The China Spring Girls Team is going to be a problem in the fall

Hmmm, how do I say this? For the most part, I am not a fan of Hot Hoops summer league basketball because it's just not competitive on either the girls' or boys' side. When you see and hear teams scoring 100-plus points to 20, I really don't understand how that benefits either team. Secondly, as a scout, you are not going to be watching and evaluating quality basketball. For the most part, it's like watching paint dry.   However, I still support the kids on my AAU teams playing summer league basketball, and here is why. Middle and High School Basketball has a completely different feel from AAU basketball. School ball offers a unique level of camaraderie, smiles, and parental fellowship that you just don't see much in AAU basketball.   Despite all of my angst about summer basketball, yesterday was different. All four teams that I watched were competitive, and the girls were, for the most part, highly driven athletes.   Rant over. Now let's get into the evaluation and my overall thoughts on the China Spring Varsity Team. This team is LOADED with talent. If they can continue to build that team chemistry on and off the court, they are going to be incredibly tough to deal with. My first impression of the team is good. What I noticed is that although this is only the third game they have officially played together, everyone kind of fell into their roles. Sure, there were some hiccups here and there, but it wasn't overwhelming at all, and they really looked like a team on the court.   Full disclosure: I have seen the growth and evolution of the games of 3 of the 6 student-athletes below since the 7th grade.  The student-athletes are YG 2028 and YG 2029.    Today, I am going to celebrate the EXCELLENCE of [player_tooltip player_id='901767' first='Jai' last='Johnson'] and focus on what she actually brings to the game of basketball beyond her athleticism. First, Jai will play at the collegiate level. She already possesses the 5'10" frame, ideal length, and complete skill set required to compete at that high level.   And the impressive thing is that she is coachable and consistently putting in the work. She is a true three-level scorer who can score from anywhere on the court inside of an offense, and she has the ability to go get a basket when the team needs it. While she has the rare versatility to play all five positions on the floor, she is easily at her most dangerous operating out on the wing. Her absolute best skill is attacking and finishing at the rim. She is an exciting player with a deep bag of moves, utilizing a variety of creative finishes to absorb contact and score through traffic.   The one important thing I have noticed about Jai is that her understanding of the game and basketball IQ have increased tremendously since the 7th grade. She understands and can SEE the game beyond the X's and Os. Defensively, she is a highly versatile on-ball defender who can guard multiple positions and press 94 feet without blinking. She collected steals and controlled both offensive and defensive rebounds with ease.   During the Hot Hoops game yesterday, everything that I just wrote above was on display.   Bottom line: [player_tooltip player_id='901767' first='Jai' last='Johnson'] is a high-IQ basketball player who can and will have an impact on the game.  She is the REAL DEAL and the complete package. Any college program looking for a high-IQ and hard-working basketball player needs to get her on their radar immediately.       First of all, [player_tooltip player_id='985912' first='Alexandra' last='Evans'] can absolutely play at the collegiate level given the right program fit. Her superpower is hitting the 3-point shot—she is an elite floor-spacer who demands defensive attention the second she crosses half-court.   However, her game has expanded tremendously since the 7th grade. She is no longer just a specialist; she can score from all three levels on the floor, and her defense has improved significantly over the years. She is solid and reliable on the defensive end. There are 3 things that stood out to me yesterday.  First, what truly makes her dangerous is her advanced basketball IQ, sharp court awareness, and elite floor vision. Offensively, she has a rare understanding of where her teammates are at all times and manipulates defenses to put her team in the best position to score.  Secondly, defensively, she understands when to gamble on steals and gets many deflections.  She can also rebound on both ends of the court.   Although I believe she is at her absolute best playing off the ball as a scoring threat, her ability to step up and run the point is really good. The third thing that jumped out at me yesterday was just how comfortable and poised she looked on the court. That level of comfort directly translated into positive production on both ends of the court.   Bottom line: [player_tooltip player_id='985912' first='Alexandra' last='Evans'] is a high-IQ basketball player with the natural ability to make a positive impact on both ends of the court.  It is my assessment that she can definitely play at the collegiate level, given the right program and basketball system.       [player_tooltip player_id='1311400' first='Karly' last='Bryan']:  Karly has improved significantly in all facets of her game since 7th grade. When I talked to her dad after the second game, I said to him directly that Karly has really improved; she has gotten good.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to witness all the hard work she puts in outside her team's practice, in the training sessions she led during yesterday's game.  Often, kids go to training and learn moves.  However, they don't know when to use them in games.  Karly is different.  She led her team with precision, making the right change-of-direction move at the right time by driving to the basket when needed or setting her teammates up.   Her superpower right now is that she is not afraid to drive to the basket and attack.  Karly can handle the defensive pressure and go right at you.  Defensively, she really picked up in the second game, drawing a 5-second call, getting a couple of steals, and forcing a couple of turnovers. Otherwise, just being a menace on defense.   Bottom line: Karly is a tough-nosed, relentless competitor who translates her hard work directly into winning on the court. I am excited for Karly, and I can't wait to watch her play this season.       I am excited for Tiana as I write this. When she fully recovers from her injury and gets into supreme basketball shape, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with; I am telling you the truth.   She is 6'1 and a TRUE post player who can play with her back to the basket, post up a defender, and score.  Her absolute superpower on the court is her sheer power and physical presence. She is completely unafraid to impose her will on an opposing defender. When she posts up, it's not a lot of razzle dazzle; nope, sheer power, and she is coming at you with authority.  Tiana does everything that a post player is supposed to do: score close to the basket and rebound on both ends of the court.   Bottom line: A true low-post scoring threat and physical dominance are hard to find in today's game. Once Tiana is back at 100% and healthy, watch out…the sky is the limit.  She is going to be an exciting player to watch in the fall, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing her play.       Jazzlyn   is a pure ball of energy on the court, and she is the exact type of high-energy player that every single team benefits from having on their team. Offensively, she put together several great drives to the basket yesterday. She is completely relentless with the ball in her hands, and she is unafraid to attack the paint, regardless of who is standing in front of her.   Her superpower is her high-level energy—she plays at a pace that simply wears opponents down and can boost her teammates. She matches that offensive aggression on the defensive end.  Bottom line: Energy is contagious, and Jazzlyn's relentless mindset can change the entire tempo of a game.  I look forward to seeing her play this fall.     Avery plays completely within herself and consistently delivers exactly what the team needs at the right time. She is a reliable two-way threat who can attack downhill, knock down the three-point shot, and plays solid defense. Her superpower is her poise and composure. Everything she does on the court appears measured, and she plays with a level of control that you rarely see in young guards.   Bottom line: True poise is an unteachable asset on the basketball court. Avery is a steady guard who contributes to the team's overall efficient play.  I am excited to see her play this season.

Hmmm, how do I say this? For the most part, I am not a fan of Hot Hoops summer league basketball because it's just not competitive on either the girls' or boys' side. When you see and hear teams scoring 100-plus points to 20, I really don't understand how that benefits either team. Secondly, as a scout, you are not going to be watching and evaluating quality basketball. For the most part, it's like watching paint dry.