16U Star Power at Brawl at the Palms

This weekend marked my first trip to the beautiful new Wellington Sports Academy for Prep Girls Hoops Brawl at the Palms, and the talent level throughout the building immediately matched the hype surrounding the event. With seven courts running all weekend, the 16U division featured a strong mix of players from across the Southeast, especially Florida and Georgia, and included several of the top players in the Class of 2028. From names starting to earn national recognition to names continuing to prove themselves as non-traditional stars beginning to emerge onto a bigger stage, there was no shortage of talent, competitiveness, and intriguing long-term prospects on display. Here are some of the top players who stood out to me in Wellington:    Ke'mora's motor was impossible to miss as she competed with high energy from start to finish. She consistently pressured the defense by getting downhill with speed, protecting the basketball well, and finishing creatively around the rim with strong body control and hangtime. She also showed good feel as a playmaker, connecting on a bounce pass to a backdoor cutter for an easy score and making an impressive one-hand skip pass that sparked a big three-pointer. Her combination of pace, toughness, and facilitating ability allowed her to impact the game in multiple ways.     Gabby showed excellent athletic tools and continued offensive growth throughout the weekend. She consistently elevated well at the rim with great hangtime, allowing her to finish through contact and extend plays in the air. Her change of pace stood out as a real weapon, helping her get separation when attacking downhill. She also delivered an impressive one-hand transition push pass the length of the floor, showing advanced vision and arm strength with accuracy. Her shot continues to improve as she doesn't need much space to get it off from anywhere on the floor, and her overall offensive bag is deep with effective spin moves, shot fakes, and strong ball security.     Essence consistently impacted the game with her craftiness, pace, and ability to create offense in a variety of ways. She showed advanced handle work, using combo moves to get downhill and get to her spots, where she was effective finishing plays. She scored multiple floaters in the lane and capped off a strong sequence with a runner at the halftime buzzer, showing poise in a pressure moment. She also made plays defensively with active hands and multiple steals, adding to her all-around impact as one of the top players in the gym this weekend.     Ty brought a physical, high-energy presence to the floor and consistently made winning plays. Her frame and strength stood out, especially on defense where she recorded multiple emphatic blocks and a well-timed tip block on a perimeter shot. She played with toughness offensively, drawing contact and converting and-one finishes while maintaining a high motor throughout the weekend. She also showed offensive control with a jump stop into a smooth 10-foot jumper and demonstrated a change of direction ability that allows her to create separation off the dribble. Ty is one of the most exciting players to watch in the state!     Saige consistently impacted the game with her quickness, vertical, and ability to play fast on both ends of the floor. She does a great job collapsing defenses by getting into the lane and putting pressure on the rim, using her shiftiness and change of pace to keep defenders off balance. Her ability to stop on a dime and rise into a pull-up jumper stood out as a reliable scoring option, and she showed smooth handles that allow her to create separation and generate offense for her team while they were in Florida.

This weekend marked my first trip to the beautiful new Wellington Sports Academy for Prep Girls Hoops Brawl at the Palms, and the talent level throughout the building immediately matched the hype surrounding the event. With seven courts running all weekend, the 16U division featured a strong mix of players from across the Southeast, especially Florida and Georgia, and included several of the top players in the Class of 2028. From names starting to earn national recognition to names continuing to prove themselves as non-traditional stars beginning to emerge onto a bigger stage, there was no shortage of talent, competitiveness, and intriguing long-term prospects on display. Here are some of the top players who stood out to me in Wellington: