GRAND TERRACE, Calif.—With the academic year underway or at the very least just around the corner, the opportunity for individual or non-scholastic events is winding down for 2015. The NCAA Fall Evaluation weekend is still on the horizon and a few other events remain on the calendar but the on court payoff for a summer of hard work is almost at hand.
This past weekend we joined the folks with Elite Girls Basketball for the second annual Elite One Hundred in Grand Terrace, California. The rosters featured 121 players representing five classes and hailing from five different states. They had the opportunity across two days to work on the floor with Darius Taylor of Inside Out Basketball. Taylor, who just finished five seasons with Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks, took them through their paces with progressions through individual skills, one on one, two on two, three on three and ultimately four on four work in the halfcourt. A telling sign of the event’s focus on development was the fact that the only fullcourt, five on five action came during the event’s final hour on Sunday.
While there were some 2016’s on hand it’s always the next generation that catches our eye and the Elite One Hundred was no different.
Easily some of the more impressive and consistent play came from 2017 guard Kianna Smith from Moreno Valley, California. The 5-9 guard has the tools to create her own looks and has an attacking mentality to capitalize on the opportunities that they create. She has a little length to go with a wiry build and moves on both ends of the floor with a fluid athleticism. On the catch she’s reading and has no reservations about putting it on the floor to improve her options. Her crossover is efficient and the step back that she calls on creates plenty of space to get her shot off. Her vision is sound and she makes good passing decisions as the rotations come her way. Without the ball she’s an active option cutting with intent both off screens and when going backdoor on overplaying defenders. Defensively she’s got the lateral footspeed and reach to be a strong on ball defender in full and halfcourt situations. Important year lies in front of her.
It’s hard not to like 2018 point guard Madison Vick out of Phoenix, Arizona. Her ability to attack off the dribble and the pass keeps defenses honest and teammates happy. Add to that a strong basketball IQ and good decisions are getting made with the ball in her hands. Vick uses a change of speed and direction to her advantage to keep her match up off balance and guessing. On the drive you can see her eyes checking out the rotations and the wheels turning on the choices she’s going to make. On a few occasions she got herself hung out to dry and had to toss up a floater but she’s going to deliver more often than not. The form is there on her spot up shooting and she demonstrated some good range as well. Lots of effort is there defensively but the question will come in her ability to guard the ultra-quick match ups that are sure to come her way.
McKenzie Forbes is coming off an impressive summer and she continued to show why she’s a 2018 to keep an eye on. The 5-10 wing has a solid build and utilizes some physical strength to help create some of her looks. Her first step is deceptive and the Folsom, California resident is quick to exploit any advantage gained on the drive. She’s effective going to the rim but is also quick to pull up for the mid-range jumper that she knocks down with some consistency. Against quicker defenders she’ll attack with one or two dribbles and steps back to provide some separation and room to work. Forbes is surprisingly effective on the interior for her size and isn’t hesitant when things get physical. On the defensive end she can match up with some bigger forwards but is going to be more suited to line up with opposing wings as she advances her game. She’ll need to find an “every play” consistency to the intensity she plays with. When she’s on she’s a factor on virtually every possession.
Sometimes there are players that show you flashes of what’s to come and leave you wanting just a bit more. Shaila Mays from Phoenix, Arizona may not even know herself just what possibilities she brings to the floor. The 2019 guard is athletic and strong for her age plus plays with an attacking mentality. She was able to get past most on ball defenders but more often than not looked to dish the ball rather than create her own. Mays has the footspeed and vertical to be on par with any peer in her class. It’s obvious that she’s had some solid coaching, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. Lots of tools are already in place and it will be fun to see just what she decides to do with them going forward. Major potential.
Another player coming off a strong summer is Madison Johnson of Irvine, California. A 5-10 wing, Johnson is constantly on the move with a great understanding of the game. The ability is there to score from the spot up on the perimeter but she’s just as adept at putting it on the floor and taking it into traffic. She’s a sound athlete with a solid build and a top tier work ethic. Though her jumper comes off a somewhat narrow base, the form and touch are there to keep defenders honest. On the drive she sees her teammates and makes good decisions on whether to give it up or not. There is a tendency to settle at times for the jumper but she’s on the attack the majority of the time. She has a consistent presence on the boards and defensively. Just a 2018, the potential is there for her to take a strong skill set and really develop it to an elite level.
