Triad Area Sleepers Outside the Top 100 But Not For Long Class of 2022
These players may be outside the Top 100 players in the Triad but they showed glimpses of what they can do and will do when given the chance. With the extended offseason expect them all to come out of the…
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Continue ReadingThese players may be outside the Top 100 players in the Triad but they showed glimpses of what they can do and will do when given the chance. With the extended offseason expect them all to come out of the shadows and have impactful junior campaigns and to be college prospects when their senior season finishes. They all share a passion for the game and a strong will and commitment to get better and that they will.
Kyla McCoy- G- Parkland High School
Making adjustments is part of being a good basketball player as there are different things and situations that come up all the time and the way you react can decide your success as a basketball player. This player has made some serious adjustments moving into NC and trying to adjust to all the things that come with that not to mention the different basketball played here and then being asked to do more than she is used to on the court but she has handled it all well and is on her way to being a special player. Her offensive skills are a work in progress as she learns to handle the ball better and continues to work on her shot but she showed enough promise in games this year that she has the ability to be an offensive threat with multiple double figures games. The part of her game that is already turning heads is her defensive skills. Her understanding of playing defense and her anticipation and instincts are just amazing to watch. She just knows where to be and has a knack of knowing where the next pass is going and she is there to intercept it which led to her 3.5 steals per game average with multiple games of 5 or more steals and a couple of 9 steal games. On the boards is also where she uses her basketball IQ to read rebounds and is able to get in position and rebound, a special skill she has for someone her size and she used it to average almost 7 rebounds a game with multiple double-digit rebound games. When her offensive skills catch up to her defensive skill she will be one of the most complete basketball players in the triad area.
Makayla Brown- F- Clover Garden High School
A forward with a big engine and basketball skills that are solid and developing the more she plays and practices. What catches your eye right away when you watch her play is she never rests, she never takes a play off she is always involved in the action and around the ball. At present it is this hard work playing style that enables her to do so many things on both ends of the floor. On the offensive end, she is learning to put the ball in the basket consistently and that will come as will her outside shot which has a nice form just needs reps and confidence but even without it she runs the floor well with her hustle and scores around the rim well enough to expect her to improve and be a solid offensive player. She was able to show glimpses of this with a few double-figure games so one can be quietly confident she has the skills and work ethic that it will all come together. Defensively she is solid she understands the concepts and plays hard which is an important factor on the defensive end. Her rebounding is her strength at present with a few double-digit rebounding games and a solid 5 rebound a game average. What truly works in her favor is that her team plays a lot of games over 30 in a season and that will give her ample opportunity to gain experience and showcase her skills, so expect bigger and better things from her next season with the extended break and her hard-working attitude.
Georgia Walls- 5’8”- G- High Point Christian Academy
One of those nice sized guards that can play either guard spot or even the small forward if needed adding to her versatility. What is evident when you watch her play is that she is sound fundamentally and knows how to play the game. She is developing her offensive skills and she has a great foundation to build upon as she handles well, passes the ball nicely, and has a good shooting form so it will just take a little time before all these areas get stronger and she starts to shine. Defensively she is solid as well and knows and understands the principles and schemes and that enables her to defend multiple positions and make plays on that end of the floor. She is one of those players that has all the attributes to be a good player with her size, basketball IQ and fundamentals she just needs more playing and practice time to gain more confidence and to sharpen her skills. Expect her to work really hard during this downtime and with extended playing time expect her to figure it out and have a nice season this season and to follow that up with a special senior season.
Anna Hackney- 5’2”- G- Burlington Christian Academy
A small guard whose game showed marked improvement over last season and is showing her hard work is paying off. She has all the point guard skills you need she handles the ball well and is quick with the ball in hand from one end to the other and more importantly she is safe with the ball and does not turn it over often. Her passing skills are good especially for a shorter guard she creates nice angles to make passes and does a good job of keeping her head up and finding open teammates which is an important trait if she wants to one day play at the next level. When she gets into the lane she finishes well and her outside shot shows promise and as it improves the more her game will elevate. As a defender she defends the ball well and uses her smarts and quickness to be an above-average defender. With the improvement from one year to the next one can only imagine how much improvement she will come back with after this extended layoff if it is as good as it has been expect her to have an impressive year this year and be one of the rising point guard stars in the area.
Melanie Niebitsie- Livingston- 5’7”- G- Page High School
If you know what you are looking for in a player it does not take much to see a player can play the game and that is the case with this player. In a limited number of games she was MaxPreps Player of the Game in half of the games she played that speaks volumes to the talent this player possesses. She is a combo guard and can even move to small forward which she does a lot for an undersized team but no matter where she plays her grasp on the game and what it takes to be successful shines through. On the offensive end she shoots the ball really well and is a solid knockdown 3 point shooter that you can’t leave open but inside she has the smarts to score at will in the paint even against taller players. As she plays more games you will witness her ability to put the ball in the basket from just about anywhere on the floor. Defensively she can defend the guard position but is usually called upon to defend bigger players but she uses her smarts and high basketball IQ to get the job done. She is just one of those players you sit and watch and realize she just knows how to play the game and as she plays in more games she will no doubt be one of the players to watch next season, expect big things from her.