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The UPPER Hand

The UPPER Hand
Mindy McCarthy
Mindy McCarthy December 30, 2025 @ 08:14 PM
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In this article:

Kaidyn Atkinson
Kaidyn Atkinson 6'1" | SF | 2027
NC
Casey Smith
Casey Smith 6'0" | PF | 2026
NC
Olivia Yancey
Olivia Yancey 5'8" | CG | 2027
NC
Misa Garris
Misa Garris 5'5" | CG | 2026
NC
Tia Bryant
Tia Bryant 6'0" | SF | 2026
NC
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to catch the last day of Phenom Hoops Mike Gminski Classic with a matchup between Queens Grant and NC Good Better Best.  Both teams have several players who are on colleges radar, so let's start with the upperclassmen at the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["654835"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695486c739a0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='654835' first='Misa' last='Garris'] is patient with the ball showing off her handles, creating space, and knocking down her shot.  She followed shots grabbing rebounds, too, and she had a nice full court bounce pass hitting her teammate in between defenders as they were pushing the pace the other direction.  She handled pressure all the way up the court capitalizing on the open lane that she created.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1219555"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695486c739ae8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1219555' first='Casey' last='Smith'] made an old fashioned three point play battling on the block, and she was grabbing rebounds on both ends of the court.  She did well making adjustments on defense guarding the block.  She used her length to block shots in the paint.  She saw some good court vision sliding out of the way creating an open lane for her teammate attacking the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["509520"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695486c739b70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='509520' first='Tia' last='Bryant'] was using her length to deflect passes.  She did well battling on the block, and she showed off her range expanding the floor knocking down her shot from deep.  She attacked the basket even knowing she was going to make the dish as her opponents crashed around her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240296"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695486c739beb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1240296' first='Kaidyn' last='Atkinson'] was going to work on the block battling for rebounds and using her footwork to get into position to score some points.  She runs the floor well being ready for the pass in transition.  She was a true hustler going after every loose possession and using her strength to maintain her possessions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["772513"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-695486c739c71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='772513' first='Olivia' last='Yancey'] is tough handling the ball attacking the basket from the top of the key and even going coast to coast off of defensive rebounds.  She's a ball hawk on defense running the top of the key defense well pushing her opponents into traps and directing her teammates where to go to be in the best position.  She showed off her range knocking down the ball from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->

I was able to catch the last day of Phenom Hoops Mike Gminski Classic with a matchup between Queens Grant and NC Good Better Best.  Both teams have several players who are on colleges radar, so let's start with the upperclassmen at the event.

Misa Garris

Misa Garris

NC
CG
HEIGHT 5'5"
POS CG
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Misa
Garris CG
Class
2026
Height
5'5"
HS
Queen's Grant
|
NC
The UPPER Hand
Misa Garris is patient with the ball showing off her handles, creating space, and knocking down her shot. ...
Written by Mindy McCarthy
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Misa Garris

State: North Carolina
School: Queen's Grant
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Casey Smith

Casey Smith

NC
PF
HEIGHT 6'0"
POS PF
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Casey
Smith PF
Class
2026
Height
6'0"
HS
Queen's Grant
|
NC
The UPPER Hand
Casey Smith made an old fashioned three point play battling on the block, and she was grabbing rebounds...
Written by Mindy McCarthy
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Casey Smith

State: North Carolina
School: Queen's Grant
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Tia Bryant

Tia Bryant

NC
SF
HEIGHT 6'0"
POS SF
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Tia
Bryant SF
Class
2026
Height
6'0"
HS
NC GBB
|
NC
The UPPER Hand
Tia Bryant was using her length to deflect passes.  She did well battling on the block, and she...
Written by Mindy McCarthy
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Tia Bryant

State: North Carolina
School: NC GBB
Club: Carolina All-Stars
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

Kaidyn Atkinson

Kaidyn Atkinson

NC
SF
HEIGHT 6'1"
POS SF
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Kaidyn
Atkinson SF
Class
2027
Height
6'1"
HS
NC GBB
|
NC
The UPPER Hand
Kaidyn Atkinson was going to work on the block battling for rebounds and using her footwork to get...
Written by Mindy McCarthy
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Kaidyn Atkinson

Instagram
State: North Carolina
School: NC GBB
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Olivia Yancey

Olivia Yancey

NC
CG
HEIGHT 5'8"
POS CG
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Olivia
Yancey CG
Class
2027
Height
5'8"
HS
NC GBB
|
NC
The UPPER Hand
Olivia Yancey is tough handling the ball attacking the basket from the top of the key and even...
Written by Mindy McCarthy
Read more at PrepGirlsHoops.com
Prep Girls Hoops

Olivia Yancey

State: North Carolina
School: NC GBB
Club: Carolina All-Stars
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Prep Girls Hoops

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