Arkansas Standouts from Spring Creek Mansfield Invitational

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It didn't take me long to recognize how talented <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='405029' first='Ja'Miya' last='Brown']</strong> was as the 5'10 guard from <strong>North Little Rock HS</strong> immediately sold me and she made my <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/12/mansfield-spring-creek-invitational-day-2-top-performers-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Day 2 Top Performers</a></strong> from the event. Her being long and athletic and attacking the basket relentlessly just had me smiling, but she also brought out some hang time and when you can defy gravity, that speaks volumes, especially when you finish as many times as she did</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> I always enjoy watching talented teams from outside of <strong>Texas </strong>and there were others on her team that also stood out and finished 5th in the event. One more time, <strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">"talent is everywhere" if you know what you're looking at" </mark></strong>and let us start the <strong>New Year </strong>as I finished the last by saying<strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"> I am a REAL evaluator </mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='403157' first='Garin' last='Freeman']-5'5 G [2023]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeman handled the ball under pressure and just as importantly, saw the floor under pressure. She's heady and that combined with her court vision and ball handling gave her options as her passes were crisp and accurate yet her threading the needle and throwing the "no look" JUST DID IT for me. Her first step is nice, she attacked and finished as well as dished plus she dropped the jumper </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304689' first='Jocelyn' last='Tate']-5'9 G [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long and athletic is the base, and it's the profile I probably use more than anything else yet so do college coaches and they offer scholarships. Her intangibles are she not only plays the passing lane but can handle the ball in the open court after the steal to either take it all the way, she showed that after rebounding and going coast to coast also, plus her first step is dangerous as it enabled her to get to the basket. She also had good body control to finish, after contact </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304739' first='April' last='Edwards']-5'9 G [2023]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards brought plenty to the table, first of all, she's strong and attacks the basket powerfully and that, coupled with her finishing after the lick was impressive. She also showed the jumper, both in the set as well as in transition, and the stop and pop with the quick release was very nice. She handled the ball and saw the floor, in fact, she too fooled me with one of her "no looks ". She rebounded, on both ends and played solid "on the ball" defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='870511' first='Madison' last='Hatley']-6'0 F [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hatley rebounded strongly on both ends of the court and she did a good job defending both inside and outside the paint. She also ran the floor and scored around the basket, this includes putbacks </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ceriah Evans-6'3 F [2023]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Evans used her body well on the inside, her hands and footwork were a huge plus as she finished not only on putbacks but around the basket as well. She did a good job with her interior defense and even scored facing the basket </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZvGwAzZ0l_mRHHEGFyjddobv3TZDxFidBn6VmFMZ87o/edit#gid=1375407501"> updated bracket</a>, <strong>Mansfield Timberview</strong> defeated <strong>Coppell</strong> in the championship game </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->