A1 Battle for the Ring: 2027 Top Performers (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A month and a few days have been completed in this year's AAU schedule. As April has segued into May, one of the first events of the fifth month of the calendar year took us to the South Carolina Midlands.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That event was the Battle for the Ring. Hosted by A1 Hoops Report, this year's festivities primarily utilized the two courts at Lexington HS. This past high school season, a 5A boys championship was won by its team led by Cam Scott who initially was a Texas commit before deciding on South Carolina.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend's travel event was where sophomores, freshmen, eighth and seventh graders ruled the weekend. Here, we place a spotlight on a few of those freshmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":905100,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sophie Diaz","_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":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Chapin HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Chapin Flight","_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: 400u0022u003eWhile her Chapin Flight team had a mostly tough go of things this past weekend at the Battle for the Ring, Diaz was a bright spot for the Midlands-based AAU team. Diaz finished her time in Lexington with a 10-point performance which led all Chapin Flight scorers in what was a tough contest with Georgia Hotshots. She spearheaded what her team managed to get accomplished from deep as she had two of the three 3-pointers that Chapin Flight drained for the game. Diaz also impressed with her defense and her ability to switch on who it is she is defending. She will be a name to watch in coming seasons at 5A Chapin.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a0f4d041c6"} /--> <!-- 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":905095,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1058118' first='Jill' last='Daniel']","_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":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oconee County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Georgia Hotshots","_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: 400u0022u003eAs her team's contest with South Carolina-based Chapin Flight went longer, it appeared that Daniel got stronger. The young standout at 3A Oconee County recently finished her freshman campaign with the Warriors and is delivering stellar play on the club circuit. Daniel led all scorers with 15 points as Georgia Hotshots came from behind to defeat Chapin Flight by a final score of 33-25. Daniel has no problems absorbing contact which can place her at the free throw line. She also brings plenty of scoring efficiency and plays an all-around brand of unselfish basketball. Watch out for her particularly when she cuts to the rim without the ball in her hands and when she has an opportunity to make plays from deep.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a0f4d042ea"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["560668"],"_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":905096,"_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: 400u0022u003eGiven the primary venue for this year's Battle for the Ring was on the very same home court Godfrey calls her home court during the winter months, there was a high level of familiarity for the rising Wildcats star. That was on display throughout what was a tough contest for [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] 15U but resulted in a win for Godfrey's team over [program_tooltip program_id='713828' first='Lexington' last='Hoopsters']. She led the way with 10 points. Godfrey is a skilled anchor of a team's backcourt and understands the art of making the correct passes. She is listed at 5-foot-6 and also knows how to get in position to grab rebounds. Her overall skillset displays why she has played at the varsity level since her eighth grade year.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a0f4d0437e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["404248"],"_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":905097,"_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: 400u0022u003eTalented teams typically have at least one anchor in the backcourt and frontcourt. In [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] 15U's 44-35 win over [program_tooltip program_id='713828' first='Lexington' last='Hoopsters'], Crumlin was that frontcourt force. The seven points she scored were crucial in what was a hard-fought victory for [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] 15U. Crumlin first began playing at the varsity level when she was in the eighth grade and her 6-foot-2 stature comes in more than handy when converting on high-percentage shots as well as grabbing rebounds on either end of the floor. Her shot-blocking ability also makes her a tough task to contend with. The 2023-24 rendition of Dutch Fork established itself as one of the premier 5A teams in the state. Crumlin will fill the role of the graduating [player_tooltip player_id='199242' first='Christyonna' last='Jackson'].u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-663a0f4d043f1"} /-->