Live At Lakepoint: Bigs That Brought That Their Game

It wasn't just the guards who played outstanding at Select Events Live at Lakepoint event over the weekend. There were several post players who came in with big names and big games, but other players right at six feet or taller emerged as legit college prospects. Almost every court had coaches on the baseline from various colleges around the country and they were treated to some excellent play in the post and beyond.    This was the second event I have seen Kendyl play in during live periods with WV Thunder Perry and she has impressed over the course of several games at both events. I thought she played the best game individually in what was one of the very best games of the event against a very talented [program_tooltip program_id='713173' first='Wood' last='Elite'] E40 squad. Literally from the tip where Kindly won the jump ball, to her diving on the floor to get the ball and get it to a guard, to getting back up and sprinting to the rim for an easy uncontested layup until the last play of the game Botherly had a major impact for her team on both ends. She blocked multiple shots and grabbed double digit rebounds. It was her scoring from all three levels at 6'2 that showed just how high her ceiling is as a prospect. Kendyl made threes with ease, coked down shots from 5-12 feet comfortably and consistently, and scored at the rim through contact and over defenders. She is without a doubt a division one player, the question will be what level of division one will she land in couple years.     Just like the first time I saw Kendra play at the Clash, it did not take long to see why college coaches are excited about her potential on the next level. Ash has outstanding mobility and quickness for her size. She has very quick reaction time which allowed her to quickly block shots, beat slower defenders of the dribble and cutting to the basket, and scoring of smaller players in the paint. Ash also looked comfortable and confident shooting the ball from three point range as well. There are not a lot of kids her size that not only move as well as she does but also elevate off the floor the way that Ash does. She has the skills to go along with her excellent size and will only continue to get better with two years left before graduation. I would not be surprised at all to see a school in the Big 10 take a chance on her with continued development.     Elle continued a stellar travel ball season with excellent performances over the course of four games at Lakepoint. She is a player who plays on a high school team loaded with college prospects at her position, so she is not someone I was very familiar with coming into the Spring and Summer. That changed quickly as she has been a force particularly inside, but equally effective on the rare occasion she steps out on the perimeter and looks for her shot. Sellers does not need plays ran for her offensively as she routinely grabs a handful of offensive rebounds per game resulting in 2-3 easy put backs for [program_tooltip program_id='1819777' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last='']' last='NextUp']. She is an excellent slasher to the basket with rare quickness and explosiveness for her size. She is very effective scoring around the rim, but also possesses the skill to knockdown perimeter shots which she did multiple times. Sellars wingspan is another asset she has learned and is learning to utilize defensively blocking and altering shots. She showed the ability to guard four positions defensively over the course of the weekend as well. Her versatility and efficiency, along with her natural gifts and effort earned the interest of multiple college coaches at the event.     Mays gave [program_tooltip program_id='713452' first='FBC' last=''] United Kentucky the size and strength needed in the post against a good Duval Elite team in the game I watched her play. Mays presence in the paint gave United a big advantage in the game on the boards and scoring in the paint with her dominant left hand. Mays has very soft hands and made some very tough catches (on great passes) that most post players would not have been able to handle. When she did get the ball she did a nice job using her upper body strength to great separation without fouling before going up and finishing at the rim. Her shot looked very good at the free throw line and the mid range. Mays showed excellent post moves using very good footwork and head fakes to get defenders off the ground before rising up and scoring the ball with ease.     KJ had a monster game in the comeback for Danny Strong and West Virginia Thunder (NC) UAA over Brandon Clay's [program_tooltip program_id='715570' first='Southeast' last='All Stars'] in OT. English, like Kyndall Mays, does an outstanding job with her footwork and post moves in the paint to create space before going up and using a variety of finishes to score with her dominant left hand at the rim. KJ shot the ball about as well from behind the three point line about as well as I have her seen her burying multiple shots a few feet behind the three point line. I have been watching English since she was in eighth grade and you can see all the potential she showed at a young age, her excellent size and athleticism, coming together with her confidence and intelligence. The result is one of the most hot commodities in the 2028 class nationally as KJ picked several Power Four offers heading into the event and will certainly pick up more as a result of her play at the event.     Johnson is a player who started basketball late (high school), but has taken the game seriously and is a quick learner. Other sports she dabbled in have served her very well because at 6'3 she moves with ease and has very quick reaction time to go with a great set of hands. Johnson got the majority of her points on offensive rebounds and put backs while also drawing several fouls and shooting the ball well from the free throw line. She did an excellent job on defense coming over from the weak side to block shots and used her length and wingspan to alter shots when she was on the ball. Johnson is an active rebounder who pursues the basketball off the rim and her effort to go along with her size and developing skill drew the attention of multiple college coaches who watched her play. She is a prospect whose best basketball is ahead of her and Taylor will only continue to get better with more time and experience.

It wasn't just the guards who played outstanding at Select Events Live at Lakepoint event over the weekend. There were several post players who came in with big names and big games, but other players right at six feet or taller emerged as legit college prospects. Almost every court had coaches on the baseline from various colleges around the country and they were treated to some excellent play in the post and beyond.