Upperclassmen Sunshine State Standouts at Nike Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nike Nationals took place in Chicago at McCormick Place this week, and I was in the building from Friday to Monday. This is one of the biggest and best events of the summer and a nice way to end the travel ball season. Here are some 2026's and 2027's that caught my attention in the Windy City:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743520"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688002adc7645"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kimora played really well on Friday when I watched her. She made some tough finishes at the rim and showed the ability to score it from all three levels. Her spin move was solid and it allowed her to create some separation to score from the mid-range or in the paint. KG also was getting to the basket with either hand and did a nice job of drawing contact when she got there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["248643"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688002adc76d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Naya did a solid job of handling the pressure all weekend long. She's called to set up the offense and control the pace offensively as well. Her game is really smooth and Naya passed the ball well when I saw her. In the early days of the event, she knocked down some deep 3's and hit clutch free throws too in their 3-0 start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["248551"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688002adc773f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alanna is a player that can get past just about any defender. Her quick first step allowed her to blow by anyone, but even more impressive was how she could stop on a dime and still play with control regardless of how fast she can go. She passed the ball so well and found her open shooters after attacking the lane and collapsing the defense. AT can score it too and knocked down some floaters over bigger defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["819580"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688002adc77a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tessa had so many deflections in the game I saw with some of the most active hands defensively that I saw in the whole building. Her length and ability to read the offense's eyes was unmatched. She also stepped out and hit the 3 ball and showed really nice elevation on her jumper. Tessa plays with a fantastic motor and was really impressive in Chicago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1218997"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688002adc7810"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gabi showed out in a big way in Chicago this weekend on the big dog courts. She moved really well around the paint and got some easy buckets (shot over 59% on the weekend) by cutting behind defenders and finding the open space on the floor. Her footwork was impressive, she's strong with the ball, and she was able to finish with either hand at the rim. Even in games that she was playing against bigger opponents, she still rebounded the ball at a high level against them with 7.2 boards per game this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["861097"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-688003d3d55b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Serenity went off in Chicago this weekend. She was drawing so many fouls (39 FTA), and that was the only way she was being stopped. Her IQ is elite and she moves so gracefully and with purpose on both ends of the court as an impact player without needing the ball in her hands. Statistically, she shot over 49% from the field, had a 1.8 AST/TO ratio, scored 17.6 points per game, and snagged 5 or more rebounds in four of their five games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->