Tournament of Champions Future Prospect Player Watch

CHANDLER, Ariz. – There’s simply no valid argument that can be made to lessen the status of the Nike Tournament of Champions as the premier scholastic girls basketball event of the season.  Year after year tournament director Steve Kozaki assembles the deepest and most competitive field of teams that comes closest to satisfying the inordinate obsession of those believing that there can actually be a high school national champion.  Whether or not you give credence to the idea that four games and someone’s opinion qualifies you for a crown and a banner there’s no debate that some of the nation’s top teams and individual talent are on display each year in one of the few venues that affords them the possibility of meeting head to head.

This year was no different and could actually be considered “top heavy” even by TOC standards with the expanse of talent in both the marquee Joe Smith Division as well as the next tier John Anderson bracket.  Both rosters of teams featured some of the most promising prospects on the immediate and long term horizon of colligate basketball.  Today we take a look at some of the performances and promise that was on display in Chandler.

To address the performance of any player in front of Cicero-North Syracuse’s (N.Y.) Breanna Stewart would be evidence of either a lack of respect or lack of knowledge.  While we addressed her performance on bluestarmedia.org after day one following the upset of Morgan Tuck and Bolingbrook (Ill.), her consistent high level of impact play warrants acknowledging once more.  Leading her teammates to a surprising but impressive two win and two loss record with losses by margins of just eight and four points, Stewart provided a level of play unattained by any other player on hand.  Utilizing the three way combination of physical attributes, athletic prowess and basketball skills, the 6-4 forward demonstrated why the folks at UConn are excited about her arrival on campus next fall.  Her height, reach and vertical make her a one man wrecking crew on the defensive end that has opponents hesitating, hearing footsteps and altering their shots to avoid each field goal attempt becoming another block in her total.  Offensively the senior has the tools and versatility to work around the rim as well on the perimeter.  There’s no hesitation on her part to create off the dribble and the stroke and form makes her a threat to spot up or pull up off the drive.  Stewart’s limitation’s lie only with herself and her focus and effort tell you that she’s set the bar high.

If you’re going to talk about Stewart as the tournament’s most impressive player first then it stands to reason that next up should be the tournament’s most valuable player, Shilpa Tummala from Smith Division Champion St. Mary’s (Ariz.).  The 5-11 guard is crowning her final year in scholastic basketball with some of the top performances during the past July club evaluation period and now on the big stage in Chandler.  Destined for Harvard next year, Tummala plays with a passion and intensity that is difficult to find among players at an elite level.  To say that she has an attack is like saying that Justin Bieber has a few fans.  With the ball in her hands she’s assertive off the dribble and more than willing to initiate contact to create her own looks while protecting the ball with her body.  The diversity in her scoring is impressive as she’s a factor in St. Mary’s transition game, a force in penetration and more than able to make defenders pay who foolishly provide room on the perimeter.  Surrounded by talented teammates she’s more than willing to give up the ball and at times can deliver an eye-catching assist.  Defensively she’s just as physical and there’s no hesitancy to use her body or get on the floor to come up with rebounds or loose balls.  It’s safe to say that you would much rather be playing with Tummala rather than against her.

Duke bound Alexis Jones of Irving MacArthur (Texas) is one of those players that will catch the eye of even those who know nothing about the game.  The 5-9 combo is an attacking and athletic guard whose first step would make an NFL tailback proud.  Her individual and one on one skills create both her own looks as well as some sharp and effective interior passing when defenders occasionally rotate in time to change her options.  The pull up she calls upon at times reveals some serious elevation that gives her a clean look at the rim and she has the touch to deliver with consistency.  Her quick release on the perimeter is at times a little early in the possession and sometimes a shot she can get several passes later.  At the same time she has the ability to deliver from both deep and midrange and keep opposing defenses honest or drive them into deciding what is the lesser of evils in her arsenal.  Defensively she can be a lock down stopper both on or off the ball and when focused can keep the ball out of the hands of almost any match up.  Her performance in Chandler led her teammates to a two and two split and 10^th place finish in the Smith Division.

As long as we’re talking about the Jones’s let move on to Riverdale Baptist (Md.) standout and Clemson signee Jonquel Jones.  The 6-0 wing / forward can easily lay claim to the title of one of the most improved players over the past year.  Athletic and long, she presents a challenge to opposing teams in terms of how to match up with her.  Go big and she’s going to take you off the dribble and leave defenders standing.  Go small and she’ll operate down low in a way that would make Dirk Nowitzki proud.  Despite her very lean build she’s physical at both ends and more than willing to initiate the contact herself.  In traffic she can take a hit but also demonstrates the ability to slash into gaps for the simpler opportunities.  Off the pull up she elevates for clean looks and is quick to follow and contribute on the offensive boards.  Her perimeter shot has a somewhat low release to it that might be an issue at the next level but the range and touch are there already.  The same assets that make her a challenging match up for the opposition afford her the potential to be a versatile and effective defender both inside and out.  Jones is an emotional player and nowhere does it show more than defensively and on the boards.  Several rebounds that came her way were pulled and secured in a way to make a statement to opponents giving thought to mixing things up.  Even with all the improvement it’s still obvious that the best is yet to come.

Macy Keen continues to demonstrate the potential that has a lot of schools still drooling over the unsigned senior from Dillard High School (Fla.).  At the same time the 6-5 senior post still shows the rough edges that have her in the “not quite there yet” category.  Her size and frame are right out of the recruiters wish book and her physical strength is something seldom found on the high school level. On the other hand her conditioning at this point needs to be pushed allowing her to be a more consistent contributor at both ends of the court.  Offensively she’s conscious and aware of where she is on the floor and looks to establish herself as an option with a wide base, active feet and extended target.  On the catch it’s obvious she’s been instructed and shown her options but there are still times that it’s apparent that she has her mind made up on her move rather than reading the defender.  Keen goes up strong and doesn’t shy away from contact but her shots are contested much more than they should or need to be.  With size alone she’s a defensive presence and she clears the boards effectively.  As she learns and understands the game and its finer points she’ll become an impact player to whatever extent she’s willing to make the commitment.

It’s always fun to see the players that continue to advance and improve their game consistently over the course of their careers.  Faith Randolph’s evolution as a player has been steady and constant from the first time she caught the attention of recruiters and evaluators to her performance for Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) in this year’s TOC.  The Virginia bound 5-9 guard is impressive both with her physical presence as well as her basketball skills.  Quick, strong and cut she’s a challenging match up for any defender.  There’s no hesitancy on her part to attack the rim nor is there need for much space as she exploits even the smallest of openings.  Her ballhandling serves her well on the break, off penetration and in any traffic that might come her way.  She has the range to force tight close outs but also the touch to pull up off the drive and knock down the midrange look.  Randolph also demonstrated an improved, active effort off the ball leading to some good looks as a result of the sharp passing of talented junior teammate, 5-7 Lindsey Spann.  On the defensive end she has the tools and potential to be an imposing and effective on ball defender with the footspeed to turn the ball at will.

While we mentioned St. Joseph’s (Mo.) standout junior post Sydney Stipanovitch in our Day Two coverage, it’s hard not to notice the play of the Stock sisters as well when you watch the Angels in action.  Maddie Stock in particular is going to catch your attention if you’re looking for the combination of size and perimeter skills that seems to be a priority in the eyes of most recruiters these days.  So much so, the 6-0 senior wing / guard and her sister Morgan have already signed their National Letters of Intent with the folks at the University of Missouri.  Maddie Stock is constantly in motion from baseline to baseline and is going to wear out multiple defenders before the final buzzer of any game in which she plays.  There’s some sound ballhandling in place that allows her to improve both shots and passes as well as get to the rim when the opportunity presents itself.  The range and stroke are definitely there well beyond the arch to keep defenders honest and open up space inside for the attack of her talented teammates.  What may well set her apart offensively is her effort and approach to cutting.  Whether off a screen of filling a lane on the break there is intent and focus on all of her movement as well as an advanced awareness of defenders and their positioning.  On the defensive end the same effort and understanding is there and with the addition of some strength and physical maturity will translate well to the college level.

