WHEAT STATE SLAM – 14U – MVP AND ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wheat State Slam held at the Lawrence Sports Pavilion had plenty of talented players playing in the 14U division (over 80 players) but these 6 players were the best of the best -- their skill set, consistency and knowledge of the game is what separated them from the other players! </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":633579,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='836275' first='Maya' last='Harris'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"B2B ELITE","_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_tooltip player_id='836275' first='Maya' last='Harris'] is the MVP of the 14U division!  Harris played in the opening game of the tournament Friday evening and she never let up u002du002d in every game, she dominated on both ends of the floor and progressively got better as the tournament continued!  u002du002d the Wheat State Slam was Maya and her teams (B2B Elite) 1st Prep Girls Hoops event and she came out and made a statement.  Harris was aggressive in every aspect of the game.  - she drove to the basket with purpose, she secured rebounds and went back up intentionally, she shot and made baskets confidentially and was able to create shots for herself when the defense was slacking.  Harris shot well from deep but as soon as the defense played up on her, she attacked the basket and got around the defense with a nice euro step or a quick floater.  u002du002d she sprinted the floor in transition and sprinted back when her team was on defense.  Maya's ability to beat her opponents up the floor allowed her to garner numerous points off of fast breaks; and, the way she sprinted back on defense gave her the opportunity to get where she needed to be. Harris had a handful of steals and a number of blocks u002du002d Maya is a player to have on the radar because if she keeps on this trajectory, she will be a household name before we know it!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":634284,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"ENVY ROSS","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"SOUTHSIDE ELITE 2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Envy plays the game at a very fast yet controlled pace. She was able to freely get to her spots - and, score from multiple areas.  u002du002d she was the player on the court that made the game seem effortless. Offensively, she shot the ball confidently and there was not a possession where her body language showed anything other than a belief in her training and abilities. Ross frequently attacked the basket and once she got to the rim, she finished at a very high percentage. Defensively, she was locked in and aggressive.  u002du002d she is quick on her feet and she forced the ball handlers to turn and make careless passes; often times, her defense led to steals and fast break points.  Envy is a player that will definitely start making a name for herself - if she continues to progress and play the way she did this past weekend!","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":634285,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"ABBY SARGENT","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"MO LEGACY","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u002du002d it was evident from the beginning that Abby is tough but what was most impressive was that as the weekend progressed, she never let up.  Abby's energy and effort level was through the roof!  u002du002d she was easily in the top 3 as far as handling the ball under pressure and being able to get around defenders.   Sargent knows how to get to the basket and score within 5 feet of the rim but shooting from deep is where she is a true threat.  Defensively, it seems as though Abby makes it her personal mission to cause as many turnovers for the offense as possible.  u002du002d she does not back down from any situation and you can guarantee that if there is a loose ball or a tie up - Sargent is in the mix!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":634286,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"LEATAATA LATALA","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"KC DREAM 2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Leataata was a force in every game this past weekend. She has a good foundation and her fundamentals are solid.  u002du002d one of the aspects of her game that truly stood out was the multiple efforts that she makes on the boards; there were numerous times when Latala fought for the rebound until she secured the ball for her team.  u002du002d she was a tough rebounder and continuously solidified her position inside of the paint!  Leataata was strong and aggressive when she got the feed in from her guards and she did not shy away from contact.  u002du002d u0022and oneu0022 was a regular call when she went up under her basket!  - as her game evolves, she is a player that everyone should get familiar with!","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":634288,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"TAYLOR MCCARTY","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"MAGIC BASKETBALL 2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Taylor is an all-around ball player!   u002du002d she gets it done on both ends of the floor and has the skill set to play all five positions. McCarty is a natural shooter, her shot selection is versatile and she has a fast release - but, at any moment, Taylor can put the ball on the floor and drive past her defenders and finish at the rim with ease.  u002du002d she keeps her teammates involved and her court vision was more developed than the other players in her division. u002du002d she can efficiently shoot from beyond the arc and has a very nice dribble pull up.   u002du002d her lateral movements make it difficult for the offense to get around her!  Defensively, McCarty is great on ball and does an excellent job playing the gap.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":634290,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"GIULIANA BENEDETTO","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"KC DREAM 2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Giuliana (12 years old) was probably the youngest player playing in the 14U division but nothing about the way she played the game would insinuate that she was younger than the other players on the court.  u002du002d her motor stayed on 100 from the moment she stepped foot on the floor until the clock showed 0:00. Benedetto was very conscious and aware of where her teammates were as well as where her defenders were.  u002du002d she did not force passes and has a sound understanding of when to retreat, when to attack and when to take the deep three.  u002du002d there was not a game where she was not the smallest player on the court however her size never hindered the way she attacked the basket or shot her shots; she was confident and efficient whenever she had the ball in her hands. Giuliana drained multiple three's throughout the weekend and she was fearless when going in for rebounds against the bigger/stronger players. Defensively, she was an annoyance to her opponents but a momentum shifter for her team as her u0022the ball is mineu0022 mentality equivocated to a number of steals and easy points!","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6434ab5304449"} /-->