Standout Shooters That Will Shine This Spring

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As travel ball season has begun for some and beginning for others, there are several elite markswomen in Georgia that shoot with anyone. Included are two participants in the GHSA All State Three Point shootout, [player_tooltip player_id='738932' first='Madison' last='Bennett'] and Ava Thomson. A couple sophomores who have built big reputations for burning the nets down from deep, [player_tooltip player_id='926799' first='Jadyn' last='Shepard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='898829' first='Leah' last='Bryan'], are also on this list. Finally a very talented freshman who hit eight three pointers in a game, [player_tooltip player_id='1279813' first='Michelle' last='Lloyd'], and an emerging star in the 2030 class in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='1814235' first='Rae' last='[player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last='']']. I expect each of these players to shine in their roles with the basketball clubs playing around the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["738932"],"_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-69c6911458c9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bennett not only participated in the three point contest, but brought home the hardware winning in impressive fashion. Bennett has excellent form and did a nice job holding her follow through even in a rushed, timed situation. Bennett shot the ball with confidence and a smile on her face. When I looked for shooting percentage, I can see why. Bennett is not just an elite shooter, but a well-rounded scorer on the offensive end. She finished the season leading her team in points, scoring 22.6 per game while shooting 39% from the field. She scored a total of 654 points on the season, an impressive feat for anyone. Bennett also averaged 3.6 assists per game and 3.3 steals per game for Trinity Christian. Bennett is playing excellent ball at the right time as she heads into live period events this Spring and Summer where she will play in front of multiple college coaches. There is a lot to like about her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1794462"],"_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-69c6911458d08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ava had a very good performance shooting the ball in the three point contest in Macon. She did a nice job getting her shoulders squared after pulling basketballs off the rack before she elevated and let the ball go, something that is much harder to do than it looks. She has a high release point on her shot, which makes her hard to defend. When I turned on the tape, Thompson scored from all over the court. Teams swarmed her around the three point line, but she used her dribble, solid screens, and a very quick release to get shots off under duress, making several. Thompson was also effective and efficient in the midrange. Most of her shots came off the move or off the dribble as she was not left open once to catch and shoot without a hand in her face the games I saw. Ava maybe tucked away in the North Georgia mountains, but with her continued stellar play, she won't be a secret much longer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["926799"],"_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-69c6911458d54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jadyn is coming off a season where she had the full attention of opposing defenses every game for Denmark. She began her high school career with a bang, scoring the ball at a high clip and earning a reputation as one of the best shooters in the state as a freshman a year ago. With all of the added attention and coverage from opposing defenses this season, Jadyn still managed to average over 16 points per game and earned a well deserved spot on the All Region team. Shepard will have a much more talented team this Spring and Summer which should allow her the space to operate more freely. Shepard is a very good ball handler and finisher at the rim. She is a sneaky good athlete with quick feet that can defend other quality players at the guard position. If left open, she is nearly automatic from long range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898829"],"_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-69c6911458dad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Some players, whether by coincidence or luck, have some of their best performances when I happen to be at certain games evaluating the teams playing. [player_tooltip player_id='898829' first='Leah' last='Bryan'] had more than one of those this season while I was watching her and her very talented North Forsyth teammates. She kept North Forsyth in the game for a quarter in Gainesville when they played Westlake earlier in the season, making multiple shots from deep when her team couldn't score otherwise. In the region championship game Leah showed her knockdown shooting ability from three, but also attacked the basket and got to the midrange more than I had seen her do before. She is a good defender who competes and plays with a high IQ on top of being one of the best shooters in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1279813"],"_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-69c6911458df2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lloyd, who I mentioned hit eight threes in one game for Ola, had a an excellent freshman year with the heavy load of being her team's best player. She didn't flinch under pressure and finished the year averaging 12.4 points per game on 41% shooting, including an impressive 35% from three point range. The smooth lefty has very good size and strength which allows her to get her shot off over defenders on the perimeter and finish at the rim in traffic. Lloyd handles the ball very well and has the ability to facilitate the offense. Like [player_tooltip player_id='926799' first='Jadyn' last='Shepard'], Lloyd will be surrounded by a lot more talent in travel ball where she will play with [program_tooltip program_id='1237402' first='HER' last='Elite']. All of the pressure of multiple defenders and junk defenses designed to limit her will go away. This should give the opportunity to show even more of her skill and offensive package. Michelle is definitely a stock riser in the '29 class and a player that will be ranked soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814235"],"_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-69c6911458e34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another player who will be ranked soon when the first edition of the 2030 rankings are released on PGH Georgia is [player_tooltip player_id='1814235' first='Rae' last='[player_tooltip player_id='1242017' first='Davis' last='']']. I happened to be in the gym with Rae and some other high profile players in a private workout a few months ago. The workout was focused on shooting the entire time, so I saw Rae shoot from in close, the midrange, and then a ton a shots from three. Her form and follow through was excellent and consistent each time she shot the ball. She has very good size (could be 5'8) and length for her age and gets high off the ground when she shoots. She wasn't just making the majority of those shots, but the ball didn't touch the rim. She has range that extends a few feet behind the line. There was no defense and this is definitely her biggest strength, but that I walked away excited about her future as a player. She is definitely a kid I look forward to seeing play, sooner rather than later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->