Hidden Gems at Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational

In this article, we look at some unheralded players who participated in the Christmas Invitational and made some positive plays on the basketball court. These players may not have the notoriety, awards or accolades yet, but contributed on the court and had a huge impact on their team.      [player_tooltip player_id='1125056' first='Jazziel' last='Smokes'] may have brought the most intriguing name to the game, but the young player also brought some game with her as well Smokes played well for a young Freshman and she has something that will elevate her game as she continues to play- Heart! Smokes executed a crossover that cleared the bench and had bystanders cheering with excitement. Smokes calmly made the shot and made no fuss about the move. She came down on a subsequent possession and got to the rim for another basket. The young guard moves well, she can handle the ball and makes good decisions on the floor. All those tangibles stood out but the intangibles were at the front - heart, unflappable, and a high IQ.     [player_tooltip player_id='515046' first='Elyanna' last='Pierre'] played well at the Christmas Invitational. Pierre was a competitor and gained an advantage several times on her attacks to the rim. She has the ability to get to the rim and convert the layup or get to the free throw line.     [player_tooltip player_id='647734' first='Laila' last='Safford'] is another player who is starting to break out. Safford is playing her first full year on Varsity and has become an important player on her team. Safford has great length and affects shots in the paint. She also rebounds well and runs the floor from the Center and power forward position. Safford isn't the primary option on offense, but she does score on occasion off the pass and offensive putbacks. Safford does a good job of springing her guards open for the open shot with solid screens. Safford is a breakout player who continues to get better with each game. She played well at the Christmas Invitational.     [player_tooltip player_id='1125096' first='Davione' last='Stinson'] really showed the speed and ball handling ability. In the crucial moments of the game with her team clinging on to a victory, Stinson took a pass and broke the press right in the heart of the defense. Her athleticism, fluid movement, and speed were observed throughout the game. She plays team ball, handles pressure, and advances the ball up the court with the pass or dribble. Stinson can shoot the three ball, but she also has the speed to get to the rim. She flirts with double digits every game, and is a selfless player who plays within the team's concept.       [player_tooltip player_id='1125385' first='Tearra' last='Mortimer'] was an impressive prospect at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. Mortimer was really committed to the defensive side of the ball. Her on-ball defense was smothering, and she made the opposing guard work on dribbling, passing, and shooting. Mortimer also made contributions on the offensive end of the floor. She connected on a three-point shot and made a nice feed to a cutting teammate for a score. Mortimer showed a lot of athleticism and was exciting to watch in the transition game. She had good speed and excellent court vision in the open court.

In this article, we look at some unheralded players who participated in the Christmas Invitational and made some positive plays on the basketball court. These players may not have the notoriety, awards or accolades yet, but contributed on the court and had a huge impact on their team.