Signed Seniors that Performed Well at the TBI

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong> </strong>By Michael Wholey 1/2/23 11:00 PM EST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational wrapped up this weekend hosting 100+ teams from all over the country.  With over 100 teams in attendance, there were a ton of talented teams and players in the gym both from Florida and out of state. We will break down the event all week. First we take a look at some of the class of 2023 signed prospects that performed well.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91644' first='D'Yanis' last='Jimenez'] </strong>(Charlotte HS) – 5'8 Guard – Wisconsin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":371798,"width":269,"height":292,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/image2-e1641245428906.jpeg?w=539" alt="" class="wp-image-371798" width="269" height="292" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jimenez did her normal thing. The 5'8 guard is quick with the ball in her hands.  She is an aggressive penetrator with crafty 1v1 and open court moves.  She is a natural scorer who has to reach double digits to give Charlotte HS a chance to win vs good competition.  Jimenez is headed to the University of Wisconsin next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91658' first='Olivia' last='Davis'] </strong>(Cardinal Mooney) – 5'7 Guard – University of Tampa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis is always one of my favorites to watch as she plays so cool, calm and collected but is so effective with the ball in her hands.  I do not know of another player that controls the tempo and the flow of the game as well as Davis.  She is an impact ball handler and scorer with good decision making skills, excellent court vision and an impressive ability to pull up off the dribble from 3 that very few players in the state of Florida have the ability to do.  Look for Davis to be an impact player at University of Tampa the second she steps on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91638' first='Emma' last='Risch'] </strong>(Palm Bay) – 6'2 Guard – Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":353045,"width":216,"height":309,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/11/Emma-Risch-Palm-Bay-e1637172479601.jpg?w=590" alt="" class="wp-image-353045" width="216" height="309" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Risch is one of the state's and countries top prospects for a reason.  She mainly played off the ball getting it done from 3 and ripping to the rim to attack the rim.  She is long, super skilled, a high percentage perimeter shooter and has a high basketball IQ with good court vision.  Risch with suit it up for the Irish next year at Notre Dame. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166170' first='Alonya' last='Waldon'] </strong>(Palm Bay) – 5'5 Guard – Marshall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waldon is a tough, gritty, small guard with is a competitor.  She sets the tempo and the tone every game she is in and operates with a lead by example type of leadership skill set. She plays super consistent and has a blue collar workman's type attitude playing hard and aggressive every single possession she is on the court.  She was solid all weekend for Palm Bay, running the point guard position most of the event.  She handles the ball well vs pressure, runs her teams offense, doesn't turn the ball over, effectively gets into the paint and is a really good on ball defender.  The 5'5 guard is headed to Huntington, WV next year to suit it up for Marshall!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91641' first='Karina' last='Gordon'] </strong>(St. Thomas Aquinas) – 5'9 Guard – East Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":572856,"width":170,"height":255,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/12/Karina-Gordon-Fowles-4.jpeg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-572856" width="170" height="255" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon is a great 2-way player who gets it done on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.  She plays very consistent, shooting a high percentage from the field, and giving consistent effort on defense. She is one of the most well-rounded players in the state and is St. Thomas Aquinas leader on the court.  Gordon is headed to East Carolina next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91647' first='Morgan' last='Sieper'] </strong>(HB Plant HS) – 6'0 Wing / Forward – Southern Miss</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sieper has a long, slender build and a versatile skill set with the ability to play inside and out.  She is a 3-point threat at both the wing and the forward position with great form and a high release.  At 6'0 her body and game are built for the college game as a face up 4 in Southern Miss offensive system.  She scored in double digits in all three of Plant's games, helping leading them to a Treasure Island Bracket Championship defeating Charlotte HS 65–43.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91642' first='Kristina' last='Godfrey'] </strong>(Miami Country Day) – 5'9 Guard – FAU</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":382917,"width":352,"height":359,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/IMG_2988-e1643673811400.jpg?w=588" alt="" class="wp-image-382917" width="352" height="359" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Godfrey was very good in the games I saw her play, slicing through the defenses, getting into the paint and taking it all the way to the rim or penetrating and kicking to open players.  She was very effective with the ball in her hands, playing well out of ball screens, creating screen and roll and pick and pop opportunities with teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='217667' first='Kayla' last='Nelms']</strong>, while also making defenses pay when sliding under the screen and pulling up off the dribble from 3.  Godfrey is staying in the sunshine state and will suit it up for Florida Atlantic University.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='142823' first='Sahnya' last='Jah'] </strong>(Montverde Academy) – 6'2 Wing – South Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jah was as effective as I have seen her since transferring to Montverde Academy. Her size, strength, and athleticism are elite and immediately jump out at you when you see her in warmups.  Montverde took care of business in the events top bracket and Jah was a big part of the teams run to a championship, playing with high energy, rebounding the ball well on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, and attacking off the dribble from the wing and the high post. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219933' first='Mjracle' last='Sheppard'] </strong>(Montverde Academy) – 5'10 Guard – Mississippi State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":576955,"width":156,"height":202,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/01/FlWP13eXoAY1R1n.jpeg?w=793" alt="" class="wp-image-576955" width="156" height="202" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sheppard was very good in all three of Montverde's games playing the role of both distributor and scorer.  She consistently pushed the tempo, played down hill and got to the paint often.  Her 5'10 frame allows her to get inside the interior of defenses and create scoring opportunities for herself and for others.  Sheppard took home the MVP of the She Got Game Classic Championship Bracket and her team won the championship.  She is headed to Starkville, MS and will suit up for the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the SEC next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No. 86 in the Class of 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='219933' first='Mjracle' last='Sheppard'] is absolutely like that 🔥<a href="https://x.com/MVAGBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MVAGBB</a> <a href="https://x.com/Mjracle1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mjracle1</a> <a href="https://x.com/HailStateWBK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HailStateWBK</a> <a href="https://t.co/M2i8AAokXB">pic.x.com/M2i8AAokXB</a></p>&mdash; Palace Sports Agency (@PSportsAgency) <a href="https://x.com/PSportsAgency/status/1599190356502884352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Wholey</strong> is the lead scout for Florida Prep Girls Hoop Florida and a former division one Assistant Coach at American University, University of Memphis, and Georgia Tech.  Wholey and the rest of the Prep Girls Hoop staff, seek to cover the entire state of player, keeping subscribers up to date with player evaluations, recruiting info, and statewide news.  Our audience often supplies us with some of our best information.  If you have any information on players, teams, or statewide news in the state of Florida, emailing Michael Wholey at <a href="mailto:WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com">WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com</a> or DM him through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->