Florida Freshman Showcase: Team 7 Evaluation

At the PGH Freshman Showcase, we had over 60 players who all came ready to compete. Many stopped me to say they were determined to earn their rankings and consistently asked for tips on how to improve their game. The gym was packed with talent, and the environment was electric. Players battled in 3v3 and then 5v5, and the atmosphere felt like a championship game as everyone left it all on the floor.    [player_tooltip player_id='1246935' first='Devyn' last='Godfrey'] was impressive with her length, motor, and conditioning, which allowed her to compete at the highest level all day. One standout possession came when she was guarding one of the top recruited players on the wing—she fought over a screen, stole the ball, pushed it ahead, beat everyone down the floor, and finished through contact. That summed up her day: outworking everyone on the boards, fighting for position, and pushing the ball in transition. With her length, size, aggression, and solid footwork, as she continues to develop a pull-up jumper, she has the potential to be a dominant force throughout her high school career.     [player_tooltip player_id='1249017' first='Angelina' last='Laudicina'] came to showcase her versatility. One of the first plays in 3v3, she used a change-of-pace baseline drive with a behind-the-back dribble that froze her defender. Later, she used a punch dribble to create space for a pull-up three. This carried over into 5v5, where she was blocking shots and knocking down threes. On one possession, she blocked a post shot, pushed the ball in transition, and pulled up for a three—nothing but net. Her length, shooting ability, and creativity with the ball easily made her one of the surprise standouts and a name to remember.     [player_tooltip player_id='1276606' first='Kayla' last='Reddick']'s ability to stay on balance at all times stood out, as it allowed her to consistently be in position to score or control the pace of the game. Her patience and balance enabled her to attack the rim, land on two feet, and use pump fakes and up-and-under moves to counter aggressive defenders. This attention to detail also allowed her to shoot off the dribble when defenders went under screens. Her use of hesitation moves and hip swivels kept defenders off balance, yet she always remained composed with great footwork. Kayla is poised to be a problem for the next four years in high school as she continues to grow in confidence and skill.     [player_tooltip player_id='1279867' first='Erin' last='Tabatabaei'] adapted well to the fast pace and aggressive play style at the showcase. She has a quick first step, moves fast with the ball in her hands, and was able to be decisive while making quick reads on the floor. She displayed one of the quickest dribble pull-ups in the gym, with very little time between the ball hitting the floor and her getting into her shooting form, all while generating great lift on her shot. Erin also showed a strong understanding of how to split defenders, knowing when to use a low or high pickup dribble while attacking in a straight line and applying pressure to her defender. If unable to split, she made the right reads and delivered the ball to an open teammate. Erin will be a guard to watch closely as her game continues to develop—definitely one on our Watchlist all year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1267615' first='Taylor' last='Downing'] — don't let her size fool you, she plays tough and physical. Defensively, she was all over her matchups' personal space and actually elevated her play against more aggressive ball handlers. Taylor sat in her stance well, moved laterally with quickness, and held her own even against stronger opponents by fighting to recover and stay in position. Offensively, she embraced contact at the rim, finishing through traffic or drawing fouls without hesitation. Taylor is the type of player who shows up in big moments, stays in shape, and plays through adversity—the kind of competitor every team needs.     [player_tooltip player_id='1264007' first='Zhariyah' last='Milton'] brought energy and defensive intensity to the game. Her ability to impact both ends of the floor makes her a valuable asset to any team. Offensively, she used her explosive first step to get to the rim before the defense could rotate. Defensively, that same quickness and gritty play style kept her matchups in front of her and forced turnovers—if you crossed the ball in her face, she was taking it. She consistently shot the gaps, pushed the ball in transition, and created scoring opportunities. As Milton continues to develop her niche and go-to skill, she will be a consistent contributor to winning seasons throughout her high school career.     [player_tooltip player_id='1229484' first='Kendal' last='Curtis'] impressed many at the showcase. She was naturally stronger than most, and offensively she used that strength to bully her way to the rim. Combined with her understanding of straight-line drives, athleticism, graceful footwork, and creative finishing—including reverse layups—she was nearly impossible to stop. On the wing, her use of jab steps, paired with the ability to knock down the three out of the jab, showed next-level skill. She also demonstrated leadership by directing the offense and understanding spacing to create easier scoring opportunities. Once she develops a smooth and consistent mid-range jumper, she will be nearly unstoppable over the next four years.

At the PGH Freshman Showcase, we had over 60 players who all came ready to compete. Many stopped me to say they were determined to earn their rankings and consistently asked for tips on how to improve their game. The gym was packed with talent, and the environment was electric. Players battled in 3v3 and then 5v5, and the atmosphere felt like a championship game as everyone left it all on the floor.