The SJIBT Sweet 16 Standouts Pt. 1
Just one game remains in the Sweet 16 of the 14th annual South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament as seven teams have already moved on to the Elite 8. Those teams are as follows: Shawnee, Kingsway, Eastern, Cherokee, Lenape, Haddon Heights…
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Continue ReadingJust one game remains in the Sweet 16 of the 14th annual South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament as seven teams have already moved on to the Elite 8. Those teams are as follows: Shawnee, Kingsway, Eastern, Cherokee, Lenape, Haddon Heights and Cinnaminson. Congrats to those seven teams and here are some standouts from the Sweet 16 of The SJIBT.
Nicole Miller (Jr.) – 5-11 G/F, Shawnee
Miller has been a consistent three-point shooting threat for Shawnee this entire season and has evolved into a very versatile player on the floor. It starts with her height, which she’s used well beyond the arc and inside the perimeter. Having that 5-11 frame gives her natural mismatches with guards as a three-point shooter. At the same time, she’s the height of a forward and possess many forward traits which have really elevated her game. Having that ability to switch her game from a guard to a forward on a dime is immensely helpful and effective.
Iriona Gravley (Jr.) – 6-0 SF/PF Williamstown
Gravley is having her second-straight season of success as a forward for Williamstown. She’s consistently had herself near or at double-double averages for her entire high school career. It’s a testament to how well she’s utilized her height and size on the floor. Gravley’s inside game is one of the best in South Jersey and she carves up defenses with ease. It’s the little things, like a stutter step on the ball or a quick cut into the lane that gives her enough space to dominate. Her defense is coming along well as that long wingspan helps her get to deflect/steal passes easier and block shots more efficiently.
Alexa Henry (Fr.) – 5-6 CG, Lenape
Henry came out of nowhere for Lenape and as a freshman, has one of the biggest impacts on any player in the Olympic Conference. She’s knocking down three-pointers with ease on the floor and has gained more and more confidence by the game from the perimeter. What’s great about Henry is that she can hit shots after getting an open look or with a defender in her face. From watching enough of her, she’s great under pressure and already has that leadership mentality that turns a good team into a great one. There’s that extra edge, that x-factor that makes her stand out from the rest and it shows.
Sanaa Thorne (Sr.) – 5-9 F/G, Eastern
Thorne has had her best season at Eastern to date and a bigger impact overall as she’s grown into her role. She’s seen the floor much more often this year, but has also been much more active on both sides of the ball. She can shoot the three well and is shooting it much more often this year than in years previous. That comes with confidence as we’ve most definitely seen in her play. What stands out most watching her is her aggression on defense. She plays up on opponents and tracks players well as they drive into the lane, helping her rack up more steals as she cuts off the dribble before they can shoot.
Delaney Jackson (Jr.) – 5-8 SF, Cherokee
Jackson is slowly finding her role on Cherokee, but she’s really improved well as a player for the Chiefs and is turning into a great bench option and/or a solid starter. Her extended minutes on the floor have allowed her to really work on her game and turn into someone who finds open lanes to score. Jackson is an offensive-minded player, but has become a great defensive asset on this team. She forces opponents into taking bad shots to then get down the floor on the break for a quick basket.
Kaylan Deveney (Jr.) – 6-3 PF/C, Shawnee
Deveney is in the midst of a career year for Shawnee and looks like she’s gotten her feet under her in her 6-3 frame. She’s shown herself to be an agile player on the floor and is very active on both sides of the ball. Starting with her offense, she’s thriving well inside the perimeter while also being a great spot-up shooter from three. Her rebounding has improved greatly and most impressively, so has her passing. She’s done a great job at finding open teammates and it’s resulted in many more scoring opportunities for Shawnee so far this season.