2020 – 5-10 – Metuchen, New Jersey– Nice combination of size and skills at guard…Individual tools allow her to develop and improve options…Hesitation works well…Good body control in traffic when penetrating…Pull up is there to call upon…Step back gave her room…Turns the corner hard off the drive
Jayla Hemingway – 2019 – 5-9 – Collierville, Tennessee– Mississippi State commit…Plays with strength and aggressiveness…Looks to attack and create her own…Mixes speed and hesitation…Sees the floor and shares the ball well…Has a forward motion on the perimeter release…Assertive and physical as an on ball defender…Plays with effort and focus
Kennedy Horton – 2021 – 5-5 – St. Mary, Georgia– Lefty point…Ballhandling and passing skills are sound…Decent form on her shot but shot selection needs attention…Made some plays
Ayanna Jackson – 2023 – 6-0 – Chicago, Illinois– Young, athletic forward…Some ballhandling is in place…Gets out and runs the floor…Can create her own looks off one and two dribble drives…Twists and spins away from the defense often when unnecessary making shots more difficult…Lots of promise
Kylee Kellermann – 2023 – 5-2 – Charleston, South Carolina– Small with a slight build at this point…Ballhandling and court vision are there…Fearless off the drive despite size…Creates both shots and passes
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs – 2022 – 5-11 – Edmond, Oklahoma– Dynamic athlete…Has both length and agility…Effort and aggressive mentality combine to set her apart from the crowd…Depth of skill is there on both ends already…Tools are there to play multiple spots at this point…Creates offense from defense…Can handle it herself…Assertive and relentless on defense…Doesn’t wait for the game to come to her, goes after it
Caroline Lyles – 2022 – 5-9 – Fayetteville, Arkansas– Solid size and build…Decent handles…Attacking mentality…Stepback is there…Decent form from the perimeter…Got on the boards…Made things happen…Played with effort
Jasmine Manual – 2020 – 6-3 – St. Louis, Missouri– Has both size and frame…Willing to use her physicality…Showed a hook at one point…Mechanical on the catch right now but had flashes…Mixed it up defensively
Christiana McLean – 2019 – 5-5 – Charlotte, North Carolina– Small but quick point guard…Efficient one on one attack…Lots of speed with the ball…Sees the court and passes well on the break…Pull up is sharp but motion is somewhat forward on perimeter jumper
Carlia Northcross – 2022 – 6-1 – Memphis, Tennessee– Fluid and mobile forward…Moves well with and without the ball…Nice high release on shot…Hit the glass…Needs to add some aggressiveness
Mya Pratcher – 2022 – 6-1 – Collierville, Tennessee– Lean with lots of length…Showed some acceleration with the ball…Mid-range pull up is in place…Crashed the offensive boards…Low release on shot at this point
Kristen Roche – 2022 – 5-6 – Powder Springs, Georgia– Has some individual skills…Can improve both shots and passes…Form, stroke and range are there…Shot selection needs defined…Handled contact well on the drive…Plays with awareness on the break…Assertive on the ball defensively
Emma Ruhlman – 2022 – 5-7 – Warren, Pennsylvania– Solid skills on the perimeter…Good understanding of what she’s looking for…Sees the floor on the catch…Plays with intensity…Hit the offensive boards…Good form spotting up
Reyna Scott – 2022 – 5-6 – Bronx, New York– Athletic guard…Effective one on one…Change of direction created options for her…Step back created separation…Has range
Laci Steele – 2023 – 5-10 – Edmond, Oklahoma– Attacking mentality…Pushes the ball herself in transition at times…Sound ballhandling skills…Delivered some strong passes on the break…Attacks the glass…Puts herself in the middle of the action…Reads defenders
Madison Stevenson – 2022 – 6-2 – Orchard Park, New York– Size with a solid build…Posts hard and gives a target…Works to hold her ground…No hesitation about mixing things up physically…Reads on the catch need to come quicker but looked good at times
Nikole Thomas – 2023 – 5-8 – Pasco, Washington– Solid guard…Decent ballskills…Good concepts and understanding for age…Assertive and attacking with the ball in her hands
Jordan Tuft – 2019 – 5-7 – Kernersville, North Carolina– Athletic point guard…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Hesitation move is there…Nice pull up…Decent stroke spotting up
Sammie Wagner – 2023 – 6-0 – San Antonio, Texas– Already established…Combination of size and skills…Tools are there to create her own looks and passes…Can handle it in transition with solid decision making…Upright at times off the dribble…Handled contact both on the drive and finishing at the rim…Plays with an enthusiasm…Worked defensively…May well have more growth in front of her
Marley Washenitz – 2022 – 5-9 – Fairmont, West Virginia– Left hander continues to show steady improvement…Not a big scoring day but developed and improved options…Crossover served her well…Navigated traffic…Spotted up with good form…On ball defense was efficient and contained penetration
Kelbie Washington – 2021 – 5-7 – Moore, Oklahoma– Small point guard with a slight build…Skills are there…Mixes up the speed in her attack…Looks off her passes…Good choices when penetrating…Down floor passing is sharp on the break
Amauri Williams – 2022 – 6-3 – North Little Rock, Arkansas– Impressive advancements…Has both the frame and size…Plenty of strength already and a willingness to use it…Deceptive first step is there…Has a sound base and understanding on the block…Dropstep covers plenty of ground…Came up with her share of offensive boards…Can run the floor in transition…Only going to elevate her game
Chloe Williams – 2022 – 5-11 – Charlotte, North Carolina– Solid and athletic on the wing…Decent ball skills set up shots and passes…Plays with strength…Sound form is there on her shot…Made good choices with the ball…Tough match up
Jada Williams – 2023 – 5-6 – Blue Springs, Missouri– Quick and fluid with the ball in her hands…Looking to push it at opportunity…Mixing both direction and speed effectively…Down floor passing in transition is productive…Reads defenders on her stepback…Quick release is there
Mia Xerras – 2023 – 5-6 – Charlotte, North Carolina– Smart, skilled and instinctual at the point…Smooth and steady both in her reads and her attack…Vision is there on the break and in the halfcourt…Quickness is beyond first impression…Capable scorer in her own right…Stroke is there with range to keep defenders honest…Very promising at the point
