LOUISVILLE, KY – Louisville, a gem of a city across the Ohio River from Indiana, played host to over a week of basketball action to open the 2017 July NCAA evaluation period. Over 65 courts were laid in place like jigsaw puzzle pieces in the Kentucky Expo Center hosting both the Run 4 the Roses and Battle in the Boro.
Given the size of the facility, it didn’t take long for the fitness watches to start hitting people’s daily step goals with courts seemingly going on forever. College coaches and fans alike didn’t have to search too far to find good basketball action. They simply had to be willing to navigate and cover some extensive mileage. Both events featured hundreds of teams and in turn a multitude of players to see. Both events have found a new and permanent home and credit is due to the City of Louisville for its efforts and hospitality.
With more than enough basketball to see, it was easy to circle games each and every hour that would peak the interest of recruiters, evaluators and media. Here are some of the stand outs that we caught doing some great things, broken down by event and listed alphabetically.
RUN 4 THE ROSES CLASSIC
Azana Baines – 2019 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – Books and Basketball 16U Elite — Versatility 101…Lanky athlete…Can score inside with great feet on the up and under…Also playing some PG at times…Game is hard to miss
Laila Blair – 2020 – 5-7 – Point Guard – DFW Elite 15U EYBL — Has that next gear with the ball in her hands…Physical with the ball…Lowers shoulder to finish…Hang time and creativity…As a finisher stands out…Good build…Big time playmaker
De’Myla Brown – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – TN Flight Sophomore Silver – Possesses smooth pull up jumper…Quick and physical at the guard spot…Scrappy player…Three point shooting prowess is catching eyes
Colleen Bucknor – 2020 – 5-11 – Forward – Miami Suns Team Larkins — Impressive raw athleticism…Had a nice tip drill put back…Rebounds and blocks shots…Can handle in a straight line with pace…Still adding ball skills…Has many tools to work with
Chyna Cornwell – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward/Post – Carolina Quest — Rim runner…Has the size and build…Scores inside…Good effort on the glass…Sleeper
Maori Davenport – 2019 – 6-4 – Post – All Alabama Roadrunners 11th Grade — Great length and athletic tools in the post…Big time presence in the paint on both sides…Can post on the block and get to work…Strong rebound and outlet to start the break
Alana Denson – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – AOT Lady Celtics Gold 17U — Athletic and strong PG…Good with the ball…Sees things develop quickly and threads the needle…Flashy zip passes…Three point range is there off the catch or the bounce
Meg Hair – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard – I-90 Elite 11th Grade — Gets the job done…Blue collar athletic wing…Hustles consistently…Seems to always be around the ball…Great feet to finish inside…Takes the hard foul and pops right back up…Had a consistently excellent event
Nigeria Harkless – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Essence 2019s — Pulls strong rebounds and finishes them with nice outlets…Will take the three already…Boxes out and pursues the basketball…Vocal on the back line of the zone defense…Runs the floor
Diamond Miller – 2019 – 6-2 – Guard – Team Miller Lance – Well known prospect…Looks like a rim runner, plays like a guard…Serious wingspan…Rebounds very well…Takes 5-6 dribbles to cover the length of the floor…Can finish it off with a euro finish around the defense…Hits the three off the bounce…Shot changer in the paint
Te-Hina Paopao – 2020 – 5-10 – Point Guard – Wiggins Waves 16U – Highly regarded already…Taller guard…Can really score…Highly skilled…Buries the three off the bounce coming around the screen…Athletic with some bounce…Buckets in bunches at times
Angel Reese – 2020 – 6-2 – Guard/Forward – Team Takeover EYBL 15U — High energy, impact player in many facets of the game…Length and athleticism is a game changer on defense…Great footwork to score inside…Driving and splitting defenders…Relentless offensive boards and going back up again
Cassidy Rowe – 2022 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – Kentucky Premier 14U Bibb — Excellent young player on both sides of the ball…Big time shooter burying the deep trey…Good build…Moves with a purpose…Easy handles and very comfortable with the ball…No look passes…Big time ball fake euro finish…Tenacious on defense…Strong denial defensively
