Next Girl Up: 2027 Posts that Are About to Blow Up
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Patience is virtue, not only in life, but also in basketball. Sometimes, you simply gotta wait your turn in a sport that only 5 can play at a time. For these young post players, their time is now. Payton Richmond-Watson…
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Continue ReadingPatience is virtue, not only in life, but also in basketball. Sometimes, you simply gotta wait your turn in a sport that only 5 can play at a time. For these young post players, their time is now.
I’ve been writing about Payton Richmond-Watson Payton Richmond-Watson 6’0″ | C Powell | 2027 State TN since she was an 8th grader at Powell MS. She’s had an impactful for Powell as a freshman, and I’m expecting a big time jump from her. She has all the skills to be a big time scoring post…with some of the best “old-school” back to the basketball post moves in her class. (She’s the East TN 2027 Kevin McMcHale–sorry kids–ask dad or Google it).
She finished the season averaging 7 points, 7 rebounds, and a block. The potential is there however for a breakout. She scored 200 total points while only shooting 40% from the floor. I promise you, that number will rise. She also shot 25% from three on an attempt a game….and she has the touch to really stretch the floor.
Highlights
Gabby De
Gabby De
Played a pivotal role on a PCA team that made it to the Elite 8. At 6’3 she has game changing size and length that can’t be replicated. She’s already a high level rim protector and shot blocker. She was name All District in the regular season, not because of her scoring (PCA had plenty of that) but because of her game changing presence defensively. The potential to be a legit scoring threat is there, however, as she finished in double digits in multiple post season games.
If you watched Cocke County’s postseason run, you know that Karmine Carmichael Karmine Carmichael 6’0″ | C Cocke Co. | 2027 State TN is already a legit varsity player. The kid was tremendous at times in the post season, and her ceiling is sky high. She averaged 11 points on 46% from the floor. She scored 402 points this season….and will end up chasing 2,ooo simply because she such an intuitive scorer. She is also a big time rebounder (7.4), and game is rock solid defensively (3 steals, 1 block). She’s the total package, and is eyeing a huge sophomore campaign.
Maggie Kelley is going to be a stud down the road. She’s part of a very good young core at Lebanon, and she played her role perfectly. In limited minutes she averaged 6 points on 52% from the field! Her rebounding potential is off the charts (6 per game) as her knack for grabbing rebounds at their highest point is fantastic.
Highlights
Played a key role in helping her team advance to the state tournament while averaging 26 minutes a game a barely coming off the floor. Defensively, she’s got game changing athleticism, length and instincts. Incredibly switchable, and can really sit in a stance and guard. She also averaged a block and steal a game.
She really plays like an 4 that is constantly attacking the rim off the bounce. (She only attempted 7 threes all season). She averaged 10 points a game on 50% shooting, and her 94 attempted FTs were ranked 37th in the state (regardless of class), ranked 11th in 3A, and 1st in her district. Going to the FT line is an underrated skill, and she’s already one of the best in the state.
She has ALL THE TOOLS to a special talent.