Battle in the Big Friendly : 14U Top Guards pt.1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 14U Division in the Battle in the Big Friendly was the biggest division at the event, with 14 teams represented. I saw a ton of promising young guards, and want highlight a few of them today. Also want to reiterate, seeing these players in a competitive AAU event can make certain players stand out in different ways. You might be a guard on your school team out of necessity, and really shine as a high-post type forward due to your club team already having talented guards. Alternatively, I'm sure some very very good players didn't grab my attention this weekend, due to matchups, or perhaps one of their teammates just having the hot hand. Regardless, 6-8 grade girls playing these type of competitive games is doing so much for their development and I love seeing them get out there and get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1233253"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6807f2db1d307"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shifty, nice high arcing shot. Gets downhill very well. Inside-out moves. Really good finisher around the rim, made a personal run late in one of the games I was able to catch her in. Teams well in the backcourt with Makayla Boykins who I will cover later in the week. The two young guards played very well at the end of some close games, managing the clock like seasoned high school point guards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1232053"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6807f2db1d35e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Likes to push the pace. Played really hard, got to loose balls. Has a nice layup package. Shots weren't always falling this weekend, but you could tell she was comfortable having the ball in her hands at the end of the game. Coach Matt Foster of Timberlake is a former colleague of mine, he reached out after one of my tweets about Lady Elite to express his enthusiasm about coaching Jones going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214393"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1236870,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6807f2db1d3ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Very well rounded player. We have her listed as a power forward, but she's just a basketball player, going to be able to slide into wherever she is needed. Strong player that can go coast to coast. Feisty defender that makes defense turn into offense. Teams with school teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1215871' first='Sophia' last='Sevy'] to make a nice duo on the Royal Legacy squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220950"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1236871,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6807f2db1d406"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Really skilled defensive guard. On offense she finds gaps like a halfback. Floor general type point guard. With her teammate #15 they run a 4 out set and it gives her a lot of room to work. Those two have a clear chemistry playing together at Hatshorne. GOC had some of the best pressure defense of the weekend, really gave some good ball handling teams trouble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884165"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6807f2db1d445"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really liked Alaina's game a lot. One of the most valuable player's this weekend in the sense that you really saw a drop in play for her team when she was out of there. Taking nothing away from a really good Lady Elite program that has several teams, just wanted to give Alaina some credit, as she really made them go this weekend. Attacking offensive guard, whoever gets the currently open Pond Creek job is going to have a junior high stud in their hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->