Travel Club Preview: PHS 17U

Director: Brandon Boggs, Travis Donaldson   City/Area: Pinellas County   Circuit: NXTPRO   With the grassroots season about to kick off in full swing and the first live period less than a month away, programs are preparing to showcase their athletes in front of spectators and college coaches. I want to highlight these talented ladies and give you a preview of what to expect from them this travel season.   based out of Pinellas County, PHS is part of the NXTPRO Circuit (PUMA), with scheduled stops in Omaha, Richmond, and Memphis—concluding at the NXTPRO Finals in Florida. The program features 16U, and 17U teams.   Here is a preview of their 17U NXTPRO squad.    [player_tooltip player_id='1263591' first='Sydney' last='Hurst'], out of Wharton High School, is a smooth scorer with a clean shooting stroke, a nice follow-through, and a quick flick of the wrist. At 5'10", she plays under control with the ball in her hands and utilizes strong footwork to creatively finish through traffic.   Defensively, she has the versatility to guard positions 1 through 5 and can block shots against any matchup. A highly adaptable player, Hurst can fit into almost any system and make an impact.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223016' first='Leah' last='Barker'], the 6'5" center, is a double-double machine, coming off a high school season where she averaged 13.8 PPG and 12.2 RPG while shooting 50% from the field—making her a constant threat on the floor.   Barker runs the floor well and possesses solid footwork, making her an instant prospect for college coaches. This season, she recorded at least 13 rebounds in seven games, including three games with 20 or more.   Barker is UP NEXT!     [player_tooltip player_id='756757' first='Sophia' last='Landen'] is one of the most underrated shooters in the state. She finished the season ranked 17th in Florida in three-pointers made, knocking down 80. She had at least nine games where she hit four or more threes, making her a defensive assignment you can't afford to leave open or lose in transition.   Sophia has earned the tag: SHOOTER!     [player_tooltip player_id='873952' first='Ellie' last='Bross'] is a versatile small forward who can score from the wing, off the dribble in the midrange, and at the rim—making her an instant three-level scorer. Her ability to stretch the defense creates opportunities for her teammates to play their games more effectively.   Bross has consistently climbed the PGH rankings and is poised to make a big jump this travel season. After finishing her high school season averaging 22.9 PPG, she's set to keep dominating on the circuit.     Mya Ankers is a physical point guard who plays with confidence and swagger, making her exciting to watch. Her ability to break down defenders and get her shot off the dribble quickly is what sets her apart. Combined with her ball-handling skills and quick feet, she can get to her spots on the floor with ease. Surrounded by the right teammates, she becomes a serious threat in one-on-one situations.   She also brings the same intensity on defense, never hesitating to get in the trenches and force turnovers.     [player_tooltip player_id='1232616' first='Cadyn' last='Wiebe'] is a relentless on-ball defender who doesn't hesitate to pick up full court and turn defense into offense. Coming off a high school season where she averaged 3.3 steals per game, Wiebe consistently created transition opportunities, which contributed to her 4.5 assists per game—ranking her 61st in the state in assists.   She recorded at least two steals in 17 games this past season, making her a nightmare for ball handlers. Additionally, she had 15 games with three or more assists, proving to be a true playmaker—taking cookies and dropping dimes.     [player_tooltip player_id='873977' first='Natalia' last='Long'] is a skilled ball handler who thrives on contact while keeping the ball on a string. She puts aggressive defenders in tough situations, attacking them and forcing them into bad defensive positions—often drawing fouls before even reaching the paint.   Young also has the ability to shoot the lights out, with a textbook shooting form from the gather to the follow-through. Whether off the catch or the dribble, every shot she takes looks like it's going in.     Jadah Secundino is an active off-ball defender with a high IQ, always knowing where to be in help defense—whether on the strong side or weak side. She consistently puts herself in position to create turnovers, either by getting the steal herself or forcing a mistake for her teammates to capitalize on.   She has a knack for trailing ball handlers, poking the ball loose, and fighting for every loose ball—whether on the floor or in the air, she goes all out. Secundino also crashes the boards with relentless effort, securing extra rebounds simply by wanting it more than others.   The ultimate team player, she does all the little things that make a big impact.     Taylor Dickens plays low to the ground with tight ball control and a quick first step that allows her to blow past defenders. She knows how to extend and finish through contact at the rim, making her a constant threat to draw fouls and convert and-1s.   She also excels in transition, sprinting up the court to put herself in position for quick, easy buckets that help her team pull away on the scoreboard. Defenders can't afford to leave her open—she's decisive when the ball is swung her way and can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers from behind the arc.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223054' first='Malia' last='Stevens'] recently joined the 1,000-point club this season at her high school, where she averaged 17.3 PPG. She recorded at least eight games with 20 or more points, including a season-high 32-point performance, all while shooting an impressive 48% from the field.   Stevens excelled at finishing efficiently at the rim while also knocking down shots from beyond the arc. As a 5'11" guard, she uses her height to rise over defenders—even against strong closeouts—making her a tough matchup for any opponent.     Za'Myria King is an exciting player to watch—she's shifty and fast with the ball. If you get too close, you might end up on a highlight reel as she takes off the floor. Coming off a season where she averaged 19.4 PPG and 5.3 steals per game, she's a highlight reel on both the offensive and defensive ends.   Her ability to create her shot off the dribble with any move, while changing pace and levels, makes her a tough matchup. You don't want to be stuck on an island with her. With one offer already, I expect her to attract more attention this travel season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223060' first='Julia' last='Smith'] can flat-out shoot the three. This past high school season, she made 64 three-pointers, finishing ranked 43rd in the state. Because of the attention she draws on the floor, she also excels at finding her open teammates for easy buckets, which is why she averaged 3.5 assists per game.   Smith had at least 10 games this season with three or more assists, including one game where she recorded 10 assists. As a floor spacer, Julia helps her teammates by creating opportunities for them to score in open space, with defenses having to respect both her shooting and passing ability.

Director: Brandon Boggs, Travis Donaldson