PGH Southeast Kickoff: 15U Honorable Mentions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our calendars being set to April means high school uniforms have been stowed away until November – while briefly reappearing during the June camp month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until that happens, many a premier high school prospect has traded said uniforms for the threads of their club teams. A number of those teams were on hand at this year's Southeast Kickoff – one of the first events on the 2026 Prep Girls Hoops Circuit schedule.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's gathering welcomed teams from both Carolinas as well as Georgia and Alabama. Courts at Lenoir-Rhyne University, the Hickory Career and Arts Magnet High School and the Clark Recreation Center were the nuclei of this past weekend's festivities.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, we recognize even more from the 15U ranks that were more than worthy of the spotlight.</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":"","_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-69cac54a2f1bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carolina Smoke 15U's time at the Southeast Kickoff began inauspiciously before Nelson helped her team turn the tide with a pair of victories on Sunday. Nelson is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball for 7A Topsail alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court. Even though she stands at 6-foot-1, Nelson does not limit herself to being only able to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. She can operate as a shooting guard as well and can be found on many an occasion on the wing. If she is near the basket to receive a transition or cross-court pass, one can count on Nelson getting two more points for her squad – and a possible chance at an old-fashioned 3-point try. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1809309"],"_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-69cac54a2f23f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ford's [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U team was another that concluded Southeast Kickoff weekend with a pair of wins and a pair of losses. She particularly thrives in the transition game as she knows to get near the rim when her team has an opportunity at an easy two-bucket. Defense is another element to her game where Ford shines. When Ford manages to connect from long range, that is when teams remember that she can operate as a shooting guard in addition to playing in the frontcourt as a three. Ford stands at 5-foot-9 and is the lone representative from 7A Lee on this year's [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240336"],"_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":1816601,"_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-69cac54a2f2b5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U P32 had a rough weekend at this year's Southeast Kickoff but did manage to close the weekend with a victory over [program_tooltip program_id='1808859' first='Alabama' last='Dream'] 15U. Oliver displayed her toughness all weekend as she fearless went at opposing defenders when she had the ball in her hands. She does not shy away from physicality as contact drawn means opportunities to make things happen at the free throw line. As a combo guard, one also has to watch out for Oliver when she has the ball behind the 3-point line. Getting out in transition is another positive attribute to Oliver's skillset. </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-69cac54a2f308"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rap was a playmaker among Playmakers this past weekend in North Carolina. Her Carolina Playmakers 15U team went 1-3 this past weekend but she was one of the bright spots for her team. When she plays in the frontcourt on the offensive end, Rap will look for spacing to be on the other end of a successful pass from a teammate. She understands how to play with her back to the basket and can maintains a high level of activity even when she does not have the ball in her hands. Listed at 5-foot-8, her ability to play on the wing will give her plenty of minutes either as a guard or a small forward. </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":1817125,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sarai Sauceda","_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":"5'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mount Zion Christian Academy","_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 BSB","_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-69cac54a2f3b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sauceda's [program_tooltip program_id='714756' first='Carolina' last='All-Stars'] 15U BSB team may not have picked up a win over the weekend in Hickory but she proved to be a bright spot for her team. She was the lone freshman on this past season's Mount Zion Christian team. On Sunday, Sauceda managed to hold her own against a [program_tooltip program_id='714762' first='Charlotte' last='Dream Elite'] 14U team that concluded this weekend's event with an undefeated record. Sauceda particularly displayed her accuracy from behind the 3-point line in the second half as she drained a pair of tries from distance. She also managed to steer clear of the referee's whistle in that game as she went the entirety of that matchup without being called for a personal foul.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->