CHANDLER, Ariz.—As always the Nike Tournament of Champions offered up some of the best talent of the scholastic season. While the depth of the pools may have been a bit on the shallow side than in past events there’s no denying the individual play offered up a glimpse of some prospects that have bright futures in front of them. Some seniors reminded us why they’ve been among the elite across the years, a few juniors reaffirmed their spot on the top tier of their class and several underclassmen generated some excitement about the possibilities to come. In this follow up to our TOC coverage we take a look at some individuals who left their mark on the floor and an impression on our minds.
Because this event is “top heavy” in terms of talent we’re taking a look at quite a few players who you’ve read about in the past. As some of them head down the home stretch of their high school careers this may well be one of the last times we have the opportunity to see them in action and thought we would revisit their games one more time. With the rest, some we’ve written about just a bit while others are making our coverage for the first time. While we’re always on the lookout for the “next” group of impact prospects, the TOC offers us a chance to see some of the best facing off against each other each year and that’s always worth taking note of.
It would be inappropriate to start anywhere else than Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) senior and tournament MVP Katie Lou Samuelson. The 6-3 swing standout continued to remove any doubt as to just why she sits atop the 2015 rankings. From an opening game 41 point output, including 10 three pointers, to her championship game 36, Samuelson was operating on a different level. The additions to her game over the years have made her so much more than simply a shooter and helped her evolve into one of the most complete players in recent memory. She can create off the drive; post up if need be and navigate traffic when the defenses get creative. Most impressive however are her reads and understanding of screen defense and the options available off the cut. The future UConn Husky plays with the nation’s largest target on her back yet seems to find her own looks again and again. For you “old school” types that give extra credit for a player willing to hit the floor…this is your girl. Her willingness to take contact and resilience to get up time and again set her apart from the crowd. The defense is well beyond what you get from most high profile scorers and she does her part on the boards. Her accolades are well deserved.
Samuelson’s future teammate in Storrs, Blackman’s (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Crystal Dangerfield, is absolutely a blast to watch…unless you happen to be sitting on the other bench. Even that’s not always the case as a few opposing players were cracking smiles during an early game when Dangerfield was embarrassing their teammates with some sharp, no look passing. The 5-5 junior point guard is a defender’s worst nightmare. The long range is there to force the tight close outs and the assertive penetration is virtually indefensible forcing a tough decision or at least an urgent prayer. Complicating matters more for the opposition is the evolution of her passing game and growth in the satisfaction she takes in creating easy looks for her teammates. Of course that satisfaction might come just as much from making defenders look silly as well…either way the result is the same. The maturation of her focus has been incredible over the past couple of years as well. Dangerfield is not one of those celebrating the previous play as the next one is unfolding. Over the years she has strung together back to back plays on both ends again and again. Defensively she’s agile and quick with the ability to anticipate both on and off the ball.
It’s always great to come to the Valley of the Sun in December and see local talent with a national reputation playing in their own backyard. Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) has two dynamic seniors in Arizona State bound guard Sabrina Haines and California signee Kristine Anigwe who continues to take her game to the next level. The 6-4 Anigwe is playing some strong basketball but in reality appears to still just be scratching the surface of where her potential just might take her. In a dynamic first round overtime game with Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Anigwe took over down the stretch with a dominant inside performance that would challenge any interior defender at any level. Her combination of size and agility is completely magnified when you add in the physical strength she plays with. She’s active and works to make herself an option both down low and away from the rim. The ability is there to put it on the floor creates options from the high post and gets her past some often slower post defenders. The willingness to use the ballhandling is being exercised a little too much at times but still remains a considerable asset in her offensive repertoire. The length she has goes hand in hand with an impressive vertical to get her good mid-range looks as well as make her a presence on the glass at both ends.
