Sunshine State Showdown Notes: Under the Radar in the Paint

The Sunshine Showdown featured no shortage of elite perimeter talent and big-time point guard play, but a closer look revealed several under-the-radar post players who made a major impact inside. With physical play, strong rebounding, and efficient scoring, this group proved that the paint still matters. In this article, we take a look at several post players you need to follow during this year's travel season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1244109' first='Aliah' last='Newsome'] was one of the more impressive young “power” forwards in the building. The freshman brought a physical edge to the paint, finishing through contact, and showed touch and control on her shots. Newsome also did a good job of controlling the glass, securing any rebound in her area. Several times, she literally took the rebound from the opponent, displaying power and savviness. Newsome was also impressive with strong timing as a shot blocker. Several of her blocks were instinctive, while other blocks displayed solid anticipation on some others. Her presence defensively made a noticeable impact, and with her size and ability to disrupt shots around the rim, she is eventually going to become an even more intimidating presence in the paint.     [player_tooltip player_id='1223178' first='Aubrey' last='Griffin'] stood out as one of the more intriguing power forwards in attendance.    For a sophomore, her ability to impact the game in multiple ways stood out. She can get downhill with good handles and attack the rim effectively. Griffin demonstrated this recently in the state championships and again at the Sunshine Showdown. What separates her is her ability to handle the ball in both half-court sets and in transition—rare for a player at her position. Griffin is quick, shifty, and physical. She brings a dynamic element that makes her a matchup problem.     [player_tooltip player_id='874205' first='E'mani' last='Pryor'] competed at a high level, battling inside and holding her own against some elite opponents. She scored through contact and embraced the physical nature of the game, showing toughness and resilience in the paint. Pryor also held her own on the defense, securing a few blocked shots, a few denials in the paint, and rebounding the ball at a high clip. As one coach stated in her matchup against some of the elite post players, “Pryor was the one player who played her game despite the level of the opponent.” Pryor is elite herself and will be a player to follow this AAU season.     [player_tooltip player_id='873952' first='Ellie' last='Bross'] stood out on the big stage against some really talented matchups at the Sunshine Showdown. She demonstrated her ability to produce both inside and out. On the inside, she showed some physicality and was able to get downhill and score effectively. Bross can put the ball on the floor and attack from the left or the right. In the paint, she used her length, demonstrated good footwork, and showed an ability to score inside. She hit the boards hard and came away with some impressive rebounds. Bross also showed versatility, knocking down a jumper from beyond the arc. Her length, impressive play and combination of interior scoring and perimeter touch were eye-opening and immediately made her a player to watch this travel season.         [player_tooltip player_id='748533' first='Falisa' last='White'] put together a strong all-around showing at the Sunshine Showdown. Defensively, she stood out with her physicality and versatility, effectively guarding both inside and on the perimeter. White has good speed for her size and she physicality comes with it. Offensively, White was highly effective in pick-and-roll action, showing soft hands and the ability to catch, gather, and finish efficiently. She consistently positioned herself well as a target, converted at a high rate around the rim, and made defenses pay for any breakdowns in coverage. Anytime a guard switches on her, White's physicality is literally “unfair.” She has the potential to really make a lot of noise this travel season. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='748533' first='Falisa' last='White'], and embrace yourself for the skill and the impact.     [player_tooltip player_id='1824727' first='Kourtnee' last='McDuffie'] caught my eye at the Sunshine State Showdown. McDuffie was a tough presence inside, showing a good understanding of positioning and how to seal defenders. As a sophomore, she demonstrated a good feel for the game and how to play on the inside with IQ and physicality. She consistently worked for deep post position and converted efficiently around the rim. Her ability to create scoring angles in the paint made her an impressive and reliable interior option and showcased a lot of savviness for a sophomore. McDuffie will be a player to follow this travel season.

The Sunshine Showdown featured no shortage of elite perimeter talent and big-time point guard play, but a closer look revealed several under-the-radar post players who made a major impact inside. With physical play, strong rebounding, and efficient scoring, this group proved that the paint still matters. In this article, we take a look at several post players you need to follow during this year's travel season.