Kickoff Classic: Sophomores Who Sparkled

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <strong>2029 </strong>class has plenty of players who are there or will be in the mix before it's all said and done, and I had a chance to catch some talented players who either elevated their status or left a lasting first impression. Footnote: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='974883' first='Dakari' last='Hunter']</strong> ain't back yet, but when she returns ...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1279320"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f3114"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cook brings so much energy on both<strong> </strong>ends, and like that Energizer bunny, she keeps going and going on both ends. Her powerful finishes off the dribble, her "stop and pop" jumper, as well as her<strong> "on the ball"</strong> defense, have always stood out <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/camille-cook/">see evaluations here</a></em></strong>, yet her court vison in transition has also shot up</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1999866"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f31ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis is solid and steady on the offensive end, and one of the biggest things I liked was her shot selection. She does a good job of creating and knocking down the midrange, plus she scored of fte dribble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1999867"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f3221"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gooden was more than serviceable and made some huge plays on both ends. Her defensive pressure in the set, as well as baseline-to-baseline, helped force some turnovers, and her court vision looked good</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1359765"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f3291"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Peterson gave me multiple looks as a freshman; <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/makinley-peterson/">see evaluations here</a></em></strong>, and one thing I'm always looking for is "<strong>on-the-court"</strong> progression. She passes the so-called <strong>"eye test,"</strong> yet a <strong>REAL EVALUATOR</strong> doesn't need<strong> 20/20</strong> vision to understand what she brings to the table, and seeing her developing into someone who can control games on either end is nice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1891548"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f3301"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hardy tore it up at the<strong> PGH Sophomore ID Camp<em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/avalon-hardy/"> see evaluations here</a>,</em></strong> and I love catching players in different settings. She did a good job rebounding on both ends, as well as taking the defender off the dribble to score using a deceptive first step</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1258484"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f3375"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hensle can flat-out shoot the ball and has shown it over the years <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/peyton-hensle/">see evaluations here</a></em></strong>. Watching her drop it from deep online during her team's deep run in the playoffs last season was a treat, but seeing her poise handling the ball under pressure, as well as her court vision improving across the board, were also pluses </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1999875"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f33e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jacobs was one of the many pleasant surprises at the event because of her smoothness handling of the ball and showing how heady she was with it while being pressured. Her court vision, as well as her defense, also looked good</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["915929"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f344f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mohammed showed so much promise at an early age, and let me promise this: she's on the verge of taking off <strong><em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kylie-mohammad/">see evaluations here</a></em></strong>. She started the game on a mission, and her "on the ball" pressure immediately created havoc, which led to turnovers. She also had quick hands for steals, but she also played the passing lane, saw the floor, and scored off the dribble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1217130"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af36763f34bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aaron is another player who passes that <strong>"eye test" <em><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/nala-aaron/">see evaluations her</a>e</em></strong>, but she's becoming more aggressive, going <strong>AFTA</strong> everything off the rim, on both ends, and seeing her coming from out of nowhere to block shots had me smiling . Her hands and footwork have improved, and so has her finishing stronger after contact </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->