Athens Christian/Commerce Scrimmage Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athens Christian won a state title in GIAA last season, but with the departure of their top three scorers (all of whom are playing college basketball) a lot of production needed to be replaced. [player_tooltip player_id='1696749' first='Scarlett' last='Mercado'] did everything she could to keep the scrimmage close, but the young, deep, and very talented Commerce team was too much. The starters sat the fourth quarter for the Lady Tigers after pushing the lead near 20 points. Niyah Daniels proved her rapid rise in the rankings was more than justified and gave a preview of what her sophomore season should look like. Daniels is an unselfish star and her teammates fed off her interior play on offense. This team has a chance to go a long way in the AA state playoffs come February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648194"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed4368c46e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Niya started out the game asserting her dominance in the post for Commerce. Two plays out of the first 6-7 possessions saw Daniels score on baseline out-of-bounds plays. Somehow with multiple defenders draped on her she was able to go up above the crowd and rip passes out of the air, before taking one dribble to get around the defender, then elevating and finishing smoothly over them. Niya used her superior athleticism to blow by smaller defenders on the wing and then slashing her way to the basket and finishing off the glass. I would guess she finished the game with over 16 points and ten rebounds. If she continues on this pace, then she will be in the top 10, probably higher, the next time the rankings are updated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1757104"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed4368c4785"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rucker caught my attention in February at the Region Tournament and did again tonight. At over six feet tall with an impressive wingspan, Rucker plays with a huge motor. That effort and energy saw her the recipient of uncontested layups from out-sprinting the other nine players on the break. When Ciara got the basketball around the rim she wasted no time exploding high off the ground and finishing quickly. Rucker was very active rebounding the basketball for Commerce as well and made a big impact on the defensive end of the floor. I saw a lot of potential in this kid a year ago and it looks like she has worked hard to continue to improve. She could be the "X-Factor" for the Lady Tigers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1993099"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed4368c4803"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waters maybe known more for her prowess on the soccer field, but the athleticism, anticipation ability, and toughness definitely translate over from the pitch. Waters is a strong kid with good size for a young wing player. Her speed and leaping ability are impossible to miss on the court as well. Waters shoots the ball very well from deep and did a nice job sprinting out on the break and finishing at the rim. On one play when the double team came to Daniels, she immediately looked for and found Mary on the wing who buried a long three with an impressively quick release. Waters has a lot of upside and can be a big factor for this team on both ends of the court in one of the most competitive regions in the state. I am not sure she knows how good she is it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1711531"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed4368c4878"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson was instant energy and had a huge impact for Commerce coming off the bench in the first quarter. She is one of the more underrated players in her class and I just moved her up. She showed exactly why when she entered the game. Jackson beat everyone else on the court to loose balls and long rebounds with her rare quickness and great effort. When she got the basketball, Kenyanna was a blur speeding by nearly everyone else on the court pushing the ball on the break. She is one of the rare athletes who is both a basketball player and also a cheerleader. I believe her training in that sport may explain why she is more athletic than probably 99% of players in Georgia. Twice in the game she kept over multiple six-footers and grabbed the basketball out of the air. One play ended with a putback after and offensive rebound in traffic. She also knocked down a tough corner three for Coach Palmer and the Lady Tigers. Could be a very big year for Jackson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1696749"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aed4368c48ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mercado finished the game with over 20 points, after being on fire from three and basically unguardable driving the ball to the basket in the first half. After the first two quarters, Scarlett had scored from three multiple times, from inside the three point line multiple times, and was perfect from the free throw line. She had 16 points entering the break after carving the defense of Commerce up for 16 minutes. Mercado has been in the United States for over a year, but still has had a big presence with the Filipino 18U international team, where she recently competed at the U18 Asia Cup. She has a chance to put up some monster number scoring the basketball in her final high school season after averaging over ten assists per game a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->