Under the Radar Performances at Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational

With so many teams and various divisions at the Christmas Invitational, there was a lot of performances that may have gone under the radar. In this article, we hilight more performances from the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.    [player_tooltip player_id='874206' first='Bianca' last='Hall'] is one of the most talented guards in the 2027 class and her performance was exceptional. I sat next to a coach and we were talking about basketball players from around the State. I looked over at [player_tooltip player_id='874206' first='Bianca' last='Hall'] as she was bringing the ball up the court and pointed her out to the coach. A few seconds later Hall stepped back and knocked down a three pointer. A few possessions later she came down and knocked down another jumper from the top of the key. Later that day, Hall was asked about her stats for that game. The young guard replied something similar to “I don't keep up with stats. I just play the game…” Hall is a selfless player who has an extremely high IQ. She is a playmaker who makes the right play and consistently sets her teammates up for success on the court. She can get to the rim, handle the ball, run the offense, pass the rock, and shoot the jumper with high efficiency.       [player_tooltip player_id='1123969' first='Nivia' last='Glorioso'] was a force at the Christmas Invitational, impacting the game in multiple ways. Glorioso had the ability to score on the inside and on the perimeter, including three point shots. She was a very efficient shooter. The impressive part was the composure and the calmness she plays with. On defense, Glorioso played the passing lanes and was a good on-ball defender.     [player_tooltip player_id='1123980' first='Leya' last='Landin'] played her role exceptionally well. She was a player who just did what was necessary to win. Landin played in the passing lanes and came up with multiple defensive plays, getting steals, diving on the floor for loose balls, creating jump balls, snagging offensive rebounds, etc. Landin also did well in transition showing an ability to run the floor and out the ball in the basket. For the season, Landin averages 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. SHe impacts the game in a lot of ways.     [player_tooltip player_id='1124039' first='Sadie' last='Jones'] did a good job of anchoring the defense for Sickles. She is an excellent help side defender who has the ability to erase the defensive mistakes of teammates. Jones averages close to an incredible 5 blocks per game and has reached at least 5 blocks in 7 games this season. One play that showed her athletic ability and skills came on Day 1 of the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. A guard from the opposing team had beat the defense and appeared to have a clear path for the layup. Out of nowhere came Jones to block the shot off the glass. Only someone with elite timing and athleticism could make that play. Jones is a key component to her team's success. She is a prime example of a player who impacts the game on the defensive end.     [player_tooltip player_id='1124177' first='Rhianna' last='Hayes'] was another unheralded prospect who played well at the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational. She did a lot of things well on the basketball court. She was very efficient shooting the three point shot. Hayes had good speed. She ran the floor well and was highly effective in the transition game. She used her speed to get out on the break, defend the opposing guards, and get to the rim for layups. Hayes was unselfish on the floor and played in sync with her other guards. At times, it looked like they were at a "track meet."     [player_tooltip player_id='400816' first='Leila' last='Bryant'] continued to show that she is one of the top 8th graders in the country. Bryant's team won their bracket's championship and the young baller was named MVP. Bryant is no stranger to anyone. The young guard played up on the highest age groups and excelled. She can handle the ball, she can shoot the long ball at all levels, and knows how to put the ball in the basket. She is a playmaker on the court and knows how to set up her teammates for buckets. Bryant's basketball IQ is off the charts and her instincts are far greater than that of an 8th grader.     [player_tooltip player_id='346884' first='Jennie' last='Gutman'] was another player who stood out at the Tampa Bay Invitational. Gutman is extremely active on the floor and makes plays that don't show up on the scoreboard or stat sheet. Gutman brings energy on the floor and a relentless pursuit of the ball. On defense, she can defend on the outside, but has no problem mixing iot up on the inside. Gutma consistently gets 8 - 10 points per game and around 6 rebounds per game. Her physicality and effort on the floor will go a long way in getting her team back to Lakeland.     [player_tooltip player_id='1124186' first='Destiny' last='Pickard'] is small in stature and doesn't overwhelm anyone with athleticism, But, when she shoots the ball, you realize that Pickard is a baller. Pickard shot the ball well from all over the court and especially from behind the arc. The young guard handles the ball well and has a high basketball IQ. She is usually in the middle of the action and plays like a coach on the court.

With so many teams and various divisions at the Christmas Invitational, there was a lot of performances that may have gone under the radar. In this article, we hilight more performances from the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.