MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—While it’s not quite the tradition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Tennessee Turkey Jamm has become a staple of the holiday recruiting season.  In its seventh year, teams from 11 different states made up the roster of the three day event hosted in the gyms of Blackman and Riverdale High Schools.  There were signees from the likes of UConn, Texas and Florida State while college coaches dropped in from the SEC, Big-10, American Conference and more to take in the action.

Over the course of 30 games several high profile players demonstrated where their game stands early in the 2015 – 2016 season and some younger players made some noise indicating it’s now their time to step up.  Host Blackman rolled in their first game Friday evening but suffered a rare home court defeat in Sunday’s final game to an impressive National Christian group who claimed two wins on their trip south.  Riverdale may have had a coaching change but they haven’t missed a beat claiming dominant wins over Jefferson Davis and Huber Heights Wayne (Ohio).  Illinois based Homewood Flossmoor grabbed a couple of wins as did Harrison (Georgia) and Parkview North (Missouri).

The classic format doesn’t provide a champion and early season success isn’t a guarantee of more of the same come March.  At the same time we had the opportunity to see some talent worth taking note of and keeping an eye on as the season progresses.

While Blackman (Tennessee) may have stumbled Sunday afternoon, Crystal Dangerfield did all she could to keep the Blaze in contention until the final buzzer.  Playing with a target on her back the dynamic UConn signee responds again and again with plays that are going to translate well to the next level.  The roster at Blackman is a considerably thinner this year so more of the load will have to be on her shoulders but the 5-5 point guard is up to the task.  Over the years we’ve seen her accept and excel in almost any role.  The ability is there to score it herself or improve and create the options of those players around her.  Dangerfield has evolved to the point of controlling entire defenses and with her attack and exploiting both off the dribble and the pass.  Defensively she’s got the speed and quickness to contain virtually any ballhandler and a quick vertical that allows her to tip more than her share of wishful passes by the opposition.

Texas bound Alecia Sutton opened play with a 23 point effort on Friday night but saw limited time in Parkway North’s (Missouri) easy win Saturday afternoon.  The sight of the future Longhorn with the ball in her hands has to be an intimidating vision for even the most staunch defenders.  The 5-9 Sutton has the rare ability to play just as effectively at speed as many of her peers do at a more controlled pace.  Her acceleration is on a level all its own and puts her in a position to capitalize on ineffective defensive rotations and bigs who can only hope to get there in time.  The tools are in place to allow her to play just as efficiently in the halfcourt as she does out on the break.  Her lateral speed puts her in a position to be a strong on ball defender with some quick and anticipating hands.

Jasmine Walker had an interesting weekend in Murfreesboro.  Friday night the Florida State signee and her Jefferson Davis (Alabama) teammates were on the receiving end of blistering shooting effort by Riverdale that saw the outcome of the game pretty well defined before the end of the first period.  Little improved in the second and third and before the game was over Walker had to be helped from the floor after effectively folding her surgically repaired right knee under her body as she fell to the court on a drive to the rim.  Her doctor deserves a great big Christmas card this year as the source of her pain came from her ankle ending a game  for Walker that was already a nightmare.  While she didn’t start Saturday’s game, the versatile 6-4 forward came off the bench offering up a solid performance with a few flashes of the play that the Seminoles are looking forward to in the future.  The ballhandling and stroke are still eye catching for her size and she understands the need to establish an interior presence to capitalize on those assets.

Watching Homewood Flossmoor’s (Illinois) Nadia Green develop over the past couple of seasons has been fun to observe unless you’re the one matched up with her.  Physically strong, there is a smooth and powerful approach to her game that is difficult for smaller guards to contain.  At 5-9 she’s got good size and can hold her own with the quicker defenders and yet still get rough with the bigger opponents.  Off the drive she turns the corner as sharp as anyone and making that even tougher to defend is the fact that she does it going both ways.  Even better is the awareness she plays with effectively seeing the floor as she navigates traffic on her way to the rim.  One slight point offensively might be the narrow base on her jumper both from the floor and as she lines up for free throws.  It doesn’t appear to be an issue when she has time but when rushed it could influence consistency.  Naturally playing for Anthony Smith the 2017 Green is going to defend every possession as if it’s the last one the ball and off.  That alone sets her apart from the crowd.

