She Got Next: Spooky Nook Edition

A jam-packed Saturday of AAU hoops was exactly what the doctor ordered! Talent clashed under one roof for the second day in a row, leaving me even more impressed than I was yesterday! While there were plenty of top-level, well-known prospects on display, there was also a plethora of hidden gems and emerging talents scattered around the complex. Players who have only scratched the surface of their potential!    Versatility and length was front and center on Court 2 early this morning! She did a great job inside-out; got to the basket at will, popped short J's and drained pretty step-back 3's. She created offense for her team when others struggled to produce.     Braelyn played smart basketball and did a great job getting [program_tooltip program_id='714664' first='Team' last='Sharp'] in foul trouble early. She kept a "slasher mentality," getting to the basket and initiating contact along the way; got herself to the charity stripe multiple times. She also did a great job working the ball around the perimeter, playing selfless basketball.     Ariana took full advantage of Mid-Atlantic Sports' breakdowns on offense. She was locked in defensively! If there was a lagging pass, she jumped in the lane and snatched it! If the primary handler was over-dribbling, she pressed up and got her hands all over the ball. She hawked the perimeter and made quick switches; played with integrity.     She was stellar today! Skilled off the catch & shoot and pull-up; quick release from 18 feet+. Absolutely zero hesitation in her shot and; full trust in her abilities. She did her work quietly and with patience. In the 3rd quarter vs the [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots'], she accounted for most of her team's offense.     Tough as nails! She took some hard falls and got banged up, but her intensity never wavered. She did a good job sticking with the assignment on defense and made sure to get a body on her man. I appreciate players who aren't afraid to do the little things to make their team better. Her hustle was awesome to see!     During stretches where her fellow Hawks looked timid and fell into a scoring drought vs Mid-Atlantic Sports, she made herself available to score the ball and got off good shots. She was highly energized and embraced the moment, whether the scoreboard favored her team or not. When MAS made a surge in the second half, she stayed true to her game and just kept working to try and hold them off. If she was rattled or fazed, she never let it show.     Lissy did it all today vs West Michigan Drive! Excellent ball movement on post-entry passes and backdoor feeds. She took on the role of a scorer and facilitator this afternoon. She found shooters scattered around the floor and set tough high screens which allowed teammates to roll off and make their next move. She contributed to the offense on some tough drives and an emerging step-through move in the mid-post. Quick hands and sharp instincts on D; disruptive length while guarding the perimeter.     Long and mobile player. She showed flashes of brilliance today taking it coast to coast, sprinting by defenders en-route to the hoop. Disciplined footwork in and around the paint to create space and get a quality look at the basket. Contributed on the boards (both ends).     Trista shot the ball really well vs NJ Rise. She got to her spots quickly and nailed the 3 ball, showing off confident range. She kept her game face the whole way through, super locked in. She did a great job with out-of-position rebounding, crashing the glass with much bigger players.     Undersized but energized! She immediately caught my eye because of her hustle and motor. She was steady running the point, dribbling with her head up and surveying to facilitate. She put in work on defense as well, doing a good job on help D and aiding in doubles and traps. Very positive on-court demeanor; clapping, encouraging & vocal.     She worked harder than everyone else when it came to rebounding. She leaped in to secure both defensive and offensive boards from the guard spot. Strong efforts on defense; low stance and steady lateral movement. Confident with her dribble; did a nice job escaping the press.     Amaya is definitely one I'll be eager to watch once she hits the high school scene this coming Fall. A hard-worker who ran the floor hard and was a total asset to her team this evening; got ahead of the pack in transition which paid dividends. She tracked down outlet passes that seemed out of reach and converted baskets.     Nyah is in attack mode from start to finish. It doesn't matter if her team is up 2 or 20, you can fully expect her to keep her foot pressed firmly on the gas! Quality shots from 3 and effective dribble penetration. When she's at her best, she's clicking on all cylinders. Her drives are equipped with a really smooth floater and strong footwork.     Ava's hard work on defense spoke volumes today! And it's pretty obvious that she works diligently on her craft because come game time, she's ready for the moment. She set some really tough screens in the high post and allowed the ball-handler to go to work. Scrappy hands and really good anticipation in the passing lanes. Very poised; a leader and a great teammate. I observed positive body language both on & off the court (bench).     Undeniable hustle and a scorer's mentality. She got off terrific looks from 3, but even if they were bad looks, you just get the feeling it's going in because of Anna's efficiency from long range. Anna made a big effort on the glass as well, unafraid to go up against Lady Prestige's 6'3" big, Astou Toure.     Ava was not only fearless going up against the might YKS squad from Virginia, she was one of the best players on the floor! She came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Butter 15-foot pull-up J and dagger 3's. She's a shooter, plain and simple!

A jam-packed Saturday of AAU hoops was exactly what the doctor ordered! Talent clashed under one roof for the second day in a row, leaving me even more impressed than I was yesterday! While there were plenty of top-level, well-known prospects on display, there was also a plethora of hidden gems and emerging talents scattered around the complex. Players who have only scratched the surface of their potential!