Orange Park Christmas Classic: Young Momentum Shifters

While senior guards set the tone at , the Orange Park Christmas Classic, several underclassmen made their presence felt. These were the young players who kept possessions alive, scored timely buckets, played solid defense, and left their mark on the tournament.    [player_tooltip player_id='1003136' first='Skylar' last='Wilson'] played well. She is a tough-nosed, competitive young guard whose impact was felt immediately on both ends of the floor at the Orange Park Christmas Classic. Defensively, she sets the tone with consistent ball pressure, crowding handlers and forcing uncomfortable decisions. She plays with physicality, isn't afraid to put her body on the line, and routinely creates turnovers through effort, anticipation, and toughness. Wilson can shoot the ball from behind the arc with efficiency and has an effective mid-range game.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    [player_tooltip player_id='1379557' first='Brinkley' last='Todd'] brings size, strength, and control to the guard position. She handles the ball well, absorbs contact, and still manages to get her shot off with a soft, confident touch. She ran the point effectively, making sound decisions and keeping the offense organized. Todd finishes at the rim with flair and creativity. Her ability to take a hit, stay balanced, and still convert at various angles separates her from many guards at this level. Todd is very solid in the shooting department. Her shot is fluid and looks like its going in every time.     Mallory looks comfortable attacking downhill and plays with a physical confidence that reflects her football background. She consistently looked to get to the rim, using her body well and showing touch once she got into space. She had a strong move going left that just missed, then came right back with an equally strong drive to the right — this time converting with a smooth running floater. The willingness to attack both directions and finish through contact makes her a tough cover as she continues to develop.     [player_tooltip player_id='1313764' first='Nyla' last='Parsons'] is a high-motor, two-way guard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. At the Orange Park Christmas Classic showcased good ball handling skills, she moved the ball well within the offense, and played with aggression. Parson constantly attacks the basket, but can also shoot the rock from the mid-range and behind the three point arc. Defensively, Parsons is disruptive. She applies on-ball pressure, anticipates passing lanes, and competes through contact. Her instincts allow her to create turnovers, and she is very good at turning defense into offense.     Crowe has a rare feel for when points matter most. She has a knack for showing up at the right moment — scoring off loose balls, capitalizing on errant passes, knocking down mid-range and three point shots, and finishing drives to the rim. She scores in traffic with either hand and isn't afraid of congestion. Crowe can connect from the three point line with consistency. She doesn't force the game- she finds ways to make winning plays when the moment calls for it.       [player_tooltip player_id='1574573' first='Tahirah' last='Williams'] stood out as an excellent freshman prospect with a game that already shows maturity. She knocked down two long three-pointers, followed up with an offensive rebound and putback, and showed good anticipation jumping a passing lane for a steal. Williams is a fluid mover who understands how to put the ball in the basket. Her confidence shooting from range, combined with her activity around the rim, signals a young player who already knows how to impact the game on the offensive end.

While senior guards set the tone at , the Orange Park Christmas Classic, several underclassmen made their presence felt. These were the young players who kept possessions alive, scored timely buckets, played solid defense, and left their mark on the tournament.