CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The leaves are now on their last legs of color, Halloween has come and gone and just when you think they can’t stoop any lower, the Democrats and Republicans find new ways to insult the intelligence of virtually any rational human being.  Yes…it’s November…and the good thing about the homestretch of the calendar year is the looming tip off of basketball season at all levels. Teams from coast to coast are getting their feet wet and testing the waters of new rosters and challenging schedules.

An annual stop for us in advance of the scholastic regular season is in Charlotte with Coach Josh Springer and his staff at Providence Day School for the long running and highly regarded Super Scrimmage.  Saturday’s edition was the 11th version of what always proves to be good insight for recruiters and evaluators as well as a valuable dress rehearsal for coaches and players.  This time around 28 teams made their way to the gym with each enjoying three separate 32 minute running clock scrimmages over the course of the day.  North Carolina is home for 26 of the participants while one ventured up from South Carolina and another dropped in from North of the border in Canada.

While it’s very early in the season we caught a few flashes and moments that signal some promising basketball on the horizon for the 2018 – 2019 season.  Here are a few of the standouts from Saturday’s Super Scrimmage action.

Ni’Amoni Bagley – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Charles Jordan– Athletic guard…Looking to make plays…Quick and effective first step…Handled contact…Change of speed and direction…No reservations going inside…Active defender at times but could use added consistency

Shakira Baskerville – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – West Forsythe– Some length…Upright but has some ballhandling in place…Decent body control in traffic…Has a “push” element in her shot…Will evolve

Nevaeh Brown – 2020 – 5-8 – Combo – Davidson Day School– Athletic and attacking…More assertive each session…Wiry build with both speed and quickness…Elevates…Mixes up her attack…Made herself a factor in transition and the halfcourt…Jumper was efficient midrange and out…Strong on ball defender…Tools 

Jacee Busick – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Glenn– Lean with length at the #4…Active player on both ends of the floor…Good hands…Has been well coached…Reads her options…Ability is there to take it to the rim…Decent form is there on the shot…Got on the offensive glass…Additional strength will be an asset

Nia Daniel – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing – Hickory Ridge– Dynamic athlete…Explosive first step and vertical serve her well…Gets up on her jumper for clean looks…Can finish efficiently among the bigs…Strong presence on the glass…Added depth to skill set will challenge defenders even more…Consistently makes plays 

Makayla Ennis – 2019 – 6-1 – Wing – TRC Academy (Canada)– Long established athletic wing…Wiry build but plenty of speed and quickness goes well with size…Ballskills allow her to improve both her looks and those of teammates…Can take it herself…Floater has a high release…Has added depth to her game…Can finish in traffic despite lean frame…Anticipates defensively…Agility and length help her on ball and one pass away 

Jasmine Fearne – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing/Forward– Promising young swing player…Decent size and build for age…Versatile…Active with and without the ball…Showed some confidence…Has tools on both ends…Physical strength will evolve…Watch closely

Shariah Gaddy – 2019 – 5-11 – Wing – South Mecklenburg– Athletic wing…Tools are in place to create and improve her options…Slashes into traffic at will…Elevates around the rim…Floater has a soft touch…Perimeter shot is up top and a bit forward in motion…Physical tools to be an impact defender 

Jael Hall – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Davidson Day School– Compact but strong young guard…Mixed up her speed to get to the rim…Overdribbles at times but has a good command of the ball…Attacking mentality is there…Assertive defensively

Anaia Hoard – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Wesleyan Christian– Athletic guard…Has both size and length…Strong ballhandling and passing…Crossover and hesitation are both there…Fluid in all that she does…Pull up is a weapon and tough to defend…Quick release…Made plays both on the break and in sets…Carries the load…Impressive 

Morgan Kelson – 2020 – 5-10 – Forward – Providence Day– Small forward…Solid build…Possesses some efficient ballskills…Can create and improve her own looks…Deceptive first step…Plays with effort…Not hesitant about getting on the floor…Plays with effort…Room to grow

Michaela Lane – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Butler– Nice size and agility…Good strength to go with it…Showed bursts of speed in transition at times…Has some tools…Ballskills allow her to develop options for herself or teammates…Demonstrated some sharp passing both in transition and on interior penetration…Cut hard herself without the ball…Got on the glass…Good instincts as to what to look for…Did tire some at points

Jada Logan – 2019 – 5-8 – Combo – R-S Central– Solid build with strength…Decent ballskills…Crossover is there…Mixes speed and direction…Vision is an asset…Fed the post efficiently…Somewhat forward on shot on occasion 

Braylyn Milton – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Independence– Long and lean in the backcourt…Lots of legs, will grow more…Agile and active…Solid with the ball in her hands…Hesitation serves her well…Accelerates out of her moves…Floater is in place…Gets out in transition with and without the ball…Lots of length works well for her on the defensive end

Kyanna Morgan – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – Vance– Had moments…Decent ballhandling and passing skills…Good size in the backcourt…Stroke is sound…Good vision down floor in transition…Consistency will be a plus 

Michelle Ojo – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward – Ardrey Krell– Size, frame and build are there…Impressive athleticism…Ability is there to get to the rim…One and two dribble drives serve her well…No reservations about going into traffic…Attacks with authority for age…Got on the offensive glass…Finished well near the rim…Impressive agility defensively

Anayah Rice – 2019 – 6-0 – Guard – Legacy (S.C.)– Good size on the perimeter…Athleticism and length are there…Ballhandling and passing are effective on the break and in the halfcourt…Mixes up her speed well…Showed a small step back…Pull up went down…Solid passing…Combination of physical tools and basketball skills makes her a tough match up…Good performance could be taken to another level

Caroline Sikkink – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing – Ashville Christian– Solid build…A little size on the perimeter…Creates both shots and passes…Aggressive off the drive…Decent first step catches defenders off guard…Made plays

Nandhi Smith – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – Ashville Christian– Young guard…Has both speed and quickness…Penetrated with success…Sound ballhandling and passing are there…Has some promise

Lisa Tesson – 2021 – 5-7 – Combo – TRC Academy (Canada)– Physically strong young guard…Sharp and assertive ballskills…Aggressive on the catch…Handles physical defense well for age…Efficient shot fake creates options…Quick release is there…Only going to improve

Chloe Williams – 2022 – 5-11 – Wing/Guard – Heritage– Physically strong young guard…Athletic and fluid…Looks to attack off the drive…Midrange touch is there…Crashed the boards…Gets in the middle of the action…Promising future

Laimani Williams – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Legacy (S.C.)– Athletic guard…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Hesitation is followed by strong acceleration…Looking to attack…Can go to the rim or call on a nice pull up…Active on ball defensively