Players I Didn't Expect To Scout But Stood Out!

Boots on the ground in Atlantic City this morning and I quickly got to work checking out the talent spread out across the Convention Center. There were plenty of big names and well-known stars, but the following young ladies really caught my attention and left a lasting impression. After great individual performances today, they are now firmly on my radar moving forward:    Perimeter defense was impressive; long, lanky, disruptive arms. She did a great job stretching out and making herself look imposing. She was also locked in on the inbound pass, making it really difficult for the opponent to get the ball in play. Around the rim, she swatted a handful of shots without fouling, which made for smart interior defending. Tallied points on quick hook shots over her right shoulder.     Ran the floor with authority. A little razzle dazzle to create space and get to the cup. She was an absolute energizer and really paced the back court whenever her team needed a quick basket or a stop.     Terrific size in the post. Sturdy base, went to work tallying points at the rim. Traditional back-to-the-basket game looked good today vs United NJ. Mobility-wise she did a nice job keeping up with the flow of the game and getting up and down the court.     Maggie did a terrific job playing the half court defense. She kept her arms outstretched wide and hands active to deflect the ball and force turnovers. Hyper-focused to try and be disruptive and defend at a high level. She understood the assignment today!     Energy on both sides of the ball. She saw opportunities to pop from 3 and took them, confidently showing off range. Strong transition offense; when the defender got in front she did a good job taking it to the basket and muscling through contact; sharp anticipation turned defense to offense. She was a bright spot for the Panthers in the second half vs Team Thrill.     A spot-up shooter from long-range who doesn't hesitate to pull the trigger; smooth release. Her shots didn't look rushed and although Team Thrill pressed and pushed the tempo, she didn't look rattled or sped up beyond control. She made tightly contested shots look effortless. Nikki played with a sense of calm which paid off because, in turn, she looked loose and comfortable.     Casey curled around defenders in the paint and used her length and craftiness to lay in some pretty underhand scoops. Took on the role of a rim protector vs a very good Bay State Jags squad. She blocked shots with her feet planted, remaining vertical and avoiding silly fouls. Very effective and stout defense.     Leah handled pressure in the back court really well. She broke the press with speed and firm handles. She avoided traps by anticipating and pushing the ball ahead, getting herself out of the danger zone to avoid a turnover. An energizer who stayed on GO and pushed the pace; small, speedy guard. She got off quality shots around the perimeter and took advantage of the sagging zone defense.     Length played a big role in her ability to rebound at a high level and also slice through multiple levels of defense for layups. She kept her long arms active to disrupt the passing lanes and tally deflections/steals.     The Comets threw everything they had at her and she still prevailed. Effective spin move with a nice baby hook. A really long, lean frame was on full display the way she glided across the floor in transition. High motor and impressive hustle. It doesn't matter how tall she is or what position she plays, she's going to get on the floor if need be and fight for possession; she can scrap and battle with the best of 'em.     Oozed confidence today and shot the corner 3 very well. Sweet stroke from the mid-range whether it was off the catch or pulling up into a 15-footer; quick snap release of the ball. Crisp off-ball movement to make herself available for looks at the basket.     Daniela had arguably the prettiest and smoothest jumper of any player I saw today. Tremendous spot-up shooter. I loved the pace at which she played; very steady tempo, not lagging behind and not crazy fast. Against an elite Bay State Jags team, she played her style of basketball and stayed true to her game. She is a great job freeing herself from the defense's clutches and creating ample space to get off shots.     After a slow start in the first half, she came in and totally shifted the momentum in the second. Big spark of energy, went into immediate attack-mode. She did a great job pulling up from the mid-range to create scoring opportunities for herself and splash in buckets. Good recovery defense; on one possession she got her pocket picked near half-court, sprinted on the chase-down and got the block. Very high motor on this one!     Sienna was assertive on strong takes to the basket. She got a step ahead of the primary defenders to slice inside for 2 (and sometimes the additional and-1). She did a nice job fighting through contact and maneuvering out of the press that [program_tooltip program_id='714726' first='Positive' last='Direction'] applied. Held her own nicely against a really quick and scrappy New York team.     She brought her A-game vs the Runnin Rebels this evening! Electric from the start, swishing in 3's and getting stops early in the first half. On a team full of very talented players, she may emerge as the most multi-faceted because of her efficient 3-level scoring abilities. Really tough takes to the rim put her head down and went to work!

Boots on the ground in Atlantic City this morning and I quickly got to work checking out the talent spread out across the Convention Center. There were plenty of big names and well-known stars, but the following young ladies really caught my attention and left a lasting impression. After great individual performances today, they are now firmly on my radar moving forward: