Class 4A Final Four Standouts
The High School State Finals came to a close this weekend with several highly talented teams being able to take home the State Championship for the respective divisions! I had the honor and privilege of being able to watch a…
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Continue ReadingThe High School State Finals came to a close this weekend with several highly talented teams being able to take home the State Championship for the respective divisions! I had the honor and privilege of being able to watch a few extremely talented girls perform in the final four over the course of this week. The girls discussed here below game’s really stood out to me for several different reasons that I will dive into during this article!
Leslie Hames
Leslie Hames
Leslie Hames is a pure scorer by every means of the word imaginable. Hames has a smooth, quick, and technical release that’s lethal from deep. At times, Hames shot seems somewhat unfazed even by solid contests. Upon additional research you’ll quickly find more on how great of a shooter Hames is as she’s hit 10 threes in a game this season.
Behind the perimeter isn’t where Hames’ games stops. The threat of her shot allows her to also get into lane and get to her in between game, as well as to the line. Two places where she is also highly efficient. You would be hard pressed to find a handful of players in Alabama who can shot the ball better than Hames.
Kaylee Yarbrough Kaylee Yarbrough 5’7″ | SF New Hope | 2025 State AL received more defensive attention that anyone I covered this past week as she spent the majority of the first quarter being completely denied the basketball. Yarbrough is an elite 3 level scorer who has no problem creating for others if need be. Yarbrough is not only an elite three point shooter, but someone who possess deep 3pt range as well.
Yarbrough is extremely capable of putting the ball on the floor before rising up into a smooth jump shot from the midrange. If you give it to her, she will gladly attack, get all the way to the basket, and finish. Her ability to attack with either hand aggressively paired with her skill as a shooter makes her a threat to score every time she touches the ball.
Jada Bates
Jada Bates
Jada Bates can get into the paint seemingly at will. Bates has a great blend of quickness, ball handling ability, and playmaking skills that make her an extremely effective point guard. She produces high quality shots on many possessions, because defenses are forced to help on her constantly.
Bates’ ability to get into the paint and force help leads to her frequently taking trips to the free throw line. If defenders over help Bates is quick to make the right read and setup open teammates. Bates also plays strong with makes her even tougher to pressure and deal with at the basket.
Noel Freeman
Noel Freeman
Noel Freeman is a high energy big who plays the game with an inspiring level of passion. Freeman is a strong physical defender who has no problem putting her body on the line for her team. Freeman’s aggression and intensity alone make her an effective scorer as she is really good at fighting herself into position offensively.
Freeman is also an extremely active rebounder both offensively and defensively. If a body isn’t put onto her she will likely be in the mix when the ball comes off the rim. Protecting the rim is also something that freeman is highly capable of doing as she deterred multiple shots in her teams final four game.