Weekend Recap: Stock Risers

Bash Hudson

May 11, 2021 @ 08:20 AM

Jimenez was instrumental in Beat The Odds comeback win vs. ASA Wildcats Saturday night. I was impressed by her inside/out game and, specifically, Jimenez’s timely mid-range jump shots down the stretch. Jimenez’s off-hand around the basket is very smooth, and she has so much confidence scoring on the block with her left. She is a difficult cover for opposing bigs because you have to account for her ability to score over either shoulder and her strength in the post gives her even more of an advantage. Overall, this was a very impressive showing on offense for Jimenez. Cameron Watkins Cameron Watkins 5'7" | SF Dracut | 2022 State New E - Evolution/Dracut - 5’7’’ - SF - ’22 ’22 PGH Rank: WL

I didn’t see anyone play harder than Watkins did on Saturday. Her effort on defense is top-notch. She is an athletic wing who flies around the court making impactful defensive plays, tipping passes, and is a scoring threat in transition off of turnovers. If I am building a team that wants to press and trap the length of the court, I am taking Watkins and her defensive versatility in a heartbeat. She is undersized for a wing, but she plays like a 5’11’’- 6’0’’ forward. Watkins is relentless on the glass, tough as nails, and gives 110% every possession. She was crucial to Evolution winning over the weekend. https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1391170008068366348 Molly Donovan Molly Donovan 5'11" | SG St. George’s | 2025 State New E - MT Elite Ducks/Duxbury - 5’11’’ - CG - ’24 ’24 PGH Rank: #19

Donovan’s stock rose over the weekend for her all-around efforts on the court. Donovan is a known sharpshooter, but she had an off shooting night by her standards in the game I saw. Despite not shooting well, I liked that she impacted the game in other ways and played a massive role in many positive offensive possessions for the Ducks. Whether it was setting solid back screens to free up teammates for layups, initiating the offense, or hitting the glass hard and igniting the transition offense, Donovan did a little bit of everything Saturday evening. When shooters have an off night, I immediately watch their body language and focus throughout the game. Donovan impressed me by still playing at a high level and giving a solid effort showing that she is a complete basketball player who has tremendous value on both sides of the floor. Marissa Matthews Marissa Matthews 6'1" | PF Hingham | 2024 State New E - MT Elite Ducks/Hingham - 6’1’’ - PF - ’24 ’24 PGH Rank: WL

Matthews was a rebounding machine over the weekend. Her size and athleticism make it hard for opposing forwards to keep her from snatching boards off the rim. She secured countless second-chance opportunities for the Ducks and showed her soft touch around the hoop for putbacks. I liked Matthews’ toughness and willingness to bang inside and continuously fight for position when shots go up. Matthews plays a valuable role for a Ducks team with many perimeter-oriented guards. Her ability to rebound on the offensive end successfully can lead to kick-outs for bare open three-point looks for her sniping teammates. Amiyah Peters Amiyah Peters 5'5" | PG Mashpee | 2023 State New E - Cape Cod Warriors/Mashpee - 5’5’’ - PG - ’23 ’23 PGH Rank: WL

Don’t let Peters’ size fool you; she was getting to the basket at will and finishing over bigger defenders all game long Saturday night. It was mind blowing the number of times Peters got into the paint and got off a layup over the MT Elite Ducks Platinum squad, who are one of the more physically imposing teams you will see. Peters drove with purpose, always looking to be aggressive and make a play. She also showed her range by stepping out beyond the three-point line and showing confidence to fire from there. Peters was fun to watch over the weekend and a player who has a lot of upside; therefore, she will be on my radar as the summer months approach. Jasmyn Cooper Jasmyn Cooper 6'1" | SF Noble & Greenough | 2025 State New E - MCW Starz/Oliver Ames - 6’1’’ - SF - ’24 ’24 PGH Rank: #4

Cooper is an absolute monster. I always thought very highly of Cooper, which is why I ranked her #4 in the ’24 class, but when you watch her play and see how easy it is for her to dominate, it leaves you speechless. She is a physical force, rebounds at a high level, defends well, and has a smooth mid-range package that seems to be improving by the week. That is the part of Cooper’s game I liked the most on Saturday. Her ability to catch the ball 15 feet out, face up and create a scoring chance for herself. What is nice is that Cooper does not settle for threes and stays true to that mid-range area which is a lost art in the game. I saw Cooper practice about a month ago and got a glimpse of her face-up game, but she was not as fluid then as she was on Saturday with it. Cooper will be knocking on the top 3 door for a long time because she is a highly skilled player who has a monumental impact on both sides of the floor. https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1391080911563804678 https://x.com/JasmynCooper/status/1391197248931958789