The 2013 8th grade AAU D-I National Championships were held in Orlando Florida on July 8-13. A total of 44 teams from 24 associations competed over the five day period. In the end the National Champions hailed from North Carolina as NC Team Carolina 2017 won the Gold Ball with a 78-72 overtime victory over the Florida Jacksonville Lady Rams. Team Carolina is led by Mikayla Boykin, a 5-8 2017 guard. Boykin is making the transition to point guard as her career progresses. She has very good court vision, is dangerous in transition and has the halfcourt moves to get to the basket. The runner up Lady Rams were led by Rellah Boothe, also a 2017, who believes she owns the block as a 6-0 forward and utilizes a quick drop step to finish strong.
Quick Hitters
Janelle Bailey – 2017 – 6-4 – F – (N.C. Spartans) – Big and very strong…Soft hands…Finishes strong at the basket…Draws contact…Makes free throws
Bria Bass – 2017 – 5-9 – F – (Ga. Georgia Metros) – Athletic and quick…Finishes well around the basket
Hailey Brown– 2017 – 6-1 – F – (Hamilton Transway) – Size and athleticism…Doesn’t back down from anyone…Clears the ball strong…Runs the floor
Sami Carangi – 2017 – 5-6 – PG – (MA Comets) – Solid PG gets the ball where it needs to be…Shooter with range
Temi Carda – 2017 – 5-6 – PG – (Minn. North Tartan) – Anticipates…Handles pressure well…Finds the open man…Needs to develop a scorers mentality and take shots when others can’t or won’t
Kai Crutchfield – 2017 – 5-7 G – (N.C. Team Carolina 2017) – Slasher…Strong at the basket
Olivia Dabney – 2017 – 5-10 – F/G – (Jersey Cardinals) – Versatile…Athletic and strong…Wide range on a great baseline jump shot… Can shoot the three…Runs the floor…Never seems to come out of the game
Jazmyne Geist – 2017 -5-10 – F – (Ind. MBA Select) – Lean and athletic…Anticipates well…Always in the action…Could finish stronger from the field and at the line
Hanna Hall – 2017 – 5-4 – PG – (Hamilton Transway) – True point guard…Great court vision…Killer crossover…Quick and long first step…Gets to the basket with ease
Alexis Hueston – 2017 – 5-10 – F – (Va. Spectrum) – Solid and strong…Runs the floor
Tameria Johnson – 2017 – 5-3 – G – (Fla. Jacksonville Lady Rams) – Quick and fast…All out hustle
Myah Pace – 2017 – 5-10 – F – (Ind. MBA Select) – Very aggressive…Fast and athletic…Jumps out of the gym…Can get to the hoop with a decent first step…Finishes with either hand…Must develop a pull up game
Stephanie Seaman – 2017 – G – (Va. BWSL Richmond) – Had the half of a lifetime… Six threes and a big put back to key her team’s 16 point comeback in an early playoff game
