2021 Watch List Newcomers: Forwards

The North Carolina class of 2021 watch list was updated, and there are some good new names to make note of. Here are some of the new forwards that made the watch list, and each of these ladies can play multiple positions on the court. [player_tooltip player_id="172618" first="Aliciah" last="Fields"] | Northwest Cabarrus Standing at 6’3,” Fields uses her length to move quickly by her opponents with or without the ball. She can jump high to grab a rebound, and before you know it, she is pushing the ball up the court herself on a fast break. She handles the ball well making some nice moves to protect each possession. Her ability to fight through contact anywhere on the court shows how persistent she is to contribute for her team. She does an excellent job positioning herself on defense making sure the person she is guarding is not able to get a good entry pass. This translates well to her set offensive possessions as she knows how to move her opponent to get the best pass from her teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="217536" first="Chelsi" last="Hodges"] | Watauga Hodges is a bully when it comes to making moves inside. She uses her body and power dribbles to get to the position she wants in order to score. Hodges always seems to know exactly where she needs to go with the ball whenever she gets the entry pass making it difficult to defend her with these quick decisions. She doesn’t have to be close to the basket to score, though, as she has a nice jump shot from many areas of the court. It doesn’t matter who is in front of her either as she can score through any kind of contact. She knows how to make smart cuts to the gaps of the defense, too, looking to score from a quick pass, or she can find an open teammate to have them contribute in some way. [player_tooltip player_id="217524" first="Imari" last="Knight"] | Central Cabarrus Knight is someone who knows how to make her own plays. She can handle the ball dribbling into the paint herself. She knows how to push the ball up the court after grabbing a rebound or creating a steal, and she always keeps her eyes up looking for open teammates to contribute, too. She is aggressive when handling the ball inside making sure she has her way moving her defenders where she wants them to go. When she gets an entry pass inside, she knows exactly where to move with the ball in order for her to score. Additionally, she is an effective shooter from many areas of the court including behind the three point line. [player_tooltip player_id="217530" first="Diamond" last="McDowell"] | Asheboro McDowell is a 6’1” athlete who could potentially play all positions on the court. She can handle the ball and control the tempo of the game. She can post up underneath having her way in the paint. McDowell does an excellent job creating space between her and her opponent, especially when getting the ball outside as she can make her way to the basket with ease. She does an excellent job taking care of the possessions making moves with the ball in a way where defenders have trouble tracking the ball and keeping up with her speed. She has no trouble tracking the ball when she is on defense grabbing steals from jumping in passing lanes or blocking shots preventing the other team from scoring. This makes her an effective rebounder, too. [player_tooltip player_id="213230" first="Sa’Miyah" last="Williams"] | Butler Williams is another dynamic player. She can grab rebounds and push it up the court herself. She knows how to drive all the way to the hoop or look for an open teammate making a cut for the basket. She fights for every rebound and knows exactly how to move her body to score on second chance opportunities. When handling the ball outside the arc, she knows how to create separation from her opponents to put up her shot, especially to show it off from downtown. Her length makes it difficult for other teams to get anything going on offense as she is constantly jumping into passing lanes making steals. [player_tooltip player_id="217546" first="Jessie" last="Wiles"] | Davidson Day Wiles may be listed as a forward, but she is someone that can play all over the court. She is a shooting machine downtown making her a threat anywhere on the court. Her ability to shoot makes defenders try to close out on her which quickly turns into her using fakes and driving around her opponents. She does an excellent job handling the ball looking for her open teammates or taking it all the way to the basket herself. Wiles has no fear of contact that may be coming her way when moving quickly to the basket. Her length allows her to create deflections whether it is right out of the hands of her opponent or jumping into passing lanes.