PGH Roll Tide Rumble: 17U Standouts from Day 1

It has been roughly a month since the high school basketball season came to a close and the foci of many players, coaches and fans turned to the travel realm.    Of course, that travel slate includes the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. The southeast's Triumph Region made its triumphant return in 2025 beginning with the Roll Tide Rumble which emanated from the mountains of northern Alabama.    The picturesque views combined with Lake Guntersville provided a scenic backdrop to what was a thrilling first day of basketball. Without further ado, here is a look at who stood out amongst the 17U set on the first of the two days.     Hopper the Hooper. A few of the Palmetto State's premier standouts sport the purple and black of SC Eagles UA Rise 17U during the travel months. Hopper, who is coming off a 25-3 season with 5A Gaffney is one of those. Her team's matchup with Mississippi Jazz Elite 17U turned into a track meet that went the way of the South Carolina team as the contest wore on. Two reasons for that were Hopper's ability to corral rebounds – including on the offensive glass and her overall efficiency. Hopper is also a tough defender and understands how to slice and dice her way through opposing defenses.     Brie is one to see. Carson put together a stellar performance to get her SC Eagles UA Rise 17U assembling off to an excellent start against Mississippi Jazz Elite 17U. Carson primarily operates as a four but also played close to the rim, making plays as if she were more of a traditional five. She stands at 5-foot-10 which certainly gives her a noteworthy height advantage in the interior and that will enable her to win many battles on the boards. If Carson can bring that same production to her already dangerous J.L. Mann team in 2025-26, her Patriots will once again be a tough out in the 5A realm.     In Mississippi Jazz Elite 17U's matchup with Palmetto State-based SC Eagles UA Rise 17U, the South Carolina team gave the Mississippi team a tough test but Alford managed to key much of what the team got accomplished late. Alford impressed with her ball handling capabilities and also excelled on the defensive side of the floor with her ability to adjust defensive assignments on the fly. Alford is also a formidable 3-point shooter who also displays a willingness to attack the basket. She is a multi-sport athlete who also excels on the softball diamond alongside her basketball accomplishments.     When basketball is not taking up the bulk of her athletic plate, Toler also excels as a volleyball standout for a Madison-Ridgeland Academy team that finished with a record of 29-8 this past season. Her Mississippi Jazz Elite 17U was matched up against a tough opponent in SC Eagles UA Rise 17U to begin Roll Tide Rumble but she held her own. At 5-foot-11 she is one of the tallest participants on this season's travel roster. Her playmaking ability near the basket is complimented by her willingness to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Madison-Ridgeland is well-represented on this season's Mississippi Jazz Elite 17U team as Toler is one of three from the Patriots on the AAU group.     Raymond was already a name we at Prep Girls Hoops were familiar with prior to the weekend's Roll Tide Rumble. She is fourth-ranked in our Louisiana 2026 rankings. The talented 5-foot-8 combo guard contributed greatly to what was an emphatic I.D.E. Elite 17U rout of Georgia-based Lady Playmakers 17U. Raymond is coming off what was a banner year for both her and the Zachary girls basketball program. She reached a noteworthy individual milestone by getting to 1,000 points for her career and the Broncos were successful in winning its first state championship in nearly a century.     Louisiana-based I.D.E. Elite 17U made relatively quick work of their Lady Playmakers 17U adversaries out of Georgia. The play of the 5-foot-7 Nelson was a massive reason for this. Nelson primarily operates at the one and her ability to attack the rim contributed to an offensive onslaught that simply was too much for Lady Playmakers 17U to withstand. She also understands the art of turning defense into offense as Nelson can collect a large number of steals. Nelson is coming off of a 2024-25 season where her John Curtis Christian team finished with a 18-5 record and she is certain to translate that into even more victories as she transitions into senior status.     Nine times out of 10, offensive outbursts have a 3-point element to them. Allison provided that deep threat when her I.D.E. Elite 17U team completed an emphatic victory over Lady Playmakers 17U. Allison is listed at 5-foot-7 and is the lone representative from the Lions on this season's I.D.E. Elite 17U roster. Allison can also corral plenty of rebounds and will deliver plenty of accuracy from the field. The French Settlement veteran – who can log productive minutes as either a one or a two guard – is also an efficient ball distributor and can make things happen on the defensive end of the floor as well.     As a sophomore who will soon be a rising junior who will soon be a full-fledged junior, Cain is playing up in class. She is coming off a 2024-25 season where her Southern Lab team was successful in its bid to win back-to-back state championships and it appears that momentum has translated into the travel realm. Cain stands at 5-foot-7 and is the lone Kittens representative on this season's I.D.E. Elite 17U team. Her AAU career includes a stint with Louisiana Hoops. Cain understands the art of ball handling, has no problems getting past defenders and is willing to draw contact to get to the free throw line.     Timmons has certainly made waves across the New Orleans area – and Louisiana as a whole – as one of the premier 2026s in the Bayou State. Timmons was another reason why John Curtis Christian continued its winning ways with that 18-5 record in 2024-25. When one sees how accurate Timmons is as a 3-point shooter, one can see why she is such an important piece in the winning puzzle for the Patriots. What is more remarkable is that she is more of a traditional post player who can efficiently score and rebound. Timmons is a Division I prospect with offers from Southern Mississippi and the University of New Orleans.     To say that Middlebrooks' Lady Playmakers team had a rough go of things against I.D.E. Elite 17U out of Louisiana was an understatement. Even in forgettable contests such as that one, bright spots do emerge. Middlebrooks was that for Lady Playmakers 17U as she displayed a willingness to continue to compete even when the contest was more than out of reach. She got a bit crafty with how she would finish at the rim and also had no problems displaying her 3-point shooting capabilities. Middlebrooks is not only playing up in class but she is a multi-sport athlete who also excels as a flag football standout at 5A South Paulding.     Georgia Queen Elite 2026 Black's rout of H.E.R. #Society 2025 may not have been as lopsided as I.D.E. Elite 17U's over Lady Playmakers 17U, but a three-headed monster was thrown at the Tennessee-based team that was too much for it to withstand. Arnold was the main face of that triple-headed beast. Arnold displayed impressive handles which fused together perfectly with the efficiency she displayed. Arnold also showcased an ability to call for the ball and showcased her toughness. The veteran standout for 4A Cartersville can give a team productive minutes playing at the one or at the two.     Harris was also part of that three-headed Georgia Queen Elite 2026 Black beast that made things difficult for H.E.R. #Society 2025. As someone who has the height of a more traditional one or two guard, one would expect Harris to make things happen from long range. She did. Harris can connect from either the mid-range or from deep. Her superb play was part of the reason why 6A Paulding County concluded the 2024-25 with a record of 20-9. Along with being an efficient passer, Harris will also put herself in position to corral rebounds. She is also accurate from the field.     With guards making up two elements of that aforementioned Georgia Queen Elite 2026 Black trio, one would think the third would come by way of the interior. It did. Taylor typically plays at the four but can also give a team plenty of minutes at the three. As a 2027 she is also playing up in class and displaying why she deserves to be on the same court against more experienced competition. A standout for 6A North Cobb, Taylor is one of two representatives from the Warriors on this season's Georgia Queen Elite 2026 Black roster. She is listed at 5-foot-10 and knows how to efficiently run the floor which is not always conventional for frontcourt players.

It has been roughly a month since the high school basketball season came to a close and the foci of many players, coaches and fans turned to the travel realm.