HSSE Nationals High School Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hop Step Nationals had such a competitive high school division I have to bring you another article featuring more players that stood out. Keep reading to find out more about these players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876305' first='Drew' last='Jackson'] | Guard | Arkansas United | 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drew showed she was a skilled and dedicated player. The athleticism and nice handle allow her to effectively navigate and create opportunities on the court. Drew's ability to get to the rim off the bounce showcases her attacking mentality and scoring versatility. When you combine her smart decision making and playmaking ability you easy scoring opportunities for her teammates. Drew's motor and high energy level brought intensity to the court. Add in her shooting from beyond the arc, finishes around the rim, willingness to give up her body to take charges and commitment to defense, you have a player that can have a positive impact on the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maliyah Banks | PG | No Limit | 2027  </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maliyah's skills are impressive! A strong handle that keeps the defense off balance and allows her to get to the basket is a valuable asset of hers. Being able to finish at the rim in various ways and showing the ability to handle contact demonstrates her scoring versatility and toughness. Maliyah's an unselfish playmaker that make her a valuable asset to her team. Having good vision of drives in the half court and showcasing ball handling in the open court further highlight her basketball IQ and all-around skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abigayle Wertz | Guard | Arkansas Warriors | 2025  </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby has really developed her ball handling and showed she was capable of maintaining control even under pressure. Her skill and poise are valuable when it comes to handling the ball against pressure. Being able to make smart decisions under pressure is crucial in basketball. By using her dribble effectively, Abby created scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. Her capacity to make plays off the dribble highlights her playmaking skills and basketball IQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>La'Riah Hawkins | Post | AR Lady Rebels | 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La'Riah was a dominant player who brings a strong work ethic and versatility to the game. Being aggressive on the boards and playing tough interior defense are crucial in commanding the paint and securing possessions. Her ability to finish around the rim through contact with a soft touch highlights her skill and resilience. It's impressive that she impacts the game without needing specific plays called for her, relying instead on her strong defensive influence, toughness, and rebounding to make a difference. Such contributions are highly valuable to any team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1093269' first='London' last='Hicks'] | Wing | No Limit | 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>London bring a nice proficient skill set to her team. Having the ability to play inside and out provides a valuable advantage on the court. The combination of shooting from beyond the arc and having a nice face-up game off the post gives her multiple scoring options. London was able to convert baskets around the rim in traffic and through contact. Her ability to play within herself indicates she has a disciplined and poised approach to the game. She has good off-ball skills with her understanding of how to play without the ball. London was also able to disrupt her opponents offensive flow with her defensive presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->