Southern Tune-Up Immediate Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Essence and [program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last=''] have teamed up to put on a dynamic event to get July started, and talent was throughout the building. Here are my immediate takeaways…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940403,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Jakayla-Washington-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940403" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jakayla Washington </strong>(5'5/CG/'25/SR1 Lady AllStars) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: babiiii_jk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @dethooper_jkk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jakayla is a small guard with a nice physical build in a compact frame. She is aggressive and plays a physical brand of basketball, especially when she is looking to attack off the bounce. She has a mature floor game, as she can initiate the offense and be a playmaker, getting everyone involved. She still has room to evolve into a more complete player, but her ability to run the show cannot be overlooked. For any college taking a look at Jakayla, don't be discouraged by the fact that she is neither the model of a pure point guard nor an especially high-end scorer, but take comfort knowing she has a good mind and feel for the game and produces in her position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940404,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Catalina-LaFreniere-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940404" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Catalina LaFreniere</strong> (5'6/PG/'28/Essence 8th Jr. EYBL)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Catalina17.__</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Catalina17___</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Catalina is a young playmaker with a budding overall floor game. She is a reliable ball-handler and initiator of the offense and does a good job getting her teammates involved. Catalina's offensive prowess was seen as she played on and off the ball, and overall, it is still developing. That is to say, most of her game is still embryonic, which is a scary thought for future opponents. Her off-the-dribble ingenuity is impressive, and her development over the next couple of years is worth keeping an eye on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940405,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Tamariana-Bivins-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940405" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='899844' first='Tamariana' last='Bivins']</strong> (5'7/PG/'26/AEBL|WER1)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Yourfavbrownskin_tea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Tamariana12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Tamariana is a competitor as she competed regardless of what the scoreboard was looking like for her team. She impacted both ends of the floor with her play. Offensively, she was good at initiating the offense and keeping it running even though they struggled at times. She showed her scoring prowess from the perimeter as she is a really good three-point shooter off the dribble. She has the ball in her hands a lot, which is a good thing for her squad. She plays unselfishly but may need to consider looking to provide more point production moving forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940406,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Maleah-Sims-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940406" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Maleah Sims</strong> (5'4/PG/'27/Supreme Team)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: whos.maleah29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @maleah_2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Maleah is a small lead guard who orchestrates and runs the show for her squad. She did a good job initiating the offense and keeping it flowing. She has a developing PG IQ and sees the floor well. She attacks off the bounce, finds teammates off the dribble, and when scoring opportunities arise, she will take advantage of her ability to score off the bounce and from behind the arc. She has good court awareness and reads defensively well to still be a budding PG. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940407,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Aarin-Manuel-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940407" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Aarin Manuel</strong> (5'4/PG/'25/Essence 11th Prime)<strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: only1aarin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @only1aarin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Aarin is a quick lead guard who knows how to accelerate and decelerate her speeds. She has a low center of gravity and was tough to keep out of the interior of the defense. She only stands 5'4 but is a crafty finisher at the cup. She plays with a kid-like joy and brings energy and effort to the floor. She is a vocal leader and is consistently demonstrating positive body language. I mention those qualities about Aarin's game because her size may scare some away from her, but she is a compliment to any culture, and she positively impacts the locker room. She listed the following two offers: Eastern University and the University of Fort Lauderdale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":940408,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/PGH-Jayla-Walton-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-940408" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='778452' first='Jayla' last='Walton'] </strong>(5'4/CG/'28/AEBL 15u) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jayla_bugg13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Jayla_walton13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jayla is a rising freshman and showed a developing floor game. She has natural instincts at the lead guard spot and did a good job facilitating the offense. She had an aggressive mindset and was looking to penetrate into the heart of the defense. From there, she often sprayed to shooters, who she created open off the bounce, as multiple defenders had to offer help. She gets by her defenders with quickness and showed her speed in the open floor, which many defenders had trouble adjusting to when defending her.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->