WASHINGTON, D.C. – The holiday tournament schedule is in full swing now and you might need a basketball GPS to locate and take in all the action. This past weekend saw 93 teams make their way to the nation’s capital to take part in the seventh annual She Got Game Classic. Six gyms hosted play for teams coming from 14 different states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 2009 with the support of WNBA legend Tina Thompson, the event added almost 40 teams to the field this time around while over 100 college recruiters were courtside across the three days of competition.
Highly regarded teams like Paul VI, Riverdale Baptist, National Christian continued their successful starts while talented others like IMG Academy, Miami Country Day, Incarnate Word, Blair Academy, McEachern and others impressed with mixed results. The size of the event made seeing every team in action virtually impossible and there are no doubt other programs belonging in the same conversation with those above.
At the same time there were plenty of good match ups and promising prospects to take in before we head west next week for the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Arizona. The players below are some who caught our eye for one reason or another. Some are included for their progress, some for their potential and some simply for their play. It is by no means an “All-Star” list or an indication of any ranking. The players are in alphabetical order by class and the quickhitters following are alphabetized regardless of class.
Kaila Charles continues to impress even in her new Riverdale Baptist (Maryland) uniform. The University of Maryland signee is has the size and physical game that will easily transition to the college level next season. A small 6-1, the senior is aggressive and assertive at both ends of the floor. Charles can get to the rim well for her size and elevates effectively among the bigs around the rim. She can finish in traffic and has the form to be a threat deeper on the perimeter. While the form is there, the “touch” still needs refinement to give her the consistency needed to keep defenders honest and allow her to exploit the versatility in her game. Defensively there’s no hesitation in putting a body on the opposition and she’s always a presence on the boards. All the tools are in place with just some fine tuning needed to put them all to work.
No player in D.C. came in with a higher profile than IMG Academy’s (Florida) Rellah Boothe. The transfer from Potter’s House has consistently been among the discussion of the elite in the 2017 class from day one and still offers up a mature game well beyond that of most scholastic standouts. It seems the catch phrase for this junior class is “lack of consistency” and Boothe might be the poster child for the issue even within the context of a single contest. The 6-1 wing / forward can, and has, taken over games we’ve seen and offers up play that anyone at the next level would be proud of. At the same time we’ve seen her content to troll the perimeter waiting on her opportunities from behind the arch at the expense of her team at times. She’s a generous player and is more than willing to give it up but in some situations may need to attack the rim off the drive more often or even work from the block rather than downtown. Few, if any, high schools defenses can offer answers to her attack when she mixes things up. We’re hardest on the ones we like the most so while we’re at it…the defensive end could use some of that consistency as well. At her best, she’s among the very best…in any class.
UConn early commit Andra Espinoza-Hunter has the luxury of playing along highly regarded prospects Felicia Aiyeotan and Honesty Scott-Grayson with Blair Academy (New Jersey). Despite her talented teammates, the 6-0 Hunter-Espionza stands out as the consistent impact player and someone you want to have the ball in her hands down the stretch. The 2017 guard has long been regarded as one of the class’s top shooters but is demonstrating a more diverse game along with some new depth to creating her own options. She is much more active and aggressive without the ball and knows what she’s looking for off screens and simple cuts to the rim and ball. In the Saturday Blair loss she even moved into the post for a few possessions when the 6-9 Aiyeotan fouled out early with some creative bookkeeping at the scorer’s table. While the inside game isn’t a part of her future, with another year in front of her there’s no doubt she’ll be adding even more to her already impressive game.
Miami Country Day (Florida) went 1 and 3 over the weekend but competitive losses to Riverdale Baptist and Paul VI are the kind of thing that can pay off down the road come tournament time. Junior guard Kelsey Marshall has stood out to us in the past and despite a slow start in Friday’s game offered up some of the play that gives her such a promising future. The 5-9 combo has a versatile attack that allows her to force defenders to close out deep and in turn make them pay as a result of an efficient drive to the rim. Once in the paint she’s got good body control to handle the rotations that come her way as well as the contact that often comes with them. The floater and pull up are both options and keeps the opposition guessing. Standout backcourt and classmate Channise Lewis rolled an ankle in Saturday’s game and was limited the rest of the way but Marshall turned things up. There was a much more focused effort in looking for her penetration opportunities as well as a more active approach in making herself an option in transition and the halfcourt.
We’ve seen Abby Meyers in the past on the summer circuit but were very impressed with her efforts with Walt Whitman (Maryland) in D.C. The 6-0 junior has a wiry build but plays with good size and length on the perimeter. While somewhat upright, her ballhandling is effective and allows her to create both shots and passes. The form is there on her shot and she has a quick release off a nice step back move. Meyers is aware of the floor on the break both with and without the ball. She can take it herself but has plenty of speed out in the lanes and makes herself an option time and again. She was active defensively but will need to add strength down the road as she moves on to the colligate level.
