FRISCO, Texas, — The NCAA Fall Non-Scholastic Evaluation Period could be looked at as the end of the club ball season for 2012 or the kick off a new one with the advent of the new school year. No matter how you choose to look at it, each year those three days provide college recruiters one last look at prospects outside the academic setting to reevaluate, confirm, babysit or simply go window shopping in high volume settings before they zero in on individual practices and games until next spring.
Any trip down to Texas is going to offer up plenty of opportunities to catch some talented players in action and last weekend was no exception. Blues Star Media spent some time Friday and Saturday at the Big Tyme Fall Finish Camp in Carrollton, Texas before heading up to Frisco for the rest of the viewing period for the PBR Future Stars Showcase. The Fall Finish was an individual event with over 120 athletes from eight different states while the Showcase featured 112 club and high school teams from five states.
Standouts From Frisco
The focus for most recruiters and evaluators in the fall generally falls on the underclassman but there were some eye catching seniors were on hand. It would be hard not to take notice of top tier players like Recee’ Caldwell (San Antonio Finest) or Brianna Taylor (Dekaney High School) plus Ashley Gibson (Oklahoma Select), Kelsey Lang (The Woodlands High School) and Grace Mitchell (Plano High School) provided some moments as well. One senior that isn’t quite a billboard presence but has more than her share of options, is 6-6 Klare Bradshaw of Rains High School. Size alone makes you take notice as she takes the floor but the lower body strength and agility that comes with that length is hard to find in any post. There’s a temptation to call her raw but that would be inaccurate. A more applicable description would be inexperienced or unpolished. Lots of flashes let you know the potential that is in place and her willingness to put in the effort or even get on the floor tells you she’s comfortable with the accountability that comes with high expectations. Lots of long term promise.
Junior 6-0 guard/wing Nicole Iademarco (The Woodlands High School) can provide some effectiveness that would have almost any coach sleeping better at night. Combining size, skills and instincts, she can provide a challenging match up for a lot of defenders. She’s a sound athlete and has the versatility to play any backcourt spot but is most suited for the off guard or out on the wing. Iademarco can hit the open jumper and pull up but is equally comfortable taking it all the way to the hole. The biggest challenge for her may well be consistency in her production and avoiding the occasional disappearing act.
The list of talented players who have come out of MacArthur is lengthy and distinguished. If she continues on track, 5-10 Tory Jacobs has the potential to join that line up. Athletic and strong, she’s at her best with the ball in her hands. She can create both with impressive individual skills and acceleration. The very same thing can also be her downfall as she’s often too slow in initiating her attack or overly dramatic in telling her teammates to clear out. Higher level defenders love having that kind of time and awareness. In transition Jacobs is a threat both handling it and getting out in the lanes. When zeroed in, she has all the tools to be a physical defender as well.
Al Coleman’s Cy-Fair program continues to show year after year what staying power is all about among the top club teams. Helping carry the mantle at this point is 5-9 combo guard Kala Green. Physically mature in her size, build and athleticism, she tops that combination off with an attacking mentality. Add in some impressive ball skills and the potential is there to be a threat both in transition as well as in halfcourt sets. On the catch her acceleration can leave defenders standing and there’s a fluid motion to her cuts off the ball. Scary part may be that she’s just scratching the surface.
Chayla Cheadle, a 6-0 wing/forward with the Missouri Phenom has a deep arsenal of both physical and basketball skills to call upon. More and more it looks as though she may well be best suited on the perimeter at the next level. Last weekend she created quite a few of her own looks off the dribble while seeming very comfortable slashing through traffic. A consistent perimeter shot will be essential to keep defenders honest in the future. Even without the ball Cheadle is very active both on cuts to the rim or coming off screens. She’s not hesitant to get in a stance defensively and will pull more than her share of boards.
Cy-Fair has an impressive young group of players and sophomore 5-8 Erica Sanders is one to keep an eye on. Quick and athletic, she utilizes an effective change of speed and direction to leave defenders hoping to recover. Her penetration creates both shots and passes but her decision making will need to be just a microsecond quicker to make the most of her attack. The pull up could be the weapon she will need most to develop and expand her game. She pushes the ball from makes, misses and turnovers and while keeping her teammates on their toes and running the lanes. On ball defensively she’s active with good lateral speed and quick hands.
The uniform may say Team Arkansas but 2015 standout Kaylan Pugh calls Collierville, Tennessee home. Lots of recruiters will be finding their way to the other side of the Mississippi River over the next couple of years as the 5-9 guard has the tools to play at whatever level she’s willing to put the work in for. The physically strong guard is assertive on both ends of the floor and isn’t hesitant to mix things up or take a hit on the drive. She slices through rotating defenders and goes up strong as she gets near the rim. The first step is explosive and Pugh does a good job of reading as she gets past her own match up. On the other end she’s more than willing to dig in and turn a ballhandler or push and shove with the bigs.
