She Got Next MLK Showcase: Top 10 Performers (1-5)
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With the She Got Next MLK Showcase in the books, it is time to recognize those that stood out among the rest of what was a competitive field of teams. A grand total of 14 of them converged onto J.L.…
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Continue ReadingWith the She Got Next MLK Showcase in the books, it is time to recognize those that stood out among the rest of what was a competitive field of teams.
A grand total of 14 of them converged onto J.L. Mann HS in the Upstate for the one-day event hosted by A1 Hoops Report. Many of those teams, as one would expect, were from the area and a good number of those teams were 4A teams.
We at Prep Girls Hoops were there from start to finish. Here is our first list of top performers from this past weekend at the home of the Patriots.
The 2A Volunteers matched up against 4A Aiken and the Green Hornets had no answers for how integral Alexander was to Andrew Jackson’s offensive attack. Alexander finished with 21 points as the Volunteers defeated Aiken by a final of 54-37. Given Alexander’s height and the paint presence she presents, she presents plenty of matchup problems for opposing fives. Her rebounding prowess makes her a double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis. Alexander is an important piece of Andrew Jackson’s young core that is sure to give other 2A coaches fits for the next few seasons.
Imari Richardson
Imari Richardson
On paper, this season’s Patriots bunch would appear to be underdogs against a High Point Academy team that is once again one of the top 1A teams. On the court, Richardson was key in a successful comeback effort for J.L. Mann as they topped the Grizzlies by a final score of 63-57. Richardson finished with 19 points and it appeared that every made bucket she had was more clutch than the last. The Patriots as a team only sank three 3-pointers against High Point Academy, but two of those made treys departed from Richardson’s hands. One must look out for Richardson on the defensive end of the floor as well with her shot blocking, rebounding and ability to collect steals.
Martin’s 1A Grizzlies may have dropped the final game of the day to host school J.L. Mann, but her effort still deserves praise. She put 18 points on the board and was once again key to what High Point Academy hoped to get accomplished in the interior. Along with converting on high-percentage shots, Martin is also a skilled rebounder, making her a double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis. She is listed as a six foot senior and uses every bit of that height to her advantage. Martin understand that playing in the interior will involve a lot of contact which will lead to plenty of free throw opportunities.
Bradley’s Green Hornets may not have achieved the result it was seeking for in its contest against 2A Andrew Jackson, but she still put together a standout performance. She tallied 18 points to spearhead the attack for Aiken. Bradley proved to be an efficient and effective runner at point for the Green Hornets and can haul in a fair number of rebounds. She displays her versatility as someone who can log productive minutes either in the backcourt as a guard or in the frontcourt as a forward. Bradley also understands how to draw contact and make the most of her free throw opportunities.
The story that has been the undefeated Stallions continued on Saturday evening as South Pointe thrashed two-time defending 4A champion Westside by a final of 70-36. As is the case often with Stallions contests, the team’s “Starr” veteran forward who stands at 5-foot-10 led the way to victory. She finished with 17 points. Along with her ability to place crooked numbers on the board, Morris is an effective rebounder and knows when to score and when to pass. Defensively, she can create extra possessions for the Stallions with collecting steals and she also can be effective as a shot blocker.