GameChangers at #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase
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The #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase was loaded with talent. Players showed their ability to shoot the trey, facilitate, defend, and hit the boards, and they were impressive in doing so. While those things were great to see, I looked beyond them to see if I could find some players that impacted and changed the game through their play in some of those areas and other areas. Here are a few of the ladies that emerged as #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChangers…
Lauryn Cooper (5’5/PG)
School: Woodward Academy
Instagram: lauryncooper41
Twitter: @laurynacooper
Lauryn is a small PG that was lethal from behind the arc. She is a threat every time the ball is in her hands, and with the ball in her hands the majority of the game, she puts the defense in a state of flux possession after possession. She was coming at the defense off the bounce, and when they would sag off her, she showed them that was a mistake as she knocked down the three. Not only does she attack on the offensive end of the floor, but she is also aggressive on the defensive end of the floor. She has no problem scoring on you, then turning around and picking you up full court, making you earn every piece of real estate you get on the floor.
What Made Her a GameChanger: Lauryn’s ability to put pressure on her opponent on both ends of the floor is difficult for opposing coaches to manage throughout an entire game. When your PG gets worn down, and everything has to be earned by your PG, it makes for a long night. Lauryn is a player who forces opposing coaches to have to adjust to that type of play when playing against her. It was because of this type of play at the lead guard spot that makes Lauryn a #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChanger.
Lauryn is a small PG that was lethal from behind the arc.
Terry J. Drake
Kailyn Hamby (5’4/PG)
School: Creekview HS
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: @kailynhamby
Kailyn is a small guard that played big throughout the showcase. I know that terminology is often used, and no details are usually given afterward, so let me explain. She is a PG that was actively engaged in fighting on the boards. Some way, somehow, she kept plays alive for her team by her activity on the glass. She brought a lot of energy and effort to the floor, and often you heard both coaches on the sideline saying, ‘I like her.’ She is a tough little player that applies a lot of pressure with her on-ball defense and is extremely disruptive.
What Made Her a GameChanger: As I mentioned, she was highly competitive on the glass, and was a challenge for opponents to keep her from getting her hands on the ball. Whether it was securing the board, tipping it out, or chasing down loose balls that got away from someone not securing the rebound, Kailyn was right in the midst of these plays. Because of this type of activity, she is amongst the #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChangers.
Kailyn is a small guard that played big throughout the showcase.
Terry J. Drake
Claire Landry (5’9/PF)
School: Blessed Trinity Catholic HS
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Claire has good size as she steps onto the high school stage. She still has a lot of development to undergo, like all of the girls at the showcase, but one thing she did well was stretching the floor with her ability to knock down the three. She was active on the boards, but one thing she has to do, especially on the offensive glass, is punish defenders once she secures the offensive board. I witnessed a couple of times when she got the board deep in the paint; she kicked it out to a teammate on the perimeter. She has to be in attack mode when she finds herself in those positions in the future. As she continues her journey and has the mentality that she owns the paint, she will definitely see growth in her game.
What Made Her a GameChanger: I did not see a lot of post players at the showcase that could step out and knock down the long ball, but Claire did it with efficiency. With the game where it is right now and the long-ball being such a major factor in the outcome of games, having a 3-and-D post is a commodity. It is because of Claire’s ability as a post to stretch the floor that she is a #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChanger.
As she continues her journey and has the mentality that she owns the paint, she will definitely see growth in her game.
Terry J. Drake
Makayla Roberson (5’8/PG)
School: River Ridge HS
Instagram: makayla._.r
Twitter: @makrob14
Makayla is a nice size PG that showed excellent vision and passing ability. She played with her head up, saw the floor well, and was always thinking pass-first. She was an ultimate facilitator getting everyone around her involved. She controlled the tempo of the game and was a reliable ball-handler. From her set-up ability to her kick-ahead passes, she was definitely in consideration as one of the best traditional PGs at the showcase.
What Made Her a GameChanger: Ask any coach what one position you can’t get wrong, and they will tell you it is the PG spot. The impact of the player at the lead guard spot is invaluable. The PG spot can change the course of any game at any time because of the number of possessions that the ball is in their hands. Makayla is a PG who can shift the momentum of a game at any moment as she is a steady and heady player. It is because of her ability to be a coach on the floor that knows how to orchestrate the game that she is a #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChanger.
Makayla is a nice size PG that showed excellent vision and passing ability.
Terry J. Drake
Laylah Simpson (5’8/SF)
School: Dutchtown HS
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: @laylah_simpson
I did not watch Laylah until the next to last set of games, and most players were starting to slow down at this point, but that was not the case with Laylah. She seemed to have so much left in the tank while others were trying to catch their breath. She was in attack mode from the tip and looking to be a playmaker off the bounce. Her energy and effort on both ends of the floor were second to none, and she competed relentlessly. She still has to develop offensively, yet she is a capable scorer, and defensively she is a gritty on-ball defender.
What Made Her a GameChanger: Laylah, I can honestly say, was one of the players that played with a motor and just shined brighter than those around her because of how hard she played. She is a competitor that took no plays off on either end of the floor. When her skillset develops to the level of her competitiveness, she will be a prospect to really keep an eye on. It is because of Laylah’s impact on the game through her competitive nature that makes her a #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChanger.
Her energy and effort on both ends of the floor were second to none, and she competed relentlessly.
Terry J. Drake
Sage Smiley (5’8/SF)
School: Cherokee HS
Instagram: sage.smiley
Twitter: N/A
Sage had an impressive showing at the showcase. She is not a flashy player but produces on both ends of the floor. Some would label her as a utility player impacting just about every area of the game. Whether it was on the boards, on and off ball defense, perimeter shooting, or even distributing, she impacted the game. She is a player that can hold the team together and make up for others’ deficiencies. She plays with a good understanding of the game to be stepping into her freshman year, and the potential is there to have a very good high school career.
What Made Her a GameChanger: Hands down, Sage’s versatility on the court got her on this list. She is a steady presence on the floor that a coach can have a lot of trust in to not lose the game. Sage’s ability to be consistent and poised on the court, as well as her ability to make others around her better, makes her a #PGHGeorgiaFreshmanShowcase GameChanger.
She is not a flashy player but produces on both ends of the floor.
Terry J. Drake