From Work Trips to Tip-Offs: Young Guards Ready to Take Over

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm still playing catch-up with these articles, but the week before this past one, I was all over South Arkansas for work. It started in Camden (covering storm damage), then went to Pine Bluff and Sheridan for a story. That Wednesday, I actually changed it up and went to Brinkley in East Arkansas, also covering storm damage. Then I ended the week talking to someone from Sheridan about some stuff going on in Pine Bluff. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, South Arkansas is full of talented players, especially a lot of 2029 and 2030 guards who are ready to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1799530"],"_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-69fe9cf61a02e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first watched [player_tooltip player_id='1799530' first='Ke'Miyah' last='Purifoy'] play in the S.T.R.O.N.G. Showcase in Jacksonville last fall, and I could tell right away that even though she was a freshman playing against 6A competition, she was going to blossom into a star. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purifoy had several strong performances during her freshman campaign. One notable performance was against Beebe, which was a defensive-dominated game that saw Fairview come away with the 36-28 win. In that game, Purifoy scored nearly half of her team's points, ending with 17. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once Purifoy entered conference play with the Lady Cardinals, she continued with her strong outings, putting up 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals versus Arkadelphia. Purifoy is a great finisher who can put her head down and break past any wall of defenders on her way to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1799530' first='Ke'Miyah' last='Purifoy'] is going to be a big name to watch in the future for Camden Fairview, so watch out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1817456"],"_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-69fe9cf61a0da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1817456' first='Khanzis' last='McDonley'] is an up-and-coming player for the Pine Bluff Lady Zebras, and so far this summer, she has been hooping!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonley and [program_tooltip program_id='1609492' first='United' last='Arkansas Basketball'] had a great showing last month at the Clash of Clubs tournament in Houston, Texas. McDonley's most notable performance was against the Mississippi Jazz, where she scored 10 straight points to lead a comeback and defeat their out-of-state opponent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the tournament, McDonley had several great stat lines, including 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal in game 4, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in game 3, and 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals in game 1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Khanzie McDonley has certainly been hooping this summer, and I think that will be huge for Pine Bluff, which has a lot of young talent on its roster for this coming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1219429"],"_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-69fe9cf61a147"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1219429' first='Ainsley' last='Stevens'] had several promising performances this past season for Sheridan, and with several of the Yellowjackets' top players graduating, Stevens will be in a prime position to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevens was able to find the bottom of the bucket several times throughout the year, both from outside and inside. She had strong offensive showings against White Hall and Hot Springs, just to name a couple. In that fiery game against White Hall, Stevens scored 11 points while several senior starters were in foul trouble. Against Hot Springs, Stevens finished with 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevens is a very good 3-point shooter who absolutely cannot be given any space from beyond the arc. In the open court, Stevens is a threat as well, using her speed to blow past defenders and be in the right place at the right time for a pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1219429' first='Ainsley' last='Stevens'] is going to be a problem this coming year, so stay tuned. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1817183"],"_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-69fe9cf61a1d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brinkley did not have a great season, but [player_tooltip player_id='1817183' first='Kamille' last='Allison'] went off, earning an all-state selection. Allison is a notable athlete who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1817183' first='Kamille' last='Allison'] may be a big name to watch in East Arkansas this coming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1809306"],"_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-69fe9cf61a236"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like McDonley, [player_tooltip player_id='1809306' first='JaMiyah' last='Davis'] has been balling this summer, and I think there is a legitimate chance she gets playing time in her freshman season on varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the Clash of Clubs tournament in Houston, Davis averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks a contest, helping [program_tooltip program_id='1609492' first='United' last='Arkansas Basketball'] go 4-1, winning the tournament. One of Davis' best performances in the tournament was 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks in one of the outings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis can clearly do a little bit of everything. Davis can get buckets in a variety of ways, but what is more impressive is her ability to clean the glass, get her teammates involved, and play some aggressive defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1809306' first='JaMiyah' last='Davis'] could be a name to look for this coming season, and when it comes to 2030 athletes, she could very well be one of the most impactful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1229188"],"_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-69fe9cf61a2a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1229188' first='Addyson' last='Grimmett'] got the chance to hoop with the varsity squad as a freshman, and she showed a lot of promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against White Hall, Grimmett put up 11 points, 3 boards, and 5 steals. In a big win over Benton, the guard had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 dimes, 4 steals, and 3 deflections, which was similar to her statline against Lakeside, where she had 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimmett has shown that she can be an excellent playmaker, as she has great vision and a knack for hitting her teammates in the perfect spot with her passes. Her handles are fantastic, and she is excellent at working off screens or splitting multiple defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not to mention, [player_tooltip player_id='1229188' first='Addyson' last='Grimmett'] has scored the ball well, both from the 3-point line and in the lane. So far this summer, Grimmett has been playing well, and she will no doubt take that momentum into the coming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->