GILBERT, Ariz.—The 19th annual Nike Tournament of Champions is in the books and the folks from St. Mary’s up in Stockton, California have taken home the top prize to put under their Christmas tree. When you gather 96 teams from over 20 states there’s some serious shopping to be done…recruiting wise. A lot of the top tier talent was previously well established and some of the younger standouts have already left their mark just the same. And…as always…there were a few just making their first splash in the recruiting pool. No doubt, we’ll be hearing from all of them again in the future.

Today we take some quick snapshot looks at some of the talent on hand in the Valley of the Sun. As always, I offer up a reminder that this isn’t an “all-star” team or even specifically the “best performers”. To a degree it will appear that way but the best players are always going to stand out if they’re genuinely impact prospects. Please don’t read anything into it. The size of the event makes it impossible to see everyone in action. This is nothing more than the observations of an old coach who saw some things he liked from some players on the big stage of the TOC. Some good and sometimes…some not so good.

Aquira DeCosta – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – St. Mary’s (Calif.) – MVP performance…Refining her already highly regarded game…Athleticism speaks for itself…Plays a vertical game few have scholastically…Had some easy ones roll off in early games while avoiding defenders…Could go to the line a dozen times a game…Quick attack on the catch down low…Active without the ball…Is there in transition…Defensive versatility in a top tier defensive scheme…Can dominate the boards

Kaila Charles – 2016 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward –Riverdale Baptist (Md.) – Maryland signee…Playing her best basketball…Made plays both on the perimeter and inside…Created her own looks…Plays with an aggressive, physical, college ready style…Explosive first step and vertical…Strong finisher around the rim and out to 10 feet…Perimeter is looking better but still has to have the consistency to keep defenders honest…Hits the glass with authority…Stepped up in key situations

Andrea Aquino – 2018 – 6-9 – Post – Patterson Eastside (N.J.) – Size and length and then some…Runs the floor extremely well for her size…Works at the game…Changes things defensively…Touch is there but consistency will come with repetitions…Pulls her share of boards…Paraguayan native

Daisa Alexander – 2016 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Southwest DeKalb (Ga.) – Unsigned senior…Quick…Athletic and creating…Lots of speed with the ball…Needs to be more active without…Fluid on the pull up…Forced some looks this time around

Maya Banks – 2017 – 6-2 – Forwards – Hamilton (Ariz.) – Athletic forward…Filling out physically…Much more active…Cuts aggressively…Gets out on the break…Can be a presence on the glass…Playing with more confidence…Just scratching the surface

Sydney Boyer – 2017 – 6-1 – Wing – Oaks Christian (Calif.) – Lots of length on the wing…Lean build…Can create her own off the dribble…Interior passing on penetration…Spot up stroke and range…Size leads to possibilities on defense…Lots of tools and potential

Cairo Booker – 2016 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Wesleyan (Ga.) – Wofford signee…Athletic…Creates one on one time and again…Mid-range pull up is there…Gets off the floor for size…Quick and assertive defender…Inserts herself into the action at both ends

Jacaria Allen – 2016 – 6-0 – Guard – Dillard (Fla.) – Mississippi State signee – Size, build and athleticism…Assertive with the ball in her hands…Can create her own…Lots of depth to her game…Gets off the floor…Anticipates on defense…Great fit for the Bulldogs

Anna Wilson – 2016 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Bellevue (Wash.) – Stanford signee…MVP Anderson Division…Strong command of any floor she walks on…Dictated tempo and pace…Effective scorer in her own right…Improves both shots and passes off the dribble…Calculated on ball defender…Elite player who continues to advance her game…Perimeter consistency will be key at next level

Jakia Brown – Turner – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Bishop McNamara – Very promising…Combination of size, skills and athleticism…Lefty…Crossover is there…Pull up…Posted a few times as well…Watch

Katie Campbell – 2016 – 5-10 – Guard – Oaks Christian (Calif.) – Washington State signee…Lefty…Gets to the rim…Over-dribbles at times…Passing well off the drive…Form and stroke are there spotted up or off the pull up

Shelby Cansler – 2016 – 6-1 – Wing –  Bellevue (Wash.) – Lean, wiry wing…Able to slash into the paint consistently…Impressive reach and length…Got bumped around at times

Micole Cayton – 2016 – 5-9 – Guard – St. Mary’s (Calif.) – Nebraska signee – Makes plays and creates havoc…Athletic with speed to spare…Relentless attack off the dribble…Gets to the rim time and again…Body control is there when the bigs rotate…Form is there on the jumper…Large part of her offensive attack comes out of forced turnovers…Intense at both ends

