AL State Finals Standout Performers: My 1st Time Seeing

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Once again, the Alabama State Finals had talent from each classification on display. Here are a few players who stood out who I was able to watch for the first time…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1210345,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Hadlee-Sanderson-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1210345" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Hadlee Sanderson</strong> (5'6/CG/'28/Brilliant)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Hadlee has really good versatility to her game, especially when it comes to her ability to score from multiple levels on the floor. She plays inside and out, runs the floor, has really good footwork, and is extremely crafty when finishing around the rim. Making winning plays, as well as hustle plays, is a common theme when it comes to her game. Being a freshman and playing at the level she played on the big stage shows a lot of promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1210347,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Leslie-Hames-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1210347" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1207014' first='Leslie' last='Hames']</strong> (5'11/F|C/'25/Decatur Heritage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Leslie is an interior force who saw her stock rise with her play at the Final Four. She is a really good finisher around the rim, as she can play in traffic and finish through contact. Leslie does a good job establishing post position and making herself a target to receive the ball in the post. As good as she is at making plays in the frontcourt, she showed her ability to rim and push, as she handles the ball well in the open floor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1210351,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Ansley-Shelton-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1210351" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ansley Shelton</strong> (5'7/PG/'27/Lauderdale County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Ansley is a young backcourt talent who thrives in the open floor. She is a heady PG who is developing very intriguing perimeter skills. She is a high-end decision-maker in tight quarters and in the open floor. Ansley does a good job getting her teammates involved as she is difficult to keep out of the paint, and when she gets paint touches, the defense is often at her mercy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1169194,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/PGH-Kaitlin-Mitchell-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1169194" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: St. James HS St. James Girls Program</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165218' first='Kaitlin' last='Mitchell']</strong> (5'9/CG/'28/Saint James)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Kaitlinmitchell_2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Kmitchell_2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kaitlin is one of the dynamic young prospects on this Saint James team who I would not bet against as the favorite for the next several years to win the blue map. She is really good at slashing her way to the cup and creating offense off the bounce for herself and her teammates, which really impressed me with her game. There were some youthful moments at times, which is to be expected, but if she continues on the trajectory that she is on, she will be highly sought after in the coming years.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1210352,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/PGH-Molly-Weaver-C.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1210352" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike, Average Joe Sports / Deedra Pike</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Molly Weaver</strong> (5'3/PG/'25/Sylvania)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Molly is a small lead guard who is a true PG at heart, has a mature floor game, and a mature PG IQ. She is like a coach on the floor and has the keys to the team; as you can tell, she is in total control, orchestrating the offense. She keeps the offense fluid and understands how to get her teammates involved and get them the ball in places where they can be successful.  <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='981289' first='Jadin' last='Curry']</strong> (6'4/C/'27/T.R. Miller)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jadin has the size that intimidates most of her opponents. She is an inside presence that carves out space and makes it her own. She knows how to punish defenders with her size while still being able to show her agile footwork with her low-block moves. She does a really good job at overpowering defenders and getting what she wants in the paint and around the rim. She has a really good feel for the game from a frontcourt player's perspective, as seen by her ability to stay calm when doubled and being able to find open teammates as a good passer out of the post.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='512633' first='Chauncey' last='Dixon']</strong> (6'2/F|C/'25/McIntosh)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Chauncey has really good positional size and length and is a match-up nightmare on the low block. She showed early and often that she could alter shots and at least contest most of them at a high rate. She was one of the top interior scorers throughout the week. Versatility was also seen in her game as she showed her ability to initiate the offense and create for her teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Gabrielle Brown</strong> (5'8/CG/'28/Abbeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Gabrielle is a freshman who did not seem bothered by the big stage's bright lights. She can rally score the rock and showed her young scoring versatility. Even though some physical development is still needed, she showed a lot of promise with her ability to score from multiple levels and create offense off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->