EJ’s Radar: Top 5 Guards I Saw At The NJ Jam Fest
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Sportika was rocking with talent this weekend, as teams from up, down and around the East Coast came together to put on a show for the New Jersey Jam Fest, hosted by Hoop Group. Yours truly was in attendance scoping…
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Continue ReadingSportika was rocking with talent this weekend, as teams from up, down and around the East Coast came together to put on a show for the New Jersey Jam Fest, hosted by Hoop Group. Yours truly was in attendance scoping out and scouting some of the hottest talent grassroots basketball has to offer. The following five back-court beasts played some of the best basketball of the weekend and really stood out to me:
One half of “Twin Back Court,” Mia is who I like to call “your favorite player’s favorite player.” With the Overtime film crew documenting her every move and barely any standing room available in the gym, she put on a show game after game. Her handles are next-level, as she dazzles and dances with the ball in her hands. Lot of hoopers have supreme handles and many others are highly efficient, but very few are both. Her pull-up mid-range jumper was the wettest I saw all weekend long and she shot it at a high clip. Her ability to take defenders off the bounce and streak to the rim was masterful. She put on a clinic in shooting it at all 3 levels, including a flashy & acrobatic layup package. A few times I heard, “How did she make that?!” from spectators awe-inspired by her elite skill-set.
Chloe did it all this weekend! She scored it at a furious pace, crashed the glass with authority, facilitated & created for others and picked pockets time and time again on defense. Her size gave opponents match-up problems as she took advantage of smaller guards and had the bigs stumbling trying to keep up with her in and around the paint. On Saturday alone she tallied a combined 40 points against NY Grit and Delco Goats, two very good teams known for their stifling defense and ball pressure. Just as good as Chloe was creating for herself, she was even better seeing the floor and putting her teammates in position to score. Her court vision was on full display as she distributed the ball around the floor and attacked the defense with a drive and kick to the perimeter. It’s becoming a reoccurring theme this summer that anytime the NJ Demons participate in an event, Chloe ends up as one of weekend’s brightest stars.
Mia put her New Heights NYC team in a prime position to win games this weekend by delivering electrifying performances time and time again. Playing on a stacked squad, she was a shining star with a workhorse mentality, tireless motor and stellar two-way game. A lockdown defender, Mia kept the primary ball-handler in front of her with excellent lateral movement and ultra-quick reflexes. Her hunger for steals is evident the way she reads and attacks the passing lanes, converting defense to transition offense. Filthy crossovers at the top of the key, excellent footwork and the ability to weave through defenders and attack the rim elevates her game a cut above the rest. If the lanes are sealed off, Mia has no hesitation letting it from from 3, where she gets hot in a hurry… and when it rains, it pours!
Highlights
Whenever Haley is on the court, the Gemz offense flows directly through her. She is equal parts scorer and equal parts facilitator, possessing incredible offensive firepower and dynamic court vision. She fearlessly attacked the hoop this weekend and got to the rim at will. She had her way with opponents, breaking down the defense with her shifty shake-and-bake handles and showing off crafty finishes through contact. A speed demon on the fast break, Haley was hard to stop when she turned the jets on and went into full attack mode. The way she scans and sees the floor always allows her to create something out of seemingly nothing, finding teammates and dishing some seriously pretty dimes. Come the July live period, Haley is sure to put on a master class for coaches to marvel at.
Highlights
Cassidy Moore
Cassidy Moore
Cassidy came out guns blazing at Sportika! A very quick a bouncy player, her uptempo pace and high motor proved to be more than a handful for defenders to try and contain. She rattled in shots from just about everywhere, attacking from the corner, splashing in the 15-foot middy and firing on all cylinders from deep. Her silky smooth release really stood out and she never once seemed rushed or let the defense force her into taking a bad shot. High efficiency at all 3 levels kept the Gemz in games even when the going got tough, as they played an incredibly challenging schedule.