MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—While the college teams were off squeezing in a few games in the sunshine of Mexico, the Virgin Islands and other comfortable, sunny climates, the first major event of the scholastic season was tipping off in the Volunteer State. The sixth annual Tennessee Turkey Jamm featured 37 teams with players from 11 different states, Washington, D.C. and the great white north of Canada. Over the course of three days the gyms of Riverdale and Blackman High Schools stayed busy hosting 38 games and over 40 college recruiters and media/scouting representatives.
While the team action offered up some exciting and revealing insights, including an upset of the defending national champs (Blackman) on their own floor, the real attraction was the influx of young talent looming on the horizon. Several upperclassmen had standout performances but it was the next generation that was leaving their mark on the competition and the evaluators courtside. With an avalanche of tournaments just around the corner here is our first set of evaluations for what promises to be an exciting season.
Upperclassmen Moments
While Blackman may have taken one on the chin from Potters House Friday night, Crystal Dangerfield’s effort the next evening reminded everyone why she is UConn bound and one of the premier point guards in the country. Few players have the ability to create their own looks both off penetration as well as from the perimeter. Her diminutive 5-5 stature is negated by speed and quickness that would challenge most opponents already suiting up at the next level. What truly keeps defenders honest is the smooth stroke and effortless range on her jumper. Any conservative closeout comes with a price tag and overplaying is simply an invitation to be embarrassed. Dangerfield has become more and more inclined to develop and improve the opportunities of her teammates over the years and has now reached the ultimate level of making those around her better. Her reads and anticipation both on the break and off penetration are instinctive and lead to clean looks for her teammates who, despite the stumble out of the gate, are primed to remain among the nation’s elite when March rolls around.
Missouri bound Sophie Cunningham has been a steady progression of improvement over the years and takes the floor as one of the more versatile players in the senior class. At 6-0 with a solid build she is a challenging match up for any perimeter opponent that will be on the Rock Bridge (Missouri) schedule this year. There is an advanced maturity to her game that helps her be a factor within an offensive set or out on the break. She has the understanding and skill set to step up in multiple situations as needed. Cunningham can create off the dribble but also cuts with intent and assertiveness. The physical strength that has evolved over the years allows her to be effective inside and out plus will serve her well from the moment she walks on campus in Columbia next fall. Defensively she’s willing to mix things up a bit and the effort is there to contribute to the rebounding totals from the perimeter.
Occasionally we come across players who find a way to simply “make plays” and Lauren Bille seemed to deliver for East Central (Oklahoma) time and again. Generously listed at 5-6, Billie could easily pass for a freshman rather than a senior but her production is a direct result of plenty of experience. The future addition to the Texas – Arlington backcourt is deceptively quick and has a knack of getting into the paint to create both shots and passes. There’s an efficient pull up and floater to call upon as well as a quick release to frustrate rotating defenders. Her perimeter shot is sound but comes with a very narrow base and the need to set up a bit more. That doesn’t diminish results in any way but could be a factor at the next level. Her slight build could be an issue defensively but she’s got quick feet laterally and is willing to get in a stance and challenge ballhandlers.
Nobody brought more intensity to the Turkey Jamm table than Norcross (Georgia) junior Tylia Gillespie. Strong and aggressive, the 5-10 swing was making plays at both ends of the floor. Offensively she’s more effective with the ball in her hands but demonstrated a few sharp cuts that should create some nice opportunities for her if she continues to remain active. Her jumper has a smooth stroke to it and she elevates well to get a good look at the rim both on the pull up and from range. Defensively she’s physical and plays with plenty of bounce. Gillespie is a presence on the glass at both ends with no reservations about roaming among the bigs down low. Her emotions spill over on occasion to the point of having to try to distinguish if it’s “all good” or a distraction. Considering the apathetic play of so many players her exuberance is a breath of fresh air. She’ll have to continue to refine her ballhandling and passing skills to make the most of her promising potential.
