CHANDLER, Ariz.—As 2014 counts down to its final buzzer we’re going to wrap up our coverage of the 2014 Nike Tournament of Champions with a quick look at some of the other standouts from last week’s event. While it would be impossible to “see them all”, we saw plenty during our time in the Valley of the Sun. Some are projects, some are college ready and some just caught our eye with some potential worth keeping an eye on. As always this list is not always indicative of the “best” performances or the brightest futures, it’s just some folks who had some moments in the nation’s premier scholastic holiday tournament that we wanted to acknowledge.
Also, be sure to follow the links below to check out our complete coverage from the 18th annual Nike Tournament of Champions.
Nike TOC Unwrapped
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1093-nike-toc-unwrapped
Championship Day Coverage
http://bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1092-nike-toc-championship-monday
Sunday Notebook – Tony Bleill
http://bluestarmedia.co/index.php/component/k2/item/1091-nike-toc-sunday-notebook-tonys-take
Scenes form the Semis
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1088-nike-toc-semifinals
Tony’s Take
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1086-nike-tournament-of-champions
Day Two Snapshot
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1087-nike-toc-day-two-snapshot
Day One Snapshot
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1085-nike-toc-day-one-snapshot
Nike TOC Tip Drill
Megan Anderson (Clovis West – Fresno, Calif.) – 6-0 – 2017 – Good length on the wing…Spot up shooter with range…Some ballhandling in place…Moves well without the ball…Could grow…Watch
Jazz Bond (Blackman – Muefreesboro, Tenn.) – 6-3 – 2016 – Much better performance than a month ago…Playing more active…Looking to create rather than wait…Jumper…More of a factor on the boards…Could still turn up the physical
Sasha Brown (Sacramento High – Sacramento, Calif.) – 5-10 – 2017 – Strong young guard…Could grow more…Has both stroke and range…Promising prospect
DiJonai’ Carrington (Horizon Christian – San Diego, Calif.) – 6-0 – 2016 – Established high profile…wing / forward…Will still post…Has deep range…Uses her physical skills effectively…Can create…Willing to share it…Interior passing
Rylie Cascio-Jensen (Fremont – Fremont, Neb.) – 5-9 – 2016 – Solid guard play…Active…Effective passer…Runs the floor…Penetrated at times…Stronger than she looks
Courtesy Clark (Sacramento High – Sacramento, Calif.) – 5-8 – 2017 – Talented young guard…Individuals skills…Speed with the ball…Handles contact…Pull up is in place
Destiny Frazier (Dillard – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – 5-6 – 2016 – All tournament honors…Tiny with plenty of speed and quickness…Has the range to force closeouts…Gets to the rim…Assertive on ball defensively
Maddie Fredricks (Hamilton – Chandler, Ariz.) – 6-0 – 2018 – Young guard with potential…Individual skills…Solid range on shot…Makes plays…Watch closely
Honesty Grayson (Riverdale Baptist – Upper Marlboro, Md.) – 5-8 – 2018 – Promising young point guard…Has already established herself…Speed with the ball…Sees the floor…Floater is there as well as a “true” jumper…Creates in transition…Major possibilities
Sabrina Haines (Desert Vista – Phoenix, Ariz.) – 5-9 – 2015 – Arizona State signee…Struggled at times but still among the class elite…Strong with the ball…Aggressive attack…Productive in traffic…Has to become more of a factor away without the ball in her hands
Zharia Hale (Central Catholic – Portland, Ore.) – 5-11 – 2016 – Length with lots of athleticism…Basketball build…Lots of speed with the ball…Crossover is lethal…Well coached
Joyce Harrell (Cleveland High School – Seattle, Wa.) – 6-1 – 2015 – Steal for Boise State…Active forward…Works…Has an effective jump hook…Strong on the boards…going to advance her game
Mai-Loni Henson (La Jolla Country Day – La Jolla, Calif.) – 5-11 – 2016 – Athletic and strong…First step…Attacks off the dribble…Delivered some sharp passing…Strong coaching behind her
Kylie Jimenez (Horizon – Thornton, Colo.) – 5-7 – 2017 – Young point guard…Dribble high but has a handle…Decent range…Passing instincts…Anticipates on defense
Raven Johnson (Parkview – Lilburn, Ga.) – 5-11 – 2016 – Athletic slasher…First step…Ballhandling creates for her…Good passing off penetration…consistency on jumper will have to evolve…Tools are there
Tania Lamb (Long Beach Poly – (Long Beach, Calif.) – 5-6 – 2015 – All tournament honors…Headed to Pitt…Quick and attacking…has range as well…Gets up on jumper…Forces turnovers and converts…Strong in transition
Myah Pace (Bishop O’Dowd – Oakland, Calif.) – 6-0 – 2017 – Athletic wing / guard…Strong…Lefty…Lots of speed with the ball..Pull up and floater in place…Attacks individually…Possibilities
Reili Richardson (Brea Olinda – Brea, Calif.) – 5-10 – 2016 – Long and lean…Could grow…First step…Fluid in traffic…Penetrate and pitch…Release on jumper needs to be quicker…Lots of tools and promise
Aisia Robertson (Bishop O’Dowd – Oakland, Calif.) – 5-9 – 2015 – Kansas signee…Speed and quickness…Ball skills…Crossover…Pull up is there…One on one
Dai’Ja Thomas (Skyline – Dallas, Texas) – 6-2 – 2015 – SMU signee…Athletic forward…Physically strong…Got more aggressive across the event…Some ballhandling…Vertical is there…Rebounds well…Decision making needs to be quicker
Kat Tudor (St. Mary’s – Stockton, Calif.) – 6-0 – 2016 – Well known wing…Lean build…Active with and without ball…Lots of range…Can create her own looks or passes…Surprising speed on both ends…More strength would be an asset
Andee Velasco (Mater Dei – Santa Ana, Calif.) – 5-8 – 2015 – All tournament…Letter of Intent with Loyola Marymount…Up and down within games…Floor leader…Change of speed and direction…Needs to use screens more efficiently…Has range…Assertive on ball defender…Makes plays
Jen Wirth (Seton Catholic – Chandler, Ariz.) – 6-2 – 2017 – Well coached young forward…Lots of length…Runs the floor well…Executes on pick and roll…Jump hook
LeeAnne Wirth (Seton Catholic – Chandler, Ariz.) – 6-3 – 2017 – Moves well…More growth to come…Cuts well without the ball…Fluid in her movement…First step is strong for size…Lateral movement on defense is deceiving
Adriana Zelaya (Millennium – Goodyear, Ariz.) – 6-1 – 2016 – Good length…wing / forward…Moves well…Pull up is there…Lots of tools…Needs to add strength…Has plenty of promise
