Northeast Kickoff-13U Rising Prospects

The 13U Division was the first to hit the hardwood at the Northeast Kickoff in Massapequa, New York, on Long Island. Despite their youth and the early wakeup call, the youngsters were ready to perform. The coach of AKO Elite said, "This is the court that you want to be on," and he wasn't wrong. Harper U was playing up in the 15U Division, and it soon became clear why. Here is a look at a handful of the rising prospects from both teams.    Jalena Ako is a super-fast point guard with unlimited potential. Eyes are drawn to her when she's on the floor due to her superb athleticism. Her quick hands and feet make her an elite on-ball defender at a young age. Players attempting to dribble against Ako were under constant pressure. She is tough to defend off the dribble and a strong finisher at the rim. When the defense shifts to neutralize her driving ability, Ako's strong court vision allows her to dish the rock to teammates for easy finishes. The sky is the limit for this young player.     Sophia Estanislao plays bigger than her size. Estanislao can be a disruptive force in the paint. She is an excellent rebounder and a solid finisher on putbacks. Estanislao is also a defensive force, as she is a solid shot blocker when opposing players enter the lane. Estanislao has a smooth jump shot from the midrange, and she has shown the ability to step out and connect on shots from the perimeter. She also has a great feel for the game and is a solid passer.     Delayah Perez is listed as a combo guard and shooting forward, but she also plays big in the paint. Perez has a very quick first step that she utilizes to blow by defenders to the rim. When she gets to the basket, Perez is a consistent finisher. She is a strong rebounder who collects a lot of points off offensive rebounds and finishes. Perez also shows a soft shooting touch from the midrange and is capable of stepping outside to knock down jumpers.     Jaslyn Encarnacion was a standout all weekend for Harper U. No matter which scout was watching her, Encarnacion attracted attention. She was named a "Top Performer" on both days, and rightfully so. Enacarnacion is a very good shooter and is especially solid from behind the 3-point line. She is also talented at putting the ball on the floor and getting to the cup. Encarancion is a fierce defender, especially on the ball, constantly putting pressure on opposing ball-handlers. It will be exciting to keep our eyes on her in the future.     Rene Wilson was one of the most gifted players athletically in the 13U age group, and the argument could be made that she was one of the best overall athletes in any category at the Northeast Kickoff. Not only is Wilson dynamic on the basketball court, but she is also a four-time All-American track and field athlete and a national champion in the high jump. On the hardwood, Wilson puts a ton of pressure on a defense. She is a slasher who can get to the hoop and score in multiple ways, whether by a layup or a floater. Wilson is difficult to keep off the offensive boards due to her jumping ability. She is a dangerous scoring threat, no matter where she is on the floor, and a very good shooter from beyond the arc.     Madison Curry came across the border from The Garden State and put on a clinic on how to command the paint. Curry displayed a skill set that far exceeded what is normally seen from "bigs" her age. Curry is a relentless rebounder. If she draws contact and doesn't get the foul call, she just keeps working the boards until she scores or goes to the line. Curry's motor is always running at a high clip. Curry has a nice shooting stroke. Her strongest area is around the lane, but she does have the ability to connect on shots from deeper range.

The 13U Division was the first to hit the hardwood at the Northeast Kickoff in Massapequa, New York, on Long Island. Despite their youth and the early wakeup call, the youngsters were ready to perform. The coach of AKO Elite said, "This is the court that you want to be on," and he wasn't wrong. Harper U was playing up in the 15U Division, and it soon became clear why. Here is a look at a handful of the rising prospects from both teams.