Super 64-2028 Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a chance to catch a few of the younger teams at the event yet [program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Tar Heels 2028 JR 3SSB gave me an even better look at the Neville Jones Invitational, so stay tuned for that but first, here are some players from 2028 class that caught my eye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Stokes-5'8 G ([program_tooltip program_id='712928' first='Team' last='Fusion'] Elect White)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stokes rhymes with STROKE and her mid to long-range was in full effect. She understands how to not only create her shot but get it off while being defended, factor in her team was playing up, so that's a huge plus but so was her stop-and-pop jumper in transition. She also handled the ball and saw the floor under pressure </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abigail Ortega-5'5 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='712928' first='Team' last='Fusion'] Elect White)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ortega did something I love to see and that's "play the passing lane" and I don't know, certain things just get my adrenaline going and that's one of them, why, because I don't see it enough? She also played solid defense in the set as well as in the open court and she showed she could drop the jumper</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abigail Garduno-5'11 F ([program_tooltip program_id='712928' first='Team' last='Fusion'] Elect White)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garduno and her UPSIDE was an attention grabber for a number of reasons. First of all, she stands just shy of "the magic number" which is 6'0, college coaches love that number yet watching her use her frame to score in the paint after contact was nice, and so was her rebounding on both ends, she even scored on putbacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josslyn Martin-5'10 F ([program_tooltip program_id='713472' first='SSW' last='Elite'] 2028)</strong> <strong>LA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin was a hit TV show but she's showing signs of being a hit on the court. She's "long and athletic" and that is THE BASE no matter what state you play in. She attacks off the dribble with an explosive first step, nice body control on her finishes and she has good court vision as well as a nice pull-up. She also plays the passing lane and handles the ball afterward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1312965' first='Madesyn' last='Bedford']-5'6 G ([program_tooltip program_id='713472' first='SSW' last='Elite'] 2028) LA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bedford is an athletic guard that understands how to use her athleticism on both ends and let me start with "on the ball" defense baseline to baseline. Why, because it helps create turnovers as she uses her quick hands to come away with steals and that leads to baskets going the other way, either her scoring or dishing. She also dropped the jumper in the set as well as in transition </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Azlyn Zallar-5'5 PG ([program_tooltip program_id='712536' first='Hoop' last='10'] Blaze)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zallar is heady and plays within herself, both good signs at this stage because when you understand the game and show a solid skillset, good things will be in store for the future. She created her shot under pressure, she also handled the ball and saw the floor yet her jumper with a hand in her face was nice, and so was her defense </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mia Gomez-5'0 PH ([program_tooltip program_id='712536' first='Hoop' last='10'] Blaze)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gomez also "gets it" right now and understands how to control the tempo, when to push the ball, and when to slow it down. immediately grabbed my attention. She made good decisions, and her court vision in the set as well as in the open court was nice but she also showed she could shoot it from outside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='881998' first='Ariana' last='Warren']-5'5 G ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Tar Heels 2028 JR 3SSB)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren and her twin did not take or annual selfie yet the progression on the court from last season had me smiling. Her "on the ball" pressure coupled with her quick hands was special as she was one of the top defenders in the event, period. She scored off the dribble, saw the floor, and dropped the long ball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Korian Harris-5'5 G ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Tar Heels 2028 JR 3SSB)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris is a "long and athletic" guard, that is still the base, and speaking of steals, her long arms and quick hands got a few, and so did her reading the floor and playing the passing lane. She also applied baseline-to-baseline pressure which also helped to create turnovers and watching her attack off the dribble to finish was nice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arielle Warren-5'5 G ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Tar Heels 2028 JR 3SSB)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren will probably remind me she tried to get me to do the picture and in retrospect, she would be right. Nevertheless, watching her outrebound taller players was a plus, she understands positioning and battles for everything, and her defense on the ball was equally impressive. She attacked strongly and finished after contact plus she saw the floor and made the right decisions </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->