Brea O’Linda (Calif.) senior Keitra Wallace may still be defining herself from a position point of view but there’s no questioning the performance of the 6-0 Pepperdine signee.  Physically strong and assertive, she’s constantly on the attack and able to create both her own looks as well as set up her teammates with some interior passing.  Wallace is showing some marked improvement in her confidence and ballhandling leading to greater productivity in the halfcourt to go with her contributions in the transition game.  While the perimeter is coming, the interior is still her bread and butter and she’s more than effective at producing on the catch or off the offensive boards.  Her connection on a couple of short jumpers provides the threat that makes her a difficult match up as opposing coaches debate whether to go big or small.  At the other end of the floor Wallace has the quickness to contain on the wing and be a solid contributor in both pressing and trapping situations.  Her embrace of physical play also makes her a strong defender at the small forward spot where her footspeed serves her equally as well.  One of her more impressive attributes defensively is her anticipation on the weakside of the floor which leads to solid helpside rotations as well as more than her share of picks. 

If you like to see the players who have already adapted to the physical style of play that they’re going to find at the next level take a look at constantly evolving junior Amanda Fioravanti of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.).  Looking leaner physically, the 6-1 post plays an aggressive game down low that will serve her well over the course of her high school career as well as when she suits up on the colligate level.  There’s a complete awareness of the need to post up strong and take up space but at the same time she must have aced geometry as she presents an understanding of angles that leads effective seals and simple looks at the rim.  The strength is there to hold her ground and she’s attacking quickly on the catch making helpside efforts for the opposition a challenge.  Playing alongside talented penetrating guards Faith Randolph (2012) and Lindsey Spann (2013) Fioravanti rotates up key and steps out short corner to make herself available as the need arises off their drives.  The willingness to play physical serves her well at the defensive end and also makes her a strong and productive presence on the glass.  Keep watching.

While there were lots of players on hand who could be considered “works in progress” few were as intriguing as Long Beach Poly’s (Calif.) junior Keyla Morgan.  The 5-9 combo guard had some flashes of play that would have made some college players jealous.  While most of the tools are in place there are still times that it’s obvious that she still has a ways to go developmentally to tap into the potential that she shows in glimpses.  Lots of speed and quickness combine with and explosive first step to make her an offensive threat that is tough to contain.  She can be a factor on the break with and without the ball and works well in traffic with a solid build and impressive vertical.  At this point the easiest way to shut her down is to force her left or to give her a cushion and take away all penetration.  As her weak hand develops and the consistency comes to her perimeter game defenders are going to be left guessing and Morgan will find the going easier.  Defensively she was one of the better on ball defenders in Chandler and seemed to embrace the role with a passion.  That same first step allowed her to cut off and turn ballhandlers at will and her quick hands got more than their share of steals and touches.  The future can be bright if she’ll go the distance.

Anybody on hand in Chandler will tell you that this may well have been the strongest John Anderson Division ever.  La Jolla Country Day’s (Calif.) championship is an accomplishment to be proud of and came with some tough battles along the way.  Leading the way for the Torreys and MVP of the Anderson Division was junior 5-9 guard Kelsey Plum.  Should there be any doubters out there regarding Plum and her potential following her performance in the TOC, it’s time to make that appointment with the optometrist.  The multi-talented guard delivered in almost every fashion game in and game out for Coach Terri Bamford.  Whether she was scoring the ball herself, setting up her teammates in transition or off the drive, there were few plays in which she wasn’t a contributor in one way or another.  The ability is there to connect from long distance, the pull up is there both midrange and even out to the 12 to 15 foot neighborhood.  The left hander attacks the rim assertively and finishes well among the bigs as they rotate her way.  While still somewhat slight in her build Plum can take a hit and gets to the line time and again.  Standing out above all of that is the maturity in her game and the decision making she brings to the floor.  The potential is there to play both the point and off guard but its hard not to like her more on the receiving end of an entry pass rather than making one.  That slight build does catch up with her at times on the defensive end but her ability to anticipate and read put her in a position to make more than her fair share of plays.  The long line at her door should have grown even longer over the past week.

You’ve got to figure if we’re including three players from Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.) they must have something special and no doubt they do coming home with a two and two record and a sixth place finish in the Smith Division.  We’ve mentioned Lindsey Spann in the write ups of both Faith Randolph (2012) and Amanda Fioravanti (2013) and for good reason.  The 5-7 point guard is already well known and recognized as a penetrator and she made sure to remove all doubt with her performance in Chandler.  Spann pushes the ball from makes, misses and turnovers setting the pace that serves her and her teammates well across all four quarters.  Off the break and in halfcourt situations she got to the rim time and again getting by even the quickest of defenders.  Her crossover is one that challenges any aggressive opponent dug in defensively.  She can finish in traffic but is equally adept at delivering the ball to the open teammate as she disrupts opposing defenses.  There are still times that shot selection could be a little more refined but all in all her choices are sound and effective.  Her stroke and touch are there and require defenders to do the last thing they want to do…close out tight.  Defensively she has lateral speed and quick hands to be effective on ball from baseline to baseline if she’ll accept the role. 

