Sunshine State Showdown Big Names, Big Games

Several of the top rated prospects in the country, many of whom are ranked both high in their respective states and on the national level for their graduating classes, proved why their name and reputations precede them. Several of the top shoe teams from the south and perennial power All Iowa Attack participated in the event and their rosters are loaded with talent from top to bottom with some of the best players in the country sprinkled in. These players came into the event with big names and it was obvious why with their big games.    When you get to the very top of the state and national rankings, personal preference of who the top player is can ultimately be the decision maker when selecting these players. Jada is a player I have seen 4-5 times now and she is always better than the last, which is quite a statement. She did what she does best all weekend long attacking the basket off the dribble and finishing over and around bigger defenders at the rim. Clardy did this numerous off the catch and after creating space with her dribble finishing with a lay up or going to the free throw line. Her long arms and quick hands allowed her to pick the pocket of several different ball handlers clean and again ended with her laying the ball up on the other end. Jada played the point for the majority of the games I saw and did a nice job facilitating the offense, specifically to her very talented backcourt mates [player_tooltip player_id='243916' first='Victoria' last='Valle'] and the also very highly ranked [player_tooltip player_id='214184' first='Jalynn' last='Belton']. For my preference, there is not a more talented player in the country than Jada and she has room to improve her game.     This was the best I have seen Jalynn play at an event that I can remember. She was oozing with confidence and her play reflected it as she was definitive in her decision making and trusted her shot making several in a variety of ways. Belton has always been a strong kid which is a huge advantage for her holding off defenders while handling the ball and finishing through contact at the rim. She threw and complete two passes that were at least 3/4 quarter court in length and hit her teammates between the numbers. Defensively, her ability to anticipate the pass and timing when jumping into the lane to intercept was stellar and she showed very quick feet and hands guarding the ball. Belton shot the ball very well from deep and was a vocal leader at times for the Suns. The size and skills along with her knowledge of the game were on full display. If this is a sign of things to come, then I expect Jalynn to have a huge final summer on the EYBL circuit.     Johnson, who is ranked in the Top 5 nationally in the '28 class by almost every service available, showed a lot of versatility over the course of the tournament playing very effectively inside and out on both ends of the court. When AIA decided to go small, Johnson utilized her 6' frame to grab offensive rebounds and quickly lay the ball back up. On a few trips in the half court, Johnson showed some impressive moves on the block and also did a nice job screening for the ball handler and popping for shots from the perimeter. Johnson also made several threes showing that she is a true three level scoring threat. She was a matchup nightmare when opposing posts had to guard her on the perimeter. Johnson's strength, to go along with her height/wingspan, and her diverse skill set make her one of the very best sophomores in the country and one of the most heavily recruited players in her class for very good reason.     There was no missing Eyani on the court when she was slashing and driving to the basket with quickness and purpose. There were a couple plays where she did just that and it was clear why Mills was selected for the SportCenter Next 2029 Watch List alongside the best '29s in the country. They were smooth drives but fast and with determination. They were not forced or out of frustration, rather she just decided to attack before or when she caught the ball. When she did, she scored or was fouled.Mills is an excellent athlete who ran the floor well, did a nice job on the boards, and blocked or altered several shots. She looked calm and confident operating on the perimeter in All Iowa Attacks's dribble drive offense with good ball handling and soft hands, passing and catching the ball in the half court. Mills finished well around the rim using good footwork to go around defenders and the leaping ability to elevate over them.     Pinnock is a player who I thought was one of the very best in November at the Insider Exposure Thanksgiving Classic. She had a presence on the ball and was very effective getting to the rim and scoring or ending up on the ground and then the free throw line. The toughness she showed in the game I watched was more than impressive as she was fouled hard multiple times (out of frustration) penetrating through the defense. She just popped right back up and did it again. Against White Tiger Elite, Alana had the kind of scoring impact that has her rated so high and in demand from college coaches. She is supremely talented offensively, shooting the ball at a high percentage from the midrange and behind the three point line. Her handle is tight but she is hard to stay in front of for defenders on the ball. All of this was on display as she was the difference maker in the game and the catalyst for Essence's win. She has all the physical gifts and basketball intelligence to have a long career in this game.     If you don't know who Jordyn is now from her viral clips on Instagram, then you will soon enough. I have had the privilege of watching her work the last year or so up close and personal at training sessions with my daughter at Pitts Academy. The growth I have seen in such a short amount of time would be shocking if I did not see how hard she works with my own eyes. She will be near or at the very top of the 2030 rankings in Georgia that are releasing in a month. She is a generational talent who is excelling on the highest of levels playing two years up with AEBL. Her size and skill would lead you to believe that she is not only playing with her correct age group, but that she is the best player on the floor more often than not. She performed very well throughout the tournament dominating stretches while still be unselfish and not forcing shots. Jordyn has enough hype around her, so I do not want to add to it, but she could be one of the better players I have ever seen if she continues to work hard and keep a good head on her shoulders.

Several of the top rated prospects in the country, many of whom are ranked both high in their respective states and on the national level for their graduating classes, proved why their name and reputations precede them. Several of the top shoe teams from the south and perennial power All Iowa Attack participated in the event and their rosters are loaded with talent from top to bottom with some of the best players in the country sprinkled in. These players came into the event with big names and it was obvious why with their big games.