Asberry and Porter were Ballin’ Pretty on Saturday
Kaylynn Asberry (left) and Ronnie Porter (right) of Como Park and Ballin’ Pretty are two of the best 8th graders in Minnesota. Kaylynn Asberry is silky smooth, like a Luther Vandross record playing in the background. She’s got swagger, too, but…
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Continue ReadingKaylynn Asberry is silky smooth, like a Luther Vandross record playing in the background. She’s got swagger, too, but goes about her business in a way that is more subtle than sassy. Ronnie Porter is more like that annoying mosquito you cannot swat on a hot summer night. She’s fast and ferocious and is most likely going to get to the ball before you do. Together, they form a potent combination that was on display Saturday as the AAU season officially opened at Bloomington Kennedy. We already know that Asberry and Porter are two of the best 2022s in the state, but their Ballin’ Pretty Elite squad made it clear in the season opener that the team could be legit, too.
In their first game of the day (40 minutes running time) Ballin’ Pretty scored north of 80 points against a decent AAU squad to win by 64. In the second game – a physical affair against the Lady Titans of Minneapolis – it took a little time for BPE to get rolling. Once they did it was game over. If tournament organizers don’t put the team in the right brackets in the coming weeks, there could be more blowouts ahead.
These coach’s kids were born to play
Although they are still in junior high, Asberry (better known as ‘KK’) and Porter made a huge impact at Como Park High School this winter. They combined for nearly 20 points per game on a team with four senior starters who averaged 42. Those are pretty good numbers for 8th graders coming off the bench. In reality, the pair were among the team’s top three players on most nights.
Both girls come from hardcore basketball families. Asberry’s dad Kevin coaches Ballin’ Pretty. Porter’s mom Yolanda is an assistant at Como Park. There was little doubt that the two girls would play. “KK came out of her mama’s womb with a basketball in her hands,” coach Asberry said with a hearty laugh. “Ronnie has been playing since she was like 2 years old. She is our little spark plug. Anything we ask her to do, she can do it.”
Asberry, a 5’5 point guard, already has two seasons of varsity ball on her resume. She was in the starting lineup as a 7th grader at Highland Park before moving to Como for tougher competition. She has phenomenal court vision, handles the ball exceptionally well, and can get to the rim in a variety of ways. Porter, a 5’2 guard, is super quick and ultra-athletic. She is an excellent one-on-one defender and can fire the three ball. “KK always has her head up and her vision is very, very good. She knows where her teammates like to get the ball and she puts it there,” Kevin said. “Ronnie has a very high basketball IQ and she loves to compete. She can also get shots in bunches.”
When high school and college coaches watch Porter and Asberry for the first time, their reaction is almost always the same. “That number 1 (Porter) is really good,” a coach said to me on Saturday, “but that number 24 (Asberry) is special. Really, really special.” Once her outside shooting improves, Asberry will be the complete package. Of course, a couple more inches would be helpful, too.
Take note if you plan to watch Asberry play. She is going to suit up for Ballin’ Pretty at most Minnesota events while doing duty with Tylor Coley’s 2021 Minnesota Suns nationally.
Winning one for the underdogs
It can be difficult for small, independent programs to earn respect in AAU where the big clubs get most of the best players and a preferred path to the state championship. When Ballin’ Pretty arrived on the AAU scene last summer, they made a splash in their very first game, an encounter with a quality second team from one of those big programs. (I’ll leave their name out of this recollection so as not to embarrass.) On paper, it appeared as though the little squad from St. Paul had been put in the wrong bracket as sometimes happens when a newbie shows up. In most of these situations, I’m putting my money on the name brand while hoping for the best for the newcomers. That’s not how it turned out that day.
Simply put, Ballin’ Pretty blew the other kids off the floor, holding them to single digits as the girls in pink conducted a clinic in run-and-gun basketball. Largely due to the excellence of Porter and Asberry, the girls from St. Paul were ballin’ and for the opponent it wasn’t pretty.
Three more players to watch
Guard Makayla Holton, Charter Stars – Holton is a strong, athletic player who has averaged nearly 9 points per game playing high school ball the past two years. “Makayla loves to play defense. That is her thing,” coach Asberry said. “She loves playing one-on-one and trying to stop the other team’s best player.” She’ll be at Como in the fall.
Guard Raven Flores, undecided – Flores did not play this winter after sustaining a knee injury last fall but she has the speed and skill to hang with the big girls. “Raven is like a track star out there,” said the coach. “She is very fast and very hard-nosed.”
Forward Shakyla Walker, Como Park – Walker played some varsity minutes for Como and will likely be a big piece of next year’s puzzle. “She’s playing post for us. Obviously she’s a little small for that but she knows how to use her body and has very good low post moves,” Kevin said. “She has very high IQ, as well.”