RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.– We made time this past weekend for our annual trek to the Golden State to take in the West Coast Premier Spring Invitational. Each year the well run event offers up a good look at some of the top teams in California and always provides a few out of state visitors as well to stir the pot a bit. The 2016 edition featured 96 teams from five different states and Canada. While the Division – I coaches are all snug in their recruiting beds there were plenty of recruiters from other levels combing the sidelines and taking in the action in the seven separate divisions.
The championship match-up in the 32 team Super Elite Division featured two Nike EYBL programs looking for some home state bragging rights. Host program West Coast Premier faced geographical rival California Storm – Team Taurasi after their earlier respective semifinal wins over 805 Basketball and Arizona Select. A nip and tuck battle saw WCP holding a one point lead with the ball and 22 seconds remaining. Unfortunately rather than holding the ball and waiting on the obvious foul that was coming an errant shot went up giving Team Taurasi another look at things. Coach George Quintero attempted to call time out but officials were focused on the transition going back the other way that saw Sydney Boyer (2017) find Jasmine Hardy (2018) for the winning bucket and the 44 – 43 win.
The consolation bracket featuring the number two teams from each pool saw another Nike EYBL team take home honors as the Missouri Phenom got by the So Cal Select by a 45 – 38 margin. For complete tournament information and results, follow the link below.
https://basketball.exposureevents.com/68705/west-coast-spring-invitational/schedule
As always, there was more talent on hand than we can include but here’s a look at some of the top performers of the weekend. (In alphabetical order for those of you looking to read more into things!)
It’s hard not to like the approach of Cal Sparks Extreme forward Tess Amundsen. A 5-11 undersized forward, she’s willing to be as physical as the game calls for. With the ball in her hands she’s constantly on the attack and generally will find a way to get to the rim. She’s active in making herself an option and on the catch is quick to put her head down and go. While Amundsen does rush at times, there’s a productivity in her game that serves her well from the high post or even posting up on occasion.
One of the more complete players on hand was Arizona Select 2018 forward Caitlin Bickle. Solid, strong and standing 6-2, she finds a way to make herself a factor in virtually every play. A lot of it comes from effort but plenty comes from an acute understanding of the game as well. Offensively she’s content to let the game come to her and may be as active without the ball as any player we’ve seen in a while. There’s some ballhandling in place that serves her well but will need some restraint if used on the break. Easily an instrumental player in mix for a promising and successful team.
Team Taurasi got a lot of contributions from different players on their roster. One of the more consistent efforts came from 2017 grad Sydney Boyer. The active wing / forward offers up a versatile attack combining size and skills. She mixes up her game and challenges defenses whether to match up big or to go small. Boyer reads defenders well and creates a lot of her opportunities off well timed and aggressive cuts. She can create off the dribble but the form is there on her shot and she has the rage to force opponents to close out on the catch. The best thing may well be that she’s just scratching the surface.
It’s hard to stand out on a team with legitimate depth but Taylor Chavez is finding a way to do it for the Arizona Select. A slight build at 5-9 allows her the mobility to keep defenders chasing both on the break as well as within halfcourt sets. Her quick release and range combine to extend the closeouts of most opponents and keeps them guessing. A 2018 class member, Chavez can also develop her own looks off the dribble with a quick first step and a lethal crossover. As she matures physically with more strength defenders are going to start losing sleep.
Ayanna Clark’s potential is off the charts. It’s been said time and time again and the 6-3 post offers up more than her share of reminders to opponent after opponent. The USC 2017 verbal commit fits the cliché of a “woman among girls” with her aggressive, physical game. At the same time the So Cal Select post leaves you wanting more. Her play is above that of almost any athlete she lines up with but that consistency in her attack just isn’t quite there yet. When she does embrace that willingness to dominate Clark might even surprise herself. She can be as good as she decides to be.
Maybe one of the unsung but key players on the West Coast Premier roster is 2017 post Kiara Edwards. Standing somewhat less than her listed 6-1, she’s physically strong and not hesitant to put that force to work. Her movement and agility is deceiving for her size and she’s got some solid skills to call upon to get the job done. On the catch she can read defenders and makes good choices with the ball. Edwards can finish around the rim but is equally adept at delivering the ball to a teammate with better options. She’ll put a body on the opposition and you can count on her being there on the boards.
Kenzie Forbes continues to add depth to her already challenging offensive arsenal. The 2018 Arizona Select 6-0 “utility player” has the tools to play #1 through #4 and have success at each. She can create her own but was just as efficient off the cut this weekend. In traffic she’s finding a way to get her looks and avoiding having to go over defenders with more size. Her crossover had some spotlight moments as did her hesitation move. The form is there on the spot up and pull up but she will drift on occasion. The passing is sharp and keeps the opposition honest.
At times it’s hard to find those textbook, well coached athletes who simply know how to play the game. Samantha Fries of the OC Rhythm team provided a good weekend of work that any coach would have been proud of. Just a 2019, the 6-0 forward has not only a fundamental skill set but a sharp basketball IQ to boot. Due to her youth she’s still lacking some of the strength that will serve her well down the road. Add in her strong work ethic and she’s one to continue to watch very closely.
Just a quick reference to a young guard who had some “moments” while showing some promise. Aunjona James is a 5-9 2019 guard for the Lady Fresno Heat. While her play was a roller coaster at times, the ups were way more noticeable than the downs. She’s athletic, aggressive and as mentioned initially…young. She makes plays and has a bright future as her game develops.
