Deep South Classic – Peach State Prospects (Part 1)
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Could it be more appropriate that one of the marquee events from this grassroots season’s first live period happened to be in one of basketball’s signature states? That was the case the weekend of April 21-23 as the Deep South…
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Continue ReadingCould it be more appropriate that one of the marquee events from this grassroots season’s first live period happened to be in one of basketball’s signature states?
That was the case the weekend of April 21-23 as the Deep South Classic emanated from Raleigh, North Carolina. The city – which is the state’s capital city – is also home to NC State University which is one of the premier women’s college hoops programs in the nation.
We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand for the festivities as were several of Georgia’s most respected AAU organizations. Here is a look at who from the Peach State raised eyebrows with many a college coach in attendance.
Nicora Patrick
Nicora Patrick
Georgia Pearls Jr. National Team 17U vs. TBS Think Big 17U looked like a mismatch – and Patrick was a major reason why it looked as such. Patrick finished with 18 points to lead all-point getters for the second day of the live period event. It appeared at times as if there was more than one of Patrick on the court. If she had the ball in her hands near the rim, she was very likely to connect on her high-percentage shot opportunity. In addition, she displayed what she can get accomplished as an offensive rebounder and she showed that she has no issues with drawing contact and finding her way to the free throw line.
With a 10-point outing, Ferguson played her very valuable role in notching her team’s first victory of the weekend by virtue of a very lopsided victory at the expense of TBS Think Big 17U out of South Carolina. She was one element of an offense that did plenty of running up and down the court to score consistent points against the Palmetto State-based team. She also had her opportunities at the free throw line. As a 2026, she is someone who is playing up several years in class and it is fitting given her skillset is indicative of someone with more of a veteran mindset.
Kennedy Davis
Kennedy Davis
Davis also is playing up in class given she is a 2025. Her home during the regular season is Heritage HS out of Conyers. She too finished with a 10-point effort as Georgia Pearls Jr. National Team 17U put together an offensive clinic against South Carolina-based Team Big Shots Think Big 17U. Davis also had herself a good game in terms of whistles as she had no personal fouls called against her for the duration of the contest. Putting points on the board, getting to the free throw line and creating additional offensive possessions via steals are all key elements to her complete game.
In one of Saturday’s final matchups at the Raleigh Convention Center, Davis gave Peak Performance Webb 17U a much-needed lift against what was a tough Georgia Flames 2025 17U team. Davis finished with 20 points to lead her team. One way that she gets so many shots to fall is her willingness and ability to drain tough shots that not everyone would make. Davis also combines that production with toughness and a willingness to fall to the floor. When she has the ball in her hands, she can be rather speedy and shifty which can throw defenses for a loop. Davis will possess the ball often in iso situations and understands when the correct moments are to slow down and speed up the tempo.
Some of Steinhauer’s most impressive basketball has come during the travel circuit when she has worn the Georgia Flames uniform – including in last year’s Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. That was the case again on a Saturday Spring evening in the Triangle as she notched 17 points to lead her AAU team to a victory over fellow Peach State foes Peak Performance Webb 17U. Along with being a scorer, she too displays a toughness to her game as she is not afraid to fall to the floor if it means completing a play. Much of what she does involves either passing to open teammates or attacking the rim even against a number of opposing defenders. Steinhauer is a skilled handler of the ball and manages to limit turnovers, can get creative with how she drives and finishes at the rim and can deflect passes to affect an opposing team’s passing lanes.
When Georgia Flames 2025 17U needed points in the paint, No. 33 was ready and waiting to deliver that interior post presence. Bishop added that dimension to her team’s offense against Peak Performance Webb 17U on Saturday evening as she added eight points to her AAU team’s overall total. Along with tallying points and drawing contact to get to the free throw line, she also adds a rebounding dimension to Georgia Flames 2025 17U’s overall efforts. Along with it, she understands how to operate within the flow of an offense with the passes that she makes. A midrange jump shot is also part of her offensive repertoire.
Tyre can make opposing offenses (and defenses) tired with what she can do on either end of the floor. In Georgia Flames 2025 17U’s victory over Peak Performance Webb 17U to close out Saturday’s schedule of matchups, she contributed 13 points in a winning effort for her team. Out of the 15 points she scored, 10 of those occurred in the second half. If what she did on the offensive side of the court was impressive, her defensive efforts were perhaps just as eye-opening. She managed to help out on double teams in addition to intercepting passes and grabbing steals to create additional offensive possessions. Tyre also managed to contribute on defense with blocks on top of what she can get accomplished as a rebounder.