Florida Freshman Showcase: Team 8 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='1261469' first='Aniyah' last='Webb'] came to compete from the beginning and played with confidence. She started in 3v3 by knocking down threes off the catch, shooting with the mindset that every shot was going in. In 5v5, she brought defensive intensity, guarding whoever had the ball and forcing several turnovers with her agility to turn her matchups and beat them to the spot. She also attacked the rim fearlessly, finishing creative layups through traffic. Webb showcased her ability to be a two-way player, and as she continues to develop her ball handling, the sky is the limit for her potential. As a freshman, she already makes a strong case as one of the top players in Pinellas County.     [player_tooltip player_id='738515' first='Kylee' last='Trent'] was a surgeon with the ball in her hands, using precision moves with grace and quickness to slice through the defense, leaving many in the gym on their feet several times. Her quickness, length, and ability to change direction in split seconds made it nearly impossible for defenders to stay in front of her—even some of the best defenders had to give her space and respect. But her handles weren't just for show; Kylee consistently got to her spots, finishing at the rim or creating her own shot. Another standout quality was her pace—her ability to decelerate on a dime put defenders in tough, highlight-reel situations. Kylee made a strong case as one of the top five players in the building.     [player_tooltip player_id='1280096' first='Gracie' last='Smith'] was constantly moving, spacing the floor, and cutting to the rim, putting herself in position for easy layups. Her activity around the top of the key also kept her open for threes off the catch. Defensively, her hands were always active both on and off the ball, forcing ball handlers to second-guess their decisions and creating turnovers—either directly by her or by putting her teammates in position for the steal. Gracie is a selfless player who impacts the game in many ways that don't show up on the stat sheet, while still having the skill to knock down shots off the catch and finish layups in transition or off cuts to help extend the score.     [player_tooltip player_id='1273424' first='A'Niyah' last='Liptrot'] plays the game like a traditional point guard, knowing how to get her teammates open and making the right passes. She made several heads-up plays, especially with a team built on speed. Liptrot also showcased the ability to finish through traffic with well-timed euro steps and step-throughs. She is a player with a versatile skill set who can impact a team in whatever way is needed.     [player_tooltip player_id='400816' first='Leila' last='Bryant'] plays with the swagger and smoothness of a veteran. A true three-level scorer, Leila was able to get to any spot on the floor whenever she wanted. Her strength, combined with her ability to keep a tight dribble and attack downhill, left plenty of defenders on an island with no way to stop her. To make it even tougher for defenses, she shot the ball with such precision that her makes barely touched the net, proving she was one of the top three shooters in the gym. Bryant was even better than advertised and showcased why she deserves to be ranked highly in our first 2029 rankings.     [player_tooltip player_id='884469' first='Traliyah' last='Spencer'] brought both energy and skill. She had one of the best triple-threat jabs in the building, making it difficult for defenders to slow her down. Her ability to use jabs to get defenders leaning one way, combined with her quick first step, allowed her to get to the rim often and finish. She also used screens effectively, coming tight off them and leaving her defender little room to recover, showing her strong understanding of attacking downhill. Defensively, she didn't care who she was matched up against—she played physical, poked several balls loose, and even forced jump balls against bigger players by wrapping them up quickly. Spencer is definitely a player to follow closely.     [player_tooltip player_id='1245631' first='Kennedy' last='Jones'] is as tough as they come. She doesn't mind putting herself in position to force turnovers, and on several plays ball handlers thought they had her beat, but she recovered quickly to force turnovers and even draw what could have been called charges. No matter how hard she was hit, she got right back up and played even harder. At one point in 3v3, she guarded two different players on a switch, forced the turnover, and then immediately knocked down a three. Jones's ability to shoot the three off the catch, finish through contact and high off the glass, combined with her high-intensity defense, makes her a must-see player.

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.