Region 5-2A Offseason Radar Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back-to-school shopping is here, and that signals that the school basketball season is not too far away. With that, here are five players in Region 5-2A to watch out for in the upcoming 2026-2027 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1248850"],"_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-6a6bd63a65143"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lizzie Keele, in her sophomore season, showed that she was a high-level 3-point specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keele is a shooter on the perimeter that teams cannot leave unguarded. She had multiple games last season with three or more makes from distance. This included a game against Huntland High School where she made six 3-pointers. Keele scores off catch-and-shoot actions most of the time, but is capable of creating off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keele, after the catch, has good initial speed that can create separation. That speed paired with a good pump fake helps her get open midrange jumpers on occasion. Keele is also a good overall wing defender. Last season she averaged over three deflections a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821999"],"_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-6a6bd63a6518b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alyssa White is an outstanding interior scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White, in her junior season, stood out with her post scoring ability. She has a good knack of knowing when to initiate a post-up and is good at executing them. In these siituations here nimbleness at 6'1" is showcased. She is not slow from going to having her back to the basket to turning towards the bucket for a layup. She has quick half spins that often leave defenders in the dust.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These scoring chances are maximized with White's ability to half-spin quickly to her left side or right to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1039473"],"_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-6a6bd63a651c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alexa Crosby, in her freshman season, showed she is an insanely good perimeter shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crosby has quick movements on offense. This, with her knowledge of where to be offensively, makes her an elite off-the-ball mover. With that off the ball movemnet she gets open routinely. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She had multiple outings last season with four or more made 3-pointers, including a game against Smith County where she had five made 3-pointers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crosby, also with shooting being her primary skill, can make shots from well beyond the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909030"],"_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-6a6bd63a651f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ava Floyd is an offensive dynamo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Floyd can take over games with her scoring. She has a 3-point shot that can catch fire, and her quick dribbling skills also open up an array of paths for her to score. She can dribble into shots and score effectively at all three levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Floyd also has good speed driving downhill. She is still able to snap dribble combinations going vertical and finds open gaps horizontal beside her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1239771"],"_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-6a6bd63a6522c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tess Long is an outstanding guard defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best parts about Long's game that will make her a great player again in her junior season is her ability to take away space. Long, instead of backing away from her defensive assignment, often plays up on them. This gives her assignment less room to operate, which she uses as an advantage and sometimes can create steals because of this playstyle </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a lot of high school players, they are unable to play that way because they do not have the right discipline or lateral foot speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->