Wayne High School out of Huber Heights, Ohio has a promising young roster led by 2018 Shaquille McGruder.  The 6-1 forward has made some noise over the past year or so and continues to prove she belongs in top tier of that sophomore class.  Long and lean, McGruder runs the floor with the guards and is active on both ends.  There’s some ballhandling and passing in place but she’s a legitimate #4 and a challenging match up for any opposition.  The perimeter shot will need refinement to keep folks honest and extend the necessity to close out.  Her reach and vertical make her an impact player both on the glass and defensively.  The agility is there to play almost any spot in any press and going a step further, the effort is going to keep coaches smiling as well.  As she matures she’ll begin to add strength and fill out which isn’t going to be good news down on the other bench.

National Christian’s (Maryland) two game performance was on par with any of the teams on hand.  While they have some size, it’s their perimeter game that makes them go and one of the key components is junior Mykea Gray.  A 5-5 2017 point guard, Gray utilizes some explosive individual skills, especially her crossover, to create her own looks time and again.  Her change of speed and acceleration both leave defenders standing and hoping to recover.  Her pull up is on a dime and there’s some touch and range on the spot up.  However, she does tend to step into the longer looks.  In traffic she handles contact well and has good body control among the bigs.  Defensively Gray will get into a stance and can be harassing on ball when NCA in in man to man.

It might seem odd to highlight Anastasia Hayes of Riverdale (Tennessee) but the well-established junior point guard might be playing a bigger role in setting up her teammates as she’s done scoring the ball herself in the past.  Oh, the ability is still there to get to the rim with her trademark floater but she’s making the players around her better and that’s the sign of an elite athlete who’s really grasping the game.  Riverdale has plenty of young talent who can all shoot the ball and Hayes has options when she pushes the ball in transition or penetrates in the halfcourt.  New coach Randy Coffman has the Warriors utilizing floor spacing that coaches at any level would be thrilled to have.  That much room is like a playground for the ultra-quick point guard and she’s taking full advantage of it.  That same speed and quickness serves her well on the defensive end of the floor as well.  The best is yet to come.

If you haven’t heard of Deja Woodard by now you better do some catching up.  The long, lean swing player from Mattie T. Blount (Alabama) has all the tools to write her own ticket.  A 6-1 sophomore, she can play virtually any spot on the floor.  At this point you would see her as a #4 – #3 depending on your specific needs.  Woodard is graceful and fluid both with and without the ball.  She can get out in the lanes and run with the guards but she can work effectively in the paint with her length and vertical just the same.  The strength isn’t there yet to beat and bang with thicker bigs but she doesn’t back down when challenged.  Woodard is a presence on the boards and will take it herself if the outlets are denied on the rebound.  She’s a strong defender on the catch but could turn things up a notch or so one and two passes away.  Can be as good as she chooses to be.

The Harrison (Georgia) squad of Coach Steve Leahan claimed two easy wins in Mufreesboro with a blowout of White’s Creek and a solid 20 point cushion against Blount.  Junior guard Sydne Wiggins has been already on the radar and offered up more reasons to keep her in the conversation with some impressive play.  The 5-8 guard is lean and athletic with a wicked first step.  She snakes her way through traffic and can get to the rim or finds success with a one handed pull up from mid-range.  Wiggins gets off the floor on her shot and may be one of the few scholastic players actually shooing a “true” jumper.  While she’s an effective scorer herself, she delivers some sharp interior passing off penetration while reading defenders with some advanced instincts and vision.  There’s some length to her build which serves to make her potentially a strong defender.

Mykea Gray wasn’t the only guard doing some damage for National Christian.  Senior E’Lexus Davis had some moments of her own that contributed to two solid wins.  A Hofstra signee, the 5-7 Davis is constantly pushing the ball and has the speed to make that a tough road for the opposition.  She’s comfortable in traffic and makes efficient choices in her reads off penetration.  Aggressive at both ends, her approach is college ready and she’s not hesitant to play a physical game.  The jumper was there one game and not so much the next but she remained a factor in the game.  That consistency will need to continue to evolve to continue National’s good start as well as to serve her well at the next level.

