Exploring Tennessee's Diverse Women’s Basketball Talent

USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION   When you look at the landscape of women's basketball in the state, what a blessing it is comes to mind. It's hard to quantify or explain how good our kids are or can be based on the vast styles of play we have. Sure, I could go city by city and call it like this:   [program_tooltip program_id='712426' first='Bluff' last='City'] (Memphis)- athletic kids who hoop with an aggressive style of play.   Hub City (Jackson)- kids play with a chip on their shoulder. Often overlooked because they are centered in between two metropolitan cities.   Scenic City (Chattanooga)- Old-school defensive-type players who get after it.   Marble City (Knoxville)- Inspired shooters who know how to fill it up. Fundamentals is the name of the game.    Music City (Nashville)- A mixture of all. More of balanced.   Now I'm not speaking of the actual cities themselves but also the towns around them that make up the general population. You see, the description of the major cities makes it difficult to define because, throughout the state, we have girls who have all that in their game. I've always said no matter the level a college coach is on, they could get a kid from Tennessee to fill a roster spot and impact their team. We have what it takes around here to excel at the next level plus more.   This article was intended to highlight a style of play around the state as you can see. However, I feel that our state has such a wide array of talent throughout different classifications, that it's hard to define who we are. We have kids with speed, kids who have that wiggle, kids who have that brute strength, kids who can lock you up in a seatbelt, kids who are fundamentally sound, kids who shoot it with ice in their veins, kids who do the selfless things to win ball games, kids who just get after it. We have talent ladies and gentlemen. That's all that matters.    There isn't a style of play that gives an edge over another. When you look at the state tournament this year, take a look at all the teams who made it. At first glance, you may think because of how one team is built, they should trounce the other team, but that is never the case. One's area doesn't make them better than the other. It's all about hard work, preparation, determination, and will. That's what really makes the difference in being the last to lift up the trophy at the end.   Here are a few names who are talented kids throughout our state no matter their locale. Just know they compete and get the job done.    A heady ball player who can score it on all three levels. She's a fearless competitor who gets after it on both ends. Each possession, no matter if she is on defense or offense, she is going to impact the game. From steals and rebounds to making buckets and getting timely assists, this kid is super talented and leaves everything out there on the floor.     Talented individual who attacks every game through hard work and preparation. She is a multi-level scoring threat who is hard to deal with, especially during this time of year. She thrives in big-time moments, someone who is laser-focused and hard to contain. What makes this kid tough is she can't be defined. Slow her down offensively, her defense picks up. Game plan away from her when she is on defense, well she lights you up on the offensive end. She is one of the best two-way players in the state that excels in big moments.     I know she is getting a lot of pub as of late, but this kid is hard to stop. She is on a tear where she is averaging 30+ a game. She broke records, stacking wins, and inspiring a ball club that was counted out earlier in the season. She is a fearless leader who is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Yes, she is the BHS all-time scorer, but don't sleep on her other qualities. This kid is a phenomenal all-around game.     one of the top kids in the state, has added tools to her game, making her even more lethal. From drawing defenders using snaking action to fighting through contact, there is a reason why this kid competes at the USA level and has power four offers from schools around the country. A phenomenal talent who possesses tons of work ethic. On top of that, she is humble and enjoys the moment. She is a dual sport athlete who thrives in competitive moments. This is the time of year when her talent really shines.     She may not be the number one or two scoring option for her team, but the work she does on the interior goes unnoticed. This kid has climbed mountain tops and battled through adversity. She's put in her time and is ready to take hold of this moment. As the time nears her senior season, she is ready to go to war as her club gears up for this title run. They've been on the short end of the stick but want to change the course this time around. Dacarra has been a part of those matchups and she knows the feeling and understands what's at stake. This kid gets up for tournament time. She makes it hard to work on the interior. She has nice back-to-the-basket moves to go along with her defensive ability to block shots and own the boards. Look for her to come alive as the Lady Panthers make a run at state contention.

USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION