ATL Summer Slam – Road Warriors (Part 1)

We are close to the conclusion of July on the high school calendar. That means the conclusion of another thrilling campaign on the AAU circuit and the 2022 version went out with an exclamation point.    That exclamation point came in the form of several events occurring throughout the country with the last scheduled live period. One of those events was in Georgia with ATL Summer Slam. It utilized a number of venues – including Suwanee Sports Academy in Gwinnett County – welcomed a laundry list of teams and had a healthy helping of college coaches and scouts.    We at Prep Girls Hoops also were on hand to witness the first day of the proceedings. Among the states that were represented were Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas among many others.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9658-scaled-crop-1812x1190-1658697840.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466584"/></figure>   Darcie Anderson – 2024 – Corbin HS – [program_tooltip program_id='713260' first='ETA' last='Thunder'] 2024 Campos – When thinking of reasons why the Redhounds finished with a 25-7 mark last season, one has to think of the team's rising junior point guard. Anderson is a lockdown defender whose defensive prowess also comes through as a rebounder. Compiling steals, hitting 3-pointers and overall consistency are elements to Anderson's game. She will also be counted on to hustle for loose balls. Anderson has also played volleyball for Corbin, located in southern Kentucky, throughout her career. She finished with nine points as [program_tooltip program_id='713260' first='ETA' last='Thunder'] 2024 Campos utilized a balanced scoring attack to earn a lopsided win over [program_tooltip program_id='712644' first='Louisville' last='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='Legends' last='']' last='']'] 16U on the first day of ATL Summer Slam.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9659-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1658697930.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466586"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='513239' first='Michelle' last='Shields'] – 2026 – T.A. Dugger MS – [program_tooltip program_id='713260' first='ETA' last='Thunder'] 2024 Campos – Shields is playing up two years in class. That will happen when one is as effective a defender as she is. Along with upping her steal totals, Shields keeps her hands and arms active on the defensive end of the floor and will help out on double teams. She also is not afraid to absorb contact and get to the free throw line. Sinking 3-point attempts is part of her overall game as well. Shields tallied 10 points to begin her team's time at ATL Summer Slam on the right foot via a lopsided victory over [program_tooltip program_id='712644' first='Louisville' last='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='Legends' last='']' last='']'] 16U.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9661-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1658698012.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466588"/></figure>   London Sweeney – 2024 – DuPont Manual HS – [program_tooltip program_id='712644' first='Louisville' last='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='Legends' last='']' last='']'] 16U – The Crimsons have become used to winning seasons from its girls basketball program. With Swinney as part of the DuPont Manual nucleus, the team finished with a 14-7 record and a 5-0 mark in District 25 play. She is tough to contend with as she uses her 5-foot-9 frame to make it difficult for would-be-scorers to do so. Add in shot blocking ability as well. Sweeney is effective as a rebounder and is not afraid of contact that can place her at the free throw line. She scored nine points in one of the first games of ATL Summer Slam at Suwanee Sports Academy when [program_tooltip program_id='712644' first='Louisville' last='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='[program_tooltip program_id='712635' first='Legends' last='']' last='']'] 16U matched up against [program_tooltip program_id='713260' first='ETA' last='Thunder'] 2024 Campos.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9666-scaled-crop-2367x1554-1658698157.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466590"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='420389' first='Jenna' last='Cook'] – 2024 – Cabot HS – [program_tooltip program_id='713971' first='Arkansas' last='Select'] TTG 2024 – Listed at 5-foot-6, Cook had herself a stellar season for a Panthers team that finished 15-11 in 2021-22. In one of Saturday's games which featured her team and FBC Carolina Hawks 16U Parks, she began to find her rhythm from behind the 3-point line. In addition, she bolstered her team's cause with rebounding as well as with an ability to absorb contact and get to the free throw line. That matchup saw Cook tally eight points and saw [program_tooltip program_id='713971' first='Arkansas' last='Select'] TTG 2024 claim a 57-45 victory against the 16U team from the Palmetto State.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9668-scaled-crop-2352x1544-1658698235.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466592"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='314541' first='Wesleigh' last='Ferguson'] – 2024 – Benton HS – [program_tooltip program_id='713971' first='Arkansas' last='Select'] TTG 2024 – There are players that have good games – then there are players that the opposition seemingly has no answer for. Ferguson served as the latter for her travel squad against FBC Carolina Hawks 16U Parks. She scored early and often by displaying her aggressiveness and confidence. She was accurate from the free throw line on the heels of getting fouled and her proficiency from the field began attracting double teams. Ferguson scored 18 points to lead her team to victory early Saturday in one of the early matchups of ATL Summer Slam. Benton finished 16-7 (7-3 5A Central) last season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9664-scaled-crop-2460x1615-1658698312.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-466594"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='307197' first='AbbiGrace' last='Cunningham'] – 2024 – Atkins HS – [program_tooltip program_id='713971' first='Arkansas' last='Select'] TTG 2024 – The sophomore forward for the Red Devils managed to be a major reason why Atkins managed a 14-8 mark last season – an achievement for a program that has had its ups and downs in recent years. Cunningham is a superb rebounder and her work on the glass is buoyed by what she can get done as a scorer. She also is not afraid to absorb contact and get to the free throw line and uses every bit of he3r 6-foot-1 frame to create matchup disadvantages for her foes. Her scoring versatility comes into play by way of her sinking her attempts from deep. Cunningham had 16 points in a 57-45 victory over FBC Carolina Hawks 16U Parks in one of ATL Summer Slam's early matchups.    [player_tooltip player_id='321871' first='Clemisha' last='Prackett'] – 2023 – West Memphis HS – Team Real Deal Girls – Prackett is on a correctly named travel bunch that describes her skillset. She may be listed as a center and at an even six feet but has an overall game that can go beyond a traditional four or five. She gets her fair of rebounds and does plenty of work in the low post. She is tough to contend with as a defender as it includes her ability to block shots with the length she possesses. She finished with 13 points and only had one foul called against her in a matchup with Midwest Take Over 1 2023 that was close at the half but became a rout in large part to Prackett's production.

We are close to the conclusion of July on the high school calendar. That means the conclusion of another thrilling campaign on the AAU circuit and the 2022 version went out with an exclamation point.