The Clash: Primetime Playmakers

Sometimes I find myself in the right place at the right time and at Select Events The Clash, that was certainly the case as I caught some very skilled players towards the end of a few sessions with tightly contested games. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='807279' first='Mia' last='McGregor'] saw her stock go through the roof after dropping 40 in one game in front of a baseline full of college coaches. When I went to see her in the second half of a game, teammate [player_tooltip player_id='749646' first='Jozelynn' last='Begick'] stepped up and played excellent for the [program_tooltip program_id='715753' first='Michigan' last='Mystics'] against YKS. It was the dual of the guards in the SLAAM-Wraten versus Duval Elite in a P24 matchup in the 17U age group. Multiple players from both back courts had moments of brilliance and stood out with their play. A new star is emerging in Georgia in [player_tooltip player_id='1813958' first='Catherine' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='876798' first='Audrey' last='Lunsford'] is enjoying the freedom of playing with other division one players for [program_tooltip program_id='1819777' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last='']' last='NextUp'].    It did not take long to see what all the fuss was about watching Mia play against YKS in the second half. She was in total control with the ball in her hands creating plays for herself and facilitating for her teammates. McGregor is a big, strong player who knows where the weight room is and knows how to use her strength. Defenders were bouncing off of her when she drove to the basket, including one play Mia flashed a quick combination of moves with her dribble before showing excellent footwork coming to a jump stop before finishing smoothly with her left hand on a contested layup. McGregor also drew fouls getting to the rim and shot the ball well from the free throw line. She showed a lot of confidence with her ability to handle the ball with heavy man to man pressure in the back court and initiating the offense. On the other end she was able to apply the same tight on ball pressure she faced herself. Mia earned three Division One offers in 24 hours with her play in Ohio (Penn, Northwestern, and Bowling Green) and the ever-growing list will only continue to grow with stellar play.     With all of the attention on McGregor, took full advantage of playing on the big stage by knocking down multiple threes in a very tight game for the Mystics versus YKS. Jozelynn moved very well off the ball, especially in coordination with McGregor, staying out of the ball handlers space and reading and reacting to how her defender went to help on McGregor. Bewick's ability to stretch the defense with excellent perimeter shooting kept her defender honest, making it difficult to give little to any help on McGregor. Begick showed good vision as well making several good passes and she did not turn the ball over. Begick herself did a nice job on the ball defensively in man to man and when she was in help side defense she showed help to guards driving the ball but was able to get back out to the perimeter and close down shooters. Begick is committed to play for Ferris State at the next level this past September.     Fabrini is a very good combo guard and I knew that coming into the event and that's exactly what she did- alternate playing the point and on the wing with her talented backcourt mates Delanie Doty and Ameera Kone. Fabrini was scored when the opportunity presented itself while also making the right decision and hitting open teammates as well. She was especially effective on the fast break where Alanna scored in one trip in two versus one situation and then driving, drawing, and then dishing to Asiana McCreary for an easy two. Fabrini has a high basketball IQ and knowledge of the game to go along with a very impressive offensive skills package.     Doty is a player, like Kone, I first saw this past November at the Insider Exposure Thanksgiving tournament and was immediately impressed with her play. Doty plays fast and furious but under control and at her pace. She has excellent ball handling with great quickness and the ability to change direction with the ball in a flash. She is an excellent shooter and showed that in the game versus SLAAM-Wraten that I watched both from three point range and from the midrange. Doty appears to be in control at all times taking only timely and calculated risks with the ball minimizing her turnovers. She is crafty and smooth and plays with a lot of confidence, which she should with skills and talent she has.     Kone impresses me every time I watch her play with her height and length, strength and power, and skill scoring the basketball. This game saw something totally new from Kone for me and that was her running the show as Duval Elite's point guard for a majority of their game versus SLAAM-Wraten and doing it well. She controlled the pace of the game when Duval Elite had possession of the ball, used her strength to create space (on one play back her defender down on the fast break before executing a nice spin move and short fade away jumper), and excellent footwork to blow by bigger, slower defenders on the perimeter. She was very good finding open teammates sprinting out ahead on the break and hit the on time and on the money in a position to score.     Catt is another player whose play has drawn the interest of several schools this Spring in both Charlotte with Insider Exposure and Select Events and The Clash. Four of the five games played in Ohio Harris scored in double figures, including a pair of 18 point performances and one game where she scored 19 points for NextUp. Harris is a true three level scorer knocking down multiple three point shots in every game, utilizing the midrange game as good as any player in Georgia not named Harpring, and gets to the rim with ease off the bounce, where she finishes well. Harris finishes through contact and over and around defenders. She was at the free throw line a lot over the course of the three day event where she also shot the ball very well. Harris has some elite hands and pokes the ball away from opposing ball handlers several times a game, most of those end up with her turning defense into offense laying the ball up on the other end of the court.     Audrey had an outstanding three days playing very good competition where she more than held her own. Lunsford is one of the most versatile players in the state and playing with two major division one recruits, she was able to display a large part of her skills on the offensive end. Generally the offense revolves around Audrey, especially in high school, so the defense is always geared to shut her down first. The scoring ability of Vanessa Vancott and Trinity Berry, her backcourt mates with NextUp, allows Lunsford the freedom to roam, slash, and cut all over the court without two people following her. She took full advantage of her size, skill, and the space on offense she isn't accustomed to having. Lunsford scored countless times slashing to the basket from the wings and corners and was especially effective on the baseline. Audrey finished well at the rim and did a nice job drawing fouls resulting in multiple And One plays and other trips to the free throw line. As a result of her play, Lunsford was on the phone with a Division One assistant coach in the South yesterday.

Sometimes I find myself in the right place at the right time and at Select Events The Clash, that was certainly the case as I caught some very skilled players towards the end of a few sessions with tightly contested games. Players like Mia McGregor Mia McGregor 5'10" | CG Mio-Au Sable | 2027 State MI saw her stock go through the roof after dropping 40 in one game in front of a baseline full of college coaches. When I went to see her in the second half of a game, teammate Jozelynn Begick Jozelynn Begick 5'11" | SG Freeland | 2027 State MI stepped up and played excellent for the Michigan Mystics against YKS. It was the dual of the guards in the SLAAM-Wraten versus Duval Elite in a P24 matchup in the 17U age group. Multiple players from both back courts had moments of brilliance and stood out with their play. A new star is emerging in Georgia in Catherine Harris Catherine Harris 5'7" | CG Norcross | 2028 GA and Audrey Lunsford Audrey Lunsford 5'9" | CG Elbert County | 2027 State GA is enjoying the freedom of playing with other division one players for FBC ' last='NextUp'].