2026 Standouts at the Southeast Showcase
There was some outstanding talent at the Southeast Showcase at every position and in every class. Players got to showcase their talents and skills in front of college coaches. There were some really good Freshmen who participated in the event…
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Continue ReadingThere was some outstanding talent at the Southeast Showcase at every position and in every class. Players got to showcase their talents and skills in front of college coaches. There were some really good Freshmen who participated in the event and played very well. In this article, we look at the top 5 Freshman performers at the Southeast Showcase.
Laila Allen / 2026 / 5’7 PG / Timber Creek
Allen (Cover Picture) played very well at the Southeast Showcase and the young guard is light years ahead of her age. Allen is a smart guard who is quick and athletic. She has a natural feel for the game of basketball and is very fluid in her movements on the court. She can handle the ball very well and can get to any spot she wants to. She can shoot from long range, but she is even better at shooting it from the mid-range. Allen can really penetrate to the goal with lightning-quick moves. She does a good job of using hesitation and crossovers to move the defender and get into the paint. Allen also flourishes in the open court and in transition. She can take it left or right with a high probability of scoring the basket. Allen can also pass the ball very well. She uses her quickness to draw defenders and dish to the open teammate. She was one of the best point guards in the building in any class.
Alanna Tatum Alanna Tatum 5'6" | PG University Christian | 2026 State FL / 2026 / 5’7 PG / University Christian
Tatum continues to impress. Not only has she grown physically, but her game and confidence have grown as well. Tatum started on Varsity last year as an 8th grader and it’s amazing to watch her development unfold right before the basketball community. Tatum is on a that She has a high vertical jump that is extraordinary and so is her timing. During the showcase, Tatum was blocking shots left and right. Several of the blocks were against the “bigs.” Defensively, Tatum can really move her feet and prevent players from getting in the paint. She has very good on-ball defensive skills and is very disruptive when guarding the opposing point guard. She is also very good at help side defense. Tatum has really grown comfortable in the point guard role and does a good job of distributing the ball to open teammates and protecting the ball. Offensively, Tatum was shooting the ball from every level on the floor. She knocked down several three-point shots and scored often in transition and off of offensive rebounds. Tatum scored from multiple areas on the court, but she was “deadly” in the paint where she was elevating over defenders and “killing them” with the midrange, the runner, and the floater. The comparison to Kayla Turner surfaced a few times at the showcase.
Imani Henderson Imani Henderson 6'1" | PF Atlantic Coast | 2026 State FL / 2026 / 6’2 F/ Atlantic Coast
Henderson played big at the Southeast Showcase. The Freshman held her own as she mixed it up some of the older “bigs” with the bigs at the showdown. Henderson recorded some block shots, which is what she is becoming known for. She was efficient in the paint scoring layups, short jumpers, and putbacks. Henderson has a strong physical presence on the court, offensively and defensively. She is not just 6’2, but a strong 6’2 with a good body mass. She may take a few bumps this year as a Freshman, but she is on a path to be a great one.
Cami Waters /2026 / 5’9 SF / Creekside
Waters stood out at the Showcase. Waters showcased her athleticism and her versatility. First, she runs like the wind and was a standout in the transition game all day long. Even college coaches were commenting on her ability to score in transition. She was on the receiving end of fast breaks all day. She has a knack for putting the ball in the basket in a lot of ways. She shot the ball well from the midrange and had a nice floater. Waters was also good at defense. She used her length to play the passing lanes and recorded steals and deflections through the scrimmages. She is going to be a player to watch at Creekside this year. She will add athleticism and productivity to the forward position immediately.
Anni Ament / 2026 / 5’10 SG / Beachside
Ament was the top shooting Freshman in the building and may have been the overall best shooter at the Showcase. That’s saying a mouth full because there were several college-bound 2023s in the building who shot the daylights out of the ball. Ament must have had double-digit in threes for the day. It wasn’t just the execution, but it was the confidence. She was calling for the ball and knocking the shots down. She also had a few connections from the midrange and in the paint. Ament did a lot of things well at the showcase: she ran well in transition, she drove the ball to the basket, and did what she is already known for – crashing the boards. Ament is a very good rebounder and lethal shooter. She will likely average a double-double in her Freshman season at Beachside.
The 2026 was well represented at the Southeast Showcase and many of those present will be impactful this upcoming season.