DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—While the Spring NCAA Evaluation weekend is limited to just a few sites that carry substantial weight among recruiters, the Fall weekend offers up a more extensive list of options for players and coaches alike. For the 15th year the Show-n-Prove Showcase (formerly the Super Showcase in Atlanta) brought together a collection of talented individuals necessitating a stop in Florida on the travel itineraries for some of the elite in collegiate basketball.
The impressive DME Sports facility hosted the two day event which saw 239 athletes representing eight states and the District of Columbia. Across the course of the weekend over 100 recruiters representing 70 programs took in the final non-scholastic action for the 2015 calendar year. The makeup of the roster featured 80 percent underclass players including 64 promising prospects in the 2020 through 2023 classes. Plenty of high profile and established talent was in the gym as well as a new generation ready to make some noise among recruiters, evaluators and media.
Here are some of the standout performers who played well in Daytona Beach. There were plenty of others who had strong efforts as well. This list is not intended to be “the best” or any other subliminal message the overzealous might want to read into it. The order is random with the first eight players and the Short Shots are alphabetized.
O.K. let’s go ahead and get it out of the way right off the bat. Yes, Megan Walker was on hand and yes we’re going to give her a nod. When players like Walker are in the gym they raise the bar for the competition and this past weekend was no different. The top player in the 2017 class was her usual smooth, fluid self but the target on her back came with plenty of challenges including some rare blocked shots. The 6-1 wing is a threat anywhere on the floor and can equally challenge defenders with size or quickness. No, she’s not invincible but she’s not resting on her laurels either. The maturity in the approach to her game leads to advancements almost each time we see her in action.
Kelsey Marshall has always been a threat with the ball in her hands and the 5-9 2017 combo guard usedthe weekend to remind defenders that she can create her own looks almost at will. Explosive and strong, the ability is there to get defenders leaning or coming out of their stance getting Marshall deep in the paint time and again. The physical build serves her well finishing against bigs who rotate her way but her interior passing is something that will keep coaches and teammates alike happy. The tools are there to play multiple spots in the backcourt and she can be a factor in the halfcourt as well as on the break.
As long as we’re window shopping among the elite of the 2017 class let’s move on to dynamic 6-2 forward Maya Dodson. The Georgia native has planted herself among the most promising on the scholastic level and while she’s already an been an impact player, the best may be yet to come. Bigger and stronger are not words opponents want to hear, particularly when she’s putting them to use with more and more authority. Defensively Dodson is a shot blocking presence that changes the attack of any player coming her way. Ask Megan Walker. That same length and agility put her in a position to be dominant on the boards against any lineup. Offensively she’s efficient but needs to make herself more of a factor posting and off the cut. Sometimes it takes more than 
a target and a vertical to become a threat.
While not a senior laden event, it’s hard not to acknowledge the shooting performance of Orlando guard
Victoria Patrick. The 5-9 Xavier commit zeroed in from deep time and again and was a spot up option in transition as well. Patrick reads defenders effectively and her shot selection was sound both from deep and off the drive. She utilized a soft floater a time or two but also has a nice touch on the mid-range pull up. She can put it on the floor and the step back she uses creates plenty of room to work. Even better, she’s a focused on ball defender and sees the floor when on the weakside.
Chyna Nixon has been a roller coaster player across the spring and summer but the highs and lows are beginning to meet in the middle and that isn’t translating to good news for the opposition. An explosive athlete with a wiry build, the tools are there to make a play against any match up. The first step is deceivingly long and has the quickness to challenge even the speedsters smaller than her 5-10 length. The over used cliché’ of “playing with a high motor” would be an understatement for Nixon. She’s on the attack baseline to baseline and pushes the tempo at every opportunity. Her size and reach go with quick feet to make her a nightmare for opposing guards. The elevation she gets on her shot or the boards sets her apart from the crowd. Another 2017, the limits she faces are tied to how far she wants to take her game.
If you’re looking for the player that can create her own looks and has the ability to shred defenses, Cabria Lee is your girl. An aggressive 5-7 point guard, she has the individual skills to toy with defenders while also possessing the quickness and attack to leave them behind in the blink of an eye. On the catch she works her match up over with shot fakes and a few jabs before exploiting the inevitable reaction she can draw out of them. The 2017 Lee is comfortable in traffic and handles contact well for a player her size. She’ll need to be more active away from the ball to keep defenders honest and make herself an option off teammate’s penetration.
