Hudl Classic – Top Underclassmen
The Hudl Classic featured three great matchups on January 11th. Loganville and Flowery Branch in game one, Cherokee and Grayson in game two, and the host school Archer and Brookwood went head to head in the third and final game…
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Continue ReadingThe Hudl Classic featured three great matchups on January 11th. Loganville and Flowery Branch in game one, Cherokee and Grayson in game two, and the host school Archer and Brookwood went head to head in the third and final game due to severe weather. With a combined record of 78-42 between those teams, there was sure to be some good basketball.
We talked about Taniya McGowan in an earlier event write-up on the Best Overall Performers, but there were several young players getting action. Here are the top underclassmen performers.
The Lady Falcons’ guard Bella Brick.Bella Brick | 5’5 | G | Flowery Branch | 2023
This was my second chance to see Brick play. Both times she was competing against very good teams and she was consistent. She is a shooter with good mechanics and a quick trigger. I was just as impressed with her as last time because she does a good job of getting to her spots. She moves well without the ball and can knock down three to four three-point field goals each time she hits the floor. She also has a good awareness of how to attack aggressive closeouts and get to in the lane which helps her mix up her scoring.
Kriews at the foul line.Shaina Kriews | 5’6 | G | Flowery Branch | 2023
A young guard from Flowery Branch, Kriews has upperclassmen feel for the game. She has good ball-handling that is sure to continue to improve. She can score in multiple ways but prefers to get to the rim in most cases. She has a good jump shot and can knock down the mid-range or extend to behind the arc. She is a good defender that takes pride in getting stops. Head Coach Courtney Newton-Gonzalez could have a special backcourt with Kriews and Brick getting a lot of early experience in varsity action.
Griffith (#12 in white) with an intense look on defense.Lilly Griffith | 5’7 | G | Cherokee | 2022
Griffith is playing on a very talented and well-coached team at Cherokee High. She got the start in her matchup against Grayson and did well contributing to the game. Her best offensive attribute is her catch and shoot three which she knocks down consistently enough to help space the floor. She is very good on defense as well. She does a good job of keeping the player she is guarding against from getting easy baskets. I expect that she will continue to get better, especially in a winning program like Cherokee.
Kemp is growing in her role at Grayson.Tylia Kemp | 5’8 | W | Grayson | 2022
Kemp is a bigger guard with toughness to match. I had seen her earlier this season and it’s evident that her coaches are developing trust in her because her minutes have increased a lot. In both games that I have had a chance to see her play, she was aggressive in the painted area. She uses her size to muscle her way to the rim and finishes strong layups against smaller guards. She is a decent rebounder and I expect she will be even better as she continues to get stronger. She also showed some confidence in shooting beyond the arc which I had not seen from her before. She has a good-looking shooting form.
Niles, courtesy of Gwinnett Daily Post.Shannon Niles | 5’6 | PG | Brookwood | 2022
Niles is growing into a good game manager. Her speed and ball-handling make her a good compliment in the Lady Broncos backcourt. She has a developing offensive game but is best driving the ball for layups. I believe that as she continues to learn how to play at different paces she will become a tougher player to guard. She could become a very shifty player. Her passing is pretty good, and she is a very good on-ball defender.
Bryant, courtesy of the Gwinnett Daily Post.Ashanti Bryant | 5’7 | G | Archer | 2023
Bryant is a young guard on a very young Archer team. She has had some big games this season but stays consistent with what she brings to the floor. She is getting a lot of varsity experience as a freshman this year where she is expected to bring strong aggressive defense. She has a motor which is a skill that cannot be taught. She surprised me with how well she rebounds because she reads where the missed shot is going to fall. I expect that her offensive game is going to continue to grow but she is already able to add 6-10 points every game with strong layups.