Apache Memorial Showcase: Ball Handlers (Cont’d)
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Apache Memorial Showcase was held last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee with teams from all over the country coming to compete in front of college coaches for the first live period. I was able to catch games on all three days…
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Continue ReadingApache Memorial Showcase was held last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee with teams from all over the country coming to compete in front of college coaches for the first live period. I was able to catch games on all three days of the event. I’ve already discussed 2024 ball handlers, so this article is about the rest of those standouts that deserve your attention.
Jocelyne Grier Jocelyne Grier 5’8″ | CG Winston-Salem Christian National | 2025 State NC showed off her stroke from deep. She shows a variety of moves using one and blowing by her opponent to create some space for her points. She was driving and attacking the gaps shifting defenses to open up the court for her teammates. She is so explosive with the ball in her hands, and has a nice shot from anywhere on the court.
Highlights
Chloe Galombeck Chloe Galombeck 5’6″ | PG Hough | 2025 State NC was an excellent ball handler attacking the gaps and finding the opening to put up her shot. She did a nice job using her handles to create some open space or draw her defenders towards her to open up the court for her teammates’ shots. She can easily get to the basket herself finishing at the rim.
Highlights
Leila Henderson Leila Henderson 5’6″ | SF Western Guilford | 2025 NC used her voice on defense, and she showed off her handles attacking the basket on the other end. She grabbed steals and pushed the tempo finding her open teammate filling the lanes making a nice long pass to hit them in stride. She was aggressive on both ends taking the possession and protecting the ball.
Samantha Collins
Samantha Collins
Samantha Collins showed off her handles, and she even had a nice power dribble on the block to get adjusted and score some points using her strength. She dove on the floor going after loose balls gaining possession again for her team. She used her IQ on the other end anticipating what her opponents would do while she played defense.
There may be some quarterback controversy in Charlotte as Addison Sirianni Addison Sirianni 5’7″ | CG Lake Norman | 2025 State NC could certainly put her hat in the ring with the way she makes perfect long passes up the court to her cutting teammates on fast breaks. She makes adjustments well at the top of the key, too, to get the perfect pass into her teammates underneath the basket. She can score herself getting the pass in transition or knocking it down from deep.
Highlights
Léa Boyens Léa Boyens 5’8″ | CG Hickory | 2025 State NC had a nice play driving baseline and hitting the reverse layup to give her team some momentum. She did a nice jab step pulling up for a three pointer right when her team needed some points. She pushes the tempo getting the ball up the court finding her open teammates for some fast breaks.
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Cecily Swimmer Cecily Swimmer 5’4″ | PG Cherokee | 2026 State NC had some nice shot fakes that she really sold with her expression and her body language as she blew past her defender and attacked the paint. She can get all the way to the hoop or kick it out to her teammates for their own points. She did a nice job handling the ball against pressure splitting her defenders with ease. She crashes the boards getting rebounds, too. On defense, she stripped the ball from her opponents pushing it the other direction.
Highlights
Taylor Smith Taylor Smith 5’6″ | PG Concord Academy | 2026 State NC drives hard to the basket making some old fashioned three point plays. She sees the floor well finding the open teammate underneath the basket, and she makes adjustments with the ball making sure she has the open look. She can finish on both sides of the rim or even score with reverse layups to get her points.
Hannah Moss Hannah Moss 5’7″ | PG Independence | 2026 State NC continues to show how she can attack the basket getting by her opponents with ease. Her sudden stops when driving are sure to open up the court for her to get some points. It’s as if she reads what her defender will do and uses her change of speed or direction moves to get around them.