We’ve watched Fremont’s (Fremont, Neb.) Jessica Shepard from a young age and have seldom, if ever, been disappointed. Headed to the in-state Cornhuskers next year, Shepard is one of those rare, elite players who have continued to advance their game while successfully avoiding the dreaded plateau syndrome that plagues so many recruits who come onto the radar early in the process. The 6-4 forward is the very definition of power and versatility. There’s little flash to her game and frankly no need for it either. Her skill set allows her to work on the perimeter, mid-range or at the rim. She can create her own looks off the dribble or post up, seal and finish with the best of them. The physical approach she brings to the floor serves her well and is comfortably suited for the next level and beyond. What is somewhat underestimated and deceiving about Shepard is her vertical and footspeed. She gets off the floor well both on shots and rebounds and while she’s not an Olympic sprinter, the first few steps on both ends are considerably beyond your first impression.
After dropping an opening round heartbreaker to Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.), Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) ran the table on the opposite side of the bracket finishing the event 3 and 1 overall. Leading the way for the Panthers was junior Jacaira Allen. An explosive wing, Allen has the tools to flirt with both the #2 and the #4 spots as needed and does so effectively. While we may use the word “attack” in our description of many players, few define it as effectively as this 5-11 standout. Her first step is quick, long and strong challenging defenders big and small to recover. The footspeed is there to operate against the ultra-quicks in the backcourt but the power is there to fend off the bigger match ups that come her way. She almost embraces traffic and contact looking to use her body to create space and protect the ball. Allen goes up strong inside but also can call upon a floater if the rotations take away her options. Her interior passing is sharp and delivers some nice options for teammates when the opposition overreacts. She gets up on her perimeter jumper but has a slight forward motion in it at times. All the tools and intensity are there, the rest is up to her.
One of the constants at the TOC each year is the great teams, great players and great coaching that Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) bring to the table. You can count on Poly to compete the same way no matter who’s in the lineup or who’s on the other bench. Coach Carl Buggs and his Jackrabbits dropped a tight game to St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) in round two but still headed home for the holidays with a 3 and 1 tournament slate. Pacing things for the green and white was athletic forward Eliza Matthews. Deceivingly strong, the 6-2 junior is a threat in transition and the halfcourt. The speed is there to get out on the break if not making the outlet or to make herself a factor from the trail spot. On the catch she’s adept with an efficient shot fake both at the rim or from the elbow leading to clean looks or drives. Matthews put it on the floor a time or two but not enough to create any illusions of making a living away from the paint. Despite sporting a knee brace, she demonstrated the mobility and speed to be an integral part of the defensive pressure Poly is renowned for. Seems to just be coming into her own.
The list is long and distinguished when it comes to St Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) alumni who have left their mark scholastically or collegiately. Joining that list early with high praise and reviews is freshman Aquira DeCosta. The 6-1 forward is on track to join the elite that have come through Coach Tom Gonsalves’s program if she stays the course. There is a physical maturity already in place that allows her to make plays usually reserved for those with much more playing time under their belt. She goes up with power around the rim and elevates with an eye catching vertical. Anyone who has been around some of the elite in our game knows about those who play with a fluid power game and DeCosta has that same element in her play. On the catch she keeps it high and is really making an effort to read defenders. She struggled on occasion to finish but often the looks that she created were enough to make you realize where she’s going with her game. On the boards she’s efficient and the agility allows Gonsalves to use her on the front of the always disruptive press of St. Mary’s. Good talent, good program, good coaching…great recipe.
Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) may have surprised a few folks with their first two wins in the Joe Smith bracket but when they challenged eventual champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) from start to finish in the semis those folks sat up and took notice. The Panthers would eventually go home 2 and 2 but certainly raised some eyebrows before heading back east. Standing out with some impressive consistency over the course of the TOC was senior post player Vickie Harris. A Rutgers signee, Harris has good size at 6-2 with a frame that is just begging to see the possibilities of a college strength program. Mind you she already plays with a solid presence but the physical nature of the next level may bring out the best in her. She’s had some solid coaching along the way and has a good understanding of posting and angles. On the catch she can utilize a well-honed drop step and reads efficiently to go to an aggressive step through. Her counter moves will need to evolve as she’s quick to kick it back out at times but to her credit she’s seldom forcing up the shots you see from lesser players. Harris connected several times from mid-range showing a touch that she can call upon even further from the rim to keep defenders honest.
