AC Showcase: Back-Court Swish Masters
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The Atlantic City Convention Center was buzzing with electric guard play during the May live period! Knockdown shooters delivered a gut punch to their opponents as they splashed buckets and tallied up numbers in the points column, leading their respective…
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Continue ReadingThe Atlantic City Convention Center was buzzing with electric guard play during the May live period! Knockdown shooters delivered a gut punch to their opponents as they splashed buckets and tallied up numbers in the points column, leading their respective teams to victory. These six hoopers were dynamic and proved to be some of the best of the weekend.
One of the bounciest guards I’ve seen in a long time, Mia’s motor knows no quit! Her ability to light it up from everywhere on the court is both impressive and awe-inspiring. HUrban Legends took on some of the fiercest competition in Atlantic City and generated buzz among attendees. She exploded for 26 points in a 74-62 win over a D1-stacked Minnesota Fury squad and did her scoring in a number of ways. She attacked the lane with quickness and a crafty layup package, pulled up from mid-range and buried shots way behind the arc. In a quick turnaround later that afternoon against Team Northeast, Mia did much of the same, attacking defenders off the dribble & working her way to the hoop with shifty handles & aggression. High-percentage shooting from the charity stripe iced the 62-61 overtime win, as she sank 12 free throws while remaining cool and calm under pressure. A weekend to remember!
Twin Back-Court wouldn’t be complete without Mya, who elevated her stock exponentially last weekend with strong showings game after game. She was an absolute sniper against Team Northeast, pouring in 16 points and knocking down three 3-pointers in the process. She showed off crafty shake-and-bake handles, danced with the ball in her hands & staggered defenders trying to keep up with her. Against one of New Jersey’s best AAU programs, NJ Rise, Mya electrified with her effective jab step, dynamic dribble penetration and strong cuts to the hoop. Her perimeter game was scorching hot as she continuously sank shot after shot with no wasted motion. She is a silent assassin on the hardwood with a high efficiency rating and next-level skill-set.
Amanda’s gritty guard play and knockdown shooting helped the Gemz achieve a successful 3-1 weekend at The Showcase. She was downright unstoppable in a 67-45 win against SLAAM Norman in the weekend finale, pushing the pace and splashing shots from just about everywhere. Her arsenal is complete with an effective pick and roll, confident mid-range and lethal long ball. She doesn’t require much space to get her shot off, as her court awareness and timing are both supreme! Her ability to ignite fast breaks and score in transition is second to none. When you have a 3-level scorer like Amanda on your team, you can rest assured that shots are going to fall in rapid succession and opponents are going to struggle trying to contain her. Her game is truly nightmare fuel for defenders far and wide.
Highlights
A player who thrives in the biggest moments, Jaida embraces the fiercest competition and brightest lights. She led her team to a 3-1 record and displayed strong handles, hot shooting and the ability to finish strong at the rim. Crafty with the ball in her hand, she broke down defenders and finessed her way inside for easy layups. She shot the 3 ball at a high clip and proved with her catch-and-shoot ability that she doesn’t necessarily need to be squared up to the basket to knock them down. Jaida’s supreme quickness is nearly impossible to stop once she gets out in transition, showing off her sheer athleticism and remarkable ball control while furiously pushing the tempo to the hoop. Overall, she gives the Shoreshots incredible offensive firepower in the back-court and someone her teammates can rely upon to score hard-hitting buckets.
Brooke was tough to contain in Atlantic City…. and judging by her 4-0 weekend, it’s safe to say nobody was successful in doing so. She has great size and length and tremendous physicality to bang in the post with bigs and a sweet stroke from the wing to drill the shot. She creates space and elevates nicely, getting off efficient and high percentage shots from various spots on the floor. Disciplined footwork and shifty handles allow her to get to the rim at will and finish in a number of creative ways; reverse layup, pretty Euro, strong spin move, etc. Brooke opened the weekend against the New England Crusaders splashing 3 ball after 3 ball, and in the finale against the Boston Showstoppers, she showed off her effectiveness in the paint with strong, aggressive takes to the hoop. It’s an arduous task indeed to try and stop this wildly versatile guard who can do damage in a number of ways!