Battle in the Desert: Newcomers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend I attended the live viewing period for the girls. It was the <strong>Battle in the Desert</strong> run by <em>West Coast Elite</em> at the Phhacility in Phx, AZ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched 15-17U and found some new young players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the Newcomers I viewed:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659945' first='Maci' last='Kerns'] Higley (Hoops R Us 16) (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring lead guard with good instincts. She has a tighter handle and can change speeds and knows how to hesitate and get by. She scores on back door cuts, catch threes and her floater game is polished. She collects steals with quick hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='660218' first='Shanielle' last='Mallory'] Kellis (AZ Legacy 16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring point guard with a super tight and shifty handle. She has unusually long arms to pester her opponents on defense. She may end up a ball hawk over the next three years in the West Valley. She drives and kicks it, she can split defenders and has a yo-yo handle in tight spaces. She has deep range well beyond the arc and has a running floater in traffic.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='660230' first='Michelle' last='Kogbara'] Peoria (AZ Legacy 16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sturdy framed power forward with great strength. She rebounds in and out of her area and holds her ground in the paint versus taller players. She scores on put backs and has a nice drop step move to utilize.&nbsp;She has a good line of athletes in her family and is one to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659934' first='Bella' last='Abt'] Prescott (PVB 15U)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long forward blocks shots, rebounds and moves fluidly. She scores it around the rim and is an elbow and in type of scorer currently. She makes her money on effort, length and playing aggressively inside the paint plus is an active defender on the perimeter. She averaged an impressive 10.4 ppg, 12.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659947' first='Maya' last='Billan'] Higley (Hoops R Us 16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long and tall post player. She runs the floor well and will rebound and alter or block shots with her length. She is somewhat raw but she can drop step and battles inside for rebounds despite being a little leaner.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659948' first='Ava' last='Taliaferro'] Higley (Hoops R Us 16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A shooting guard who can catch and shoot from the stripe. She has some toughness but the range on her shot separates her from many. She handles the ball decently but works best off the ball.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659946' first='Nenah' last='Brown'] Rancho Solano Prep (AZ Pride)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An active power forward with strength and a good motor. She runs with high effort and defends multiple positions from the 3-5. She is best inside to bang and rebound and the lefty plays hard on each possession. She will primarily score inside.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659956' first='Cabot' last='Hamilton'] Campo Verde (AZ Pride)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring point guard handles ball pressure well and plays a smart game for an 8th grader. She has range on her three point shot and moves the ball like you should. She plays well beyond her years and looks to make a possible immediate impact for the Coyotes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659954' first='Lyla' last='Campbell'] Pinnacle (AZ Pride)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized point guard will drive and kick it to a shooter and has good defensive instincts. She can side step and hit the three and shoot it off the catch. She gets low to handle the ball from not being stripped by defenders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659955' first='Jackie' last='Wentworth'] Sunnyslope (AZ Pride)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pure point guard is almost a throw back. She has next level court vision, a tighter handle and has a good feel for the game. She has some speed to get to the basket and can shoot from the perimeter when left open.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"> </h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->