Opening Day-9th Grade Divison STANDOUTS #NBC22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched as many teams as possible on opening day at Prime Time Nationals National Basketball Championship, wait, I did that every day, but that's what I do, so with that being said, here are the STANDOUTS I caught to jumpstart another exciting event, for me. I'm not going to repeat players, I picked 5 from Championship Sunday, you can revisit that article by <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/08/top-5-championship-sunday-9th-grade-division-nbc22/">clicking HERE, it's not that hard, I try and keep things SIMple</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":480131,"width":120,"height":179,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/08/DSC_0052.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-480131" width="120" height="179" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923673' first='Summer' last='Sodek'] ([program_tooltip program_id='712407' first='Austin' last='Elite'] Sparks)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sodek is on the cover, why, because she was hard to cover as she opened it up by opening it up dropping multiple 3's as in rat-a-tat-tat yet this is something I'm becoming more accustomed to. She's so poised under pressure, doesn't get rattled, and understands the simple things which will be HUGE as she continues her on-the-court progression, but she can run a team, she has court vision as well as upside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Akeelah Norment ([program_tooltip program_id='713099' first='Oklahoma' last='Aces'] 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norment will create some torment for defenders trying to guard her, I mean she's long and athletic, pay attention because that is the base but her intangibles like going after the ball which deserves a hashtag, #THRO[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='WBA' last='']CK, but she plays the passing lane, has good timing to block, deflect, and (or) alter shots and she finishes strongly off the dribble, the first step is tough, yes finishes after contact</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexandria Stephens (AGA 9th Grade)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephens is also long and athletic, see above, but her rebounding on both ends, finishing around the basket, and also finishing strongly on putbacks immediately grabbed me. She also showed good timing on defense but she also did a good job defending both inside and outside the paint. Her wingspan helped but on the flip her attacking the basket from a variety of angles also was a huge plus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amiyah Yates ([program_tooltip program_id='715647' first='Hoop' last='Lovers'] 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yates falls into another category I cleverly hashtagged over a decade ago, #sizedontmatter which I had to amend with "because she can play. She handles the ball and uses good court vision, both under pressure, but she also lets the game come to her, that falls into the "plays within herself" and not force anything. She attacks with either hand and finishes strongly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1188199' first='Melanie' last='Hodges'] (GCS Level Up Elite)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hodges' team name fits because she has taken her game several Levels Up, This is what I wrote about her<strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2021/09/2025-standouts-from-cy-fair-hs-fall-tournament/"> prior to the start of last season</a></strong> so her ballhandling has definitely taken off as she rebounded and went C2C, coast to coast, in traffic, several times and she played the passing lane. I mentioned that her "future was bright", remember I'm a REAL evaluator and her powerful finishes are going to take her game higher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaeden Bell (HUB 2025/2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bell as in "ring my" is on to something in a noisy way. She too is "long and athletic" yet she rebounds strongly on both ends, well rebounding with authority is better because she goes after it instinctively, and when you can do that, as well as react as she does, the impressive upside is what I'm seeing to really create some major problems</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anneshia Reed (WAWG Phoenix)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reed between the lines, well lanes as she did a good job intercepting passes, aka "playing the passing lane" so why not close this story out with another "long and athletic" player? I wrote UPS as in up, Up, and AWAY because that timing certainly sent field goal attempts the other way. I also liked her movement around the basket and her finishes, putbacks included </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->