15U Bigs at Knoxville Knockout

There were many talented players at the Knoxville Knockout this past weekend at the Rocky Top Sports World at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Lets discuss some of the best Bigs that were there. <strong>Juliana Frazee - 6'2"/C - Franklin County - Richmond Heat #33</strong> A space-eater, rim-runner, highly skilled offensive post player and passer with excellent defensive fundamentals and great stamina.  An opposing Coach told me how impressed he was by her ability to continuously run the floor on both sides of the ball without tiring which is rare for many similarly-sized players. In the Post, she has both inside and outside turn moves, improves position through hard work before the ball arrives, and with the power dribble and crab dribble after she has it.  She is also a good free-throw shooter meaning she cannot be stopped by hacking and was able to step out and known down a few threes. <strong>Peyton White - 5'11"/C - Gainesville Middle - SVM Select Rams #6</strong> A shot blocker and rim protector but still a little bit green in the rest of her game, which can only be expected for a 7th grader playing up. She blocked multiple shots both in half-court and by meeting players at the rim on the break.  One of my favorite things about her was that she never made a big deal about it.  Looks like something she does all day, every day. <strong>Mariyah Valrie - 6'0"/C - Mountain View - Team DBA #7 </strong> Great post defender and rebounder, with a good outside turn move in the low-post and a baby hook from the mid-post.  Currently very right side dominant but with good coaching that will evolve. I saw her work against the most advanced Big in the event and her defense forced her opponent to use her entire scoring package to better her defense.  Both players were impressive in that matchup a lesser post player would have been shut down by her defensive efforts. A rim-protector that needs to continue to work on her game as a rim-runner. That is where the most untapped potential remains for improvement with a very talented Big. <strong>Leah Perry - 5'11"/PF - Oakland - EAB Tennessee #25</strong> A physical rim-runner and rebounder with good balance, fluid body mechanics with above average ball skills, and solid developing post moves. If I had added a 4th team to my all-tournament selections Perry would have been on it. Effective with her back to the basket and facing it this is a player that could become more of a back to the basket player or perimeter player if she was dedicated to being great at either.  At the moment she appears to be focused on being balanced which is not a bad thing.  But sometimes it pays to specialize. What position do you want to play?  Let that guide your development. <strong>Koral Colosimo - 5'10"/PF - Hoover - Alabama Twisters Elite #00</strong> Moves well through post-up stations without the ball and rewarded with a layup.  An athletic rim-runner with a good motor still trying to find her way to insert herself into the offense as a Post. Continue reading below for my advice on some cross-training classes that can help develop Bigs in basketball beyond what Coaches will typically focus on during practice. <strong>Addyson McClendon- 6'1"/C - Veterans - One Step Away #50 </strong> A good rim protector and rim-runner with good defensive fundamentals.  Walling up in the post and a good passer for the inside-out assists. Improvement needed from footwork from agility drills like the tire or rope drill which is often associated with football and a focus to stop batting ball around with hands instead of grabbing it with both hands. This is a player that could benefit from some basic Ballet and Yoga classes to increase agility, flexibility, and strength.  But then I recommend that to ALL Post players.  Those are the perfect cross-training courses needed to maximize length, leaping, and power and to reduce the likelyhood and severity of potential injuries.