If there was one player not in the Smith or Anderson Divisions that had folks in the gyms talking it was Pinnacle’s (Ariz.) Sydney Wiese.  The sharpshooting 5-9 guard opened the play in the Mike Desper Division with a 44 point performance that included seven 3 pointers and continued the scoring onslaught all the way through their runner up finish.  Wiese has been a steady and improving performer throughout her high school and club careers and now as a junior seems to be moving to the next tier among prospects.  She’s versatile in that she can score effectively from deep but has the ballhandling skills to get by opponents who play too tight and aggressive.  Her individual skills are now revealing impressive hesitation and crossover moves that are drawing her match ups out of their stances.  In traffic she’s using her reach to create distance between the defender and the ball getting off a few shots that might have been blocked a year ago.  While she’s obviously grown in the height department she’ll still need to add some inches in the weight room as she faces bigger and much more physical defenders down the road.  That same need will apply at the defensive end as well to make her as effective as she is offensively.  The length in her build and agility in her feet make her potentially a stout defender with added strength.

While just a sophomore, it seems as though we’ve been watching Dr. Phillip’s (Fla.) Taryn Griffey for years.  That may well be because we have seen the 5-6 point guard in action for some time now and it’s still exciting to watch the evolution and development of her game.  Physically she brings everything to the table that you could ask of a point.  She has the speed and quickness, a solid build for her size and a vertical that rivals anyone in the gym inch for inch.  Additionally, she can finish efficiently inside with that ability to get off the floor.  Take those tools and add a consistent, attacking mentality and you’ve pretty much created the catalyst for 32 minutes of transition basketball.  Playing alongside another dynamic guard, Sydnei McCaskill (2013), Dr. Phillips can set a tempo that can be difficult to contain.  Griffey is developing more and more consistency to her perimeter and pull up game which is nothing but bad news for opponents and their hopes for getting a stop.  Defensively she’s showing the potential and rapidly becoming the same kind of threat she is on the offensive end of the floor.  There is still a reliance on her speed and quickness that leads to risks that others can’t get away with and still recover.

If you’re going to talk about Windward (Calif.) and their impressive third place Smith Division performance, odds are you’ll start with 6-6 Imani Stafford (2012) and 5-7 Jordin Canada (2014) and rightfully so.  But if you want to look a little deeper into the roster take a quick look at sophomore Kristen Simon.  The 6-1 interior threat offered up plenty of minutes that kept coach Steve Smith smiling and showed lots of promise for the future.  A physical and solid build gives Simon a presence down low that can be somewhat deceiving.  In addition to her size she’s active and aggressive in both her play and effort to create her own looks.  On the catch she attacks the rim quickly and demonstrated a decent touch on her aggressive moves.  Even without the ball she posts strong and commands defensive attention and waters down the helpside potential of opponents.  Defensively she’s a little too comfortable settling in behind her match up and defending after the catch.  However, she’s more than willing to put a body on that individual and often moves her well off the block and out of position.  That same physical approach serves her well in her rebounding efforts as she clears space with the best of them.  Lots of work to be done but lots of tools in place.  Good things should be on the horizon.

The third chapter in the Samuelson Family saga is now playing on the high school level and could be showing the potential for being the best version of the three.  Of course that stands to reason when you have the built in advantage of talented older sisters like Stanford freshman Bonnie (2011) and Edison (Calif.) teammate Karlie (2013) to hone your skills against your whole life.  Katie Lou offers up the usual family trait of deadly three point accuracy with the confidence and ability to deliver it against even the most aggressive of defenders.  Also in the mix for the 6-3 freshman is a sharp skill set that includes the ballhandling to get to the rim as well as the vision and passing skills to find the open teammate as defenders rotate.  Just since this summer there’s more refinement in her approach and more fluid element to her attack off the drive.  Her size allows her to be a formidable defender at times and her footspeed is faster than first impressions imply.  She’s effective on the offensive glass and provides plenty of boards defensively as well.  Lots of size, skills, and potential worth keeping a close eye on.