Playoff Recap: Standout Underclassmen

Mindy McCarthy March 4, 2022 @ 02:56 PM

The playoffs have been in full swing in North Carolina for both private and public schools. Here are some of the young athletes who are already making waves for their teams in their playoff runs. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/Jerin-Truesdale-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1646426995.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-396375 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/Jerin-Truesdale-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1646426995-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="252851" first="Jerin" last="Truesdale"] (Myers Park, SF, 2024) didn’t back down from any kind of battle in the paint. She was posting up her opponents scoring off of power dribbles with her back to the basket. She had a nice old fashioned three point play battling through contact for some points. She fought hard going after rebounds to extend the offensive possessions for her team. [player_tooltip player_id="253286" first="Reese" last="Wilson"] (Myers Park, SF, 2024) showed off her range knocking down three point shots to make sure her team was always in the game. She got inside to grab rebounds, and her steals were pushed right up the court for some fast break opportunities. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/Kailyn-Young-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1646427062.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-396380 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/Kailyn-Young-scaled-crop-1920x1261-1646427062-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Kailyn Young (NC GBB, G, 2024) is efficient with the ball handling it all the way to the basket on a fast break, or she can step back to knock down a three point shot. She can finish on both sides of the rim. She uses her height on defense to cause problems for her opponents knocking the ball out of the way, so they don’t have a chance to get a play going. She can take the ball all the way to the hoop, or she can pull up for a jump shot. She had a nice old fashioned three point play, too, and her defense was fun to watch drawing charges on the other end. Kyndall Moore (North Davidson, G, 2024, featured photo) knocked down shots from beyond the perimeter, and she was finding her open teammates for their own shots. Her hands seemed to constantly be causing problems on defense knocking the ball away and grabbing steals. Her rebounds in the fourth quarter were instrumental in stopping the Carson Cougars from getting any second chance opportunities. <img class="size-medium wp-image-396387 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/Jocelyne-Grier-1-139x300.jpeg" alt="" width="139" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="393656" first="Jocelyne" last="Grier"] (North Meck, G, 2025) already plays with such a high IQ knowing how to move without the ball or move with the ball and get herself open. She was finding herself scoring by the rim, and she can definitely knock down shots from all over the court. She plays with the same composure throughout the game no matter what the score may be. Go ahead and write this name down: Zarah Gray (Winston Salem Christian, G, 2026). She is speedy when it comes to closing out on her opponents using this quickness to block some shots. She releases on fast breaks beating everyone up the court being ready for the pass and bucket. She is already playing a strong role for her team even at a young age.