Iron Sharpens Iron: Session 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may have fall break in Jefferson County, but that didn't stop 10 talented hoopers from getting to work on Sunday morning. I want to give a special shoutout to Coach Tim Barnett and Coach Rob MacLeod who took time out of their day to lead these players through some high intensity drills. The drills they were doing were advanced, so it was easy to see the talent in each of the players in attendance. Let's take a look at the players I got to watch work this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63447e4c637d4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["164391"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the best players in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='164391' first='Jakayla' last='Thompson'], was leading the pack on Sunday morning. She has an elite skillset, but she continuously puts in the extra work to make improvements to her game. Going into this season, Thompson is in the conversation for the 2023 Kentucky Miss Basketball award. By the end of this season, I think there is going to be a very strong argument for her to win the award. The lefty can score at all 3 levels and if you leave her in a 1-on-1 situation, she can beat even the best of defenders. She's going to be a leader on and off of the floor for the talent-filled Crimsons.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["376789"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"James has such a smooth and solid game. She looks like she belongs on the court when the ball is in her hands. She has true point guard skills, but she can also put the ball in the basket like an elite combo guard. James can really handle the ball and she can handle pressure well. When you watch the moves she makes, you can see how advanced her skillset is for a freshman in high school. Getting past defenders and getting to the rim will not be hard for James, and once she gets there, she can score in a variety of ways. It should be really exciting to see how she adds to Manual's team this season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["376790"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Renee' is another 2026 who should make an instant impact at her new school. Her work ethic is special. She isn't afraid to compete against the best competition and she sacrifices a lot of time and energy into constantly improving her game. Renee' has good strength and she uses her body well around the basket to absorb contact. Her ball handling skills looked really strong as well. Most importantly, Keziah really absorbed any instructions she was given and made adjustments when needed.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='961306' first='LiLi' last='Mangrum']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"JCTMS","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Mangrum is going to be a serious problem in the years to come. She was showing skills that most 7th graders don't even have the ability to possess at that age. Plus, she has good height and length to go along with her advanced skillset. Mangrum can handle the ball really well and she has a lot of moves she can utilize in in-game scenarios. She also is a really good shooter. She has solid form on her shot and she catches ready to shoot. I didn't get to see her compete, but when she was working on her moves to get to the rim and around the basket, you could see how talented she truly is.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["493164"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Cummins instantly impressed me with her ball handling skills. She was picking up on moves quickly while some of the others were struggling to get them down. She keeps the ball on a string and she keeps the ball low. Her moves are really crisp and strong. Cummins also has good height and length. When she shoots, she keeps the ball high which makes it harder for the defense to block her. She can use her length to score in creative ways around the rim as well.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='727414' first='Zoë' last='Gathright']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Charlestown Middle School","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Gathright has a strong skillset overall. She has good strength, her handles were solid, and she was catching onto concepts extremely well. When they were working on various drives and finishes, she showed that she has an ability to score on both sides of the rim and using both hands.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1251470' first='Brooklyn' last='Davis']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Manual","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Davis has good length and athleticism. When it comes to ball handling, she kept the ball low and made nice, quick moves. The form on her jump shots looked good. Davis looked smooth in her moves leading into her jumpers as well. Manual has one of the most talented teams in the state, so practicing and competing with those players this year should be really good for the young guard.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Tackenzie Young","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Grace James Academy Middle School","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Young has so much athleticism. She's super quick with and without the ball. She can handle the ball and she can knock down shots. There were times where she was moving a little too fast, but once she slowed down and really thought about what she was doing, she was able to do anything that was asked of her. Young really showed how coachable she is in those moments, and seeing that she is only a 7th grader, that says a lot about her potential.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"Ziya Velez-Smith","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Farnsley Middle School","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Velez-Smith was really impressive on Sunday morning, but learning that she is a 7th grader makes her skills even more impressive. She has so much quickness and strong handles. As they were going through different ball handling drills, Velez-Smith constantly stood out with her ability to keep the ball low while making quick, crisp moves.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Jayla Hall","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Male","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Hall's coachability is what I initially noted. As she was given instructions, she was really listening to what they were saying and then putting that into action. She's got good strength and when her shots weren't falling, she made adjustments and started knocking them down. Male is another talented team, but after graduating 4 seniors last season, Hall definitely has potential to fill one of those Varsity roster spots this year.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-64c049b61f7a2"} /-->