Kierra Johnson – Graham provided some strong play for Tucker High School out of Georgia.  A 6-0 senior forward, she plays with an assertive approach that should have her ready to play next season as she heads on to Liberty University and Coach Carey Green.  Johnson – Graham can create her own opportunities with the ball and finds a way to get herself deep in the paint.  On the catch the left hander can get defenders out of their stance with a solid shot fake and has the ballhandling to make them pay.  Her passing was sound as she found teammates off the drive on several occasions.  She’s active both with and without the ball and plays with plenty of effort.  There doesn’t seem to be any reservations about physical play and she’s going to be in the middle of the action to make an impact.

A player who demonstrated some flashes was 5-10 combo guard Audrey McElhaney of Tift County (Georgia).  Another lefty, this junior can be explosive on the drive to the rim.  In their first game she found success time and again penetrating and delivering some strong inside passing.  McElhaney has impressive size on the perimeter and the acceleration to enable her to keep up with those smaller, ultra-quick guards.  That being said, she’ll need to expand her ability to attack both directions and develop consistency on the perimeter.  However those flashes indicate more potential than she might be getting credit for.  It will be interesting to see what she does with it.

QUICKHITTERS

Dail Adaway – 2016 – 5-10 – Forward – Tift County – Undersized forward…Solid athlete…Simply “makes plays”…Understands the game and her role…Can play at some level

Brinae Alexander – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing – Riverdale – Physically strong and athletic…Attacks off the dribble…Efficient with time on the perimeter…Lots of possibilities

Shantavia Arnold – 2016 – 5-11 – Forward – Maynard Jackson – Wiry build…Athletic…Turnaround is there…Some ballhandling and passing…Anticipates on defense

Destiny Bohanon – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Wayne – Creates off the dribble…Gets deep…Floater…Crossover…Deceiving vertical…Shot selection had moments

Jazz Bond – 2016 – 6-3 – Forward/Post – Blackman – South Florida signee…Lean with lots of length…Gradual progression over the years…Has mid-range game and some ballhandling…Strength will have to come…Critical role with Blackman this year

Zipporah Broughton – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Lee-Montgomery – Quick, athletic guard…Change of direction is strong…Works well in traffic…Needs consistency of effort…Tools are there

Maya Dunson – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing – Wayne – Lefty…Strong…Methodical but effective for age…Gets on the boards…Potential

Zoe Guilmette – 2017 – 6-6 – Post – Harrison – Size and build…Less than a year removed from ACL…No signs…Runs the floor…Posted hard…Jump hook is there…Lots of tools

Alexius High – 2016 – 5-10 – Guard – Forest Park – Long guard…Some ball skills…Fluid athlete…Made some plays

Cierra Johnson – 2016 – 5-9 – Guard – Blount – Alabama signee…Quick and athletic…Strong ball handler…Pull up is there…Wiry defender…Needs strength to handle contact

Mya Johnson – 2016 – 6-0 – Forward – Parkway North – Solid build…Active and strong small forward…Plays with effort…Makes herself an option

Journey Jones – 2016 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Carver – Decent ballhandler…Crossover…Change of speed…Floater…Inconsistent form on jumper

Jadyn Pimentel – 2017 – 5-2 – Point Guard – Parkway North – Tiny but athletic point guard…Constantly on the attack…Change of speed and direction…Jumper is there

Taylor Robinson – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Bolingbrook – Strong guard…Hesitation and change of direction are there…Sees the floor

Eva Rubin – 2017 – 6-5 – Post – Homewood Flossmoor – Size and frame…Improving and progressing…Has better conditioning than in the past…Keep watching

Ahyiona Vason – 2016 – 5-3 – Point Guard – Jefferson Davis – Tiny point guard…Quick and explosive…Creates off the dribble…Assertive defender

Alexis Whittngton – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard/Wing – Riverdale – Text book skills…Pushes the tempo…Gets out and runs the floor…Stroke and range are lethal

Kyra Wilder – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Stewarts Creek – Athletic guard…Active with and without…Showed some range…Decent ballhandling