PGH GA Freshman Showcase – Akiem’s Primetime Performers (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman Showcase season kicked off in scintillating fashion the weekend of August 12-13 as five states were the sites of Prep Girls Hoops events showcasing 2027s.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among those states were Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida and Georgia. The Georgia event took place in Marietta at the Next Play 360 complex. Three of the four courts that the venue had to offer were in use for the litany of game action that took place Sunday morning and afternoon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I unveiled my initial list of standouts that caught my attention in a previous article. But, of course, one article could not tell the whole story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["674573"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":742498,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFurgess is a classic example of why the word “undersized” should seldom be used by hoops experts. Yes, she may be only listed at 5-foot-1, but that does not prevent her from getting herself in position to grab rebounds. One must be on the lookout for Furgess when she is behind the 3-point line because she is likely to take – and make – her tries from deep. She provides plenty of energy with the minutes she is allotted and does not believe in taking plays off. New Manchester, a 6A team, made its presence felt last season with a 22-7 record along with going 12-3 in its region. One can expect the winning ways of the Jaguar to continue with Furgess on its roster.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dc07bd5d573"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["674586"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eMumphery competed at Sunday's Georgia Freshman Showcase after being fresh off a travel campaign that saw her run with NSG Wolf Pack 2025 in AAU play. Mumphery turned in an impressive performance in Marietta in part because of the problems she gave defenses who were looking to contain her. Mumphery particularly was effective when she looked to put the ball through the hoop from 3-point range. She stands at 5-foot-6 and will enter her freshman season with 5A Tri-cities in 2023-24. Mumphery fuses together ball handling with quickness as well.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dc07bd5d601"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":742500,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kaliyah Oliver","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Carrollton HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713456' first='Porter' last='Sports']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOut in the western part of the state near the Georgia-Alabama state line is a 5-foot-8 rising star that can probably be considered tall for her class. It is one thing to have height but to have the talent supporting it is what matters and Oliver certainly possesses the talent. She uses every bit of that 5-foot-8 to her advantage when doing work in the rebounding game. Oliver can display how offensively versatile she is by either going for a 3-pointer or by attacking the basket. Following an AAU season that saw Oliver run with [program_tooltip program_id='713456' first='Porter' last='Sports'], she is poised to translate that into a successful freshman campaign at 7A Carrollton.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dc07bd5d6c3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":742506,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gabriella Benjamin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lakeside","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Southern Starz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eDo not tell Benjamin that Sunday's event at Marietta's Next Play 360 was only a freshman showcase. Because when watching Benjamin play, she has the skillset of a seasoned veteran. Benjamin operates with a high basketball IQ and understands the art of putting the ball through the basket regardless of where she is on the floor. That could be either close to the rim or from long range. She will showcase her skills as a rebounder and ball handler and stays active as well away from the ball. Benjamin was part of Southern Starz for the travel season and will play her freshman campaign with 6A Lakeside.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dc07bd5d775"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["628577"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":742508,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eWhile the bulk of participants at this year's Georgia Freshman Showcase did, of course, reside in the Peach State, the Palmetto State representatives that were on hand did do South Carolina proud. Shields was particularly effective from behind the 3-point line and her 5-foot-9 stature can come in useful as a rebounder and when looking to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. Her travel season was spent wearing the uniform of [program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last=''] Carolina Hawks. Her Wren team advanced to the state championship game last season and coach Pamela McGowens will need plenty of production from O'Shields if her team hopes to make another deep playoff run in 2023-24.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dc07bd5d7ef"} /-->