Jefferson vs Athens Academy Scrimmage Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams both have a chance to make a deep run in their respective classifications in the state tournament this year. Athens Academy has a very accomplished senior class who want to go out with a bang, while Jefferson has a talented young nucleus that definitely has the ability to make some noise in February. One player for Athens Academy looked the best I have ever seen them play and a freshman for Jefferson was outstanding my first time seeing her play. I will be back to see both of these two teams in the next couple of months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1263834"],"_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-6aec9e36656ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elle was a big reason I made the trip to Athens. After a very impressive Summer with Jefferson in June and travel ball in July, Johnson earned a big move up the rankings recently for the 2029 class. Her stellar play carried over in the scrimmage especially on the defensive end, where Johnson swatted multiple balls out of bounds and finished with at least five blocks on the night. Offensively, Elle did a great job establishing post position and calling for the ball. When the ball found her (not nearly enough), she was quick and decisive attacking the basket. Johnson had a very nice up-and-under move on one play before finishing off the glass going right. Towards the end go the game she converted a huge one-play that helped seal the victory for Jefferson. Stats were not available, but she was very efficient scoring, did a good job rebounding the ball, and was a consistent rim protector the entire contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876801"],"_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-6aec9e3665750"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Law looked like she has been working hard in the weight room and on her conditioning heading into her senior year. The work paid off and allowed Karlee to play a lot more on the perimeter than I am used to seeing from her. She did a nice job throughout the game helping the young and talented [player_tooltip player_id='1992851' first='Jada' last='Wilhite'] with the ball-handling duties and really impressed me sprinting out in transition and finishing on the break. Law is noticeably quicker and she took advantage of that breaking defenders down off the dribble and scoring on multiple trips down the floor. Law has put together a very solid three years at Jefferson and looks like she saved the best year for her last. She currently has offers to play in college from Central Penn, Berkeley College, Penn State-Hazleton, Oak Hills Christian, and most recently the in-state Piedmont Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1992851"],"_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-6aec9e36657a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Just when I think the 2030 class in Georgia cannot possibly get better and deeper, I go watch Jefferson and Jada was one of the very best players on the floor. The command and poise the young point guard has already is quite impressive and she has the talent with the basketball to match. Wilhite kept the ball tight and low while running the show for Jefferson, everyone once in a while Jada would put together a 1-2 dribbling combination and then be gone in a quick burst driving towards the basket. She was very impressive distributing the basketball to her teammates and equally good putting the ball in the basket. Jada hit at least one three in the game as well and looked very smooth shooting from the perimeter. She will be added to the Watchlist as soon as I post this article. I am very much looking forward to watching Jada play again, for the second time in a couple of weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743568"],"_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-6aec9e3665837"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Millie's ability to shoot the basketball from outside was on full display on Wednesday night at the Spartan Center. Pugmire buried three point shots from both corners in big moments for Athens Academy. The first coming with a couple of seconds left in the first quarter on a baseline out-of-bounds play where she cut from the top of the key to the corner. The other came late in the fourth quarter of a closely contested matchup when her team needed points. It was a tough shot where she didn't have a lot of time or space, so her release was very quick. There are not many point guards in the senior class that I would rather have running my team in Georgia. Whatever college program lands her will be glad that they did.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743559"],"_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-6aec9e366588a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kendall has a knack for converting very tough shots, something I have seen her do the last few years at Athens Academy. Lawson has cat-like quickness and agility with the basketball and she showed those gifts a couple of times on handling the basketball on the break. The first came after a nice ball-handling combination and a nice Euro step when Lawson hit a tough floater in the lane. Another came in transition where Kendall caught the ball with nowhere to go, surrounded by defenders. She, once again, somehow got off a floater and converted it in traffic. Her perimeter shooting was a good as it has always been. Lawson recently received an offer from in-state Shorter University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743534"],"_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-6aec9e36658d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chloe almost brought Athens Academy back for the comeback win with her effort on the defensive end of the court which resulted in two transition baskets late in the game. Twice in a couple of minutes (maybe less) Chloe jumped into the passing lane tipping and deflecting passes and then capitalizing on the other end. Chloe converted a tough finish for the And-1 over a defender and on the other end one play before flying out of bounds and into the goal support. On another Bell sprinted ahead of the pack and neatly laid the ball up and off the glass with a left-handed finger roll. Chloe has good size, athleticism, and a lot of skills, particularly shooting the basketball from the perimeter. Overall, I thought she had a very solid performance in the first competition of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743573"],"_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-6aec9e3665925"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I tip my cap and give a ton of credit to Swann for going at [player_tooltip player_id='1263834' first='Elle' last='Johnson'] the entire night. The two players had a heated competition going on in the game, exchanging baskets and pleasantries with one another for a lot of the scrimmage. Swann was a really good role player last year, especially in the region tournament, for the Lady Spartans. She looked like a completely different player last night scoring the ball multiple times and also having a big presence rebounding the basketball. There were no stats available, but if I had to guess I would think Sally had 10-12 points and 8-10 rebounds, a very impressive stat line against the younger, taller Johnson. If Swann can give Athens Academy a consistent presence in the paint, then this team may find itself back in the Final Four at season's end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->