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<p>On <strong>July 18<sup>th</sup>-21<sup>st,</sup></strong> the <strong>Nike Tournament of Champions</strong>, presenting <strong>EYBL </strong>and <strong>Nike Nationals</strong>, took place in <strong>Chicago</strong>. The event consisted of over 800 teams spanning all 50 states as well as parts of <strong>Canada</strong>. I was able to check out several teams in action during the 4-day event.</p>
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<p><strong>Here, I look at some of the standouts at the Nike Nationals</strong></p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='659856' first='Izabella' last='Juarez'] <strong>(Peak – Patricia 17U)</strong> – The versatile forward did a little bit of everything over the weekend. She often got the rebound and pushed the ball upcourt. She also scored at a high rate from a variety of places and was efficient.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='598325' first='Karis' last='Hurd'] <strong>(Southwest Premier 17u EYCL)</strong> – Hurd played solid games every time I saw her. She played within herself and looked only to make winning plays, which is rare today. She showed the ability to finish with either hand and played very good post defense.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='836788' first='Skylie' last='Gonzales'] <strong>(Team Arizona 17U)</strong> – Gonzales played just how you would expect her to play. She looked to get her teammates the ball in the best spots possible to be effective. She didn't turn the ball over much and played very solid defense.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='640378' first='Ava' last='Lewis'] <strong>(Phoenix Premier Lee/Wimbish 17U)</strong> – Lewis played well enough that I'm sure that offers are coming soon. She was very productive around the rim offensively and rebounded at a high clip. She has a high IQ and knows how to use her body.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='837359' first='Shannon' last='McIlroy'] <strong>(Peak Patricia 17U)</strong> – Shannon played with her trademark energy, and it was contagious. She put pressure on the opposing defenses with her quickness and ballhandling. She played very good defense as well as sharing the ball well.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='780448' first='Alex' last='Ballard'] <strong>(Southwest Premier 17u EYCL)</strong> – Ballard quietly played a vital role in her team's success. She shared the ball-handling duties and played with tons of composure. Her defense was consistent, and she only took high-percentage shots. I expect a big junior season from Alex.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='602941' first='Deja' last='Strong'] <strong>(Cal Storm AZ Elite 17U)</strong> – Deja came to play, and you could tell by the extra burst in her first step. Even though she's still coming back from an injury, she was very effective putting the ball on the floor and creating contact in the paint. She was also a beast on the boards.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='755556' first='Jensen' last='Cowart'] <strong>(Team Arizona 17U)</strong> - Cowart and her smooth offensive game impressed me a lot. She was constantly moving, which made her even more difficult to guard. She shot it with good touch and form. She displayed good footwor,k which enabled her to take good shots and rarely be off balance. Jensen showed that she is a player to track.</p>
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On July 18th-21st, the Nike Tournament of Champions, presenting EYBL and Nike Nationals, took place in Chicago. The event consisted of over 800 teams spanning all 50 states as well as parts of Canada. I was able to check out several teams in action during the 4-day event.
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