It’s hard not to be take notice of Mary Louis Academy’s (New York) Danielle Patterson. The 6-2 junior catches your eye when she walks on the floor and things don’t change when things tip off. While I refuse to use the exhausted cliché of “stretch” #4, I will say she’s evolved into one of the more versatile forwards in the 2017 mix. Patterson has plenty of length and agility that combines with a versatile skill set that forces opposing coaches to debate going big or going small to match up with her. The ability is there to put it on the floor and to her credit she’s usually putting it down for a reason demonstrating an solid understanding of offensive efficiency. She can turn a corner and generally sees options off the high post drive. A few times around the rim she had her mind made up without reading defenders leading to some contested and less than successful attempts. An established high level recruit with room to grow!
Tera Reed continues to bring her New Zealand honed game to the mix for Life Center Academy (New Jersey). The 6-2 2017 Wing / Forward offers up a game that challenges any defender. Her size and athleticism give her the ability to take smaller defenders into the paint and her skills allow her to force the bigs to chase her around the perimeter. It’s obvious that she’s been well coached along the way as she demonstrates some advanced court concepts both offensively and defensively. Reed is an active player both with the ball in her hands and off the cut. She is well aware of her options on the catch and can deliver both the shot or the pass depending on the what the defense is offering up. Her knowledge and vision on the weakside defensively makes her an asset and she tracks down more than her share of boards and loose balls. As strong as her game is already, there’s still a high ceiling that would make her something special to coach.
Lyndsey Whilby brings lots of size and assertiveness to the Perimeter for McEachern (Georgia). Physically strong at 5-10, she’s going to be a challenge for most guards defensively. At the same time the junior has a good first step that will leave bigger wings screaming for help if they don’t close out with a cushion. Whilby appears to be an evolving ballhandler who created some of her own looks on the break and within sets. She connected on a few open spot up opportunities and will need to prove that she’s a legitimate threat to command attention further away from the rim. Her vertical makes her a factor on the glass from the perimeter both on the “O” boards and defensive end. Lots of tools are in place and she just may be tapping into some deep potential.
Each time we see Nia Clouden we see advances in her game…something not true of a lot of top tier prospects like this 5-8 sophomore. This dynamic point guard from Saint Frances Academy (Maryland) is the kind of player you want pushing the tempo and setting the table for both herself and her teammates. Clouden is comfortable playing at speed and has sharpened her decision making almost each time we’ve seen her in action. Her first step is ultra-quick and it’s a challenge for defenders to stay in front or influence her to one side or the other. One on one she’s going to get to the rim but she’s equally comfortable with a pull up from the 10 foot range and the floater is becoming more of a factor. Clouden is threat from the perimeter as well but does have a somewhat low release on her shot which will only be an issue with defenders quick enough to close out tight.
The Paul VI (Virginia) roster loaded top to bottom but the youngest player in the mix is going to be making more than her share of noise. Ashley Owusu, a 5-11 freshman, is a power player that has the kind of game that college coaches love. On the catch she’s looking to create and more often than not she’s going to get past that initial defender and makes some plays in the paint. Some control is going to have to come into her choices as she matures and defenses have her scouted, but some options are already in place. The pull up looks good and has deceiving elevation on the release. Owusu also connected from deep sending a message that playing her soft isn’t going to be an efficient option. Everything she does has a physical aspect to it and she has no reservations about mixing things up defensively and on the boards. The intensity she plays at will necessitate peak conditioning but the effort she’s playing with suggests that won’t be a problem.
One of the more impressive teams we saw was a deep and well-coached squad from Forestville (Maryland). The defending Maryland 1A State Champs have the talent to line up with virtually any team from any school. While several upperclassman lead the way, anyone watching closely is going notice 6-0 freshman Anissa Rivera within a possession or two. Her long, lean build comes with an extended reach and a vertical that allows her to impact plays at both ends. Offensively she can slash to the rim but is more than capable of delivering the sharp pass as rotations come her way. Rivera elevates on both her perimeter jumper and an efficient pull up for clean looks at the rim. Like her teammates she’s an active defender and understands the value of converted turnovers. Strength is limited at this point but then again, 2019 is a few years down the road.
Despite being a member of the 2020 class we’ve seen Elizabeth Martino in action multiple times already. Playing for National Christian Academy (Maryland), she’s already got a year under her belt and is showing off an ever growing skill set. The lean 5-10 wing / guard is a presence on almost every play and serves as the perfect complement to elite guards E’Lexus Davis and Mykea Gray. Martino can handle it herself but with Gray and Davis pushing the tempo she’s out in the lanes providing an option. While the stroke is smooth and fluid she’s creating more off the catch and finding her own way to the rim with success. She can slither through traffic and has no trouble getting her shot off among the bigs. The agility is there on the defensive end to match up across the backcourt and her length allows her to play multiple roles in both pressing and trapping scenarios. With four and half more seasons in front of her she has the opportunity to take her game to a special level.
