Who to watch: Charlotte Flames 17U

Many people are anxiously awaiting the Grassroots season to be set and watch athletes get back to the sports that they love. Here are some players to watch out for when watching the Charlotte Flames 17U. Jael Hall | Concord First Assembly High | Point Guard 2021 Jael is someone who plays larger than her 5’7” frame. As a floor general, she is unstoppable in transition. Seeing her create turnovers almost guarantees a bucket for her or her teammates. Playing with defenders all around her does not slow her down from getting the score or finding her open teammate. Driving to the basket isn’t her only skill, though, as she has a beautiful stroke from behind the three point line. She will certainly thrive in a fast paced offense and one that knows how to turn defense into offensive points. Leah Barringer | Zebulon B. Vance | Guard 2021 Leah is a very athletic guard who knows how to shoot well from behind the arc. She has an explosive ability to get past any defender trying to guard her. As a defender herself, she is asked to guard the best offensive player showing her ability to prevent others from being productive on offense. Her skills go well beyond her guard duties as she typically finds herself grabbing rebounds for second chances or to end the possessions of opposing teams. After helping lead her team to the 4A State Championship this year, her confidence will only continue to grow as she steps up as a team leader. Kaylan Daniels | Concord First Assembly | Guard 2021 Kaylan is a leader on the court already. She is very quick with the ball and certainly knows how to penetrate the paint to create plays whether she is scoring them herself, or she is dishing them to her teammates to score some points. Her speed translates well to her defensive play as she is a lockdown defender contributing steals for her team as well as creating 5 second calls against opponents who have nowhere to go with the ball. Moving into her senior year will allow her to enhance her leadership abilities and become more aggressive with handling the ball. Reagan Dickens | Concord First Assembly | Forward 2021 Reagan has some great height to her as someone moving into her senior year of high school. She may be listed as a forward with her high school team, but she is someone who could potentially play all five positions on the court. She has a great outside shot, and she is always ready to shoot. She has a smoothness with the ball that helps her control it off a fast break from her own rebound to making great post moves inside to score against big defenders. She already shows a high basketball IQ that will translate well to the next level. Aliciah Fields | Northwest Cabarrus High | Forward 2021 Aliciah is built to play basketball with her height, length, and strength that is constantly on display in each game. She can compete against any other forward that she is playing against, but she also has the quickness and control of a guard. She continues to do well guarding players in all positions. In the paint, she rebounds at a high level and is known for her shot blocking skills. As she continues to grow as a player and leader, she is getting more consistent with her three point shooting, and she is already dominant when guarding the perimeter. Bethel Ekperigha | Victory Christian Center | Guard 2022 Bethel is a very talented guard who is an absolute ball hawk on defense. Her ability to handle the ball well and use her high basketball IQ allows her to create turnovers for her team constantly. She is a speedy guard that will get lost in a fast break scoring off of her own steal. In addition to her ability to penetrate the paint, she has a great midrange shot. Her ability to play with older girls will allow her to continue to grow as a leader and game controller. Amaya Glenn | Carmel Christian | Guard 2023 Amaya is a fun guard to watch with her ability to zig zag in between defenders who seem to lose their feet around her. She has a great shot outside and has an amazing ability to create plays and find her open teammate to get everyone involved. She is a tenacious defender who seems to always be quicker than her opponent. Additionally, she seems to be one of the most conditioned players on the court when she plays even though she is consistently playing against older players. As she continues her high school career, she will only get quicker and more dynamic with her skills and abilities.