We referred to Chyna Nixon as a roller coaster earlier and Rennia Davis may also be coming off that same
ride as she enters her junior year. The 6-1 wing / forward has been making plenty of noise for several years now but has yet to find the consistency that will keep her in that elite conversation. At her best she’s got as much potential as anyone in the class but she’s yet to find the game in – game out productivity that is the hallmark of the top tier of any age group. This weekend she put together back to back days of strong play and appeared to be playing with more confidence. With the size, skills and athleticism she brings to the table she can meet anyone’s expectations. It will be interesting to see what she expects from herself. The possibilities are endless.
We saw some impressive play from 2018 guard Diamond Battles from Winter Haven, Florida. At 5-7 she’s quick and athletic but what makes that a bigger weapon is the ability to handle the ball at speed. Battles is one of those rare players who doesn’t have to downshift to put the ball on the floor. In turn she’s pushing the attack on makes, misses and turnovers. Her use of both a change of speed and change of direction keeps defenders guessing and creates options off penetration or from the pull up. Her step back covers plenty of ground and gives her the chance to get good looks against aggressive on ball match ups. Plenty of elevation is there on the shot but she is prone to drifting at times.
SHORT SHOTS
Maria Alvarez – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Bal Harbour, Florida – Slight, young point guard…Strong ballhandling and passing…Interior feeds off penetration…Great instincts for age…Deceptive
Janelle Bailey – 2017 – 6-3 – Post – Matthews, North Carolina – Continues to evolve…Uses her strength and size with the best of them…Focused player…Had her mind made up on the catch at times…Beginning to lose the mechanical aspect of her play…Watch
Day’Neshia Banks – 2017 – 5-10 – Forward – Jacksonville, Florida – Aggressive and active swing player…Works well inside but destined for the perimeter…Strong physical game…Creates her own…Tools are there…Conditioning?
Emani Burks – 2021 – 6-1 – Forward – Palm Bay, Florida – Strong…Active with and without the ball…Creates her own down low…Physical defender for age…Lots of promise
Laruren Ebo – 2018 – 6-3 – Post – Washington, D.C. – Lots of size…Great frame…Active posting…Will cut block to block…Looks for her shot…Has a developing hook…Potential
Nadia Fingall – 2016 – 6-3 – Post – Navarre, Florida – Established elite player who continues to add to her game…Active and aggressive…Doing more off the dribble…Showing a readiness for the physical game…Effort at both ends and on the glass
O’Mariah Gordon – 2021 – 5-1 – Point Guard – Sarasota, Florida – Very young point…Slight build at this time…Quick…Ball skills…Change of speed is there…Waiting on Mother Nature to kick in
Dashaun Jackson – 2017 – 5-10 – Guard – Miramar, Florida – Solid build…Good ball skills…Effective in traffic…Body control…Had moments
Dahjah Jefferson – 2017 – 6-1 – Forward – Hopewell, Virginia – Long with a very lean, wiry build…Active and athletic…Nice form from the perimeter…Pull up is
there…Not a wing yet but possibly in the future
Emma Krause – 2018 – 6-1 – Wing / Forward – Plantation, Florida – Size and frame…Some perimeter skills…Good understanding of the game…Plenty of effort
Channise Lewis – 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – Miami, Florida – Athletic guard…Strong off the dribble…Slashes into the paint…Makes plays…Too tight in weakside defense
Nissa Sam – Grant – 2018 – 6-4 – Post – Marietta, Georgia – Lots of length and build…Showed some decent hands…Good effort on the boards…Lots of work but possibilities are there
Juajah Somerville – 2017 – 5-10 – Wing – Norfolk, Virginia – Physically strong…First step is there…Individual skills…Pull up has a quick release
Aleah Sorrentino – 2021 – 5-10 – Forward – Palm Bay, Florida – Size and length for age…Moves well…Some ballhandling is in place…Will shoot the perimeter…Needs to be more active without the ball in her hands
Jamiya Turner – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Orlando, Florida – Athletic point…Quick feet…Agility…Some length for size…Sees the floor
Erin Turral – 2021 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Tallahassee, Florida – Aggressive young point…Gets to the rim…Good hesitation move…Nice form with quick release…Aggressive on ball defensively
Xaria Wiggins – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – Virginia Beach, Virginia – Great size and build on the wing…Makes plays…Strong on the offensive glass…Major possibilities
Erin Wilson – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Auburndale, Florida – Athletic guard…Works…Gets to the rim…Aggressive at both ends
Kornelia Wright – 2016 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Orlando, Florida – Smooth and fluid with the ball…Understated game…Good choices in transition from both misses and turnovers…Confident off the drive…Creates offense from defense
