Inside The Paint- 17U Top Performers #DuelForTheDynasty

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching <strong>6'2 Shamiah Johnson (C4 Attack)</strong> and<strong> 5'10 [player_tooltip player_id='509684' first='Taylor' last='Wilson'] (Team Stay Ready 2024) </strong>help close opening day with performances that added both to the<strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/05/gamechangers-duel-for-the-dynasty/"> GAMECHANGERS </a></strong>article had me regroup on how I wanted to start my event coverage. I'll have <strong>All-Star Teams </strong>from both the <strong>16U and 17U Divisions </strong>but I wanted to give you something on some talented players who created issues inside the paint </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maya Okoro-6'2 (Lady Sharks 2024) Frisco Ready [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Okoro uses her strength and athleticism on both ends and watching her battle for everything off the rim was nice, and so was her interior defense yet she surprised me with her timing and ability to react as well as regroup. Her powerful blocks were huge as she came out of nowhere a few times for the rejection. She also used her body well inside the paint and scored with players literally hanging on her </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brooklyn Hurtado-6'3 (West Texas Shockers 2024) Cisco [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hurtado had one of if not the most impressive displays of "hands and footwork" at the event and watching her score, with either hand, after contact, had me smiling but that smile became even wider when she showed the "drop step" which is #THROWBACK. She also battled for everything off the rim, showed good timing to block shots, and ran the floor well, on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sofia Reyes-5'11 (Oklahoma Royal Legacy 2024)</strong> <strong>Southmore [2023]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reyes showed me she could use her frame inside the paint on opening day yet on Siminator Sunday, she went completely off as she was another of the "hands and footwork" players that scored however she wanted. She understands how to set the defender up and she knows where she is on the court because her turnaround jumpers were consistent and clutch yet she also scored on putbacks, after contact, yes she rebounds on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kennedy [player_tooltip player_id='888022' first='Stout' last='']-6'2 (TX Platinum 2025 S40 Dollar) Melissa [2025]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='888022' first='Stout' last=''] is "long and athletic" and I call that the base yet she still has an upside and doing what she did playing up tells me a lot. She has very good timing to not block shots, but alter and deflect them and she handled the ball afterward in the open court. She scored off the dribble, as well as around the basket, putbacks included, and all after contact. She also hit the boards hard on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875498' first='Anna' last='McCarn']-6'3 (Hoop Life 2024) Mountain Home [2025]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCarn is also "long and athletic" and I was overly impressed with her not only running the floor but catching the ball in transition to finish. She has a variety of moves around the basket to score, she even faces it for the short jumper yet her defense, in and outside the paint was nice, she rebounded the ball on both ends and also played the passing lane </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peyton Conner-6'2 (West Texas Shockers 2024) New Home [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ivie Mehary-6'2 (Lady Sharks 2024) Parish Episcopal [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406035' first='Brooklyn' last='Cooper']-6'0 (Team Stay Ready 2024) Colleyville Heritage [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alee Willard-6'3 (Hoop Life 2024) Alton [2025]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Natalie Millwood (True Texas Hoops 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analise McGovern-6'1 (Team Stay Ready 2024) WT White [2024]</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->