Nike Tournament of Champions: Top Playmakers

Last week I was able to attend a portion of the Tournament of Champions hosted by Nike at Chicago's McCormick Place. Nearly 800 teams were in attendance at the downtown convention center that contained 72 basketball courts. Dozens of Elite teams and players took part in the event, but here are a few of the Top Playmakers that I noticed from teams located in Northern Illinois: <strong>Brianna McDaniel (Chicago Hoops Express Silver)</strong> – The 5'11” Shooting Guard from Kenwood is PGH Illinois #1 Player in the 2022 class for many reasons. McDaniel is an especially strong Guard for her age that absorbs contact well and finishes at a high rate in the lane. Her mid-range and outside shots are consistently effective, as is her ability to guard multiple positions on defense. <strong>Makiyah Williams (Chicago Hoops Express Silver)</strong> – Williams is a 6'0” Small Forward from Trinity High School who has really turned into an Elite player over the past several months. She is strong with the ball and uses her long arms to hit shots from the elbow extended, or runners in the lane. Williams is someone has a great combination of athleticism and size to guard nearly any player on the opposing team. <strong>Miyah Brown (Rockford Heat 16U Rise</strong>) – A 5'10'' Shooting Guard from Winnebago, Brown continues to impress me in different ways every time I watch her play. I've seen the rising Sophomore dominate in the low post with her strength, I've seen her turn into a knock-down shooter from the outside, and this week just saw her making high-level plays throughout the game. Her handle is great, and she has an array of moves that she can use to create shots for herself and can convert at a high rate. <strong>Lexie Sinclair (Truth 16U Silver)</strong> – With her team trailing for much of the game I watched, Sinclair's energy nearly led them to a big comeback victory. While they fell just short, the 5'7'' PG from Bartlett High School provided energy on defense and in the transition game to keep the game close. The rising Junior is a strong attacker in the lane and does a nice job of absorbing contact and finding ways to finish at the rim. <strong>Lauren Hall (Chicago Power) – </strong>The 6'1” Guard from Fenwick High School continues to be one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2021 class. Hall can typically play the 2-4 spots effectively with her length and athleticism. She shoots the ball well from mid-range and beyond the arc and can also post up and hold her own down low, which she displayed well this past week.