Southeast Kickoff: Queens of the Paint

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops hosted their Southeast Kickoff event last weekend in Hickory, North Carolina with players from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina coming together to kick off their travel seasons.  There were many standouts from the event.  Let's focus on some of the 2027s playing in their division.  Here are some of the stand out paint defenders you should know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1808684"],"_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-69d06f483baeb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1808684' first='Keziyah' last='Clemmons'] was a force in the paint making her way to some points using her strength and her quick footwork to get the bucket.  It seemed like she was constantly getting old fashioned three point play opportunities.  She got her hands in the way on defense, too, grabbing the steal and taking it the other direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648643"],"_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":1820569,"_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-69d06f483bbbb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1648643' first='Deanna' last='Robinson'] definitely brought the energy for her team cheering for them while she was getting a break and talking on the court.  She ran the floor well being ready for the pass in transition to score some points.  She was persistent battling on the block getting some points from the entry pass, too.  She had a nice up and under move to get the shot up.  Her voice was distracting on defense as she got loud and disruptive for her opponents.  She read the floor well on the press jumping into passing lanes grabbing the steal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1805212"],"_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":1820567,"_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-69d06f483bc51"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McKenna Hood was tough on the block battling for rebounds and getting into position to score her points.  She cut to the basket looking for the pass and bucket.  She was using shot fakes to get to the rim, and she did a good job keeping the ball high and away from her opponents.  She was doing a nice job rolling off the screen being real for the pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755814"],"_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-69d06f483bd08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='755814' first='Aliyah' last='Herndon'] wasn't just in the paint as was all over the court getting her hands in the way on defense, attacking the basket, and making smart cuts to get the pass.  She handled the ball well making some nice plays attacking the basket and finding her open teammates.  She did well flashing to the basket, calling for the ball, and being ready to make the bucket right off the pass.  She had some tough takes to the basket making it through contact and using her hesitation moves to get by her opponent.  Her ability to grab rebounds on both ends battling against anyone on the block is definitely an asset for her team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->