Charisma Osborne may be a 2019 but she’s got a game that plays like someone older. The 5-7 guard from Los Angeles has shown before that she can make an impact and she had plenty of moments this weekend as well. Athletic and strong, she can create one on one almost at will. Osborne calls on a sharp change of speed and effective crossover to get deep time and again. On the pull up she elevates well for a good look and delivered a few sharp passes as defenders came her way. A couple of spot up shots were there and while she did hit consistency will have to come to force defenders to continue closing out tight. Defensively she was aggressive on the ball but could use some additional focus when on the weakside of the floor. Tools and more.
Ajailon Simmons, a 2017 guard from Studio City, California, had some moments that made the evaluators courtside look twice. The first thing you notice with the 5-8 guard is a smooth, fluid stroke on her jumper. There are plenty of individual skills in place to help her create her own looks but she’s just as comfortable utilizing screens to free herself up. Plenty of range is there with a soft touch but she can pull up off the drive as well connecting consistently from the five to ten feet. Simmons uses a smart change of speed to draw defenders out of their stance before hitting them again with a strong drive to the rim. Her athleticism is a greater asset than first impressions and she plays with some deceptive strength. She’s an aggressive defender on ball and anticipates well on the weakside of the floor. Lots of tools and possibilities.
What point guard Anise Netterville lacks in size she more than makes up for in game. Let’s just say at this point the 2019 grad is giving up inches to most opponents but anything else they want they’re going to have to take. Good luck with that. Strong ball skills with some exceptional quickness get her deep in the paint time and again. Netterville, from Moreno Valley, California, shows no fear going in among the bigs and has a knack for getting some of her shots off. Obviously until Mother Nature offers up some additional help she’s going to be better as a distributer and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Her passes have plenty of zip on them and thread some needles that other point guards might only hope to find. Her assertive attitude translates over to the defensive side as she’s scrappy and quick on ball and sees things well from helpside. Not to be ignored.
The 2019 class is really shaping up and an up and comer in the conversation is going to be Lojong Gore of San Diego. A combination of size, athleticism and attack, the tools are there for her to make some noise now…and down the road. Standing 5-10 she’s explosive with the ball and looks to create at every opportunity. Slashers are usually more of a wiry build but Gore brings a solid frame and physical strength to her penetration and finds results on a regular basis. She almost seems to enjoy the contact and has the vertical to render a large majority of it irrelevant. That being said, her shot will need to evolve and catch up with the rest of her game. It’s not bad, but it can be somewhat wild at times and inconsistent. As she matures defenders will look to keep her honest with soft close outs until she makes them pay the price. Defensively she’s agile and has the tools to play multiple roles in pressing situations. Her vertical and the aforementioned strength helps her crash the boards on both ends. Watch closely.
Myrrah Joseph of Carson, California has the tools to be effective. She’s strong, aggressive and has a solid understanding of the game. The ability is there to create off the dribble and her body control serves her well in traffic. A 2018 swing player, Joseph is in search of a position. Her strength and willingness to play physical makes you want to utilize her at a forward spot. However, 5-10 can lead to some issues at times but she’s still plenty efficient. On the perimeter she was able to create some from the high post off the drive and her first step is deceiving. Defensively it will be interesting to see where she’s more productive. Her versatility may well be her greatest asset. In the end you want to play with her rather than against her. Keep a close eye on her progress.
Another 2019 that’s already on some recruiting radars is Madison Campbell. A skilled 5-9 guard, she brings an advanced understanding to the game to go with an evolving skill set. Campbell is active with and without the ball and grasps the flow of a game well in advance of her years. Her form and range are going to catch your eye first but she’s more than a simple spot up shooter. The Friant, California native can create off the dribble and doesn’t hesitate to put that same stroke to work on the mid-range pull up. The ability is there to read defenders and she’s making some strong cuts to make herself an option. Another strong asset is her willingness to get after loose balls and make the hustle plays that can be the difference in the end. Defensively she’s aggressive on ball but will stand up a bit on the weakside of the floor on occasion. She’s developing a complete and balanced game…to what level…is up to her.
Another young point guard on the distant horizon is 2020 Asia Avinger from Los Angeles. Small but athletic, she’s going to find a way to get to the rim. Her first step is quick and her second move is hard to read for any defender patting themselves on the back for recovering. She’s got nice form on her jumper and doesn’t hesitate to put it to use. Avinger is consistent on the pull up but also has a quick release on a true jumper off the dribble. There’s an advanced ability to set up not only her shots but her passes as well which will keep teammates and coaches smiling. The same quickness she attacks with offensively allows her to make some picks on the defensive end of the floor. She’s still wearing a knee brace but there didn’t appear to be any hindrance from any previous injury or the brace itself.
