#TerryTalks: Basketball On The Bayou ’23 Standouts; Part 2
There were a lot of talented players on the court at Basketball On The Bayou 2023, and here is part 2 of a few that stood out to me… Cherie Spencer Cherie Spencer 5'8" | CG Northshore | 2025 State…
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Continue ReadingThere were a lot of talented players on the court at Basketball On The Bayou 2023, and here is part 2 of a few that stood out to me…
Cherie Spencer Cherie Spencer 5'8" | CG Northshore | 2025 State LA (5’9/PG/’25/LA Soul)
Instagram: cspncr15
Twitter: @cspncr15_
Cherie is the alpha female on her team, and her squad goes as she goes. She is the floor general and not only the offense’s orchestrator but also the primary scoring option. She has good vision, is unselfish, and quickly gets the ball up the court with the kick-ahead pass. With her ability to break down defenders, she consistently created scoring opportunities and was dropping dimes for easy scoring opportunities. She shot the ball well from behind the arc as she qualified for sniper school had I not put her in this article. She was also a good finisher in the paint off the bounce.
Laila Manuel (5’6/PG/’25/Team Texas SETX ’25)
Instagram: thelailaj
Twitter: @theLailaJ
Laila was absolutely phenomenal off the bounce. She had a quick 1st step and was knifing thru defenders and finishing in the paint with crafty finishes at the cup. She is a listed PG, but the strength of her game is scoring, and she was one of the best when it came to production in the scoring column. As good as she was in scoring off the bounce, she did a good job at breaking down defenders, forcing help, and finding open teammates. She showed a lot of promise and is a prospect to monitor over the next two years.
Koi Ursin (5’3/CG/’25/Shockaz)
Instagram: itskoii_
Twitter: @itskoii_
When I sat down to watch Koi’s team, Koi made an immediate impact as she came out early looking for her offense and showed her ability to get buckets. She is lightning quick with the ball in her hands, and it was very difficult for defenders to contain her off the bounce. She competed with tremendous effort, is in the driver’s seat for her squad, and has the keys to the team. With her ability to knock down the trey ball, she keeps the defense honest, and defenders had to lend more attention to helping stop her dribble penetration. She is very instinctive at the guard spot and plays with a lot of confidence.
Naya Burleson (6’0/SF/’25/STAT Elite)
Instagram: itsnaya_24
Twitter: @NayaBurleson
Naya showed a lot of versatility on both ends of the floor. She made an immediate impact on the glass and as a rim protector. She has the ability to secure the defensive board and start the break. She makes good decisions with the ball in her hands when she is out in transition. Her length was a significant factor in her all-around game as it helped her contest and alter shots, defend in space, and shoot over smaller defenders. She handles the rock well enough to attack off the bounce and has a smooth middle game. She plays with outstanding energy and tries to dominate on each possession. She had a good showing throughout the weekend.
Ava Casper (5’7/CG/’25/Team Griffin ’25 Cobbins)
Instagram: avacasperr
Twitter: @AvaCasper0
Ava functions as a triple-threat player and contributes as a shooter, passer, and driver for her squad. She is a lefty who can score it from deep, slash her way to the cup, and finish with canny finishing moves. She provides reliable shooting and has a willing trigger which her team needed when they found themselves looking for point production. Ava creates problems with her skillset and ability to be a playmaker off the bounce. She helps to keep her offense running smoothly as she is also a reliable ball-handler. She is a two-way player who showed good instincts on the defensive end with her ability to play the passing lanes.
Here is game film on Ava:
Jamar’I Bell (5’8/CG/’25/TeamUp Lady Red Raiders)
Instagram: shy.with.handles
Twitter: @shytoshiftyyy
Jamar’I was a dynamic playmaker that had the bag wide open. She was dancing with the rock, getting by defenders, dropping dimes to teammates around the rim, and spraying to open teammates locked and loaded around the arc. She found herself at the line often as her game draws fouls. She knows how to get buckets and create buckets. She is a threat every time the ball is in her hands, is scary in the open court, shoots the trey ball well, and knows how to get her teammates involved as she balances scoring and facilitating. She was one of the top perimeter threats in her classification and showed a lot of potential that could help her garner attention from the next level.