Memphis 2025 Superlative Awards

In August, I began my journey as a Prep Girls Hoops scout. Since then, I have watched hundreds, yes hundreds, of high school players in Memphis area Fall Leagues, Pre-Season events, and holiday tournaments. Although, I have watched a lot of players. I still haven't seen them all.   With the beginning of a new year, it's a good time to highlight some of the players I have seen.   MOST IMPROVED    Scoring Guard. As a scout (and definitely when I was a college coach), when I watch a player over a period of time, I want to see growth in that player. That's probably the greatest joy I get as I watch players - witnessing their growth. As I have watched Curnesha play this season, I said to myself, “She has really grown.” She was more of an attacking guard, when she was younger. Now, the UT Martin Signee is in a leadership position and does a fair share of handling the ball. She is making more decisions with the ball in her hand and scoring in more ways than just attacking.     POST PRESENCE    Versatile Post. I have never mentioned this. I know Jala's mom and I used to play basketball with her mom. Jala runs and plays just like her mom to me. LOL. Jala's mom is like a hybrid guard/post. I loved playing with her mom, because if I ran with her or kept moving in the half court, her mom was going to get me the ball. The Mercer Signee is a lot taller than her mom. However, she has guard tendencies at her size and vision. She will handle the ball in the open court. Jala can face up, play back to basket and also stretch the floor to the three point line. She finds teammates while being double and triple teamed.     NEW PLAYER ON THE BLOCK    Scoring Combo Guard. You can be a small guard and bring a huge impact to a team. The 2 most impactful players I coached on the college level were both 5'6, played both point guard and shooting guard, had the highest IQ on the team, lead the team in scoring, had all conference honors, and scored over 1,000 points in their career. Elyse moved to Memphis from Georgia and made an instant impact to Whitehaven. Whitehaven won the MLK Invitational Tournament in November. They won the 901 Tournament of Champions Championship in December. Elyse came to Memphis already with scholarship offers and has picked up 2 more since the start of the season. She can run the team as the point guard or play off the ball and operate as a scorer.     MISS CONSISTENT    Versatile Combo Guard. I have probably seen and talked about Caidyn more than any other high school player. One, because she played in every Fall League offered in Memphis back in August. Two, because she consistently impacts every game she plays in. Caidyn doesn't have to be the top scorer of the game to make an impact. If she isn't putting the ball in the basket, she will impact in another way. That can be by setting her teammates up to score, hitting someone in transition, and even rebounding the ball.    MISS BUCKETS    Scoring Guard. Only a freshman. Let me say that again. ONLY A FRESHMAN and this young lady plays with such a high level of confidence. She can  put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. She not only can score in a variety of ways. She is an efficient scorer — a lot of the shots she put up, goes in.

In August, I began my journey as a Prep Girls Hoops scout. Since then, I have watched hundreds, yes hundreds, of high school players in Memphis area Fall Leagues, Pre-Season events, and holiday tournaments. Although, I have watched a lot of players. I still haven't seen them all.