IE Super Scrimmages: Knockdown Shooters

Several players put on very impressive shooting displays over the course of the two days of competition at Insider Exposure's War Games Super Scrimmages event in Charlotte. The three point shot has revolutionized the game and consistent shooters from the perimeter are hard to come by. Professional shooters have to do to things other than shoot the ball exceptionally well, defend their position and not turn the ball over. Player sho can do that have long careers in this game. These players certainly would fit in that category.    A very successful high school coach who is in the hall of fame in Georgia saw Jadyn play for the first time live on Saturday and immediately told me how much he loved her game- "She is an elite shooter, but she is a lot quicker than I thought, and she is a bulldog on the court." This coach I respect a lot and described her game very well. She is scrappy and an intense competitor on both ends. She is relied to generate almost all of her teams offense in high school, so it was great see her perform at such a high level with a much more talented group. She made multiple threes in every game, some several feet behind the line. There was a good mix of hots off the bounce and in catch and shoot situations. If Jadyn doesn't need much time or space, just a quick look at the basket and the ball is released. She moves constantly and with intelligence getting herself open and available foe drive, draw, and dish sickouts, as well as inside out work with her post players. Shepard looks like a player motivated and confident ahead of the live period in Ohio this weekend.     Blythe had a big game scoring the ball finishing with 19 points for Team KMA, something she has been doing consistently for the last few years. Cunningham, like Shepard, is much more than a shooter. She does a very good job reading the defense and making backdoor cuts to the basket, specifically on the baseline. She also has the ability to create her own shot of the dribble, not a kid who floats on the perimeter waiting for the ball. She plays the game with a high level of understanding and makes very good decisions with the basketball. Her experience playing in these events for years was very evident. She was very patient and efficient scoring the ball by not rushing shots and not taking bad ones. Cunningham have few in any turnovers and did a very good job on the defensive end.     Make no mistake about it Blair Haines is a very dynamic scorer off the bounce and uses that handling ability to get to into the painted area with relative ease. Haines is an excellent slasher and she has a very nice finishing package with both hands and off both feet individually. However, she has the ability to light opposing defense up from the outside. She did a nice job creating space on her shots from three with crossovers, step backs, and head fakes with one dribble and a slide step. She, like Cunningham, have been doing this for years, so they are confident players who know the ball is going through the net when it leaves their hands. Haines is also an excellent facilitator and does a great driving the ball, drawing help defenders, and then dishing to her open teammates on the perimeter and in the post.     Kenzie is a player whose stock has been consistently on the rise in Georgia for the last few years. She is a coaches kid and knows the game well, whether its how to read and run off screens to create the time and space needed to elevate and shoot or curl for a drive to the basket or pull up for a mid range jumper. Hinkson is an excellent athlete which enables her to cause turnovers with her on ball pressure as well as jumping into the passing lanes and intercepting balls before heading to other end for uncontested layups. I thought her decision making was very good as well. There were a couple plays where she passed up on some pretty wide open shoots for a one more pass or whipping the ball across court or to a player in the post. She is a player who has a lot to like about her game and she will only continue to get better.     Craig had a an outstanding weekend shooting the ball from the perimeter leading to one division two coach to walk up and ask me who she was. There is not a more consistent shooter from three point range than Alyssa. She has a very strong and powerful physical build to go with her height. This enables her to shoot the ball with confidence and ease from 3-4 feet behind the three point line. She and her twin, [player_tooltip player_id='743526' first='Alexa' last='Craig'], both look like college players already. Craig showed her toughness on defense and the boards battling in the paint against much bigger payers. She was able to turn their size and lack of foot speed to punish them stepping out and making multiple three point shots in each game her team played. Craig looks primed for big performances heading into the live period in Ohio next weekend.     Maliha looked confident and comfortable playing for [program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last=''] United and Coach Pitts. I have seen Maliha play a number of times and know from just her pregame shooting regimen that this is a kid who understands the importance of repetition and understand her role as a sniper shooting the basketball for her teams. Harris has a very quick release and is almost always squared up to the basket when she shoots the ball. If the space is there and she gets it off clean, every shot she takes looks like it is going in. She has worked hard and added a very good midrange aspect to her game where she utilizes shot fakes from three to get her defender off the ground before taking one or two dribbles to get to one of the elbows or the free throw line and pulling up for two. Harris is a very cerebral player who values the ball and makes very good decisions. She will continue improve and be a very solid division one prospect by the time her senior season rolls around.

Several players put on very impressive shooting displays over the course of the two days of competition at Insider Exposure's War Games Super Scrimmages event in Charlotte. The three point shot has revolutionized the game and consistent shooters from the perimeter are hard to come by. Professional shooters have to do to things other than shoot the ball exceptionally well, defend their position and not turn the ball over. Player sho can do that have long careers in this game. These players certainly would fit in that category.