Skinz League High School Girls: Team PURPLE Standouts

If you were in the Oklahoma City area on Monday May 29^th, you were probably at the Hive. On Memorial Day, the Skinz League High School Edition was hosting and All-Star game. I was in Tulsa, Ok recovering from a long but exciting weekend in Kansas City at Prep Girls Hoops Dynasty Region Finals. I hopped on social media and saw that this game was going on. Usually for the boys but when I saw the girls would be represented for the first time, I told myself, Lex you better get over there! So with no hesitation, I gassed-up the whip and headed to Edmond, OK. When I walked in the gym, the energy was up! The teams were on separate sides already competing in the 3-point contest. Both teams were loaded with talent! On the Orange team: [player_tooltip player_id="309982" first="Sania" last="Richardson"], [player_tooltip player_id="197942" first="Stailee" last="Heard"], Micah Gray, [player_tooltip player_id="238724" first="Zya" last="Vann"], [player_tooltip player_id="261718" first="Azjah" last="Reeves"], Nariyah Parks, [player_tooltip player_id="197944" first="Boston" last="Berry"], Kyiah Prestridge, Tailia Vann, and [player_tooltip player_id="197968" first="Jazmin" last="Adams"]. On the Purple team: Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Jordan Harrison, [player_tooltip player_id="197962" first="Kenzli" last="Warden"], Rayland Garner, Skylar Durley, [player_tooltip player_id="309979" first="McKenzie" last="Mathurin"], [player_tooltip player_id="309983" first="Janiyah" last="Williams"], Darcy Roberts, and [player_tooltip player_id="249260" first="Tyla" last="Heard"]. Micah Gray won the 3-point contest. Once the game started, it went back and forth. It was a highly competitive game. The talent was evenly distributed on both teams and players were able to showcase their skills. The Purple team won the game and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs was the MVP! Below are the players that stood out. Unfortunately this is the first time I have seen these players play but as time goes on I will learn more about their game. <strong>Jordan Harrison | 5-5 / PG | Classen SAS HS | Steven F. Austin University | 2022 </strong> Jordan controls the pace of the game with her handles and basketball IQ. She can take you left then right and at the same time see a player cutting and pulled off a few no look dimes. She is a competitor and a strong on-ball defender. Jordan is also a 4A State Champ for Classen SAS and committed to Steven F. Austin University and starts her freshman season in the Fall of 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="197962" first="Kenzli" last="Warden"] | 5-10 / G | Tecumseh HS | OK Swarm 17U | 2023 </strong> Kenzli is a player that seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. Good on-ball and off-ball defender. She knows how to create her shot off the dribble in the paint and create space for her shot. I look to follow her game and learn more. <strong>Skylar Durley | 5-9 / CG | Classen SAS HS | BTR 17U | 2025</strong> Skylar is a player that has a lot of good things working for her. She can handle the ball and has good size at the guard position. She is aggressive off the dribble and can shoot the mid-range shot. I would like to see more of her game this upcoming school season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="309979" first="McKenzie" last="Mathurin"] | 5-10 / CG | Broken Arrow HS | OK Swift 16U | 2025</strong> McKenzie is no stranger to me. I have seen her play all spring under Prep Girls Hoops in the Dynasty Region. She is a competitor that catches and shoots with confidence. Her mid-range game is solid and when she drives downhill she is hard to stop at the rim. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="309983" first="Janiyah" last="Williams"] | 5-9 / PG | Edmond Memorial HS | Banshees 16U | 2025</strong> Janiyah is a smooth player that everyone in the gym wants handling the ball. If you aren’t paying attention you will miss what she does. She doesn’t draw too much attention to her and is a great teammate that puts her teammates first. But, she is a killer! I mean that in a way saying that she will turn it on and go to work and no one can stop her. Attacking the basket she is aggressive and finishes great even with contact. If you cut her off she changes direction and did my favorite move – the spin move into the fade away jump shot with contact - and one, count the bucket. Janiyah can definitely go! Looking forward to seeing her and her new team - Edmond Memorial HS compete this upcoming school year. <strong>Darianna Littlepage-Buggs | 6-1 / SF | Classen SAS HS | Baylor University | 2022</strong> Darianna is a player that doesn’t need an introduction. If you are in the high-school girls basketball scene in Oklahoma, you know about Ms. Littlepage-Buggs. She is a 4A State Champ from Classen SAS HS, McDonalds All-American and Committed to play at Baylor University in the Fall 2022. Even though I knew that about her, I never saw her play in person. Let’s just say, she is everything that is advertised. She is an automatic bucket in the open floor. She pushes the ball in transition and could pull-up for the shot or can go coast to coast straight to the rim. She has Elite-level footwork in the post and can take her defender off the dribble and finish with the AND 1 – EASY! Darianna led the Purple team to the victory, scored 24 points, and finished with MVP honors.