Florida Expo: Superlatives From Hunter's POV- Pt 1

There were so many players who were top performers and standouts at the Florida Expo. Each player at the event left an impression in some way. In this article, I look at a few of the standout players and the superlatives I would use to describe them.   Most Versatile     [player_tooltip player_id='1039024' first='Kennedy' last='Deal'] gets every award for the most versatile player at the Expo.  Her ability to play inside and outside was super impressive.  Deal was accurate from behind the arc and could take the ball to the rim with a vengeance.  Deal could make a case in almost every category in this article.  She was versatile and very dominant.      Smoothest Player     player_tooltip player_id='1039022' first='Jada' last='Clardy'] was the most fluid and smooth player at the event was [player_tooltip player_id='1039022' first='Jada' last='Clardy'].  She made everything look easy and effortless.  She was also versatile with her ability to score inside and out.  She was money from behind the arc.  And she cashed in on drives to the basket.       Most Athletic Player(s)     [player_tooltip player_id='248551' first='Alanna' last='Tatum'] was so athletic and smooth with it that you might not realize how athletic she is.  Tatum was extraordinary in defense with her ability to apply pressure and defend against transitional baskets.  Tatum communicated well and made sure all defenders were in their correct spots.  Tatum was also a beast running the offense.  She sets the pace and can get the ball to her scorers or take it to the rim herself.       [player_tooltip player_id='1039025' first='Kimora' last='Green'] was also one of the most athletic prospects in the building.  Her ability to defend on the outside and inside was impressive.  Her rebounding ability and scoring in the paint at 5'6 speaks volumes.  Green's vertical jump was unreal and her defensive efforts and pursuit of the ball went unmatched.      Most Dominant       [player_tooltip player_id='1039015' first='Aaliyah' last='Grant'] did her thing at the Expo.  There were probably some sore ribs in the building as Grant was dishing body blows left and right.  Grant was unstoppable on the inside, scoring at will.   Her offensive rebounding ability was tops and she frequently scored buckets off of the offensive rebound.     Top Down-Hill Guard     [player_tooltip player_id='514572' first='Laila' last='Allen'] was a beast with the ball in her hands.  She got to the rim with some ease and creativity.  Allen's ball-handling skills and the ability to dribble with either hand and drive on either side of the goal were impressive.  She was also effective in shooting the ball from behind the arc and shooting the ball in the midrange area.      Most Confident Player(s)    [player_tooltip player_id='1041872' first='Leiyah' last='Bain'] had some sauce to her game.  She had arguably some of the best handles in the building and had the ability to finish- with flare.  She had the ability to drive in the paint and hit the runners and floaters - with flare.   Bain was smooth with it and confident with it.   If confident had a friend, it was Bain's follow through after the make.  She was exciting and fun to watch.           [player_tooltip player_id='249395' first='Jazlyn' last='Bowman'] was also a confident player.  She shot the three-ball with a lot of confidence.  She was in the zone all day long and the goal must have looked like the ocean to Bowman.  On this day, she knew the ball was going in the rim every time she shot it.  Her confidence in her shot fired up her team and many of the folks in the building.            Top Defender in the Paint    [player_tooltip player_id='633529' first='Mia' last='Chandler'] was the top defender in the paint.  Chandler played tall and blocked everything the paint.  She was  the best friend of teammates who got toasted and roasted off the dribble. Chandler's help-side defense was impressive.  Players were on the verge of scoring and Chandler would come out of nowhere for the block.     Top Defender In Space    [player_tooltip player_id='1039023' first='Jatia' last='Markes'] came to play some defense and she certainly made an impression in a short period of time. Markes played with some incredible speed and quickness, often beating the offensive player to the spot. She performed well against the top ball handlers in the building.    Biggest Surprise    [player_tooltip player_id='1039028' first='Makiya' last='Trusel'] played well and was in the running for the top players in the Expo. She has played well over the past few years, but she took her game to the next level. She rode the momentum off of a very good travel period and stood out on defense and offense. Her ability to handle, shoot, score, and defend turned heads. She came in as someone that was barely known to a player whose name will be remembered for her performance at this year's Expo.    Grittiest Player    [player_tooltip player_id='1039016' first='Adrianna' last='Skraban'] takes the cake for the grittiest player. I saw her taking the challenge from another player and knocking down a three afterwards. Of course, she let the player know about it. Skraban is that player who plays hard and just has an aura of confidence about her that causes teammates to follow. She will dive on the floor and do whatever it takes to win.      Biggest Growth Spurt    [player_tooltip player_id='1039027' first='Maia' last='Berdebes'] was the consummate point guard and leader on the floor and it's been well written about. Berdebes has evolved into a college-ready point guard. Last year, she was pedal to the metal on every play and now she has modified her game- “growth spurt”. She was selfless, dependable, reliable, and just played a mature game that was very impactful.

There were so many players who were top performers and standouts at the Florida Expo. Each player at the event left an impression in some way. In this article, I look at a few of the standout players and the superlatives I would use to describe them.