PGH Roll Tide Rumble: 16U Standouts from Day One

It has been more than a month since a grand total of 18 teams combined from the public and private school ranks (14 public, four private) concluded their respective seasons across Alabama having claimed state hardware.    With the AHSAA and AISA seasons in the rear-view mirror, the basketball calendar did not stop for many premier talents across the area – and region. It simply shifted from the high school season to the travel season – including the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit for some.    Its southeastern-based Triumph Region made its triumphant return in 2025 with the Roll Tide Rumble being the first of three events to emanate over the next month and a half. Here is a look at the 16U notables that caught our attention from the first day of play.     – A plentiful list of standouts keyed what was a dominant performance by Team Elite Hubbard 16U 3SSB over SC Eagles UA Rise 16U. One of those was Davis who is listed at 5-foot-8. Davis is also one of two from 5A Milton on this season's Team Elite Hubbard 16U 3SSB roster. Along with the reliability and efficiency Davis brings as a scorer, she gets the job done on the defensive end as well with blocked shots. Her Eagles had a banner season in 2024-25 as they compiled a 24-7 record and made a deep run in the previous year's 5A postseason.      Johnson is in search of more great things on the travel realm after she recently finished a 2024-25 season with 4A Northview that saw the 4A Titans finish with a record of 21-10 and advance to the third round of the state tournament. The 5-foot-9 standout is the only representative from Northview on the travel team roster. In addition to her ability to put crooked numbers up on the scoreboard, Johnson is also a gifted rebounder and make things happen on the defensive end of the floor with steals. In late 2023, Johnson landed an offer from Division I North Carolina A&T.     As someone who recently completed her freshman season at 6A Wheeler, Landrew not only is playing up in class but has proven that she deserves to be on the court against more experienced competition. One can coach talent but one cannot coach height and Landrew has plenty of it as she is listed at 5-foot-11. She not only is one of the taller members of this season's Team Elite Hubbard 16U 3SSB team, Landrew is one of two from Wheeler on said assembling. Defensively, she creates additional possession for her team with the steals she collects. Landrew is also gifted at getting out in transition and can provide plenty of offense for her team as well – including from 3-point range.      James is the other representative from 6A Wheeler on Team Elite Hubbard 16U 3SSB. The Wildcats connection had a great start to this past weekend's Roll Tide Rumble. Listed at 5-foot-8, she spearheaded what was an offensive onslaught for her team that its early adversary in SC Eagles UA Rise 16U had no answers for. This included what James was able to get accomplished from close range to the basket. James is a combo guard that can give a team productive minutes as either a one or a two. Getting out in transition, connecting on 3-pointers and collecting steals are among the many strong elements to her game.      Bolden can be golden for any team she suits up for. She had a stellar campaign last season with the 7A Bulldogs of Brandon. She may be one of the taller participants on her travel team but is listed as a shooting guard. The entirety of her offensive production in The SisterHood Lady Lions 16U Bolden's victory over Team Elire Hubbard 16U Josh occurred in relatively close proximity to the rim but she can launch 3-pointers. The 5-foot-10 standout can also put together defensive performances of many players with her height – including rejecting shots alongside collecting steals.      The 2027 connection of Alayah and Aaliyah was an important one for The SisterHood Lady Lions 16U Bolden as it would put together a dominant victory over Team Elite Hubbard 16U Josh on the first day of the Roll Tide Rumble. Taylor primarily operates as a two guard but can also play point. As a two, one would expect her to be an effective 3-point shooter – and she is. This is complimented by her willingness to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Corralling steals, efficient running of the floor and transition plays are other areas of her game that she excels in.      At times the height may be there but the talent may not match it. That is not an issue for this talented 6-foot-2 rising star from the western portions of Mississippi as both the talent and height are present. That height advantage enables her to do plenty of work in converting on high-percentage point opportunities near the basket. Jones will also grab plenty of rebounds and will come out on the winning end of many battles on the boards. Her play was a massive catalyst as to why Terry concluded the 2024-25 season with a record of 20-8. Both scoring and rebounding were key factors in The SisterHood Lady Lions 16U Bolden earning an emphatic win over Team Elite Hubbard 16U Josh.     Ingram's Team Elite Hubbard 16U Josh squad was on the receiving end of a 67-37 defeat in its get-together with The SisterHood Lady Lions 16U Bolden. Ingram was the late bright spot in a game her team collectively would probably rather forget about. She showcased what she can get accomplished from behind the 3-point line as she connected on three of her tries from behind the arc. Ingram also did not have a single foul called against her in that game. Prep Girls Hoops is familiar with Ingram as she was one of our freshman GameChangers from two years ago at the Alabama Top 250 Expo at 6A Spain Park HS.      Team Elite Hubbard 16U Josh has no problems giving gifted freshman standouts the opportunity to punch above their weight. Shepard is playing up in class. She may have been a freshman this past season with 6A Denmark, but she does not play like it. A key element of what she does is her 3-point shooting. Shepard connected on four of her 3-point tries in the game with The SisterHood Lady Lions 16U Bolden. Three of those triples occurred in the first half. Denmark was founded only a few years ago in 2018 and last season was the first time its girls basketball team reached 14 wins for a season.      With Buckhorn HS as her academic and athletic home, McCulley did not have far to go to arrive at the Roll Tide Rumble on Saturday. Her [program_tooltip program_id='713704' first='Alabama' last='Elite'] team had a rough go of things against a tough out in Team Elite Hubbard 16U 3SSB but she proved to be that bright spot so often found when teams have tough games. McCulley is not shy about taking 3-pointers – and why should she be when one has the long range accuracy she possesses. McCulley also has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line. She can play as either a one or a two guard. McCulley helped her Bucks to a 17-10 record this past season.      We have reached that point on the basketball calendar where 2027s are beginning the slow and steady transition from sophomore status to junior status. Some are of average height – and others stand at 6-foot-2 which is the case with Stevens. She tallied 10 points en route to Mississippi Jazz Elite's first win of Roll Tide Rumble – a 45-19 victory to dispatch SC Eagles UA Rise 16U. When one is that height, one would expect she would be effective in making plays close to the basket. That she certainly is. Stevens is also a skilled runner of the floor as well as a rebounder.     Complimenting the 10 points of Stevens were nine points that were delivered by the resident star point guard of Madison Ridgeland Academy. A centerpiece of what she gets accomplished is her 3-point shooting. Anderson found success with her long range shot in the emphatic win over SC Eagles UA Rise 16U. Her defense enables her to collect steals and create additional possessions for her team. Another strong point to her skillset is what she can do when she gets out in transition. Anderson was another key factor as to why Madison-Ridgeland Academy put a bow on its 2024-25 after compiling 29 wins in 37 tries.

It has been more than a month since a grand total of 18 teams combined from the public and private school ranks (14 public, four private) concluded their respective seasons across Alabama having claimed state hardware.