Sophomore Five
No player created a bigger buzz among the college coaches, media and evaluators than Potters House (Florida) sophomore Rellah Boothe. Physically mature and strong while standing 6-2, Boothe was dominant in almost every aspect of the game at times. On the catch down low the left hander is powerfully methodical. There’s nothing “flashy” to her attack but the explosiveness with which she gets off the floor is generally reserved for the upper echelon of the next level. I wouldn’t begin to call her “college ready”, the depth to her skill set needs to be expanded and she’ll need to read and counter much more efficiently as she faces better competition. The ability to step out is there and her duo of three pointers was instrumental during a stretch in PHCA’s win over Blackman. The ballhandling has its moments and allowed her to take it herself a couple of times when the outlets were denied but her future appears to be on the receiving end of entry passes rather than trying to create them. Defensively she’s part of the Potters House renowned attack but she and her teammates struggled after the Friday night win splitting their last two games both of which were single possession contests. Boothe legitimately has all the tools to be as good as she wants to be. At the same time she’s still young and will have to grow both in the tangible and intangible aspects of the game to step up on the big stage.
St. Francis (Georgia) features a roster with six players listed at 6-1 or taller. Standing out among that crowd is 6-1 high flying forward Maya Dodson. The lean and agile sophomore added to her physical presence and wingspan with a vertical that would keep even the folks in the volleyball world happy. All of Dodson’s movement is fluid and smooth. She can get out and run the floor with the guards and has the elevation to be effective on the glass among the back to the basket bigs. Her true spot seems to be at the #4 and she seems to embrace the role rather than joining the overpopulated crowd who all think they’re destined to play on the wing. She can put it down and is strong off the drive from the elbow and short corner. There are some offensive moves in place and she’s not completely dependent on her athletic attributes to create her opportunities. A major highlight is her focus on rebounding and the effort she puts forth going after them. Some physical strength will have to evolve as she matures and takes on more advance opponents.
Rock Bridge (Missouri) has had their share of talented players over the last several years. The past off season saw them benefit by the transfer of in state rival Incarnate Word sophomore Madison Treece. The 6-3 Treece is the sister of current Oklahoma Sooner freshman post McKenna Treece and appears to have the evolving tools to follow in her sister’s footsteps. Along with her size she has a solid frame and a good understanding of how to utilize those assets on both ends of the floor. She’s aggressive and active without the ball while forcing defenders to keep working even if she’s not an option in a particular set. It’s obvious she’s had some coaching and brings a good understanding of her role to the floor. She can step out to the short corner and looks to be effective from the 15 foot range. On the catch she reads well but occasionally rushes her attack. There seems to be no hesitancy about physical play defensively which should serve her well now and down the road.
Kasiyahna Kushkituah made some impressions on those who hadn’t seen her in action before. Another component of the St. Francis (Georgia) sizable front line, Kushkituah is an impact player on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. A legitimate 6-3 with the reach of someone even taller, she makes her presence felt time and again. Defensively she’s quick on her feet and has impressive timing both in rotations and blocking shots. Her vision from the weakside is sharp for a high school player which puts her in a position to effectively back up pressuring perimeter teammates. Offensively her game is a work in progress but she posts strong and has some moves in place that get her good looks at the rim. Consistency will have to come in her ability to finish and she’ll need to develop a power aspect to her low post attack as time goes by.
Riverdale (Tennessee) may be young but the future is promising…again. While small for a combo, 5-7 Anastasia Hayes seems to make the most of every offensive opportunity. Utilizing impressive speed and quickness, she forces defenders to play with a cushion or spend their time hoping to recover. A rare commodity is her ability to handle the ball virtually at full speed making her all the more difficult to contain in transition. Hayes has a soft touch on her floater but can pull up on a dime at a high percentage from mid-range as well. Her change of speed and direction gets opponents out of their stance and opens the lane up for some strong drives to the rim. The form on the perimeter shot has a one handed element to it but still seems to serve her well as evidenced by 32 points in Sunday’s win over National Christian (D.C.). The same athleticism that facilitates her scoring makes her a threat to be strong defender on and off the ball. Lots of promise.
