Triumph Region Kickoff: 17U Honorable Mention All-Tournament
The week before last, the Victory and Dynasty regions of the 2022 Prep Girls Hoops circuit got underway with excellent events in Chicago and Dallas, respectively. This past week, the two other Circuit regions began their 2022 campaigns – including…
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Continue ReadingThe week before last, the Victory and Dynasty regions of the 2022 Prep Girls Hoops circuit got underway with excellent events in Chicago and Dallas, respectively.
This past week, the two other Circuit regions began their 2022 campaigns – including the Legacy Region in Minnesota and the Triumph Region at the IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, Florida.
A number of the Sunshine State’s premier travel teams were on hand for the two-day get-together along with a couple of teams out of the neighboring state of Georgia.
Prep Girls Hoops recently unveiled its 17U All-Tournament First and Second Teams. Without further adieu, here is a look at our five honorable mentions.
Saraphen Robinson Saraphen Robinson 5'6" | CG Mandarin | 2022 State FL – 2022 – Mandarin HS – Lady OTOD 2023 Blue – Robinson’s talent and experience give her a consistent possibility to be an at-will scorer on a game-by-game basis. If she has a full head of steam, she is difficult to contain in the open floor. If she has the hot hand, it is a tall task to keep her in check. She is listed at 5-foot-7 and can get opposing ball carriers into precarious positions that can lead to turnovers. In addition to being a scorer, Robinson has a skill for being able to find open teammates and get them more involved in the overall flow of a game.
Kennedy Armistead – 2024 – Westside HS (GA) – Lady Grinders 2023 – Ask many a Westside aficionado who could be one of the best players on its team and many will have said Armistead. The scoring capabilities of Armistead allow her to throw defenses off as she can hit her attempts from behind the 3-point line in addition to a midrange jumper. Armistead’s offensive attack also includes the ability to drive through defenders en route to the rim and her ball distribution is another attribute to her game that make her a problem for opposing defenses. Armistead took a major leap forward in her sophomore year from her freshman rendition and she appears poised for another one in 2022-23.
Noelle Mengel – 2025 – Bloomingdale HS – Lady Flames 2023 – The career for this freshman guard out of Bloomingdale appears to be in full bloom. One of Lady Flames 2023’s opponents was Q4 Elite 2023 (on Saturday morning) and Mengel wasted no time getting to a good start as she made a couple of 3-point attempts. As the two days went on, she had a number of instances where she drove to the basket, got rebounds, knew when to score and when to pass and drew contact which placed her at the free throw line. Mengel also showcased superb ball handling skills as well as notable defensive play.
Analyse Rios – 2023 – Timber Creek HS – Nona Basketball Academy 2023 – The play of Rios was a major reason why Nona Basketball Academy finished its weekend at IMG Academy with a 4-0 record. Rios fuses together speed and agility with court vision and great ball handling skills. She will also display her accuracy as a 3-point shooter. Rios will draw her fair share of contact, arrive at the free throw line and splash home her attempts at the charity stripe along with keeping herself out of foul trouble. The question with Rios is if her basketball-playing days will conclude after this season – she also plays flag football and received a flag football offer last year from the University of St. Mary.
Nevaeh Mack Nevaeh Mack 5'5" | PG Warner Robins | 2024 State GA – 2024 – Warner Robins HS (GA) – WR All Stars 2023 – Never doubt Nevaeh. The 2021-22 season was a banner one for the Demons as they made a deep run in the 5A GHSA playoffs – all the way to its semifinals. Mack showcases her talents as a scorer and as a rebounder. Her scoring prowess can particularly be seen from 3-point range as she will either shoot triples over defenders or deliver on a stepback make from downtown. Mack gives a team plenty of hustle, a rim attacking dimension to an offense and a skill for taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers.