Day 2 Standouts at Play 4 Kay Shootout (Lakeland, FL) – Part One

A great tournament for a even better cause took place this weekend in and around Tampa, FL. Here is a quote directly from the Kay Yow website: “<em>It’s a simple idea — take a game in your schedule and use it to fundraise for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The vision of Play4Kay came directly from Coach Kay Yow. Through Play4Kay, she saw a way to bring communities together and honor cancer warriors in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women.  As Play4Kay evolved, the mechanisms for fundraising have expanded and so have the initiatives. Schools nationwide are finding ways to “Play4Kay” on and off the basketball court.”</em> Here are my standouts from the first half of the games on Saturday at Lake Gibson High School: [player_tooltip player_id="91512" first="Kassidy" last="Jones"] <strong>- Santa Fe Catholic - 2021 Mercer Commit</strong> This game was the most aggressive I've seen Kassidy play, and that's when I think she plays her best basketball. She took the ball to the rim, and hit some big shots on good looks. Kassidy did a good job of getting her teammates involved and crashing the boards. She finished with 23 points (9 for 10 from FT line) in the tough loss to Eustis. [player_tooltip player_id="151169" first="Cerina" last="Rolle"] - <strong>Eustis - 2022 Uncommitted</strong> Cerina won player of the game in this one when she made the game-winning bucket on a tough drive to the hoop with under 10 seconds to go. She had 19 points in the big win, and she was all over the court and involved in every play. She's a fun player to watch who is really tough to stop from 15 feet and in with her crafty moves and finishes in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id="91560" first="Paris" last="Gaines"] - <strong>Jones - 2022 Uncommitted</strong> This was the most impressive game I've seen from Paris as it came against one of the best teams in the county with some solid bigs. Paris had a monster double-double with 22 points (9 for 17 from the field), 14 boards, and 4 blocks in an eight point loss to Montverde. The lefty made some big shots from all over the floor, but her shot selection still leaves a little to be desired. The combination of her frame, skill, and pure will to score gives her a high ceiling. [player_tooltip player_id="219954" first="Fatima" last="Diakhate"] <strong>- Montverde - 2022 Uncommitted</strong> Fatima was very efficient against Jones with 10 points (5 for 9) and six rebounds. Her presence alone caused a lot of shot adjustments and poor looks for Jones. It's clear that she's starting to grow as a player with high quality teammates and coaches. You just can't teach the size she has. [player_tooltip player_id="91494" first="Andrea" last="Daley"] <strong>- Miami Country Day - 2021 George Washington Commit</strong> Andrea was once against the most athletic player in the gym. She is so hard to stop going to the rim with her acrobatic finishes and ability to rise above anyone. Andrea had 21 points in a blowout win over Tampa Bay Tech. Her length and athleticism will translate well to the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="217667" first="Kayla" last="Nelms"] <strong>- Miami Country Day - 2024 Uncommitted</strong> I knew Kayla was a special player when I saw her last year, but she's got even better with more playing time this season on a young squad. She's at least 6 foot tall with a strong body, and she consistently hit shots from outside (four 3's) on Saturday. The upside is massive here for someone with that amount of skill and smooth play-making ability at such a young age. [player_tooltip player_id="221653" first="Jada" last="Johnson"] <strong>- Miami Country Day - 2025 Uncommitted</strong> This was my first time watching Jada play since she is only an 8th grader. The girl can shoot! She hit six 3's against an inexperienced TBT backcourt. She'll be an interesting prospect to watch as she grows and progresses her game. Jada definitely didn't look like an 8th grader out there. [player_tooltip player_id="91577" first="Amiya" last="Evans"] <strong>- Tampa Bay Tech - 2022 Uncommitted</strong> After a rough game on Friday, Amiya bounced back with a strong performance against MCDS. She ended with 18 points and is always all over the glass on both ends. There isn't much you can do to stop her around the rim with her height, strength, and footwork.