Keep Tabs On These Girls!

I've got a rant. Let me stand on the table so I can shout out loud. Why in the world is there not a league for Tennessee travel clubs to collectively play in? I'm not talking about AAU. I'm still talking about a league where clubs can go toe to toe against each other and let our girls compete against one another. I get it. There are so many different directions and tournaments a club can choose from. Add in the shoe circuits, the independent circuits, and just regional and local tournaments, I get it. However, it really makes it tough to see everyone and gauge who is better than who. Look, I am all for the circuits. I am also for creating a platform where our girls can compete to see who is better than who. As of right now, if they don't make it to state or go to a certain high school holiday tournament, a girl from the west side of the state may not see a girl from the east side of the state. Then, depending on what classification they are in, they still may not see each other. I am not asking for an all-star event. Just a good ol' fashion league where kids can play and compete against one another.   As I sit here and write this article, I'm just going through thinking about all the talent we have in the state. Sure I got to see most of them one time or another throughout the school season and summer season. However, there are still tons of young ladies I have missed. What I do know is this, as long as I am still breathing, I am going to do my very best to make sure girls get their props and are highlighted because I think that this game is one of the most important platforms for young women in the state.   Enough of my rant, let me move forward.  Check out some young ladies who did their thing this past summer travel ball season. Like I mentioned earlier, they are just a few of the many talented girls we have in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='513233' first='Natalya' last='Hodge'] (5'7/ Jr./ PG/ Bearden)- Stone cold killa. She has been carving up the opposition ever sense she was a freshman. An absolute dawg, this kid is phenomenal with the ball in her hands. A 3 level scoring threat, once she gets going, she is hard to stop. Love her ability to change speeds as she gets down hill. Has amazing court awareness, will sit down and guard to lock up the opposition on the defensive end. This kid is super talented and if you are keeping up with her on her social media accounts, her talent is taking her worldwide! Scrappy ball player who is a big deal.   Kendall Murphy (5'8/ Sr./SG/ Bearden)- Locked and loaded. This kid can shoot the pill like it's nobody's business. Leave her open, she can knock it down with ease. Force her off the line, she is quick to take it to the rack. Kendall has a great feel for the game and can help excel her team to victory in many ways. She is a hard worker on both ends of the floor. Understands her role and executes her assignments. This kid gets after it and does it at 110%. Solid kid who is going to be a great addition for a program at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='810672' first='Jada' last='Sanders'] (5'7/ Sr./ G/ Boyd- Buchanan)- A go-getter who is an absolute workhorse. A determined individual who loves the competition. Plays with a motor, she's going to find a way to score it, whether it's from the field or from the arc. Love her tenacious defensive ability, she wants to create chaos to pressure the opposition. This kid comes to play and is a solid athlete who knows how to use her talents to get the job done.   [player_tooltip player_id='425063' first='Cara' last='Lee Gilbert'] (5'7/ Jr./G/ Cookeville)- Heady basketball player who keeps getting better and better. Excellent in the open court, she pushes the rock in transition, hitting open teammates in stride for an easy lay up. Great court vision, she picks her spots to exploit. Can shoot it from the arc or maneuver her way to the rim to finish against contact. Uses her speed to affect the timing of plays on the defensive end. A read and react girl, she gets after it. A solid two-way player who is one to watch out for.   [player_tooltip player_id='818215' first='Danae' last='Kennedy'] (6'1/So./G/ FACS)- Big guard who can beat you in the paint or from the arc. Has a nice jumper on her, where she likes to unleash it from the mid-range. Can post up an opponent, taking advantage of her size down low. On the defensive end, she can guard bigs and wings, smothering them with her length and quickness. She blocks shots. She rebounds. A solid athlete all the way around. Look for her to make a bigger stride come school season. Had a great summer season and will look to carry that momentum come November.

I've got a rant. Let me stand on the table so I can shout out loud. Why in the world is there not a league for Tennessee travel clubs to collectively play in? I'm not talking about AAU. I'm still talking about a league where clubs can go toe to toe against each other and let our girls compete against one another. I get it. There are so many different directions and tournaments a club can choose from. Add in the shoe circuits, the independent circuits, and just regional and local tournaments, I get it. However, it really makes it tough to see everyone and gauge who is better than who. Look, I am all for the circuits. I am also for creating a platform where our girls can compete to see who is better than who. As of right now, if they don't make it to state or go to a certain high school holiday tournament, a girl from the west side of the state may not see a girl from the east side of the state. Then, depending on what classification they are in, they still may not see each other. I am not asking for an all-star event. Just a good ol' fashion league where kids can play and compete against one another.