Pre-Season Second Team All 7th Region Guards
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When I was trying to differentiate the 1st team and 2nd team selections, I realized how truly talented this region is. You have multiple players that would be 1st team all-region in 90% of the regions across the state, but…
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Continue ReadingWhen I was trying to differentiate the 1st team and 2nd team selections, I realized how truly talented this region is. You have multiple players that would be 1st team all-region in 90% of the regions across the state, but because they play in the 7th Region, they may end up on the 2nd or 3rd teams. That is certainly true for the players in this article. Let’s look at some of the players that I expect to make a big impact in the 7th region this year.
Ballard has been racking up offers for months as she’s impressed coaches with her skills on the court. She has excellent length and height, and she uses that to grab rebounds, block shots, and get deflections. Ballard can put the ball in the basket at all 3 levels. She makes strong drives to the basket and she can finish on both sides of the rim. She catches the ball on the perimeter ready to shoot and she has good range on her shot. Ballard can also knock down mid-range shots and floaters. She is a solid passer as well. I think Ballard is in for an exciting senior season.
After watching Mhango compete this summer, I think she’s in for a big senior season. For starters, she is a lockdown defender. You can rely on her to get stops on the opposing team’s best player and she’s going to play with high intensity game-in and game-out. She also goes after rebounds and if it comes down to hustle or effort, she’s likely going to come out on top. Mhango has a lot of offensive strengths as well. She’s quick and can handle the ball. She can knock down 3’s and jump shots, get to the rim, finish with contact, etc. And as great as those skills are, one of the best parts of Mhango’s game is how coachable she is.
Koralia is fun to watch. She can handle the ball, she makes good passes, and she knows how to put the ball in the basket at all 3 levels. She is a really strong outside shooter with deep range. She actually shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. However, Koralia is versatile overall. She has strong handles, so she plays a lot of PG for the Lady Bruins, but she truthfully could be successful playing any guard/wing position. Koralia scores in a variety of ways – 3s, floaters, mid-range jumpers, drives to the hoop. She put up double digits against most of the top 7th region squads last season, including SHA, Male, Manual, and twice against CAL.
Daniels contributed valuable minutes for the Centurions last year, but she should play a much larger role this season. Why? Well, she was playing with 2 senior guards who could really put the ball in the basket, so her role didn’t require her to score a lot of points. While she can still impact the game without scoring, I think she will get a lot more scoring opportunities this season. Pair those opportunities with the confidence she seemed to gain this summer, and she should be a real difference maker in the region. Her defense and athletic ability are phenomenal. Her ability to lead is also special. Now that she’s realizing how talented she truly is, Daniels should have a really strong junior showing.
Ackermann is a very solid player. Her fundamentals are strong and she’s strong in general. Ackermann moves really well without the ball and she consistently plays hard. She also is a fantastic team player. She’s always willing to make the extra pass and her passes are crisp. Ackermann does a great job of not getting rushed or rattled when the defense applies pressure. She is patient and takes care of the ball. She is also one of the highest percentage outside shooters returning in the region after shooting 36.2% from 3 last season.
Tamiah Wadlington
Tamiah Wadlington
When you rack up 735 varsity points in your 7th and 8th grade years, you’re doing something right. Wadlington may not be the tallest player on the floor, but that doesn’t stop her from putting the ball in the basket. She has a natural knack for scoring and with her speed and handles, she is always going to be a scoring threat regardless of who she’s playing.