Five KC Jam Fest Players Taking Their Team to the Next Level

There were several stand-out performances this weekend at the KC Jam Fest, the girls on team D.U.T. Academy are built different. Here are five players who have what it takes to take their team to the next level.    She can make long-shot baskets, her footwork is impeccable, and her tenacity is off the charts. This is [player_tooltip player_id='1804516' first='Jamara' last='Harvey']. Jamara is the type of athlete that knows how to; play rough, play with purpose, and play as a team. During the middle of the match, Jamara had possession of the ball but she was far from the basket in a corner of the court. But did this far placement stop her? No, Jamara took a chance she took the shot and landed the basket.   Of course, no one can be this great a long-shot shooter without great footwork, and Jamara knows this. She's well balanced, her foot-to-ball sync movements are near perfection, and never once did she fumble or lose her footing. Now, let's talk about this girl's pure raw tenacity; absolutely nothing could stop her. When it came to Jamara's defense game, she was like a brick wall, with her arms and legs spread wide in front of her opponents, good luck trying to get past her. Not only can this girl play defense like a pro, but Jamara is also fantastic at repossessing the ball. Several times she threw herself in the middle of the action to skillfully steal the ball back and make a lightning-fast pass to her teammates. Jamara has more than proved that she has what it takes to one day play in the WNBA.     [player_tooltip player_id='1503232' first='Elizabeth' last='Adedigba'] is here to do one thing, and that is to ensure that her team secures the victory. Elizabeth immediately gets locked in the moment she steps onto the court, and you can clearly tell that winning is the only thing on her mind. During one stretch of the game, she made a swift basket all by herself. The moment Elizabeth got control of the ball she would thunder down the court towards her teammates, all while making several effective fakes, passed the ball off with expert precision.   Something I found very interesting about Elizabeth's performance is that you could see the wheels turning in her mind, you could see her studying the court, calculating the exact points of when and where she needed to be. She also made it a priority to pay very close attention to her coaches whenever they pulled the team in for a huddle, you could see her absorbing the information from her coaches and then immediately applying their wisdom to her performance on the court.     When it comes to team spirit, communication, and elite footwork, no one possesses these abilities quite like [player_tooltip player_id='1804461' first='Janessa' last='Gullens']. Her sunny disposition was essential in keeping the energy high for her team, which in turn kept her team's morale elevated for the entire match. Janessa was seen several times hyping up her teammates, clapping when they would succeed, and offering words of praise. Janessa showcased her excellent communication skills when she directed multiple of her teammates into positions that allowed them to make a basket   Janessa showcased her excellent communication skills when she directed multiple of her teammates into positions that allowed them to make a basket. Not only would she direct her teammates into positions, but she would also discuss strategies with her teammates just before the match started ensuring that her team would start off with an advantage. From then on, her smooth footwork was on full display, she would evade defenders and pivot like a pro. Several times Janessa perfectly executed the triple threat stance and added in some beautiful close-outs to top it all off. [player_tooltip player_id='1804461' first='Janessa' last='Gullens'] is one of those players who has the right skill set to succeed at any time.     Versatility, composure, respect, and preparedness. Four qualities that are essential in making a good player great, and [player_tooltip player_id='992403' first='Faith' last='Sampson'] undoubtedly embodies these four key attributes in her gameplay. Nothing that occurred on the court threw her for a loop, this girl was prepared. At one point in the match, she took a tumble, but did that phase her? Not at all, she got right back up as if nothing had happened. At another instance, one of her teammates fumbled the ball, but Faith was right there ready to recapture the ball which she did. Her refined preparedness pairs well with her tranquil composure, even when the pressure mounted as the game was coming to a close, Faith kept a cool head and never let the pressure affect her gameplay.   Faith's other two attributes, her virility and her respect also go hand in hand. She never hesitated to go where she was needed on the court, if her team needed her on offense she was there, if her team needed her on defense she was there, if her team needed her to be in a certain position to catch a pass she was there. Faith played with great knowledge and skill in every position she was needed. Faith also showcased just how much respect she has for her coach and for the opposing team. She listened carefully to her coach's instructions when they asked her to change positions, and she did so. Her respect for the opposing team was evident in the way she interacted with them on the court, thought she was on the opposite team Faith played fair and even helped her opponents up when they fell.         Isabella Gbolo, this girl has elite ball-handling skills, her shooting game is on point, and her leadership and teamwork abilities are the cherry on top. Near the end of the match, Isabella got control of the ball and immediately started sprinting down the court. She cleverly combined dribbling low, with refined ambidextrous handling, as she zigzagged towards the hoop expertly dodging her opponents. As soon as Isabel reached the end of the court she propelled herself forward, launched the ball, and landed the shot.   Now let's talk about her phenomenal leadership and teamwork. Isabella allowed her team to run like a well-oiled machine, she intently listened to her coach, she cheered on her teammates from the sidelines, and showed beautiful leadership skills on the court. During the middle stretch of the match, when Isabella had possession, she wisely directed one of her teammates to get in position so she could pass to them. Her teammate quickly got into position, and Isabella made the pass, the pass that led directly to her team scoring. Isabella Gbolo absolutely has what it takes to take her team to the next level.

There were several stand-out performances this weekend at the KC Jam Fest, the girls on team D.U.T. Academy are built different. Here are five players who have what it takes to take their team to the next level.