Deeper Dive: Class 2A Region 2 Player Evaluations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first week of the High School girls' basketball season has officially started in TN. With that, here is a breakdown of one of the many talented regions in TN, Region 2 in Class 2A. Here are a few players in the region who could be due for breakout seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816605"],"_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-6924a69e1290b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In her junior season, [player_tooltip player_id='816605' first='Ainsley' last='King'] was a standout defensively, and that should carry over into her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of King's main strengths as a defender is her shot blocking. Her lateral footwork at her size jumps out about her game immediately. This is a huge reason that makes her such a good shot blocker. Her ability to stick with post and wing players off the dribble without fouling and not letting them get any separation. This skill of hers was on display in multiple games last season, including a game against Kingston High School. King recorded five blocks in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the offensive end of things, King is a good floor spacer with the capability to knock down threes at 5'10".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241387"],"_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-6924a69e1299b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1241387' first='Akiyra' last='Mattison'] is putting forth a solid start to her third year of high school hoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mattison, in the first two games of the year for the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, has a combined five steals. In these games, she has also shown other facets of her game. Mattison rebounds well at the SF position and can playmake from the wing. If she sees an open teammate, she has no problem rifling a pass to wherever they are on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In these two games, Mattison has also shown her ability to maneuver around the interior and score inside and around the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821721"],"_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-6924a69e129ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='821721' first='Malea' last='Masingale'] is a highly skilled defender who knows how to play the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has a lot of versatility on the defensive end of the court. Her height allows her to guard bigs, while her speed and effort allow her to guard smaller and shifty guards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the offensive side of things, the senior is a great shooter from behind the perimeter. Her jumper has great rhythm to it; it never looks like she is going to miss when she lets one fly. Also, Masingale can drive inside, with a good handle for her height, and has no issue playing and scoring through contact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her ceiling for what player she can be in her senior season is crazy high. At her current rank of 37, she still has the capacity to climb even higher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821709"],"_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-6924a69e12a2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='821709' first='Lilly' last='Woodruff'] brings an effective game to the small forward position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is most dangerous on offense when she gets inside the paint. She has fancy footwork and a good understanding of moves that will be effective in postup situations. This, paired with her above-average touch around the basket, makes her a great interior scorer. Woodruff is also a great creator for others on offense as well as a capable three-point shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another facet that stands out about Woodruff is her rebounding ability. Her IQ shows up again in this skill of hers. She reads the ricochets off the rim better than most players, and that, paired with her fundamentals around the paint on defense, helps lead to big rebounding numbers. Both of these interior skills of hers, on offense and defense last season, were showcased in a game against Copper Basin High School, where she recorded a double-double. Woodruff had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821992"],"_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-6924a69e12a73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='821992' first='Cienna' last='Ellison'] always makes the most of her time when she is on the court, and that looks to have already transferred over early into her junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellison has high-level speed at the guard position. This makes her a formidable on-ball defender. In this, Ellison, on the defensive end, generates a lot of turnovers. This was seen on Nov. 22 of this year against Howard High School. In the game, Ellison had four steals. On two of these, she showed off her speed by racing to the bucket and scoring in transition with ease. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellison also has other layers to her offensive game, including a good perimeter jumper that should show up in the 2025-2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->