June Jamboree: New Faces Signal a New Era

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you happen to follow me, you would know that historically I have put more young talent out here early than anyone in<strong> Texas</strong>, a simple search on my <strong><em><a href="https://girlzprepreport.blogspot.com/">blog </a></em></strong>or <strong><em><a href="https://girlzprepreport.com/" id="https://girlzprepreport.com/">website </a></em></strong>would help give you some knowledge. Of course, it might take a little longer than looking at cute graphics or clips or seeing those who try to impress by taking every chance they can for a photo shoot with next-level coaches, but that ain't who I am and never will be because one more time,<strong> #ThereIsNoMe</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a chance to catch up with <strong>Carolynn Washington</strong>, whom I wrote about when she was <strong>9</strong> back in<strong> 2013,</strong> <strong><em><a href="https://girlzprepreport.blogspot.com/2013/12/valdez-leads-energetic-2021-group-from.html">see evaluation here</a></em></strong>, and 13 years later, she reminded me I spelled her first name wrong, but peep this, I saw plenty of young stars of the future on opening day, so let me jump right in </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1742504"],"_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-6a37436d7e618"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ampong blew me away from the top because she's tall, along with being<strong> "long and athletic," </strong>yet her skillset, keeping the ball high, nice hands and footwork, as well as the drop step, are simple things I don't see enough of. She's explosive off the dribble to score, with either hand, and she exploded off the ground to not only rebound on both ends, but to block shots as well. She defends inside and outside the paint, and she plays the passing lane </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1871923"],"_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-6a37436d7e698"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones impressed me even before I found out her cousin was<strong> LaJeanna Howard, </strong>head coach at the defending state champion Lancaster, but she, too is<strong> "long and athletic,"</strong> which happens to be the base, She went coast to coast to score after rebounding, which she does on both ends, but she smoothly got by defenders to finish off the dribble in the set, nice body control after contact, or drop the pull-up jumpe. Her defense was solid, and she played the passing lane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240933"],"_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-6a37436d7e6f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jenkins gave me a great first look as she was also, you guessed it, long and athletic, and a guard. She's heady and understands how to create her shot, as well as create spacing, and her step-back 3 was icing on the cake for me. Yes, she drops the stop and pop jumper and elevates in the set to nail it from outside. Her "on the ball" defense looked good; she also rebounded and plays the passing lane. Her EURO and court vision also need s to be mentioned </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242362"],"_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-6a37436d7e743"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McFarland falls into that <strong>#sizedontmatter </strong>when you can play group<strong>,</strong> and can she play, which is an understatement. Seeing her blow by defenders in the set as well as in transition was nice, so was her "stop and pop" on a dime jumper going full speed, but her "on the ball" pressure and quick hands for steals were nice, as was her timing to block shots. She also saw the floor in the set as well as in transition </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1871944"],"_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-6a37436d7e7a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simmons smoothly grabbed my attention, and watching her mannerisms under pressure speaks volumes about what's coming. She handled the ball and saw the floor while being defended, she scored off the dribble and hit the midrange, yet her defense, as well as her timing to block shots, shows her versatility on both ends </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->