Celeste Ryman – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Team Huddle Black — Nice combination of skills…Quick trigger on the three…Handles and quickness for the position…Consistent…Steady hand at the point…Sleeper if she grows
Charlee Settle – 2020 – 6-0 – Guard – Team Slink 2020 — Tall, lanky shooter on the wing…Continues to fill it up with the jumper off the catch or off the bounce…Not a finished product, but already a big scoring threat on a consistent basis
Jaylyn Sherrod – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – All Alabama Roadrunners 11th Grade — Athletic, quick scoring guard…Shoots the three as well as she gets to the rim…Good feel for the game…Gets open off the ball well…Speed and quickness with the ball is elite
Shyanne Tuelle – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – Nautilus Express 16U — Good size and strength on the wing…Has some wheels and plays hard…Had some very nice games scoring the basketball in different ways…Crashes the boards…Does the little things…A little right hand heavy at times…Plays with a bit of a chip on her shoulder
Saniaa Wilson – 2021 – 5-11 – Forward – City Rocks 2018 — Big body inside…Does a nice job establishing position on the block…Great footwork…Can face up, drive, and spin back to finish…Back to basket move set is advanced
BATTLE IN THE BORO
Taylor Gibson – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – MD Lady Finest 2021 — Big strong post…Young but well on her way…Runs and jumps well…College build…Can score inside with some nice drop step moves…12-15 foot range already…Mature game to go along with frame…Promising future
Kenna Hisle – 2020 – 5-10 – Point Guard/Guard – IN Elite Swish 16U — Can handle the point against pressure…Good flow getting team into the offense…Has IQ and size for the guard spot
Ashlon Jackson – 2022 – 5-11 – Point Guard/Guard – HTX Fire Orange – Talented young guard playing in the oldest age bracket with results…Great size and build…Has the look…Hit halfcourt game winner with confidence
Sydney Jones – 2018 –5-11 – Guard/Forward – FGB Team Courtney Williams — Monster performance…Handles and drives like a guard…Long and super athletic…Old school “back you down” and spin into a jumper…Continuing to grow her game…Elevating the possibilities
Mya McGraw – 2021 – 6-2 – Post – Blue Star Florida 2021 Vega — Mobile and aggressive young post…Moves well side to side on defense…Can contain and challenge guards…Runs floor well…Pursues ball in the air…Body should mature as she gets older and hits the weight room…Potential is legit
S’Mya Nichols – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard/Forward – KC And One 2021 — Good size and build for age…Handles well for a wing forward…Strong baseball pass down court over the top of press…Rebounds and goes with it…Good passer off the bounce
Caria Reynolds – 2018 – 5-11 – Forward – GA Metros Gold Elite — Undersized but thicker built post…Great feet on post moves…Decent wheels for her build…Will face up and take 12 to 15 footer….Demonstrated mobility skills with the ball at her size…Bit of a wrecking ball mentality…Good in tight spaces…Will block some shots
Dani Short – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – Drill for Skill- Miller — Strong, mobile post presence…Closed out on shooters well…Physical with lots of effort and movement on defense…Offensively heading in a good direction
Aliyah Matharn – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – DC Lady Blue Devils Jones 16U — Played very well here…Continues to show growth in her game…Got to the rim and scored often…Knocks down the jumper…Made plays on defense as well…Game becoming more complete
Kaylee Sticker – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard/Forward – Peak Performance Engram — Good off the bounce at her size…Deceptively effective on the drive…Finishes with the bucket…Plays hard…Will hit the glass
Skylah Travis – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – BWSL Richmond 2020 — Physically gifted…Can handle to drive…Shot blocker…Runs well…Plays physical…Still has time…Potential for more as she develops
Breanna Yarber – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Nautilus Express — Can face up in the high…Ability to post, drive, dish, or shoot the 15 footer…Handles some in the open court…Needs to fill out but has a nice long frame…Mobile face up four option to keep an eye on
