Spring Notes: Young Forwards Who Impressed

The 2030 through 2031 classes continue to produce intriguing young talent, and several forwards made positive impressions during the spring evaluation period. Whether through size, rebounding, defensive effort, athleticism, or flashes of offensive skill, these young players showed traits that stood out. While still early in their development, they demonstrated the potential and competitiveness that will make them key contributors for the summer league, the summer live period, and next year's regular season.      [player_tooltip player_id='1246266' first='Tonya' last='Young'] was one of the most impressive young prospects I saw during the spring evaluation period. What stands out most is the upside and potential in her game as it continues to develop. She possesses a strong frame for her age, runs the floor well, and remains active on both ends of the court. Young is beginning to show improved footwork around the basket and is learning how to create scoring opportunities in the paint. While much of her game is still in the developmental stages, the flashes are easy to see. The combination of size, activity level, developing skill, and willingness to expand her game makes Young a prospect worth monitoring this Summer as she continues her basketball journey.     [player_tooltip player_id='1863406' first='Olivia' last='Cary'] was one of the most impressive young post players I saw at Brawl at the Palms. Her presence alone commanded respect in the paint and altered the way opponents approached the game. In fact, an opposing coach admitted that Cary's rim protection made his players hesitant to attack the basket. While her defensive impact stood out, she was also effective on the offensive end. Cary showed a soft shooting touch, knocked down mid-range shots with confidence, and finished efficiently around the rim. Her ability to influence the game on both ends of the floor made her a constant matchup problem and one of the standout performers of the event.       [player_tooltip player_id='1312287' first='Freda' last='Stamper'] was one of the more intriguing prospects I saw during the spring. What immediately stood out was her combination of length, athleticism, and nonstop motor. She ran the floor well, attacked the rim aggressively, and played with a level of toughness that consistently impacted the game. Defensively, she was outstanding. Her length allowed her to defend in space, contest passes, and create deflections that disrupted opposing offenses. She played hard on every possession, competed for loose balls, and was never afraid of contact. On the glass, she was active and aggressive, using her athleticism to pursue rebounds outside of her area.     [player_tooltip player_id='1851336' first='Cam' last='Dixon'] was a strong interior presence for [program_tooltip program_id='931970' first='Duval' last='Elite'] and consistently made her impact felt around the basket. She ran the floor well, played with energy, and competed on every possession. Dixon did a good job establishing position in the paint, battling for rebounds, and using her physicality to create advantages inside. She was effective at drawing fouls, finishing through contact, and providing a steady presence on the glass. Her willingness to do the tough work and compete in the paint made her a valuable contributor on both ends of the floor.     [player_tooltip player_id='1863409' first='Tiana' last='Tisme'] was very impressive in the one viewing I had this spring. What stood out most was how well she embraced and excelled in her role as the interior stopper. She never tried to do too much, instead playing within the flow of the game and making a positive impact whenever she was on the floor. Her defensive effort was especially noteworthy, as she consistently worked hard, stayed active, and helped her team on that end of the court. The fact that Tisme is only heading into the eighth grade makes her performance even more impressive. She ran the floor well, played with good energy, and finished effectively around the basket when opportunities presented themselves. While her game is still developing, she already shows a strong understanding of how to contribute and affect winning. With her work ethic, defensive mindset, and ability to play within a team concept, she is certainly a young prospect who will carry on the tradition in the middle left by her former teammate Nalah Smith.     [player_tooltip player_id='1866111' first='Ezariah' last='Clark'] has good size and athleticism and showed the ability to attack from the perimeter. She plays a physical brand of basketball but remains under control, which allows her to be effective on both ends of the floor. Clark displayed good hands and footwork throughout the game and consistently found ways to get involved in the action. Her combination of size, athletic ability, and willingness to compete makes her an intriguing prospect with upside as she continues to develop her overall game.

The 2030 through 2031 classes continue to produce intriguing young talent, and several forwards made positive impressions during the spring evaluation period. Whether through size, rebounding, defensive effort, athleticism, or flashes of offensive skill, these young players showed traits that stood out. While still early in their development, they demonstrated the potential and competitiveness that will make them key contributors for the summer league, the summer live period, and next year's regular season.