We’ve been busy during the first NCAA Evaluation segment…Today we offer a look back by Travis at an event from earlier this month.
LOUISVILLE, KY – With 360 teams amassed in the Kentucky Expo Center, John McGraw and the Insider Exposure team provided an all-around experience for everyone in the 2018 rendition of the Apache Paschall Memorial Showcase. The event is named for longtime basketball icon Apache Paschall. This growing showcase continues to do Apache proud, and his spirit and love for the game very much lives on. This event serves yearly as an in-between opportunity for teams coming and going to and from other events nationwide in the middle of the first July evaluation segment.
Here are some of the many stand-outs we evaluated this year!
Jacee Busick – 2020 – 6-1 – Guard/Forward – NC Team Xpress – Can guard the perimeter at that height…Sits down and uses her length well…Scorer that utilizes her jumpshot often…Hit from beyond the arc and off the bounce in the mid range…Vocal on the ball screen defensively
Sonia Citron – 2021 – 6-1 – Guard – Hoopers NY 2020 – Handles the ball well…Jump stops and uses her pivot foot to get scoring opportunities at the second level…Pull up three ball is effective…Has the ball in her hands a lot
Precious Cowan – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – iExcel Gold 2019 – In control with the ball in her hands…Has that elite level gear…Toughness…Slings passes around…Threads the needle…Gets around traffic to finish…Game changer
Joyce Edwards – 2024 – 5-11 – Forward – SC 76ers Prospects 12U – Affects shots in the paint with size and athleticism…Pursues rebounds outside of area…Learning to post and can do a little drop step…Handles in open court…Changes direction like a guard
Milaysia Fulwiley – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – SC 76ers Cubs 13U – Once airborne, she’s getting two…Making better decisions when she drives and reaches the help…Handles…Can score in bursts in tight games
Kayla Green – 2020 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Mac Irvin Fire Black – Good build at the point guard spot…Good at going to the rim to score…Distributes and developing her floor general IQ…Has a growing profile
Shardonay Hartley – 2022 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Hoopers NY 2022 – Effective versus high level young competition…Tough scorer off the dribble…Likes to drive baseline…Uses her inside shoulder well to protect and finish around bigger players…Pulled plenty of rebounds inside amongst the trees
Lexi Jackson – 2020 – 6-4 – Forward – SMAC PA Intensity – Legit size…Needs to get stronger…Showed the ability to jump and finish over the shoulder with some regularity…Lefty…12 foot jumper off the bounce…Hit a three as well
Elizabeth Kitley – 2019 – 6-4 – Greensboro Lady Gaters 2019 – Virginia Tech commit…Legitimate size…Skill set has always impressed…Seals in the paint…Does damage with her move set
Nadya Matthews – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – FGB Team Taylor Emery – Expanding upon high school success…Long stride to cover ground with the ball…Will pull up for three…Combination of build and skills…Room to advance her game still as well
Mya Diane McGraw – 2021 – 6-2 – Forward – SMAC Florida 2021 Vega – Active and agile for a big…Consistent finisher off two feet…Rips it through on rebounds…Seals well inside
Danae McNeal – 2019 – 5-11 – Point Guard – SC 76ers Black 17U – Clemson commit…Has size and athleticism to hang with top level…Gets to the rim…Flashed her three point shooting prowess…Slaps the glass on lay ups…Also jumps around getting steals
Anala Nelson – 2022 – 5-7 – Point Guard – SC 76ers Cubs 13U – Tall point guard…Plenty of athletic tools to make her dangerous…Flies around making plays on defense…Buries the three…Likes to go to the basket…Difference maker for her team
Stephanie Ouderkirk – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Team Loaded 703 – High motor player…Leaves her mark on a game defensively…Handles for the #4…Does a lot of the little things that win games
Reagan Rapert – 2021 – Point Guard/Guard – Woodz Elite Red – Lefty shooter…Playing a couple of years up…Quick…Had some nice assists in tight quarters…Lots of schools taking notice
Jadyn Scott – 2019 – 6-2 – Guard/Forward – Team Elite TG 2019 – Likes to drive to the hole…Gets up around the rim with that wingspan and vertical…Works in high post…Sits down and calls for the ball
Camryn Taylor – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – Example Sports 2019 – Beastly mean streak….Blocking shots and staring the shooter down…Explosive rebounds…Speed going after the ball coming off the rim…Catch and finish in transition
Jeanae Terry – 2019 – 5-10 – Point Guard – 1Nation Elite – Tall, long kid…Plays the point guard spot…Physical for a lead guard…Can score as needed on top of running the show
Ashlyn Watkins – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – SC 76ers Black 17U – Dunked…Can control the lane already at her size…Towers above other players…Near impossible to shoot over in the paint…Took over games…Rebounds start to finish
Cameron Williams – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – Mac Irvin Fire Black – Big time body…Can elevate over the top and finish in the 12 foot area…Lefty…Flies through the air grabbing rebounds near the rim or in the paint
Jersey Wolfenbarger – 2021 – 6-0 – Guard – Woodz Elite Red – Wiry wing…Looks good off the bounce…Will knock down the three with space…Scoring ability is coming together…Filling out physically will help make an impact
Travis Ponton first joined the Blue Star family in 2016, and brings with him a decade of women's basketball coaching experience across multiple levels. A 2018 WBCA Thirty Under 30 Award recipient, his most recent stint was on the bench as an Assistant Coach at LIU Brooklyn. He's also served on the staff at Loyola University, Charleston Southern, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Mount St. Mary's. As a successful high school coach for four years in Virginia, Ponton had a hand in helping over 30 athletes take their game to the college level. With a degree in Journalism from Radford University, he has also previously worked with WTVR/CBS 6 Television in Richmond. Ponton still calls central Virginia home.