2025 Standout Forwards at Deep South Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The convention center in Raleigh NC was humming all weekend as players from all across the country showcased their talents during the first College Live period of the year. In this article, we look at some of the Power Forwards in the 2025 class who were Standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370059' first='Nacoya' last='Blocton'] / 2025 Power Forward / Ridgeview / MHD Elite </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["370059"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":643307,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64479c39612f7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If ever there was a stock riser, Blocton is one of them. Her game keeps getting better and better. The Sophomore forward was lights out at the Deep South Classic averaging nearly 20 points per contest. She is a stretch four who can pound it inside or shoot from behind the three-point line. She can handle the ball like a guard and get to the rim. She can grab a rebound and take it Coast to Coast with the left or right hand and can throw in a crossover dribble before finishing on either side of the basket with either hand. Blocton has great timing on offense and is very crafty with her back-door cuts and attacking the goal on both sides. She has great hands and catches anything in her vicinity and she also rebounds very well on both ends of the court. Blocton is turning heads and look for her stock to continue to rise over the summer. She is the real deal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='248553' first='Kendall' last='Kane'] / 2025 SF / DME Academy HS / DME 17U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["248553"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":643298,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64479c396135e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The hard-working Kane has added more to her repertoire and it did not go unnoticed. She knocked down several threes as she usually does, but Kane's game now has a physical element to it. She was getting to the basket and drawing fouls in the process. She has the size to mix it up in the paint and still has the guard mentality to play on the outside. Offensively, she can handle the ball, she has good court vision, she can pass the ball, and she can still shoot the daylights out of the ball. Kane was definitely a standout and she will be fun to watch over the summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346854' first='Jolena' last='Gardner'] / 2025 SF-PF / Columbia/ DME 16U </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["346854"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":643288,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64479c39613b6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gardner's versatility stood out more than any one aspect of her game. The last time I saw her in high school, she was playing down on the blocks. At the Deep South Classic, the athletic forward was all over the place on the court. She knocked down several threes and was also effective in the midrange area. Defensively, she was very comfortable on the wings guarding 1s and 2s, and 3s, but can also match up physically with 4s on the inside. She does a good job on rebounds and has a nose for the ball. Gardner gets her share of offensive rebounds and putbacks. Gardner is a special player whose versatility really stands out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='643370' first='Kaziah' last='Merritt'] / 2025 F / Fivay High School / Ultimate Warrior Blue 16U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":643316,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='643370' first='Kaziah' last='Merritt']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fivay HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Ultimate Warriors Blue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64479c3961449"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merritt's athleticism jumps out on the court and she has the game to back it up, especially on the defensive end and on the glass. Merritt was impressive mixing it up inside against other bigs and she also was versatile playing impressive on-ball defense outside on the wings. Offensively, she scored primarily in the painted area, played through contact, and seemed to embrace the physical type of play. Her strength and physical presence stood out the most. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='643371' first='Naimah' last='Mota'] / 2025 F / Fivay High School / Ultimate Warrior Blue 16U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":643325,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='643371' first='Naimah' last='Mota']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fivay","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Ultimate Warriors Blue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64479c39614d2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mota had a good sense of getting the ball in the basket and she wasn't afraid to get a little physical on the inside. At Deep South Classic, she got most of her points in the painted area and by attacking the rim. from the free-throw line. Mota was a ball of energy on the courts and her sheer hustling led to offensive rebounds, blocked shots, and getting to loose balls on the floor. Mota is the type of player who could impact the game whether she scores or not. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->