Day 1 Standouts at Spooky

The first live period of the season is officially here and I got boots on the ground in Manheim early this morning for the start of Select Events' Live At The Nook! College coaches from all around the country were in attendance to watch great basketball and Jersey girls were front and center as the lights shined the brightest. I kept my head on a swivel all day, catching great action on the main courts as well as the back courts (LEGO courts, as I like to call them). The following players left their mark on this Friday:    All 5'10" of her was on display against Team Northeast. She was the defensive anchor in what ended up being a close win. Excellent instincts to alter passes and be disruptive to force turnovers. Had quite a few blocked shots without racking up fouls; remained vertical and never left her feet for rejections.     Claire was superb all game vs the PA Royals, but really turned it up in the second half. Versatility and commitment to playing both sides of the ball was on full display. Her hustle was undeniable, at times leaping and diving out of bounds to save possession. She played tough under the basket and cleaned up mistakes for points. She had a stretch in the second half where she had consecutive layups as a result of consecutive steals. Tremendous grit!     Confidence at 100! She presented a match-up nightmare for CBC Fairfield this afternoon with her size and speed. It was that same length and mobility which forced turnovers and ignited the break; a one-woman show! Her 18-foot jumper was MONEY time and time again. She also showed promise off the bounce; not afraid to put it on the deck and scoop it in for 2.     Tessa's work ethic speaks for itself. Total workhorse who keeps her foot on the gas from the first whistle to the last. She was totally unfazed going against a supremely scrappy iExcel squad from The Big Apple. On offense, she turned on the jets and weaved through defenders on her way to the basket. She also moved crisply without the ball, making herself available to receive it and get quality looks. Defensively, Tessa was impressive. Quick instincts and anticipation to get her hands on the ball and snatch the steal.     One of the best scorers I saw today! Sid was a firecracker every time she touched the ball. She created offense in a number of ways: baseline rips, mid-range jumpers and deep 3 balls. She was devastating off the catch and released the ball with a quick snap. When putting the ball on the deck, she impressed with her ability to finish through contact at the rim. Vocal, fiery and passionate.     Raegan took over versus the mighty Wisconsin Lakers and made sure everyone knew her name by the time the final whistle blew. She did damage from 3-point land and was a menace around the rim. She got out in transition and pushed the pace, finishing strong with one-handed layups, including pretty lefty scoops. Penetrating from the top of the key, she kept great control to finish through contact for the and-1. Her defense paid dividends; light on her feet looking to heckle the ball-handler.      A great job scanning the floor before making her move. She was patient with the dribble, always looking to make the extra pass. Selfless, team-first mentality that makes everyone around her better and play cohesive basketball. Fully confident when taking it to the basket; put her head down and got the hoop at will.     London has such a complete package at the guard spot; equally as good scoring the ball as she is dishing it out. A blur in transition, always on go! Her suffocating ball pressure caused headaches and forced multiple turnovers which she converted to quick-hitting buckets the other way. Quick on switches and help defense. Strong handles and sharp court vision; effective drive and kick to the perimeter and well-placed post-entry passes. She had it all on full display this evening against the Michigan Mystics!     An absolute menace this afternoon vs United NJ. With college coaches looking on from UCLA, South Carolina, Baylor, Tennessee, etc., she showed exactly why she may just be one of the best players in the entire field. Electric in the back court; thrived pushing the pace. High-level finisher at the rim on some acrobatic layups. Confident pull-up 3-pointer. She played with so much poise and swagger and truly made it look easy out there.     Saniyah is a BUCKET. A ridiculous talent! Very efficient 3-level scoring today, including a very pretty step-back short jumper off one leg. Very deep bag on offense which included speedy transition and devastating plays off the bounce. Her defense was clicking on all cylinders, defending multiple positions, forcing turnovers near the perimeter and rejecting shots near the basket. Particularly strong all-around game.     Gabby wasn't fazed going up against a juggernaut in Legends U. She stayed true to her game and played with intensity and fearlessness. She carved paths to the hoop, cradling the ball to avoid getting it taken. She took the lead at point, showing off steady handles and working the ball to her teammates; strong drive and kick. In a game where few things went well for United, Gabby definitely stood out as a bright spot.

The first live period of the season is officially here and I got boots on the ground in Manheim early this morning for the start of Select Events' Live At The Nook! College coaches from all around the country were in attendance to watch great basketball and Jersey girls were front and center as the lights shined the brightest. I kept my head on a swivel all day, catching great action on the main courts as well as the back courts (LEGO courts, as I like to call them). The following players left their mark on this Friday: