NJ Spring Classic: Saturday's Stars

There was certainly no shortage of talent at MultiSports Kingdom today, but the following hoopers were a cut above the rest and represent the best I got eyes on:    Angelina oozed confidence spotting up from 18 feet+. She made a big impact on the glass, rebounding at a high level and converting o-boards to buckets. Very versatile skillset that saw her play inside and out and do it quite well! Fluid mobility saw her run the floor hard and break the press that Empire State tried to apply.     Quick and crafty ripping to the rim! Small guard who's absolutely fearless driving inside and initiating contact. She fired off some nice-looking, high-arching straight-away 3's; strong pull-up game from long-range. Solid perimeter defense to swipe a few steals and give the ladies of Philly Legacy headaches.     This was my first time getting eyes on Amira and she surely left a lasting impression! She did a great job carving out space with her off-arm and finishing tough buckets on the drive. She ran the floor with long, leaping strides getting way ahead of the field on fast breaks for easy layups. Her impact on the glass was felt, especially on the defensive end. I'd be eager to see an official box score, because I can bet she tallied an easy double-double.     Mia put her best foot forward defensively today. High pressure, scrappy half-court defense paid off as she forced multiple turnovers, some on consecutive plays (some in the back court as well). Low stance, excellent lateral movement and kept her eye on the prize (the ball). Nothing came easy for the ball-handler!     Strong and physical style of play; very aggressive takes to the hoop. She maintained that same level of physicality on defense, standing her ground and applying brick-wall defense to shut off lanes. Alivia was just as impressive on the bench, being vocal and encouraging her teammates as she benefited from a breather. She was fully involved in whatever was happening on the court whether she was on it or not.     Tatum was "sharp" sprinting ahead of the pack for seemingly easy layups in transition. Advantageous length maneuvering through defenders to get off shots over players of equal height or taller (nice floater in the lane). Fluid mover with long strides and high energy.     Very effective use of the ball fake to tally points inside. Lissy put forth a strong effort on the glass for put-backs and also showed off range. hitting from outside. She played her best when it mattered most and didn't let early misses shake her confidence; they eventually started falling and at a high clip, too. Big-time momentum shifter in the game vs Empire State!     An absolute slasher! She put her head down on baseline rips and got buckets. Very pretty floater which NJ Rise couldn't quite seem to stop altogether. Very crisp movement to cut inside; quick backdoor layups. This girl can hoop!     Showed everyone the athleticism she possesses. Super speedy dribbling her way to the basket; a blur the way she sliced through the lane. One way or another, she was going to get to the rim, regardless of the scheme drawn up by the opponent. She was also locked in defensively, staying with her man and not failing the assignment.     I loved her willingness to be active in all aspects of the game, from scoring, to rebounding, to dishing and everything in between. She read the ball well coming off the rim to tally a few rebounds per contest. Solid mover without the ball to get open around the perimeter; got off quality shots whether she made or missed them. She did a nice job trailing the lead guard on the fast break to help clean up a potential missed layup.     Maggie was superb today vs a very tough Riverside Hawks squad from NY. She played bigger than her 5'10" size; cleaned up misses and went up strong for the put-back. Her rebounding was crucial in the way the game was decided; clutch second-chance buckets off o-boards. She also drew audible cheer from the crowd when she nailed a buzzer-beating half-court shot just before halftime.     Sophia is a total workhorse! She did everything in her power to be a complete asset to her team today. Excellent job sticking with the play and following her own miss; put-back her shot on more than one occasion. A flash in transition, she maintained the same level of energy to start the game as she did finishing. She did a fantastic job repositioning off the inbound pass; got the ball in, ran to the corner and drilled the 3-point shot. Very savvy guard play.     One of the quickest players I saw today. Carmela thrives in a fast-paced environment. The quicker the pace, the better! Time and time again she got way ahead of the rest and made layups in transition look easy. Huge spark of energy and super reliable for Team Miller.     Ava has handles for days! She kept the ball on a string this afternoon vs an elite BBA squad; low and tight dribble which helped create separation and escape traps. She rolled off screens really well to attack the basket. Total Energizer always on go!     All heart, all hustle! Excellent play-maker. She approached the game with so much fire and intensity on both ends of the floor. Underrated but ferocious rebounder who soared to pull down some big boards that helped turn the tide of the game vs BBA and ultimately secure the dub. Strong and skilled at the guard position but versatile enough to extend to the 3 and make plays from the wing.     With her headband in place, she meant business today! Smooth short baseline jumper and strong with her back to the basket, able to bully the defender and hook up a shot for 2. She played and defended both inside and out at a high level. Commanding and relentless presence on the boards.

There was certainly no shortage of talent at MultiSports Kingdom today, but the following hoopers were a cut above the rest and represent the best I got eyes on: