Coliseum League Players to Watch For

David Yapkowitz

June 18, 2020 @ 06:21 PM

Summer basketball in Southern California has largely been put on hold for the time being, but there are still players out there to keep an eye on. Should the high school basketball regular season get the green-light to go ahead in the winter, these are some players from the City Section Coliseum League to watch out for. 1. [player_tooltip player_id="160297" first="Ameerah" last="Ali"] – Crenshaw 2021 Ali is a very good defensive player on the perimeter. She can stick with the player she’s guarding and either force them into a difficult shot/pass or force them to pick up their dribble. She keeps her arms high and moves her feet well. Picks up ball at midcourt and reads the passing lanes. She can score too, put up around 18 points per game this season. Can handle the ball and shoot off the dribble. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="164767" first="Dikara" last="Franklin"] – King/Drew 2022 Franklin is small, even for guard standards, but she more than makes up for it with her tenacious play. She is very quick in transition and can get to the rim and finish over bigger defenders. She is a strong ball-handler who starts the fast break. Can blow past her defenders. Overall a tough player with a lot of heart. 3. Payton Walk – Crenshaw 2022 An incoming junior, Walk figures to play an increased role on the Wildcats next season with the departure of the seniors. She was a solid player as a sophomore, helping to stabilize the frontcourt. She is a good rebounder who averaged more rebounds (7.0) than points (5.2). She’s also a capable defensive rim protector in the paint. Developing big who can capitalize on more playing time. 4. Payshance Walk – Crenshaw 2022 Payton’s twin sister, Payshance brings a different sort of skill-set to the table. She is more of a stretch big who is able to draw the defense out to the perimeter. She is a solid three-point shooter who spots up well. One of the better shooters on the Wildcats. She is a decent defender who can sometimes guard multiple positions. She can body up in the paint and at times, cover wings on the perimeter.