Cardinal Classic Shootout: Akeem’s Hidden Gems

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Photo By: Cam Anderson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I was in attendance for the Cardinal Classic Shootout in Winchester, KY last week. This was the first ever June NCAA scholastic live period event for girl's basketball in the state of Kentucky. The event took place from June 15th-16th and included 50 teams total from across the state as well as some prestige's programs from Ohio and Tennessee. The level of talent on display all at once at multiple gyms in close proximity to one another was amazing to see. I noticed college coaches and scouts from Power 5, D-I, D-II, D-III, and NAIA schools filling their seating sections looking for future players to recruit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Below I have listed my Hidden Gems from this jampacked event!</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alanah Dubose","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Hardin ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e049c6b173"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The North Hardin Trojans have a star in the making with Alana Dubose. She may be small in stature plays she plays big and has a knack for scoring the basketball. Dubose is a crafty left-handed guard with a quick first step that allowed her to get past defenders into the lane where she often to scored with a creative finish at rim. She is also a streaky shooter that can get hot at anytime. I see a big year ahead for Dubose she's going to make a lot of noise in the 5th region this upcoming season. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='675265' first='Kendall' last='Kearney']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Great Crossing","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715808' first='Lexington' last='Crossover']","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e049c6b2d0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The first time I saw [player_tooltip player_id='675265' first='Kendall' last='Kearney'] compete was in August of last year at the [program_tooltip program_id='716217' first='Camp' last='One'] Midwest Spotlight Showcase. She was mentioned in my "[program_tooltip program_id='716217' first='Camp' last='One'] Prospects Under The Spotlight Pt.2" article. Kearney played 16 games as 7th grader for Great Crossing this past season. But after seeing her play at the Cardinal Classic she will have ample opportunities to showcase her abilities as an 8th grader this year. Her game against Ballard on Day 1 of the event was all I needed to see. She came through in the clutch when her team needed it the most, she hit 3 three pointers in a row and came up with 2 timely steals to help Great Crossing get the win. Kearney has the competitive edge that every coach wants in a player as well as through the roof potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["572289"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e049c6b250"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">I've been keeping a close eye on [player_tooltip player_id='572289' first='Annette' last='Miller'] since the end of last season with GRC as well as throughout the AAU season so far for BGB. Miller has made major improvements to her game and watching her play at the Cardinal Classic it was obvious to see her growth and development as a player. I like how she plays within herself and never tries to do too much when she's on the floor always letting the game come to her. What impressed me the most was her high basketball IQ and court awareness. She made timely basket cuts that resulted in open layups inside and she played excellent help defense as well. As she continues to increase her time on the floor I see Miller having a breakout year for GRC. (Featured Image)</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Taylor King","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_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":"Rockcastle County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e049c6b202"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Rockcastle County posted a 20-9 record this past season led by their Hall of Fame Coach Chrysti Noble who earned her 600th career win putting her 7th on the all-time wins list in Kentucky. The Lady Rockets have an experienced coach and players that really know how to play together. Taylor King averaged 6.2 points per game as a freshman and after her seeing play at the Cardinal Classic I see her numbers going way up. King is a lethal three point shooter with a quick release and it seemed like every time the ball was kick out to her she knocked it down. She will contribute a lot more for her team this year. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='724188' first='Kennedy' last='Darnell']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Russell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648e049c6b36d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='724188' first='Kennedy' last='Darnell'] was the 3rd leading scorer for the Russell Red Devils averaging 7.5 points a game. She also snagged 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 36.7% from long distance. Darnell has good size and length at the guard position, she's also a solid ball handler that can bring the ball up and score off the dribble. She was very aggressive on offense in a physical game against South Laurel at the College Park Gym. I noticed on several possessions where she would attack the rim either creating free throw opportunities or finishing with a tough layup through contact. She also took advantage of her open looks making most of her shots from the perimeter. Darnell looks primed for a big sophomore season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->