Orange Park Christmas Classic: Under the Radar Performances

In this article, we highlight under-the-radar players who used the holiday stretch as a breakout moment in their season. These are players who may not have entered the year with major attention, but elevated their games through strong tournament play, timely performances, and consistent contributions. From tournaments at Fleming Island to Orange Park and beyond, these prospects showed growth, confidence, and an expanding role on their individual teams.    [player_tooltip player_id='987751' first='Saige' last='Grace'] had a breakout game against Ocala Forest, scoring 20 points in a signature win for the program. Grace is a smooth Sophomore who has always had the ability to put the ball in the basket. Grace is a fluid player who can score in a variety of ways from transition buckets to getting down hill off the dribble. Grace is a tall guard who can rebound and can score on the perimeter and also on inside with her length. In previous games, Grace has also showcased her court vision and ability to pass the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='1036071' first='Carolyn' last='Caldwell'] provided the muscle and an inside presence against Snyder's victory over Ocala Forest. Caldwell has been flirting with double digits in rebounding every outing. During the Orange Park Christmas Classic, Caldwell pulled down 11 rebounds and had 7 in the previous game. Caldwell does have scoring abilities- she can shoot from the mid-range and has a respectable touch from behind the arc.       Scott stood out with her elite athleticism, speed, and physicality. Scott is explosive on the court. She runs the floor well and is a very talented prospect in the open court. She plays with great effort on both ends of the floor. Scott has a clean shooting motion and is especially effective in the mid-range area.   Defensively, she uses strength and quick feet to cut off driving lanes and competes relentlessly—never giving up on plays. In transition, she's crafty, using jump stops and pump fakes to create easy scoring opportunities. Scott is a selfless player- she moves the ball well, sets strong picks, shows good court vision, and makes sound decisions. She also rebounds well for her position and finishes around the basket. She is an underrated prospect whose stock will surely rise.     [player_tooltip player_id='1575824' first='Elizabeth' last='Jones'] provided toughness and physicality. The Freshman rebounded well, competed on both ends, and hustled consistently throughout the ball game. While still developing offensively, she battles on the offensive glass and shows a nice shooting stroke when given space under the goal.     [player_tooltip player_id='1575900' first='Jahyri' last='Dillard'] impresses immediately with her length and versatility. She has the ability to block shots when players attack the paint and plays with an intimidating presence on the defensive end. Dillard handles the ball well enough to assist in press break situations and rebounds her position at a high level, often igniting the fast break herself. She does a good job of advancing the ball vertically with the pass and does a good job of finding the open guard to get the ball to if she can get all the way to the rim. Offensively. Dillard can get downhill off the dribble, has a reliable pull-up mid-range jumper, and is capable of knocking down the three. Her speed, shot-blocking ability, and overall feel make her a wing who affects games on both ends of the court. Dillard is a special talent who still has major upsize. Her stock will surely rise over the next year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1575936' first='Queenn' last='Love'] is a strong rebounding guard who does a great job pushing the ball and delivering quality outlet passes. She moves smoothly up and down the floor and plays with good pace. Defensively, her quick hands generate deflections that turn into turnovers. Offensively, she has a fluid shooting motion and has the ability to knock down shots in rhythm.

In this article, we highlight under-the-radar players who used the holiday stretch as a breakout moment in their season. These are players who may not have entered the year with major attention, but elevated their games through strong tournament play, timely performances, and consistent contributions. From tournaments at Fleming Island to Orange Park and beyond, these prospects showed growth, confidence, and an expanding role on their individual teams.