Prospects Who “Rose” to the Occasion

In his article we look at a few prospects from the Sunshine State who played well during the live period action in Kentucky. These prospects succeeded in various ways: defense, offense, on the boards, and in transition. Playing against quality opponents and in front of college coaches- these players “rose” to the occasion.    [player_tooltip player_id='728921' first='Yvette' last='Brown'] is a shifty and explosive combo guard who brings a scoring punch and intense defensive pressure to the event. She plays with athleticism, pace and poise. Brown can score at all three levels and she does it with efficiency and confidence. In the open floor Brown is lethal and here is where her athleticism stands out. Last week Brown “rose” to the occasion - knocking down shots at a high clip. The talented guard is more than a scorer. She stands out on the defensive end as well. She is relentless on the ball, forcing turnovers and making life tough for opposing guards. Her two-way play and competitive fire make her a game-changer on both ends of the floor. As the commercial asks,“What can Brown do for you?” Brown's play provided the answer: be a playmaker, be a beast on the scoreboard, and be a game changer who “rose” to the occasion in Kentucky when the game was on the line.     [player_tooltip player_id='515067' first='Makala' last='DesJarlais'] has always been a power forward who stood out — she's simply built different. DesJarlais has the physicality of a true power forward, but also has guard-like skills. She can handle the ball well enough to initiate the fast break and attack the rim in transition. At the Roses tournament she had the attack on display and also showcased her ability to manipulate the defense with the dribble and get to the rim or finish in the paint. She also has showed a nice midrange and impressive outside shooting. What really separates her is her motor and her relentless pursuit of the ball on the offensive glass. She was a menace on the offensive glass — creating second-chance opportunities with effort and anticipation. Whether pushing the break, trailing for rebounds, or scoring in the half court, she was a force on both ends. DesJarlais had been out for a while and she came back with a vengeance and purpose. She put in an all-around standout performance and “”rose” to the occasion.     [player_tooltip player_id='1235886' first='Addy' last='Curry'] took her game to a different level - that's what the tape glaringly reveals. The athleticism has always been there, but it jumped off the page at the Rose tournament. Curry's first step is lethal and she showcased an ability to get to the rim and finish with strength and craftiness. That outside shot was on point and Curry's rip to the midrange was a thing of beauty. The young guard also plays on the defensive end with both speed and quickness to prevent drives to the rim. Curry applied pressure on the ball and created scoring opportunities herself and teammates. She also put the First Coast and the 2028 class on notice - there's a new Curry in town and she's got much game. When the game was on the line in Kentucky, Curry “rose” to the occasion.      [player_tooltip player_id='1274309' first='Reniah' last='Flynn'] made her presence known in Louisville with her impressive performance. Flynn was a force and showed versatility that separated her from a lot of prospects in the building. She impressed colleges with her physical rebounding, interior presence, speed, and the ability to defend multiple position- switching out onto shooting guards and point guards without giving up ground. Her motor ran high all tournament long—whether chasing down loose balls, running the floor in transition, or setting the tone defensively. She covered 94 feet with intensity and made life difficult for opposing ball-handlers with her length and effort. Flynn rose to the occasion and her motor was the key to it all.    .    [player_tooltip player_id='738971' first='Gabi' last='Iturralde'] (cover) showed her ability to impact the game on both ends of the the floor in Kentucky. Iturralde plays the passing lanes well and is very good at anticipating the pass. She has active hands and reads the floor well on both sides of the floor. On one play, she pressed up against the opposing guard, ripped the guard, dove on the floor, retrieved the ball, and dished to a cutting teammate while on her back. On offense she was really dishing the ball off of her drives to the rim- mainly showing her playmaking skills. Iturralde can shoot it, pass it, and clamp down on the opponent. She performs when it counts and that was the case in Kentucky. She “rose” to the occasion- something that is expected from the talented point guard.

In his article we look at a few prospects from the Sunshine State who played well during the live period action in Kentucky. These prospects succeeded in various ways: defense, offense, on the boards, and in transition. Playing against quality opponents and in front of college coaches- these players “rose” to the occasion.