We mentioned St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) long line of success stories earlier. First glance at the Rams roster has you noticing Aquira DeCosta (2018), Kat Tudor (2016) and Micole Cayton (2016) but you had better not overlook another dynamic junior who may well be the key to their consistency. Angel Johnson measures in at 5-8 (generously) but may well make the very most of every inch when compared to her talented teammates. Strong, powerful and quick, Johnson is a factor in virtually every aspect of play for Coach Tom Gonsalves. As a guard she can create and get to the rim. Once in traffic she’s clearing space and creating both looks and passes. She can hold her own with defenders of more size and excels among the speedsters in the backcourt. Defensively she’s got the lateral speed to cut off most ballhandlers and the aggressiveness to make them give it up early. Impressions from the sidelines aren’t always what they seem but it appears that Johnson is the consistency that helps maintain St. Mary’s frantic pressure. Physically cut, she has the tools to play multiple spots on the floor and the intensity to get the job done.
While the rest of this collection is from the Joe Smith Division, it was hard not to acknowledge the performance of Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.) freshman Tyiona Watkins. At 6-0 she’s showing the tools to be that rare crossover between the wing and the small forward spot. Throw in the fact that she appears to still have some growth in front of her and the sky becomes the limit. Exceptional athleticism is highlighted by the fact that Watkins is more than willing to put it to use. Despite her youth she inserts herself into almost every play by way of effort and intensity. If she’s on the floor, you’re going to know it…especially if you’re wearing the other uniform. Her ballhandling lets her create a bit and the potential is there to get to the rim or rise up on a strong pull-up. The vertical allowed her to get the floater off as well but the touch is still evolving on that one. Watkins demonstrated an instinct for the ball collecting more than her share of boards on both ends of the floor. Defensively she occasionally relies on her physical skills but it’s obvious she grasps the team concept and is getting the benefit of veteran coach Jeff Sink’s direction.
Just like her namesake Angel Johnson with St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), Alex Johnson isn’t going to be the first player you notice when you watch Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) in action. As an opponent it’s very likely that the 6-0 senior would make you pay dearly for that kind of under estimation. Johnson is quiet, textbook and more so…effective. Middle Tennessee agrees having signed the 6-0 forward to a letter of intent back in the November signing period. Johnson is the perfect complement to the play of UConn bound point guard Crystal Dangerfield (2016) and fellow senior Me Me Jackson who will join the Lady Vols in Knoxville next season. She understands movement without the ball and makes herself an option off the penetration of her attack happy backcourt counterparts. Within a set she posts strong and understands the concept of posting to the pass rather than just to the ball. Sounds simple but it’s a fundamental lost on a large contingent of those trying to be a factor on the block. Johnson has become more active over the past year yet still makes smart, well thought decisions. The results speak for themselves.
Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.) rode the roller coaster at the TOC finishing with a 2 and 2 mark alternating between wins and losses. Pacing the young roster of Coach Kathy Richey-Walton was junior combo Daisa Alexander. Quick with the ball and possessing an attacking mentality, Alexander has the skill set to create her own looks on the break as well as from a set in the halfcourt. While you wouldn’t classify her as a “shooter” per say, you would be hard pressed not to apply the “scorer” label to the 5-7 standout. With the ball her change of speed draws defenders out of their stance and often opens up plenty of options. She’s strong in traffic and reads defensive rotations while making her choices. The pull up and floater serve her well but she has no reservations about going the distance and taking on the bigs. Several plays saw her take it coast to coast which will be an asset down the road as her future most likely will be at the point rather than the off guard.
Earlier Nike TOC Coverage from Blue Star Media
Championship Day Coverage
http://bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1092-nike-toc-championship-monday
Sunday Notebook – Tony Bleill
http://bluestarmedia.co/index.php/component/k2/item/1091-nike-toc-sunday-notebook-tonys-take
Scenes form the Semis
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1088-nike-toc-semifinals
Tony’s Take
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1086-nike-tournament-of-champions
Day Two Snapshot
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1087-nike-toc-day-two-snapshot
Day One Snapshot
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1085-nike-toc-day-one-snapshot