If you’re looking for versatility in the backcourt take a close look at Riley Rose (Team Arkansas Elite). The 5-8 point guard creates looks for herself and her teammates, pushes the ball time and again and in general makes the most of every possession. With the ball in her hands she can attack with a low and quick crossover as well as a tough to read hesitation move. Both allow her to penetrate where she can shoot the pull up or floater, deliver the pass or get all the way to the rim. The form is there on her stroke and her shot selection is judicious. Lots of tools and potential.
Another sophomore point guard worth keeping an eye on is 5-7 Alli Gribbin (Keller High School). Lean and active, Gribbin appears to have the potential to physically grow some more which would make the solid skill set she already has all the more challenging for opponents. Her ballhandling and passing aren’t flashy or something you’ll see on SportsCenter but you’ll see the results in the assist column. Her eyes see the floor on the drive and the ability is there to get the ball in the right hands. Don’t mistake that to mean she can’t shoot as she has the form and stroke to keep defenders honest.
Individual Action in Carrollton
The Big Tyme Fall Finish Camp provided some glimpses of what the future holds deep in the heart of Texas. There were a few upperclassmen on hand but in all…youth ruled the day. Here’s some quickhitters on some of the players who had some moments last weekend.
Erynn Barnum – 2015 – (Little, Rock, Arkansas) – Quick, young and active guard with some ballhandling skills.
Tana Driver – 2014 – (Irving, Texas) – Dynamic and skilled point guard. Has the whole package from ball skills to decision making and can knock down the open jumper. Tough and aggressive on both ends with great instincts. Drawback is the fact that she doesn’t remotely approach her listed 5-0 height.
Jessica Ellis – 2014 – (Shreveport, Louisiana) – Quick point guard who’s always looking to push it. Shot selection was interesting.
Jada Peacock – 2018 – (McKinney, Texas) – Wiry built and very young point guard.
Troi Swain – 2014 – (Austin, Texas) – Active and athletic point guard. Fluid and smooth with and without the ball. Defends.
Kennedi Allen – 2017 – (Little Rock, Arkansas) – Nice size and tools for age. Can create with some strong individual skills and uses an effective change of speed.
Alexandria Crain – 2017 – (McKinney, Texas) – Strong kid with some sharp ball skills. The stroke is there and she’s willing to defend. Watch closely.
Mariah Forde – 2015 – (Belen, New Mexico) – Active off guard or wing. Appears to have had some solid coaching so far in her career.
De’Jionae Calloway – 2015 – (Independence, Missouri) – Physically strong and cut at 5-10. There’s some ballhandling in place that could let her play the three but she’ll need to expand her skill set to take advantage of her potential.
Alexis Morris – 2017 – (Beaumont, Texas) – Explosive young point guard with a load of potential. Has the individual skills to create shots and passes. Great acceleration is there off any move she makes leading to pull ups, floaters or interior passing. Active and aggressive defender as well. It’s up to her.
Breah Powell – 2017 – (McKinney, Texas) – Quick guard with some one on one skills. Shot selection could improve.
Emily Ridgell – 2016 – (Little Rock, Arkansas) – Solid point with some tools. Willing to defend.
Kennady Tucker – 2018 – (Little Rock, Arkansas) – Smooth and fluid young guard who had some moments.
Kiara Williams – 2016 – (Alexander, Arkansas) – Lots of length and versatility at 6-0. More a forward than wing but some ballhandling is there to create her own out of the high post or in a four out set. Lean build should gain strength in time but still very agile and a factor in transition. Plenty of promise for her to work with.
Deauzya Richards – 2017 – (Katy, Texas) – Young, lean slasher. Very active with some skills and understanding of the game.
Madison Washington – 2017 – (Red Oak, Texas) – Very athletic with some sharp ballhandling and moves. Shot needs to be refined and shot selection needs to evolve. Real potential.
Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage – 2015 – (Santa Fe, New Mexico) – Physically strong forward/post. A little ballhandling in place. Speed?
Jade Williams – 2017 – (The Colony, Texas) – Size, length and athleticism. Runs the floor and very fluid in all her movements. Some ballhandling skills are there and allow her to get to the rim. Strength and endurance need to come but should evolve with maturity. Major possibilities.
Lauren Lee – 2014 – (Nacogdoches, Texas) – Size and frame allows her to work well around the rim. Looks for the ball on the block. Jury may still be out as to what level she might be able to play on.
