Live Period Recap: Key Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out my "Key Players" as I wrap-up my coverage of the Live Period weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[881375],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='884660' first='Taylin' last='Wade'] had an amazing experience at UA Rise Session 1, and enjoyed playing against great competition from across the country. She did a phenomenal job coming up with steals and getting downhill in transition. She is fast and has a strong frame that makes her very hard to stop once she gets a full head of steam. Taylin scored well through contact at the rim, crashed the boards, and had her best game against the New Jersey Shoreshots.rnrnTournament Average:rnrn15 pointsrnrn11 rebounds","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629bb992d984"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["831862"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='831862' first='Nakiah' last='Mejia'] is next up out of Northern Kentucky. She played at a high level at the Clash last weekend, and liked the well-rounded competition and level of sportsmanship in the 2028 division but also enjoyed the challenge and level of competition playing up for [program_tooltip program_id='712684' first='Midwest' last='Takeover'] in the 2026 division. Nakiah made a great impact on both ends of the floor. On offense she had strong drives to the basket and finished through contact, she also shot it very well from the perimeter, and made sure to get others involved. On defense she did a fantastic job making hustle plays, and disrupting the flow of the offense by forcing turnovers, and coming up with steals.rnrnBest Game vs. Mac Basketball Frolo:rnrn13 pointsrnrn8 stealsrnrn4 reboundsrnrn4 assistrnrn2 blocksrnrn3 deflections","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629bb992da23"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["899675"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='899675' first='Lily' last='Bittner'] was a key player for Next Level 2029 and helped them go 3-1 at the Clash last weekend. She has the speed, quickness, and handles to get past any defender and displayed incredible court-vision and was great at finding teammates for quality shots. Lily also played lockdown defense, and made life miserable for opposing guards with her immense ball pressure. She had several steals, deflections, and forced a lot of turnovers throughout the weekend as well. Her best game was against HGNL, where she did a good job penetrating the defense to score or dish it to an open teammate.rnrnTournament Average:rnrn6 PPGrnrn6 APGrnrn5 Forced Turnovers Per Gamernrn7 Steals/Deflections Per Game","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662be88236567"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["589897"],"_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":"[program_tooltip program_id='712459' first='Cincy' last='Swish'] worked well together and persevered against some tough teams at the Clash. In her second tournament with the team [player_tooltip player_id='589897' first='Avery' last='Barber'] played very unselfish and enjoyed giving her teammates good opportunities to score. Avery shot it well from 3-point land, grabbed rebounds, and was impactful in pressing situations with her ability to apply ball pressure and get deflections. She finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals in her best performance against Carolina All-Stars E40.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629bb992da8c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["502281"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='502281' first='Ryan' last='Burden'] played great at the Clash and helped [program_tooltip program_id='712592' first='Kentucky' last='Premier'] 17U E40 go 3-1. She has excellent size at the guard position and the skill to go along with it. Ryan is a good defender, and a playmaker that can create shots for herself and her teammates. She is also a solid perimeter shooter, and I like how she gets up the floor and makes herself available to score in transition. Ryan had her best game against Michigan Drive, where she finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals.rnrnTournament Average:rnrn6.5 PPG (53% 2FG) (35% 3FG) (100% FT 6/6)rnrn4 RPGrnrn4 APGrnrn3 SPGrnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629bb992db46"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["605643"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='605643' first='Lilly' last='Paige Ashcraft'] finished the live period weekend on a high note. Her quickness, and keen ability to attack off the dribble and score at the rim put pressure on defenses, and made it hard for defenders to keep her at bay. She also did a great job accepting the challenge on the defensive end by forcing turnovers, and coming up with steals that led to points the other way. Lily continues to show maturity, and is becoming a more vocal leading, and getting better at orchestrating the offense in true point guard fashion.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662a873cad588"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["724181"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='724181' first='Gabby' last='Karle'] was terrific for TSP 2026 at the Clash last weekend. She is a dynamic guard with a good feel for the game, that knows how to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. I also liked her ability to get a bucket from all three levels on offense and block shots on defense. Gabby made good decisions with the ball in her hands, and was dangerous in the pick and roll as well. She had a great game against Indiana Elite Havoc Silver, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662ab6f726c5e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898680"],"_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":"Seeing the level of talent in the 2028-2029 class makes me very excited for the future of Kentucky girls basketball. [player_tooltip player_id='898680' first='Emerson' last='Dowell'] is another player for Next Level 2029 that made a name for herself during the live period weekend. She is a terrific ball handler, that is deceptively quick, crafty, and very good at changing directions. Emerson also gets after it on the defensive end and knows how to play passing lanes to come up with steals, and turn defense into offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662ab06d3d66b"} /--> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='900653' first='Cecily' last='Houston']","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Saint Ursula Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Next Level Academy 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='900653' first='Cecily' last='Houston'] has a ton of potential and is a name to know coming out of Cincinnati, Ohio. The 6'0 wing was impressive at the Clash playing in the select 40 east bracket. Cecily is a special talent and a extremely versatile player. She can do damage from the inside-out with her ability to score around the rim and knock down shots from three. Cecily is also a good passer, that can score off the bounce, protect the rim, run the floor, and come up with steals on defense.rnrnTournament Average:rnrn11.2 PPG (50% FG) (43% 3FG) (80% FT)rnrn3.4 RPGrnrn2.2 SPGrnrn1.6 BPGrnrn1.4 APGrnrnBest Performances:rnrn15 points vs. IExcelrnrn4 blocks vs. Carolina Wavesrnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662ec9fa4205d"} /-->