Mikayla Coombs – 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – Wesleyan (Ga.) – Nice sized guard with plenty of athleticism…Shows little remnants of recent knee injury…Has speed and quickness but explosiveness not quite completely back yet…Strong ball skills…Sees the floor on the drive…Form is in place on her shot…Plays with a youthful enthusiasm…Back on track

Jeannie Boehm – 2016 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – New Trier (Ill.) – Destined for Harvard…Length and agility…One of the more versatile bigs in the class…Efficient on the block or from the high post…Reads…Active cutter…Can create her own from the mid post…Get out in transition…Triggers the break with great outlet choices

Jayda Adams – 2017 – 5-10 – Combo – Mater Dei (Calif.) – Coming into her own…Handles it on the break or in the halfcourt…Looking to create more…Decisions are much more decisive…Range and touch serving her well…Drifts off the dribble a bit…Confidence is deservedly growing

Destiny Frazier – 2016 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Dillard (Fla.) – Dynamic point guard…Small but exceptionally quick…Elevates on pull up…Plays with abandon…Forces defenders to dig in

Nicole Freeeman – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Mater Dei (Calif.) – Solid built guard…Strong…Active…Penetrates…Spot up shot is there…Assertive on ball defender

Aleah Goodman – 2017 – 5-8 – Combo – LaSalle Prep (Ore.) – Combo guard with solid ballhandling skills…Can create her own looks at times…Change of speed is used well…Connected on several pull ups

Cardi Harris – 2017 – 6-0 – Forward – Hamilton (Ariz.) – Some size and length…Athleticism is sound…Able to put it on the floor to a degree…Vertical is sharp…Rebounds well

Shanell Haskins – 2019 – 5-8 – Combo – Riverdale Baptist (Md.)  – Strong, young guard…Efficient off the drive…Willing to play physical…Creates her own looks at times…Has possibilities

Blessing Ejiofor – 2016 – 6-4 – Post / Forward – Patterson Eastside (N.J.) – Vanderbilt signee – Long with a very lean build…Fluid and athletic in all that she does…Gets off the floor with an impressive vertical…Offensive game is a work in progress but evolving nicely…Jump hook…Rebounds well and forces opposing bigs to run the floor…Tip of the iceberg

Chloe Chapman – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Good Counsel (Md.) – Handling the pressure that comes with high profile…Attacking on the catch…Change of speed and direction with intent…Patient but decisive on passing…Reads the floor…Picks her spots…Reads and anticipates defensively…Will need to finish with contact consistently down the road

Mai-Loni Henson – 2016 – Wing / Forward – La Jolla Country Day – (Calif.) – Washington signee…Physically strong and active…Has a “maturity” to her play…Can work as a #3 or small forward…Equivalent of baseball’s utility player …Ballhandling is sound…Runs the floor in transition

Valerie Higgins – 2016 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Chaminade (Calif.) – USC bound – Creating more…Decisions are sharper…Makes an impact…Scrapping defender…Elevates on jumper…Continues to advance an already strong game

Madeline Holland – 2017 – 5-10 – Wing / Forward – Archbishop Mitty (Calif.)  – Undersized forward who simply makes play after play…Smart with textbook skills…Physically strong…Athleticism will define level

Angel Johnson – 2016 – 5-8 – Swing – St. Mary’s (Calif.) – Unsigned senior… Kind of player winning teams have to have…Makes plays…Strong and aggressive…Undersized but simply effective as a forward…Puts it on the floor when needed…Deceiving vertical…Physical defender

Haley Jones – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing – Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) – Active with good size…Impressive first step…Ballhandling and passing are sharp for age…Made some instinctual plays

Destiny Slocum – 2016 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Mountain View (Idaho) – Maryland signee…Still the most dynamic creator in the class…Complete command of the floor…Range is there to force tight close outs…Sees the floor on the attack…Change of speed is exceptional…Anticipate well on the weakside of the floor…Makes the players around her better

Grace Berger – 2018 – 5-10 – Combo – Sacred Heart (Ky.) – Still attacking and creating at an elite level…Reads off the drive…Change of speed is deceptive…Turns the corner off screens…Can deliver some sharp passes…Fluid, quick release on jumper…Size and frame challenges some defensive match ups…On the 2018 top tier radar for a couple of years now

Cara Judkins – 2017 – 6-2 – Post – Good Counsel (Md.) – Legit 6-2 or even more…Has the size and frame…Physically strong and willing to use it…Confidence is coming offensively…Forward motion on her shot…A presence on the boards…Quick with the outlet pass…Runs the floor herself

Lauren Lee – 2018 – 5-10 – Wing – Trinity (Ill.) – Promising young wing with size…Agility is there…Can put it on the floor…Hesitation move…Needs upper body strength…Tools