The interior presence provided by Jasmine Jones for Team Taurasi in their championship run was instrumental. The undersized forward is an effective force on the catch as well as off the glass. At 5-11 she attacks the rim in the way every coach dreams of. From the high post her drive is lethal and features an explosive first step that will challenge any defender. In transition she created some of her own options off the dribble and demonstrated some instincts for play away from the rim. Her efforts on the glass will keep her in the good graces of any team she plays for.
Another versatile player that was flying around the floor for Team Taurasi was 2017 wing Aubrey Knight. A highly regarded volleyball player, Knight uses an impressive vertical to contribute on both ends of the floor. She’s a presence on the glass and makes herself a factor on defenses as well. On the catch she has sound form but the tools are there to take it to the rim just the same. Defensively she anticipates well and is going to be in the mix when there’s a loose ball on the floor.
The GBL Candace Parker squad got a strong effort from 2018 guard Dawnyel Lair. An athletic 5-8 combo, she had no trouble getting herself to the rim time and again. Her use of a well-honed shot fake and strong ballhandling severed her well. Once deep in the paint she was able to both convert as well as deliver some strong inside passing. As the bigs rotated her way Lair demonstrated some effective airborne body control. With the ball in her hands she leaves no doubt that she’s running the show.
Destiny Littleton is playing some of the more complete basketball we’ve seen from her to date. There’s a lot more versatility in the offensive attack of the West Coast Premier 2017 guard. Off the dribble she’s doing a better job of drawing defenders out of their stance and is scoring in a greater variety of ways. She’s making herself a factor with and without the ball and is always an option in transition. On ball Littleton seems more aggressive defensively but still likes to take a chance or two on the weakside.
Left hander Myah Pace is demonstrating s strong skill set this spring. The 5-10 senior to be is a force with the ball in her hands both in the halfcourt as well as in transition. Pace can develop her own looks however she’s somewhat upright at times. The ability is there to get to the rim but the pull up is a solid option to call on. Her elevation on that pull up as well as in traffic among the bigs is impressive and gets her some clean looks at the rim. Off the drive she also provided some solid interior passing as the rotations came her way.
Lean and wiry Kayla Padilla provided plenty of firepower for the So Cal Select. She’s deceiving at first look but the 2019 guard is on the attack from the moment she walks on the floor. There’s plenty of quickness and she utilizes her change of speed and direction as well as anyone. The crossover left a few defenders standing as well. Padilla got to the rim more than her share of times but also went to an efficient floater as well when needed. The form is there on the perimeter but she pulls her follow through on occasion.
If you haven’t seen 2020 Wiggins Waves point guard Te-Hina Paopao, make sure you do…soon. Despite her age, the combination of athleticism, skills, instincts and court intelligence are obvious even to those who know little about the game. While the physical growth has just kicked in over the past year, her game has already been developing and being a part of Teri Bamford’s program is only going to help her take it to its limits. The rare ability is there to make plays at speed and she’s more than willing to improve the options of those around her. Paopao is your full service point guard…and then some. Even without the ball she’s in constant motion and making herself available off both cuts and screens. Major…period.
The Missouri Phenom has lots of players to call upon on their roster this summer. However, few can provide the spark 2017 point guard Jadyn Pimental provides. A dynamic athlete, she may stand under her listed 5-4 but she more than makes up for her lack of inches with a relentless attack. Pimental sets the tempo of the game and has the ability to make things happen in transition or in the halfcourt. On ball she’s as quick of a defender as you’ll find and the lack of size doesn’t hamper her willingness to play physical.
If you like power players at the guard spot then you’ll love the direction the Oakland Soldier’s Raziya Potter is taking her game. The 5-10 2018 Potter is a force with the ball in her hands. The ballhandling is solid and her hesitation move gets defenders lunging. Her acceleration can leave defenders scrambling and she’s elusive once in traffic. Potter can handle the contact and doesn’t back down when the bigs come her way. She’ll need to be more active without the ball to keep defenders honest as her game is more recognized and scouted.
Recent Cal commit Kianna Smith continues to provide her smooth, fluid play for West Coast Premier. The 5-11 guard has the ability to create both shots and passes. Her change of speed and direction keeps defenders off balance and the 2017 grad reads her defender as well as anyone. Defensively the length is there to be a real factor on and off the ball in both full and halfcourt schemes. Her complete game is going to serve her well at the next level.
If Alaysia Styles, a Cal commit, continues to elevate her game the folks in Berkeley won’t be able to get the smiles off their faces. Each time we’ve seen the 6-2 Wiggins Waves swing player we see her take her game just a little further. Her attack is more aggressive and she’s scoring in a variety of ways while challenging defenders inside and out. A strong ballhandler, Styles is also active without the ball and cutting with intent. The mobility she has makes her a threat on both ends. The tools she can bring defensively give her a complete college ready resume’.
WCP Golden City got some strong work from 2017 swing player Ilmari Thomas. At 6-0 she’s solid as they come and has the ability to be effective as a strong guard or even a small forward. She likes to create her own looks and has the ballhandling skills to do so. On the catch she’s a threat from the perimeter but is looking to exploit a bad close out and attack the rim at every opportunity. There’s great versatility to go with solid physical skills. A strong summer could see interest from above the mid-majors in the mix right now.
