Putnam City #TheOpening
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I’ll never forget catching Air Oklahoma featuring Earnisia Williams (Texas) and Danielle Gant (Texas A&M) going against the Fairfax Stars led by Marissa Coleman (Maryland) and many years in the WNBA so catching that game in Virginia Beach at AAU…
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Continue ReadingI’ll never forget catching Air Oklahoma featuring Earnisia Williams (Texas) and Danielle Gant (Texas A&M) going against the Fairfax Stars led by Marissa Coleman (Maryland) and many years in the WNBA so catching that game in Virginia Beach at AAU Nationals was just as good as the seafood buffet yet it also had me take a closer look at players from Oklahoma and like the license plates I used to read on road trips as a kid, Oklahoma is still OK as Putnam City made plenty of noise when I caught them at Desoto
Jefferson left me speechless with her numerous “no-look” passes on the money yet her court vision wasn’t the only thing that stood out in her game. Her pull-up jumper in transition was nice, so was watching her create her shot in the set and drop the mid to long-range jumper with a hand in her face. She also attacked the basket strongly from multiple angles, nice body control on her finishes, she hit the boards and played solid defense yet watching her play the passing lane JUST DID IT for me
Gray left no grey area regarding her athleticism as she understands how to use it on both ends of the court. Solid on the ball defense was nice as she used her quick hands to come away with steals yet she also stole the ball playing the passing lane and seeing the floor afterwards in transition. Her pull-up jumper was nice, so was her attacking the basket and finishing after contact, body control played a part in that
Smith had #D1Lock dropped on her in the 5th or 6th grade yet it was easy because she was “long and athletic” which one more time, is and will always be the base and her showing great timing to block shots back then spoke volumes. She has continued to turn the noise up, she scores multiple ways off the dribble, with either hand, she scores around the basket, putbacks included, she also can drop the midrange. Her defense, in and outside the paint is solid, so is her court vision
Bert has shown me over the years she can put the hurt on defenders and watching drop probable close to 10 3 pointers several times over the years had the lightbulb popping over my head years ago. She’s poised and under control, her decision making is solid as well as her making tough passes look easy in traffic. She uses a deceptive first step to attack the basket, finishes after contact, yet she can also dish off the dribble. Yeah, the mid to long-range is effective, so is her defense and she too plays the passing lane
Constant has the right last name as she CONSTANTLY shows she can change the momentum of the game, from both ends. Her “on the ball” defense can be smothering as it helps to create turnovers, so does her playing the passing lane yet she is a “long and athletic” guard which is also the base. She rebounds on both ends and was a blur going to coast to coast under control to finish. Her first step in the set is also a problem and when you combine that with her acrobatic finishes, what else is there. Well her jumper from midrange with a hand in her face was also a plus