Sports Academy Spring Championship Top Standouts Pt. 1

Natalie Villamor; SO Notre Dame 2024

David Yapkowitz

May 9, 2023 @ 11:41 PM

This past weekend, Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, CA played host to the Spring Championship. The event was held across two days from May 6-7 and featured some of the top travel teams in Southern California as well as few out of state teams as well. I was able to attend the event on Sunday, May 7 and focused on the in state teams. Here's a look at some of the top standouts I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='166832' first='Natalie' last='Villamor'] - BTI 17U/SO Notre Dame 2024 This was my second time seeing Villamor play in person and she was impressive once again. What stands out the most is her ball-handling and her ability to be the primary playmaker on the court. She has good size for a guard/wing. Very unselfish and looks to make the extra pass. Does a good job looking for teammates on cuts/rolls. Able to drive to the basket and dish to teammates in the paint for easy looks. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='639949' first='Alijah' last='Stewart'] - [program_tooltip program_id='714065' first='Troop' last='West'] 17U National/Long Beach Poly 2024 Stewart has strong upside as a forward/center. She's mobile with good size. This was my second time seeing her play and the main thing that stood out this time was her level of comfort in creating her own shot. She showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and make quick, decisive moves to the basket. She was also able to draw contact consistently and get to the free-throw line. 3. Destiny Floyd-Hurt - [program_tooltip program_id='713886' first='Cal' last='Stars'] 16U TOC/Crenshaw 2025 Floyd-Hurt looked the part of a wing scorer with some defensive capabilities. She also makes a lot of hustle plays. She's long and has a wirery frame, she has the tools be a solid wing defensive player. Offensively she can handle the ball as a guard and looked to attack the basket. She handles the ball in transition too and pushes the pace well. Can shoot the floater in the lane. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='566439' first='Naomi' last='Panganiban'] - [program_tooltip program_id='715880' first='Why' last='Not Premier'] 17U EYBL/La Jolla Country Day 2024 Panganiban is on the small side but she is an effective point guard. She's quick and can be a blur on the break. Pushes the pace and keeps her head up to find open teammates running in transition. Her passes are on point, unselfish player who makes the right pass. She can drive to the basket and she is able to finish at the rim against taller defenders.

This past weekend, Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, CA played host to the Spring Championship. The event was held across two days from May 6-7 and featured some of the top travel teams in Southern California as well as few out of state teams as well. I was able to attend the event on Sunday, May 7 and focused on the in state teams. Here's a look at some of the top standouts I saw.

1. Natalie Villamor Natalie Villamor 5'8" | PG Notre Dame SO | 2024 State CA - BTI 17U/SO Notre Dame 2024

This was my second time seeing Villamor play in person and she was impressive once again. What stands out the most is her ball-handling and her ability to be the primary playmaker on the court. She has good size for a guard/wing. Very unselfish and looks to make the extra pass. Does a good job looking for teammates on cuts/rolls. Able to drive to the basket and dish to teammates in the paint for easy looks.

2. Alijah Stewart Alijah Stewart 5'9" | SF Long Beach Poly | 2025 State CA - Troop West 17U National/Long Beach Poly 2024

Stewart has strong upside as a forward/center. She's mobile with good size. This was my second time seeing her play and the main thing that stood out this time was her level of comfort in creating her own shot. She showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and make quick, decisive moves to the basket. She was also able to draw contact consistently and get to the free-throw line.

3. Destiny Floyd-Hurt - Cal Stars 16U TOC/Crenshaw 2025

Floyd-Hurt looked the part of a wing scorer with some defensive capabilities. She also makes a lot of hustle plays. She's long and has a wirery frame, she has the tools be a solid wing defensive player. Offensively she can handle the ball as a guard and looked to attack the basket. She handles the ball in transition too and pushes the pace well. Can shoot the floater in the lane.

4. Naomi Panganiban Naomi Panganiban 5'6" | CG La Jolla Country Day | 2024 State CA - Why Not Premier 17U EYBL/La Jolla Country Day 2024

Panganiban is on the small side but she is an effective point guard. She's quick and can be a blur on the break. Pushes the pace and keeps her head up to find open teammates running in transition. Her passes are on point, unselfish player who makes the right pass. She can drive to the basket and she is able to finish at the rim against taller defenders.