St. James MLK classic day 4
After the girls took a break Sunday, The MLK classic capped off on Monday with some exciting action. Three games were played, and it was my favorite day of basketball this long weekend. Here are some standouts from the MLK…
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Continue ReadingAfter the girls took a break Sunday, The MLK classic capped off on Monday with some exciting action. Three games were played, and it was my favorite day of basketball this long weekend. Here are some standouts from the MLK classic’s final day.
Mia Pauldo Morris Catholic (NJ)
Sophomore guard Mia Pauldo put on an absolute show Monday with her special ball handling and quickness. Whenever she got by her initial defender, which happened a lot, I must add she found ways to either finish at the rim or find an open teammate next to the basketball for an easy layup. She had a quick and silky jump shot, allowing her to get her shot off easily. Pauldo is an exceptional talent and will only polish off her skillset in the coming years.
Kennedy Smith Etiwanda (CA)
Kennedy Smith was one of the better athletes at the tournament, and she used that athleticism effectively. Coupling that athletic ability with her size made her a handful to deal with in the paint. What surprised me about Smith was her ability to shoot the ball from 3 and just her overall touch. But the thing that separated Kennedy Smith was her ability on the defensive side of the ball. She is exceptionally versatile as she was assigned to guard Mia Pauldo and held her own. For the most part, she did a great job and stayed in front of her more than everyone else. She was everywhere on defense, and at 6’1″, she’s highly versatile. I saw her guarding almost every position effectively. I say this with no exaggeration; she is one of the most talented defenders I’ve recently seen at the high school level.
Jadyn Donovan Sidwell Friends (VA)
If there were an award for the hardest playing hooper this weekend, it would have been Senior forward Jadyn Donovan. Donovan was giving up a lot of size against Montverde academy, and she did a fantastic job. Donovan is an elite athlete and plays way bigger than her size. Donovan also has a nice-looking mid-range game, and her superior athleticism allowed her to rise over longer defenders from wherever she wanted to. You can’t teach motor and athleticism; those are what the future Duke Blue Devil has in abundance.
Leah Harmon Sidwell Friends (VA)
Senior guard Leah Harmon was the driving force for an excellent Sidwell Friends team. She was steady the whole game and showed her years by making the right play every time and being the clear verbal leader. She made many sweet key passes that broke down the Montverde defense. She also showed her shooting ability by hitting a handful of 3s.
Kendall Dudley Sidwell Friends (VA)
I was reluctant to put three girls from the same school on this list, but Sidwell Friends left me no choice. Much like Jadyn Donovan, Dudley played a lot bigger than her size. She battled inside against a bigger Montverde team and is a fantastic rebounder. She got to the line a lot and had a knack for getting where she wanted. Although she didn’t show it much this weekend, she has a shot from the perimeter but getting to the rim is where her bread is buttered. She’s one of the most sought-after Juniors in the country for a reason