PGH Triumph Region Kickoff – Day 2 Standouts
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The first day of play at this year’s Triumph Region Kickoff was merely a teaser for what was a full-day’s worth of action at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. One of the first events on this year’s…
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Continue ReadingThe first day of play at this year’s Triumph Region Kickoff was merely a teaser for what was a full-day’s worth of action at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
One of the first events on this year’s Prep Girls Hoops Circuit calendar, it not only welcomed teams from the home state but also from North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Florida as well.
A number of standouts departed from the Palmetto State’s Upstate proud of the performances they turned in this past weekend. Here are a few of them that caught the attention of many on the event’s second and closing day.
Anai Custodio
Anai Custodio
Charleston Raptors/TMP 2025 Black finished the Triumph Region Kickoff with a pair of wins and a pair of losses. Custodio proved to be a key factor in what was a productive weekend for the Lowcountry-based AAU team. Included in that was being the leading scorer with 11 points in a resounding victory over Florida-based Lady OTOD 2025. In that contest, Custodio tallied nine of her 11 points in the second half of play. She made plenty of plays close to the basket and managed to draw her fair share of contact which placed her at the free throw line on a few occasions.
Isabella Crawford
Isabella Crawford
The long trek from the Bluegrass State to the Palmetto State did not faze this rising standout. Crawford was a major reason why this season’s rendition of the Colonels finished with a 25-8. Crawford is a consistent scoring threat, but she also knows when to score and when to pass. She also impressed on the defensive end of the floor as well with her footwork and her ability to collect steals. One of the ways that Crawford can consistently place points on the scoreboard is via the 3-point shot. She made a trio of triples en route to a 14-point performance in a Kentucky Blue Devils 2024 victory over North Carolina-based JahWorkouts Select 2024.
Aumani Nelson Aumani Nelson 5'8" | SG Holy Cross | 2025 State KY
Aumani Nelson Aumani Nelson 5'8" | SG Holy Cross | 2025 State KY
Another noteworthy 2025 from the metro-Cincinnati area, Nelson was another reason why Kentucky Blue Devils 2024 finished the Triumph Region Kickoff with a 3-1 mark. Nelson finished with 10 points in that victory on Saturday against JahWorkouts Select 2024 – a 48-32 final. Similar to her teammate mentioned above, Nelson also is a potent threat from deep and was on the receiving end of one of those triples that credited Crawford with an assist. Nelson also possesses the ability to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Crawford’s Holy Cross squad finished the 2022-23 season with a 26-8 record.
Carly Shephard
Carly Shephard
The two Kentucky teams that were on hand at the Triumph Region Finals both turned in impressive performances. Shephard played a major role in why Louisville Jaguars 2027 finished with a 3-1 record with its only blemish coming against an Upstate Rebels 2026 assembling that went undefeated. Shephard plays with plenty of hustle in the minutes that she logs as she will prevent a ball from going out of bounds to preserve a possession for her team. Defenses need to watch out for her if she has the ball behind the 3-point arc as she is likely to take – and make – those attempts. She had 12 points – all via the triple – en route to a 55-45 Louisville Jaguars 2027 win vs. Charleston Raptors 2026.
Hailey Conder
Hailey Conder
Louisville Jaguars 2027 had an impressive 3-point shooting barrage en route to that victory over Charleston Raptors 2026 – its first of three wins over the weekend. Conder aided that offensive attack with an 11-point outing that included three made attempts from downtown. Conder displayed impressive ball handling skills along with toughness as she is willing to fall to the floor if it means completing a play. She also is a smart passer. Two other strong points of Conder’s overall game are the ability to collect steals as a defender and play effective defense on the perimeter.
Jakayla Palmer Jakayla Palmer 5'8" | CG Southern Durham | 2027 NC
Jakayla Palmer Jakayla Palmer 5'8" | CG Southern Durham | 2027 NC
Palmer turned in, arguably, one of the best performances of any 15U participant this past weekend. Carolina All-Stars as an organization had itself a productive weekend and what Palmer got accomplished for its 2027 was a reason for that. Included in that was a 19-point outing in a 62-53 victory over Georgia Elite Sports Invasion 2027. In another one of her games, she dropped 30 en route to a victory. As potent as a scorer she is, a good bit of her points come by creating offense through defense. Palmer can create additional possessions for her team with the steals she collects and also understands how to absorb contact to get to the free throw line.
Amari Rambert
Amari Rambert
Rambert played her first season at the varsity level as an eighth grader for the Patriots of nearby Powdersville. She has translated that momentum to the club scene for an Upstate Rebels bunch that finished a perfect 4-0 for the weekend at Upward Star Center. Rambert finished her own Saturday on a high note as she scored nine points in a commanding victory for her team over FBC Dynasty Elite 2027. Rambert primarily plays as a guard in the backcourt, but can haul in her fair share of rebounds. She will also have occasions where she will get to the line on the heels of drawing contact.