Channise Lewis – 2017 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Miami Country Day (Fla.) – Pushing the ball more…Decisions are sharper…Passes the ball well in traffic…Touch is there on pull up or from deeper…Needs to be more active without the ball…Quick hands and feet defensively

Kelsey Marshall – 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – Miami Country Day (Fla.) – Continues to step up game…Lots of speed with the ball…Playing much more active than just a month ago…Hesitation move is there…Strong in traffic…Decisions have their moments

Breonna Mayfield – 2017 – 6-5 – Post – Good Counsel (Md.) – Lots of size and length…Agility and mobility in the post…Working smarter than in the past…Skill set is showing added depth…Has a “rolling” hook that could become a weapon…Lots of tools…Focused refinement is critical to becoming all her potential suggests

Justice Ethridge – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Centennial (Nev.) – Athletic guard…Impact performance…Has touch and range…Fluid in her movement…Active on both ends…Gets on the boards…Well coached

Ayanna Clark – 2017 – 6-3 – Post – Long Beach Poly (Calif.) – USC verbal…Thicker build to go with size…Physically strong…Aggressive at times…Posts assertively…Can finish at the rim or knock down mid-range opportunities…”Lumbers” up and down the floor on occasion…Untapped potential…Conditioning will be key in making an impact

Annie McKenna – 2016 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Trinity (Ill.) – Unsigned senior…Smart, instinctual point guard…Ballhandling and passing are there…Reads defenders…Change of speed and direction…Decent stroke with some range…Smart on both ends of the floor…Athleticism will determine level

Mangela Ngandjui – 2016 – 6-1 – Forward / Post – Riverdale Baptist(Md.) – North Carolina Greensboro signee…Solid, strong forward…Plays with a lot of effort…Finishes at the rim…Pull up and floater are there as well…Will need to create her own opportunities down the road…Gets on the boards…Has the tools to defend the interior

Karisma Ortiz – 2018 – 5-11 – Wing / Guard – Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) – Nice ball skills and size…Pushes it in transition…Sees the floor…Needs strength

Charisma Osborne – 2019 – 5-6 – Guard – Windward (Calif.) – Promising young talent…Athletic…Fluid…Ballhandling is there…Crossover serves her well…Strong shot fake and drive…Has a forward motion to shot at this point…Lots of potential…Keep watching

Lindsey Pulliam – 2017 – 5-10 – Guard – Good Counsel (Md.) – Physically strong at guard…Creating more…Aggressive off the dribble…Shot selection is improving…Handling contact…Cutting looking for the ball…Shot is there with range and touch…Advancing her game

Leaonna Odom – 2016 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Chaminade (Calif.) – Duke signee…Length and athleticism…Agile and lean…Makes plays away from and around the rim…Vertical is among the elite…Form is there…Has mid-range and floater…Consistency is still evolving

Kat Tudor – 2016 – 6-1 – Wing / Guard – St. Mary’s (Calif.) – Oregon State signee…Premier shooter…Has NBA range…Can change a game…Keeping defenders honest with a more diverse attack…Step back serves her well…Ball skills are sound…Handling pressure better…Length gives her the tools to defend…Great fit within OSU system

Celine Quintino – 2017 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Liberty (Nev.) – Strong ballhandling at the point…Works well in traffic…Change of speed and direction helps her create…Keeps her dribble of the hesitation move…Lots of promise

Allyson Rosenblum – 2016 – Forward / Post – Mater Dei (Calif.) – UCLA signee…Well coached…Text book skills…Equally strong on the block or from the elbows…High post drive is there…Strong cuts in the paint…Methodical but effective…Needs to finish more consistently to capitalize on the rest of her effort

Jaliena Sanchez – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Springfield Central (Mass.) – Athletic and quick at the point…Lefty…Uses individual skills to create looks and passes…Solid stroke…Made a few plays inside despite limited size…Potential with growth

Alaysia Styles – 2017 – 6-2 – Forward – La Jolla Country Day (Calif.) – Long, lean and agile…Fluid cutter…Individual skills are there…Mid-range pull up…Tools are there to really advance her game

Samantha Thomas – 2017 – 5-11 – Guard / Wing – Centennial (Nev.) – Physically cut…Versatile lefty…Gets to the rim…Makes some plays as an undersized forward…Is there in transition…Coming into her own

RyAnne Walters – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Sacramento High (Calif.) – Small but dynamic young point guard…Individual skills…Lots of speed with the ball…The jumper and pull up are there…Strong defender…Obvious pride in getting stops…Physical for size and age

Jada Walton – 2017 – 5-10 – Guard – Southwest DeKalb (Ga.) – Athletic…Strong…Lefty…Lots of speed with the ball…Can create penetration…Floater is there as well as a “half” hook that is hard to contest…Got a couple of pull ups to drop…Consistency in finishing will be key moving forward