PGH2K23: First Day Of The Final Event – 17U Standouts!

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The last tournament of the year is always a up and down emotion. 2024s are playing in their last ever AAU event. Some leave it all out of there and some are we ready for their senior year to start. Regardless, players are competing and this years #PGH2K23 live event was no different. Below are my standouts from the first day of the final event. </h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>_{*McAlister, Shelby &amp; Stith's pictures will be added*}</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='506385' first='Karma' last='Jones-Johnson']</strong> | <em>Rickea Jackson Elite Anarchy - Michigan</em> | - Poised, controlled, and crafty on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive mindset is just as balanced. She heads quick hands, quick feet and has the patience to match it. Jones showed in the last game of the day her strength and creativity around the rim. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='304632' first='Paige' last='Medley']</strong> | <em>Team Firstep - Kentucky </em>| - Tough, determined and can play with anyone and against anyone on the court. Paige showed multiple times throughout that she can do whats needed of her. She plays bigger than her size, defends full court and stays locked in on every possession. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='455436' first='Destini' last='McAlister'] </strong>| <em>Team Firstep - Kentucky</em> | - Long, crafty and can score from just about anywhere on the court. She plays the game with pace but can show her explosiveness at any moment. Finishes well around the rim, and has the frame to finish around or over the defense. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='244276' first='Daria' last='Shelby']</strong> | <em>Rickea Jackson Elite Anarchy - Michigan</em> | - Shelby's creativity, twitchyness and ball security were one of the best in the building. She knows how to split the defense, bait the defense and then get to where she needs. She has a good amount of length that allows her to cover a chunk of ground on each stride that she takes. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘25 [player_tooltip player_id='455447' first='Juliana' last='Stith'] </strong>| <em>Team Firstep - Kentucky</em> | - Smith has that knack to be creative, but she also plays the game safe. A solid, balanced and aware defender, while also showing that she can make good decisions on both ends. Tons of growth is in her future. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='645080' first='Ireland' last='Jones'] </strong>| <em>Missouri Flight</em> | - Jones was one of the most well rounded guards in the building. She directs traffic with a purpose, makes solid and crisp passes, attacks the paint with strength, while still maintaining enough energy to give you effort on the defensive side of the ball. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='417871' first='Asha' last='Cobb'] </strong>| <em>[program_tooltip program_id='712558' first='Illinois' last='Hustle']</em> | - Cobb was on fire from behind the arc on Day 1, and besides the sniping ability, it was her aggression on the boards that stood out to me in their final game of the day. She found angles to get to the glass, and was right there to push the offense if needed. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>‘24 [player_tooltip player_id='501991' first='Makayla' last='Kelly'] </strong>| <em>[program_tooltip program_id='715556' first='Illinois' last='Dream']</em> | - Kelley has the frame and skill set of the new era point guard. Long, athletic, solid ball handling, and the vision to make pinpoint passes from full court. When the three ball starts to fall for Makayla, you see her entire game start to open up. She's crafty at the rim, creativity on the move and has the length to defend multiple positions as well. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:gallery {"linkTo":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"><!-- wp:image {"id":723825,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/953BA11D-46F6-472D-BBF6-6B2930FAA1DD.jpeg?1690116931" alt="" class="wp-image-723825" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723824,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/5C633C65-14C6-4970-992E-5B9A2FC5D03A.jpeg?1690116931" alt="" class="wp-image-723824" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723826,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/3EACD5C0-6E34-4DDE-9EB0-6144E13D6FA8.jpeg?1690116931" alt="" class="wp-image-723826" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723827,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/8AF0F999-57D9-4F31-AADB-5C6A23B915C3.jpeg?1690116931" alt="" class="wp-image-723827" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":723828,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/07/06F4CD71-2075-42B1-8ACC-CF4E49655BF3.jpeg?1690116931" alt="" class="wp-image-723828" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery -->