PGH Southeast Kickoff: 15U Frontcourt Forces from Day Two

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the first day of Southeast Kickoff play in the books, those teams that were on site in North Carolina for one of the first events on this year's Prep Girls Hoops Circuit schedule were looking to finish with a flourish on Sunday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The town of Hickory in western North Carolina was where all of the festivities emanated from with games taking place at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the Hickory Career &amp; Arts Magnet High School and the Clark Recreation Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recognized a few of the forwards and centers from the first day of play that brought their hooping sneakers with them to Hickory. We turn our attention to who did the same on day two.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1805644"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1817088,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c9e38c7d172"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The question that often gets asked to players of Nelson's stature is if they play either basketball or volleyball. Nelson excels at both at Topsail. Nelson is an efficient runner of the floor at 6-foot-1 and has a length that compliments her height. Typically, players of Nelson's stature play at the four but Nelson thrives in both the backcourt as a two guard and in the frontcourt as a small forward – meaning she can spend plenty of time at the wing. When running a transition play, it is a good idea to have Nelson on the receiving end of a pass in close proximity to the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1817091,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sofia Sheppard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Athens Drive","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U P32","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c9e38c7d234"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sheppard put together an impressive freshman campaign at 8A Athens Drive. She played in 21 games throughout the 2025-26 season and averaged 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Given Sheppard's build, one would expect her to be a force to be reckoned with near the rim – which she is. What can make her difficult to game plan against is she can display the 3-point shooting skills of a two guard. She stands at 5-foot-11 and does not shy away from physicality as she knows it will give her and her team opportunities to make things happen at the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1802810"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1817092,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c9e38c7d294"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Copperheads of 5A Division 2 Catawba Ridge are set to drop back down to the 4A classification beginning with the 2026-27 season. Murphy could be a bridge to get the Copperheads back to the winning ways they enjoyed a few years ago. Murphy is another that can be placed in a team's starting five either at the two or the three which will give her plenty of time at the wing. When her [program_tooltip program_id='714762' first='Charlotte' last='Dream Elite'] 14U assembling matched up against [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U BSB, Murphy was part of an offensive onslaught that was able to get out in transition and convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1811395"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69c9e38c7d2da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carolina Playmakers 15U had a rough weekend at the Southeast Kickoff as it went 1-3 in its contests. Rap emerged as a bright spot for her team in its final contest of the weekend which was against Carolina Smoke 15U. As a wing, she has occasions where she will be in a team's lineup as a small forward and others as a shooting guard. Rap maintains a high degree of activity even when the ball is not in her hands and can look for spacing when she plays in close proximity to the basket. When she plays in the frontcourt, look for Rap to be on the receiving end of pick and rolls. Another positive attribute to her game is her fearless attitude which is not always present in younger players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->