QUICKHITTERS
Felicia Aiyeotan – 2016 – 6-9 – Post – Blair Academy (New Jersey) – Continues to evolve…Much more aware of her positioning…Touch is coming but still has a few roll off…Always a defensive factor…Got aggressive back against physical defeenders
Zenzele Apesmaka-Vital – 2018 – 5-7 – Guard – Bishop McNamara (Maryland) – Plays #1 and #2….Speed with the ball…Floater is there…Strong on ball defender…Quick hands
Jasmine Brunson – 2016 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Mary Louis Academy (New York) – Minnesota signee…Small but quick…Acceleration…First step is there…Step back as well…Gets to the rim…Somewhat forward on shot
Janeen Camp – 2017 – 6-5 Post – TPLS Christian (Virginia) – Lots of Size…Very solid build…Methodical in her approach…Work to do
MiMi Collins – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward / Post – Paul VI (Virginia) – Excelling in new setting…Starting to grasp physical play…More assertive offensively…Jump hook is there…Pull up is flat but improving…Working for the boards
Khayla Connor – 2018 – 6-2 – Wing / Forward – TPLS Christian (Virginia) – Athletic build…Lots of length…Evolving
E’Lexus Davis – 2016 – 5-8 – Point Guard – National Christian Academy (Maryland) – Hofstra signee…Change of speed…Crossover is lethal…Finishes with contact…Interior passing
Nicole Davis – 2020 – 6-3 – Forward – TPLS Christian (Virginia) – Long and lean forward…Very young…Potential to grow…Watch
Kirsten Deans – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Forest Trail Academy (North Carolina) – Small but quick…Ballhandling is there…Gets deep into traffic…Spot up shooter
Cameryn Du’Bose – 2017 – Post – Woodrow Wilson (D.C.) – Major size…Runs the floor…Everything is a thought…A ways to go yet
Lauren Ebo – 2018 – 6-4 – Post – Paul VI (Virginia) – Seems more aggressive…Pick and roll…Things are still a thought but becoming a reaction…Legit size and build
Mykea Gray – 2017 – 5-5 – Point Guard – National Christian Academy (Maryland) – Constantly attacking…Speed and quickness…Step back is there…Steps into jumper…Handles traffic
Chantelle Gross – 2016 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Gwynn Park (Maryland) – Ballhandling…Pushes it…Nice form and stroke…Aggressive
Dajsha Hall – 2016 – 6-2 – Post – Colonial (Florida) – Size…Solid build…Posts hard and wide…Showed a step through a couple of times…Hands?…Gets on the offensive boards…Unsigned
Channise Lewis – 2017 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Miami Country Day (Florida) – Dynamic and quick…Gets to the rim…Pushes it in transition…Gets deep…Jumper is there…Injured ankle limited her final day
Imani Lewis – 2018 – 6-0 – Forward – Life Center Academy (New Jersey) – Strong young forward…Lefty…Physical…Some ballhandling…Runs the floor…Active on defense…Rough edges but…
Jada Lewis – 2016 – 5-8 – Combo – McEachern (Georgia) – Signed with Georgia State…Lots of speed and quickness…Creates off the dribble…Hesitation is there…Floater…Has range on jumper
Iho Lopez – 2016 – 6-4 – Forward / Post – IMG Academy (Florida) – Signed with Florida State…Lean with lots of length…Active on both ends…Makes herself an option…Jump hook is there…Mid-range…All the tools
Maia Moffitt – 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – St. Anthony’s (New York) – Athletic guard…Physical tools…15 footer is there…Active…Defends
Tyasia Moore – 2016 – 6-0 – Wing / Forward – Forestville (Maryland) – Athletic…Vertical…Some ballhandling…Penetrates and dishes…Strong passing…Defends actively…Old Dominion signee
Sydney Morang – 2016 – 6-0 – Wing – IMG Academy (Florida) – Signed with Florida…Lefty…Smart…Shot fake…Has range…Has a “Samuelson” look to her shot
Que Morrison – 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – McEachern (Georgia) – Athletic and active guard…Individual skills are strong…Creates…Pull up is there with elevation…Slasher
Lizzie O’Leary – 2017 – 6-2 – Post – Abington (Pennsylvania) – Solid built post…Reads well…Strong passing skills…Deceiving…Spot up shooter
Brie Perpignan – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Bishop O’Connell (Virginia) – Lots of speed…Crossover is sharp…Change of direction is there…Pull up
Lucky Rudd – 2016 – 5-9 – Guard – Forest Trail Academy (North Carolina) – Deceiving speed…First step…Change of direction…Decent passing skills…Slight build
Honesty Scott-Grayson – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Blair Academy (New Jersey) – Established prospect…Ballhandling is sharp but overused…Can create shots and passes…Impact potential…Consistency?
Kalynn Sefcik – 2017 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Damascus (Maryland) – Small, skilled guard…Spot up shooter with range…Smart player…Defends…Level?
Octavia Wilson – 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – Eleanor Roosevelt (Maryland) – Combo…some ballhandling…Individual skills…Floater is there
Rickie Woltman – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Incarnate Word (Missouri) – Young…lean with some size…Some ballhandling and passing…Shot comes across body…Strength will need to come
