Stock Risers: July 20th-27th Edition

The final live period of July had a lot of scorching hot games throughout the country. From EYBL games to IEL league play and tournament games, to UAA, and End Games, the country was filled with different Tennessee teams competing at a high level. Yes, grabbing dubs was on the line, but also having our young ladies showcase their skill sets and picking up offers was at a premium. A ton of Tennessee girls got offered or started to pique the interest of college coaches. Personally, there is a reason why I feel this state is one of the best basketball states in the country for women’s basketball. We can hoop! It’s in our DNA. This summer, girls who may have come out of nowhere, gained the confidence to help propel their prospective clubs to victories and more notoriety. Throughout the country, Tennessee girls laid it all out on the line. College coaches got a chance to see those household names, as well as some under-the-radar kids whose stock is about to go up. Here are some under-the-radar girls whose stock will rise due to their exceptional play this last live period in July. [player_tooltip player_id="281332" first="Amani" last="Sharif"] (5’10/ SF/ EAB Tennessee/ Rockvale HS/ Class of 2022)- This young lady is athletic as all get out. She is a tough competitor who has relentless energy. Amani is a state track champion, who uses her speed to create havoc on the defensive end. Her length creates so much chaos, that she prides herself on the defense that leads to turnover opportunities. From chase down blocks to poking balls loose, Amani helped lead her team to some victories throughout the last live period. [player_tooltip player_id="245356" first="Alonna" last="Poole"] ( 5’11/ PG/ Tennessee Pride/ Stewart’s Creek HS/ Class of 2024)- High basketball IQ, quick foot speed, great floor vision. These are just some of the tangibles when describing this exceptional talent. Alonna is a 3 level scorer who can put the ball in the hole at a moment’s notice. She can slice through the defense like a swiss army knife. On the defensive end, she is the anchor for her club when it comes to steals and creating turnovers. This young lady isn’t done growing and will be a household name throughout the state of Tennessee. Crysti’anna “Shaq” Whitehead (5 ’10/ SF/ Team Thad/ Memphis HS School of Business/ Class of 2023)- A bucket getter, this young lady has an amazing touch from the arc. From beyond the 3pt line, she can stroke it. Don’t let her size fool you, as she has the ability to get to the rim or finish with a pull-up jumper. Baby Shaq led her team that last live period knocking down 10+ 3s in one game. She turned a lot of coaches’ eyes, but she is just now getting started. This exceptional talent from Memphis is about to put the whole state on notice. Nicole Rizane (5’8/ G/ Stars Basketball Club/ Summit HS/ Class of 2023)- Nicole blew up over the last period of July playing exceptional defense and conducting her team’s offensive play. From knocking down timely 3s and getting to the rim, she was the spark plug for her SBC team. On the defensive end, she was all over the place. From getting steals and deflections to rebounding the ball to starting transition breaks, this girl’s stock began to rise with the college coaches in attendance. Sadie Gorley (5’9/ SF/ Stars Basketball Club/ CPA/ Class of 2022) - This sharpshooter can fill it up from the mid-range and arc areas. She has great length and size to go along with her athletic ability. Playing against tough competition this summer has helped Sadie grow in many ways. With her confidence growing, she has taken the necessary steps towards making a huge splash this upcoming school year. Look for her to reap the rewards of having hard work and determination as she looks to become an intricate part of her school ball team. She is a nice addition for any club looking to play with pace as well as someone who can play in the half-court game. Clemisha Prackett (6’2/ C/ Team Thad/ West Memphis/ Class of 2023)- This young beast is a defensive juggernaut. She is long and athletic. She is a rim protector who can send shots back to where they came from. She is a rebounding machine who does it well on both ends of the floor. She has an impressive motor that enables her to get up and down the floor. CP has great footwork, where she utilizes her talents both working block to block and in the pick n’ roll game. This young lady will have some power 5 school dialing her up as she continues on an upward trajectory. She is a big presence and an anchor for any squad. NyAsia Jackson (5’4/ PG/ Team That/ Marion/ Class of 2024)- This playmaking guard is the staple for her club. From dropping timely dimes to her teammates to shooting the ball at a high clip from all 3 levels, this young lady has a high basketball IQ to go along with all her tangibles. She has great foot speed and can play in any style of game. Defensively, she thrives on that end of the court, creating turnovers that lead to transition buckets. Ms. Jackson is a kid who is on the rise and will be a dominating X factor for years to come. [player_tooltip player_id="245367" first="Amelia" last="Pfeiffer"] (6’1/ PF/ FBC Reign/ Alcoa/ Class of 2024)- This stretch 4 has had a phenomenal summer. Hooping it up with 15U National UAA Champions FBC Reign, Amelia showed why she was an intricate part of the club. From knocking down timely shots on multiple levels to being a huge asset on the boards, AP can do it all for her team. Her game packs a mighty big punch, as she can really score the basketball. Though the mid-range game is her forte, her ability to shoot the long-range ball and bang inside is a nice addition. She controls the boards on both ends of the floor while defending at a premium against both wings and posts.