Brandon's Ideal Roster from Battle in the Cove

The first inaugural Battle in the Cove was well run and allowed me a chance to see a ton of Florida players in one building in a single day. In this article, I'm highlighting a group of players who stood out for their experience, versatility, and ability to lead on the floor regardless of class. These players showed a strong understanding of the game and consistently made the right plays in key moments in a competitive environment. Their ability to impact multiple areas of the floor and steady their teams separated them throughout the event. If I could choose my ideal roster to compete against anyone, below would be the seven players on my roster. The lineup is made up of the players I would trust to lead a group based on experience, versatility, and overall feel for the game:    Aliyah could start at the point or slide over to the two which would give the lineup flexibility in the backcourt. She consistently drove the ball and collapsed the defense which created multiple assist opportunities to her teammates. Aliyah also knocked down the outside shot and stayed active on the glass which resulted in finishing a strong and-1 through contact at a pivotal moment. Her knack for making winning plays stood out as she made key decisions during big moments that helped secure a win for her team.     Yvette brings versatility that allows her to impact the game in either the frontcourt or backcourt. She rebounds extremely well for her size and position and plays with a high motor that makes her consistently making plays around the ball. Yvette finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds and was one of the most impressive players at the event. Offensively, her midrange game was on point as she scored with a runner and a baseline jumper while also showing the ability to hit a deep two or get downhill to the rim.     Cherish was the most complete and versatile player at the event and would be the focal point of my starting five at the 3 spot. She poured in 29 points and knocked down multiple threes with confidence which showed her ability to take over offensively. On the defensive end, she made her presence felt with several ferocious blocks and high level effort/energy. Cherish also flashed a polished runner, adding another layer to an already well rounded scoring package.     Yahri would anchor my starting five at the four spot. She brings energy, length, and athleticism to the frontcourt. She blocks shots with great timing and elevation by using her hops and length to protect the rim and alter shot attempts. Yahri plays with good energy and presence, made even more intimidating by the mask she wears. Offensively, she showed touch with a nice fadeaway jumper and flashed serious bunnies when finishing, rebounding, and contesting above the rim.     Mylee would slot in at the five and immediately give the group a size and length advantage inside. She was simply too tall and too long for North Port and got whatever she wanted around the rim and finished through traffic. Mylee also showed versatility by stepping out and knocking down a corner three with a smooth stroke, forcing the defense to respect her range. She plays with a great attitude and comes across as very coachable which makes her an ideal anchor in the middle.     Ashley always impressed with her combination of size, skill, and overall feel for the game. With her team's starting point guard out, she drew a face guard and still found ways to impact the game or take attention away and let others shine. Ashley is a versatile hooper who can play multiple positions in the lineup and create matchup problems. She has good form on her shot and can put up points in a hurry when she gets going.     Nalah stood out immediately with the best size and length at the event, controlling the paint on both ends. She consistently blocked or deterred shots around the rim and owned the glass with her physical presence. Nalah finished with a dominant double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds by impacting the game in multiple ways. She capped her performance with a huge block late that sealed the win for her team and highlighted her value as a serious post presence inside on both ends.

The first inaugural Battle in the Cove was well run and allowed me a chance to see a ton of Florida players in one building in a single day. In this article, I'm highlighting a group of players who stood out for their experience, versatility, and ability to lead on the floor regardless of class. These players showed a strong understanding of the game and consistently made the right plays in key moments in a competitive environment. Their ability to impact multiple areas of the floor and steady their teams separated them throughout the event. If I could choose my ideal roster to compete against anyone, below would be the seven players on my roster. The lineup is made up of the players I would trust to lead a group based on experience, versatility, and overall feel for the game: