WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a week jam packed with basketball to wrap up the year, the 8th Annual National Title IX Holiday Invitational Conference and Classic once again provided a blueprint for a successful basketball event. Featuring both high profile teams and talent as well as a classic setting like the DC Armory, the Title IX is a staple among holiday tournaments. Saladin Reese and the SANKOFA Project team have utilized the event to promote Title IX and women’s basketball since it’s inception eight years ago.
For complete brackets and results, follow the link below.
From freshman standouts to established stars and unsigned seniors, there was talent from coast to coast on display. Nationally-ranked programs were well-represented as were some of the top programs from north of the border. Here are just a few of the players who closed 2016 on a high note in DC this past week.
Kiandra Brown – 2020 – 6-1 – Post – E.S. Saint-Laurent – Strong freshman post prospect…Runs the floor and athletic…Posted up hard and has some back to basket and face up move set already…Also useful in screen and roll game…15 foot range is there
Kamila Cardosa – 2020 – 6-6 – Post – Hamilton Heights — Legit height and wingspan…Not afraid to get physical…Showed some nice finishing skills…Will go up and snatch balls out of the air…Plays a mature game for a freshman post
Maeve Carroll – 2017 – 5-11 – Forward – Georgetown Visitation – Unsigned…Smart player who can score inside…Likes the screen and roll…Undersized but knows how to play…Lots of effort
Janai Crooms – 2018 – 5-10 – Guard – St. Andrew’s School — Stocky guard who can handle and drive…Light on her feet but strong…Great ball skills…Got up and caught a lob off a sideline inbounds play
Makayla Daniels – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard/Guard – Frederick — Young combo…Nice build…Driver…Controls body and ball well…Keeps her head up to see the floor…Has a chance to be a very good player
Kirsten Deans – 2019 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Forest Trail Academy — Did a little bit of everything…Shot the three…Got to basket…Defended, assisted, and hit the boards hard for a PG…Nice stroke at the charity stripe…Complete player
Rokia Doumbia – 2019 – 5-10 – Point Guard/Guard – Hamilton Heights — Big, physical combo guard…Comes off the bench on a loaded team…Vocal…Good handles…Gets after it on D…Nice court vision to advance ball in transition…Lefty with three point range
Abigail Eads – 2018 – 6’3 – Post – TPLS Christian Academy — Big, strong post…Runs the floor well…Skills continue to develop…First year with the team…Plays behind two senior signees
Taisha Exanor – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard – E.S. Saint-Laurent — Explosive first step for a tall, long guard…Athletic rebounder who got after it on the O boards…Good glide through the air to go along with nice handles…Room to grow as a jump shooter…Nice wing player
Mykea Gray – 2017 – 5-6 – Point Guard – National Christian Academy – Miami signee…Hard to stop with the ball in her hands…Showed off her ball handling, passing, and finishing arsenal early and often…Good at breaking down D off the dribble with wow pass ability
Ashlyn Hampton – 2017 – 6-2 – Post – Forest Trail Academy — Unsigned…Moves adequately…Active without/away from the ball on both sides…Likes to flash…Can get position inside at times
Kathryn Headspeth – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – Long Beach Poly — Big kid with a nice frame and build…Able to handle and pass ahead on the break throwing the touchdown pass… The potential is here
Brianna Jackson – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – Salem — Strong, physically imposing post…Nice feet and hands…Able to take two or three dribbles in transition and make a nice one handed bounce pass in motion…Can finish over the shoulder inside
Xianna Josephs – 2018 – 6-1 – Post – TRC Academy — Big post who runs the floor well…Decisive rebounder…Has a big drop step and covers a lot of ground with the crab dribble in the post…Lots to like
Julia Kelner – 2017 – 6-2 – Post – Jamesville-DeWitt — Big kid and above average rim runner…Fights hard for position…Finishes with both hands…Consistent scoring factor inside against high level competition…Has the basic move set down with some good footwork…Blue collar player
Paxton Krenz – 2020 – 5-8 – Guard – Heritage (FL) — Serious threat beyond the arc…Handles well in transition for a young two guard…Scrappy player that will defend and rebound
Nydia Lampkin – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Heritage (FL) — Long, athletic forward…Gets up for the quick ball snatch on the boards…Can handle it some…Face up game is still raw…Stock will rise as she continues to develop skills to go with impressive athleticism
Tamani Manning – 2017 – 6-2 – Post – William Flemming — Strong post with a wide frame…Has some knowledge of how to use that…Can really bang inside at times…Will hit the boards…Has some back to basket game but still room to grow there…Unsigned
Jayda and Jayla Rufus-Milner – 2018 – 5-11 – Forwards – Harvard-Westlake – Twins with identical games as well…Athletic and active…Drivers who want to get to the basket…Rebound and do the heavy lifting inside for H-W…Both could expand their jump shooting ability
Claire Neff – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – Maryvale Prep — Nice size for a freshman forward…Can rebound and start the break on her own…Has nice pace pushing it up the floor…Can drive and shoot the three…Bright future
Devyne Newman – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Herndon — Speedy wing…Plays with good control…Nice shake and handle to her game…Likes mid-range but also can stretch it to the three point line…Right hand is her preference right but has a left…Needs to get over the tendency to go right
Briel Palmer – 2017 – 5-4 – Point Guard/Guard – Parkdale — Scoring combo guard with nice mid range, drive and dish… Hard-nosed kid who competed and showed ability to put the team on her back and make plays…Still available
Jessica Reid – 2019 – 6-4 – Post – TRC Academy — Big post that will block some shots…Flashes well without ball…Can shoot over the shoulder with a nice, soft touch…Improving her footwork…Vertical leap will be the next step
Tori Tolson – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Crossland — Freshman guard with a nice build…Strong set of athletic tools already…Defensive output and rebounding both stood out
Jasmen Walton – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard – Western — Tall, long ball handler…Good court vision and wow pass ability…Showed off a fast push with her long stride
