Beast of the East recap

Another stop in the eastern part of the US saw a few teams from Tennessee come compete at their event. Insider Exposure hosted The Beast of the East in Greensboro, NC, let me tell you, our Tristar girls came out and did their thing. A hot ETA Thunder 2024 team went undefeated, bringing home the ship (they are 10-1 on the season). A very talked Southeast United group competed, continuing to make a name for themselves on the circuit. Of course, the talented FBC Reign program had one of their teams compete as well. Lastly, Team Ambition brought their 8th grade squad to the G to get some action in. Kudos to all programs and those who attended this event. I have to say that our programs within these borders go out and hunt for competition. We don’t back down. We put in work, and we go out and kick butt and take names. It’s fun to watch programs such as ETA, Southeast United and others get after it. From opening tip until the final whistle, it is “go time.” College coaches near and far that were in attendance came away impressed how these teams played, communicated, hustled, and did the little things right. To the coaches of these programs, you all are doing a tremendous job of teaching and providing a platform for these girls. Hats off to you. The Beast of the East was a great tournament that brought some premium teams around the country to one spot. With many in attendance, our Tennessee clubs went toe to toe with some of the best. Like I mentioned earlier, none of our clubs backed down. Campos’ team brought home the ship, SE United played to the wire each game (they even had a middle school squad playing 17U), it was just good to catch the action and watch these teams work. In Greensboro, we had some young ladies who showed why they are weekend warriors. These female hoopers were primed and ready to compete against whoever they were matched up with. Hopefully, college coaches took notice of some of the talented girls we have within this state. Though the grind season is halfway done and team camps are about to start, here are some young ladies who piqued the interest of both coaches and spectators. [player_tooltip player_id="245293" first="Avery" last="Treadwell"] (6’3/Jr./PF/Bearden/ ETA Thunder)- Super tough kid who loves to battle. Dominates the painted area, unleashing counter moves, bullying to finish at the rim. Can step out and shoot the 3ball, creating a mismatch opportunity that other teams have to honor. Overall, she’s a multi-level scoring threat that keeps getting better. Skilled, she is always a threat any time she is on the court. Solid on the defensive end. Can block shots, grab boards, defend like crazy. Solid all-around game that keeps getting better. Great prospect that will definitely be a huge asset for any collegiate program. [player_tooltip player_id="245307" first="Karli" last="Haworth"] (5’6/Jr./PG/Alcoa/ETA Thunder)- Grit and grind, Karli is a tough kid that can flat out get it done. She is the spark plug to a lethal ETA Thunder attack. Similar to a Sue Bird mold, she has great court vision, delivers timely dimes, can shoot the rock, and defend like crazy. Puts the team above herself, you can tell this kid just loves to play the game. Hard-nosed individual who puts winning over accolades. Her skills keep getting better. Doesn’t get fazed by pressure or the big stage. Has experienced tons of success thus far this summer. Look for her to turn even more heads come July, where coaches will get a chance to see how super talented this kid really is. [player_tooltip player_id="409019" first="Lauren" last="Hurst"](6’3/Jr./PF/Cleveland/ETA Thunder)- Keeps getting better every time she steps on the floor. Solid big who is coming into her own. Has a nice inside presence offensively, where she can step out and shoot the midrange or bang inside. Contributes on the defensive end, grabbing boards and blocking shots. Underrated, this gem is about to breakthrough as she continues to build confidence in her game. Love the way she competes and gets after it. Someone you should definitely keep your eye on. Kyera Thornsbury(5’7/So./SG./Pikeville (KY)/ETA Thunder)- This Kentucky hooper suiting up for this Tennessee squad is a Bluegrass gem. Smart, heady player who can shoot the ball. Can dial it from deep, has a nice midrange game, and can get to the paint. Has a nice touch on the ball. Though she is a scoring threat, she is selfless with the ball. Doesn’t press the issue, doesn’t get rattled by pressure. Solid and poised kid who just goes to work. Contributing on the defensive end, she is becoming a big-time player who loves to compete. Keep an eye out for her as her name is getting hot around the recruiting trail. Maliyah Glasper (5’6/8th grade/CG/Gatlinburg-Pittman Jr. High/Southeast United)- Heady floor general who can score the rock with ease. Can facilitate the offense, keeping her head up, unfazed by pressure defense. Multi-level scorer who is a catalyst to a dynamic SE United attack. Lockdown defender who is always on attack mode, creating turnovers for her club. Young ball player who has tremendous upside and will grow with more court time. Look for her to be a top 10 player in her class when things are said and done. Reportedly attending Gatlinburg-Pittman High School next year. Kieren Smith (6’2/F/Colonial Middle/Southeast United)- Long and lanky kid that plays with a high motor. A beast on the boards, who anticipates well. Offensively, can finish through contact, going up strong. Defensively, she can block shots, hold it down in the paint, and grab boards. Great at passing, leading to transitional breaks. Young, with room to grow, look for this kid to become a big deal as she gets older.Not even in high school yet and giving kids the business. Great future prospect with tremendous upside. Reportedly attending Middle College next year.