Blackman Lady Blaze Team Preview

Hip-Hop heads would remember the rap artist Joe Budden. He had a song called “Pump It Up,” where the intro goes “ pump, p-p-pump(x4),” then you hear Just blaze! That song came to mind when I thought about the Blackman Lady Blaze program. This program has churned out prospect after prospect over the years, and it looks like they have even more on the horizon.  They are definitely one of the heavy hitters in the 4A class. Led by legendary coach Jennifer Grandstaff, these girls are always hungry and well equipped to compete at a high level against competition.   Last year was a good year for the Lady Blaze program, but they fell short of bringing home the hardware. This year, they look to get back to the Glass House across town and bring home something that hasn't been in their trophy case in a couple of years. This team has speed, size, hustle, and heart. They have depth, youthful pipeline, and a tight knit community, where girls want to be Lady Blaze when they get older. Add the tradition and nostalgia of the program and you have a solid foundation that's gonna compete for years to come.   Now let's bring this convo back to today's team. Last year, they were 31-3 and saw an early exit from the state tournament. This year, these girls are hungrier than ever. They know what it takes to get back to where they were. This offseason, you saw these young ladies grow tremendously. Whether it was in the weight room, in practice, individual training sessions, if it was pertaining to the game, the Lady Blaze players were out here doing it. They are making sure no stone is left unturned this upcoming year. They are coming in guns a blazing, and you better believe that opponents need to be on their p's and q's because these girls are coming in ready to knock over whatever is in front of them. I expect the Lady Blaze to get back to state contention. They do have outstanding individual play, but when they come together, they pack a heavy punch.    Here are some Blackman Lady Blaze players you will need to keep your eye on.   [player_tooltip player_id='245361' first='Kaelyn' last='Flowers'] (5'7/Sr./CG)- The “professor”, this girl is one of the most heady basketball players in the state. Smart with the ball in her hands, ball on a string, she's looking to get downhill and attack. A multi-level scoring threat, she can shoot that ball like it's nobody's business. She has a high basketball IQ, where she makes the right plays at the right time. She's selfless, looking for teammates before getting her own buckets. She's tough on the defensive end, a nuisance at that. The Florida Gulf Coast commit will look to lead her team back to state contention. She's an old junkyard dog who is hungry to defend the Lady Blaze name.   [player_tooltip player_id='366664' first='Lyriq' last='Mastin'] (5'7/Jr./CG)- Another dynamic guard in the Blackman family, her and [player_tooltip player_id='245361' first='Kaelyn' last='Flowers'] are the dynamic duo of guards. The 1-2 punch, Lyriq brings so much to the table. Offensively, she's shifty with the ball in her hands. She can score it on all 3 levels, but getting downhill and challenging people around the rim, she excels at that. Has great court vision, can thread the needle with her passes. Where she excels is on the defensive end. Quick hands and feet, she pokes balls away, leading to easy transition buckets. She's tough, isn't afraid to sit down and guard. She's a gym rat that's looking to exploit an opponent's weakness. A student of the game, look for Lyriq to be one of the leading catalysts for the Lady Blaze this upcoming year.   [player_tooltip player_id='290716' first='Aaiyanna' last='Dunbar'] (6'2/ Sr./ F)- Big anchor in the middle. Call her the commander cause she's out giving orders. By far she is the best communicator/ encourager in the state. The Michigan commit is a big deal and she's going to give you everything she has. Offensively, she's great in the pick n'roll action, where she can finish around the block. In fact, she'e a beast down there, unleashing a bevy of counter moves on to scoring the rock. Has a nice jumper she will shoot from the elbows and short corners. She has good hands and anticipates well, making it easy for her to get offensive boards. Defensively, she's a shot blocker, great communicator, and big contributor on the boards. This end of the floor is where she makes her money. Look for her to contribute right away and be up front and center when leading the Lady Blaze attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='245374' first='Tishana' last='Moore'] (5'10/Sr./F)- The glue of the Lady Blaze squad, she is a defensive juggernaut. She does the dirty work and makes the hustle plays. Loose balls, she diving on the ground. Balls going out of bounds, she's jumping to go save it. On the boards, up in the passing ladies, she's a read and react type of girl who creates chaos and turnovers. As you can tell, she's big on the defensive end, where she makes a living. Offensively, she's gravy around the 15ft mark. Just know she is a blood, sweat, and tears contributor for this program and she will do whatever it takes to win a ball game. It's the little things she takes pride in, which is what she does best at doing.

Hip-Hop heads would remember the rap artist Joe Budden. He had a song called “Pump It Up,” where the intro goes “ pump, p-p-pump(x4),” then you hear Just blaze! That song came to mind when I thought about the Blackman Lady Blaze program. This program has churned out prospect after prospect over the years, and it looks like they have even more on the horizon. They are definitely one of the heavy hitters in the 4A class. Led by legendary coach Jennifer Grandstaff, these girls are always hungry and well equipped to compete at a high level against competition.