PGH Alabama Top 250 Expo – Akiem’s Team 2 Primetime Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The picturesque hills and blue skies over central Alabama provided a very visually appealing backdrop to what was an exciting day's worth of basketball at Spain Park HS in Hoover.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's Prep Girls Hoops Alabama Top 250 Expo at the home of the 7A Jaguars was one of three that was to take place over the weekend. In addition to its, similar events also occurred in a pair of midwestern states – Nebraska and Wisconsin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Attendees were sorted into three teams – Team 1, Team 2 and Team 3. As was the case with Team 1 and Team 3, Team 2 had plenty of standouts on hand whose strengths all combined to make said team a cohesive unit. Here is who stood out among that team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756724"],"_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":775700,"_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: 400u0022u003eWinning teams need players who can score the ball. Winning teams also need players who can put players in position to score the ball. That is what the veteran point guard out of 1A Athens Bible School got accomplished on Saturday morning. Piscitelli will display a great deal of court vision and will find passing lanes where teammates will finish plays. She also managed to display a willingness to get to the basket and had no issues drawing contact in order to get to the free throw line. Piscitelli, who was part of Rocket City Ravens during the AAU campaign, is also a multi-sport athlete who has volleyball and soccer as part of her athletic resume.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364c609"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["600935"],"_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":775701,"_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: 400u0022u003eWhen seeing the skillset Baine brings to the court, it is no wonder as to why Brew Tech finished with a 22-10 record in 2022-23 en route to a semifinal berth in last season's 5A state tournament. Given she is listed at 5-foot-10, she is a bit taller than one's average point guard, but displays her versatility with an ability to also operate as a forward. The Rams standout will ferociously attack the rim and is willing to draw contact to get to the free throw line. Baine's Rams have a bit of unfinished business heading into the 2023-24 campaign.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364c701"} /--> <!-- 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":775703,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zoey Little","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Shades Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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: 400u0022u003eGiven both 7A Spain Park and 6A Shades Valley are both schools located in the Birmingham metropolitan area, Little did not have far to travel to get to this year's Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo. She was difficult to contain as she displayed her ability to be an at-will scorer. Little managed to place the ball through the basket at all three levels and also proved how she can corral rebounds. Little also places much emphasis on ball handling with her ability to limit turnovers and handle the leather with either hand. Little's Mounties got back to their winning ways last season by posting a 17-5 record.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364c863"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["652254"],"_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":775704,"_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: 400u0022u003eThis sophomore on the rise also plays for a 6A school – Northridge in the western realms of the state. She stands at an even six feet and played her AAU ball with [program_tooltip program_id='713934' first='JSI' last='Elite'] which won the 16U championship at this year's Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Triumph Region Finals. What is remarkable about her is she is listed as a six foot guard – and she has the shooting accuracy of a guard. Bardenwerper can place the ball through the basket at all three levels, will corral her fair share of rebounds and can convert on tough shots near the rim as well. She had a signature performance in a game last season where she nearly outscored an entire team in a 70-35 Jaguars victory. Bardenwerper tallied 31 points and hauled in eight boards in that contest.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364c937"} /--> <!-- 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":775707,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Anne Rylea Thurman","_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":"Brookhaven Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mississippi Jazz Elite 2027","_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: 400u0022u003eThis year's Prep Girls Hoops Alabama Top 250 Expo had a very Freshman Showcase-esque feel given the large number of stellar 2027s that made the trek to Spain Park HS. Thurman was one of those freshmen – and her trek was a bit longer given it was from Mississippi. She managed to display how accurate she can be from behind the 3-point line and how adept she can be with handling the ball and setting a team's halfcourt offense. Thurman is also an efficient runner of the floor and displays how unselfish she is by knowing when the right time is to score and when the right time is to distribute.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364ca72"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["649694"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eTeam 2 managed to get plenty of superb guard play out of their backcourt anchors – including Coalson who stands at 5-foot-5. Another familiar name to us at Prep Girls Hoops, she was part of the [program_tooltip program_id='713934' first='JSI' last='Elite'] team that won the 16U championship at the Triumph Region Finals. Limiting turnovers is an important part to her overall game and she understands the art of attacking the rim and drawing contact to send her and her team to the free throw line. Coalson also approaches every play with a team-first mindset in knowing when the right times are to score and pass.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651888364cb1b"} /-->