Freshman Fever
Easily one of the most skilled players on hand in Murfreesboro was one of the youngest. Freshman point guard Hannah Barber of Homewood (Alabama) fits the very definition of a “true” point guard. The ballhandling and passing are textbook and there’s a confidence with which she puts them to use that makes you want the ball in her hands. Barber sees the floor well but also has that instinct about defenses and rotations that really can’t be taught. She does force the issue at times but more often than not she’s creating or improving options for herself and her teammates. The freshman floor leader hardly lives up to the 5-4 height listed on the roster but her game offsets a great deal of her lack of inches. The form is there on her shot and she was a consistent option playing the off guard spot at times but you would much rather see her with the ball in her hands. Mother Nature will play a big role in what the future holds four years from now.
North Little Rock (Arkansas) has the services of impressive freshman forward Yo’marris Morris. Long and wiry, she stands 6-1 and gets off the floor with the best of them. She offered up a glimpse of some ballhandling as well as some sharp, active cutting. Morris works hard with and without the ball and got to the rim both in the halfcourt and on the break. Physically the strength is not there yet but at her age more size is on the horizon in every way.
Lefty Paulla Weekes of St. Joseph’s College from Canada is another promising grade nine product. With a solid, athletic build at 5-10 she still appears to have some additional growth in front of her. Weekes has nice ballhandling and passing skills and slashes with success into the paint. Hesitation move works well for her from both wings. Passing skills and decisions will have to evolve but lots of potential is there.
Quickhitters
Brinae Alexander – 2018 – Wing – Riverdale (Tennessee)…Ballhandling is there…Nice athlete…Willing to post…Lots of tools…Versatility…Major potential
Daisa Alexander – 2016 – Guard – Southwest DeKalb (Georgia)…Quickness and speed…Change of speed and direction…Pull up is there…Aggressive on ball defender
Ty Battle – 2017 – Forward – Joliet Catholic (Illinois)…Athletic with length…Smooth and agile…Active…Runs the floor…Developing
Jazz Bond – 2016 – Post / Forward – Blackman (Tennessee)…Still showing potential but evolving slowly…Ballhandling is there from the high post…Nice form…Conditioning?
Jordyn Cambridge – 2018 – Point Guard – Ensworth (Tennessee)…Athletic and strong…Constantly attacking…First step is there…Chang of speed and direction
Nadia Green – 2017 – Guard – Homewood Flossmoor (Illinois)…Physically strong…Quick attack with the ball…Plays a power game from the perimeter…All the tools…Major potential
Shelby Gibson – 2016 – Post – Oakland (Tennessee)…Finishes…Strong…Skills are there…Offensive boards…High post passing
Cierra Hooks – 2017 – Guard – Thurgood Marshall (Ohio)…Growing…Had moments…Ballhandling and passing…Defense needs attention
Keri Jewett – 2015 – Point Guard – Dunbar (Florida)…Quick and athletic…Individual skills…Pull up is there…Step back
Allison Johnson – 2015 – Forward – Norcross (Georgia)…Flat out effective…Undersized forward…Post moves…Active…Works
Brogan Jones – 2016 – Post – North Little Rock (Arkansas)…Methodical but effective…Broad frame…Active…Reads…Speed?
Elizabeth Martino – 2020 – Wing – National Christian Academy (D.C.)…Very young but promising…Lots of speed…Good length…Stroke is there…Watch
Angela Ribarich – 2015 – Post – St. Joseph’s College (Canada)…Lots of size…Great frame…Runs the floor well…Doesn’t look for her own at times…Jump hook is there…Potential is in place
Kylie Roscoe – 2017 – Guard – G.W. Carver (Alabama)…Individual skills…Passes well off penetration…First step…Steps into perimeter shot…Defends
Kiara Williams – 2016 – Forward – Little Rock Central (Arkansas)…Fluid athlete…Runs the floor…Works well down low
