Scouting Report: 17U – Tampa Thunder Team Candice Dupree
Michael Wholey
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Scouting Report: 17U – Tampa Thunder Team Candice Dupree
By Michael Wholey 7/19/21 2:00 PM EST
The travel season is in the home stretch with many teams heading out for their final five days on the road. We continue to check in with teams all around the state with an outlook on their season and a breakdown of some of their top players. This week we take a look at Tampa Thunder’s top 17U team, Tampa Thunder Team Candice Dupree.
Class of 2021
#12
Jordan Campbell
Jordan
Campbell
SG
IMG Academy | 2021
State
FL
– 5’10 Combo Guard (IMG Academy)
Campbell biggest asset is her motor! She is a tall combo guard that does a number of things well and has a well-rounded game on both ends of the floor. Defensively she is a very good defender and rebounds well from the guard position.
*She is a late addition to the Team Dupree roster due to some injuries and is looking to gain some exposure and potentially an opportunity to land on a college roster for next season. She like many in the class of 2021 had her recruiting impacted due to COVID-19.
Class of 2022
#1 Nicole Blanch – 5’3 Point Guard (Riverview Sarasota)
Blanch is a small, dynamic PG that likes to push the ball and makes plays in transition. Offensively she can attack the basket and score at the rim, pull up from mid-range, and knock down the open 3-pointer. She is a tough, gritty player who is very competitive and mentally strong.
*She is currently recovering from a knee injury and will not be on the road for the 2nd half of July.
#2 Ka’Yanti Burden – 5’ 7 Combo Guard (St Pete Catholic)
Athletic and versatile perimeter player. Tough defender and very good rebounding guard. Slasher that gets to the rim and excellent scorer in transition. Can play multiple positions and gets after it on the defensive end of the floor. Fearless penetrator who plays with a ton of energy!
#3
Addison Potts
Addison
Potts
6'0" | CG
South Fort Myers | 2022
State
FL
5’11 Guard (South Fort Myers) MISSOURI
Potts is a tall, skilled scoring guard who has a high basketball IQ and is an excellent decision maker. At 5’11 she has excellent court vision and has ability to see over the top of defenses. She has consistently been the team’s best player throughout the spring/summer. In 8th grade, Potts became one of the earliest verbal commitments in the nation, when she announced her decision to attend the University of Missouri. That verbal commitment has held strong and Potts is planning on signing with the Missouri Tigers in the fall.
#15
Jaela Davis
Jaela
Davis
5'7" | CG
Brooks DeBartolo | 2022
State
FL
– 5’8 Combo Guard (Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate)
Davis has been one of my favorite players of the spring/summer. She is a very athletic, combo guard with elite speed. She does not stop moving and is very active on both ends of the floor. She is an excellent defender that takes a ton of charges and is in the mix for every 50/50 and loose ball. She is the first one on the floor and gives off infectious energy. Offensively, she is most dangerous in transition and can get from baseline to baseline with the ball in a flash!
#20
Taja Stephens
Taja
Stephens
5'8" | CG
Western | 2022
State
FL
– 5’8 Combo Guard (Western)
Stephens is a very athletic, tough perimeter player who has excellent mid-range game and can score from all three levels. She does an excellent job playing off the ball – working to get open on the wing and moving without the ball to help maintain floor spacing and catch defenders sleeping! She has a slight, slender build that hurts her against bigger and stronger perimeter players. Defensively, she is a very good defender and an excellent rebounder from the perimeter positions. She has a high basketball IQ and very high academically in the classroom.
#21
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater HS | 2022
State
FL
– 6’3 Center (Clearwater)
Welsh is one of this spring/summers biggest stock risers! At 6’3, she has a college ready frame and does an excellent job protecting the rim. Good quick lateral food speed, long wingspan, and excellent timing makes her a big-time presence in the paint. She has a much-improved interior post game and can knock down the mid-range catch & shoot from 15-feet and in. Her activity level on both ends of the floor, the fact that she consistently runs the floor, and the combination of her height and athleticism will make her coveted by college coaches looking for front court players!
#22 Aryanna Hicks 5’6 Point Guard (Charlotte)
Hicks is one of the state’s top athletes with elite speed and athleticism. She can flat out fly and is extremely active on both ends of the floor, flying all over the court! She is not just an athlete as she is a very poised floor general that manages the game well and has a high basketball IQ and a very good defender. She is an unselfish player who does a great job in creating scoring opportunities for her teammates and selectively finds her spots to be aggressive and ways to fill the stat sheet her self!
Class of 2023
#4
Tyra Brown
Tyra
Brown
6'2" | SF
Fort Myers | 2023
State
FL
- 6’3 Forward (Fort Myers)
Brown gives Team Dupree, two 6’3 front court players (along with Welsh) – giving them the option to play both at the same time or rotate them in and out. She is a long, athletic forward that can play in anywhere on the court 15 feet and in – rotating between the low, mid, and high post. She can play both inside and out – showcasing the ability to score with her back to the basket as well as face up on the perimeter. She is a very capable ball handler who has very good passing skills and court vision for a post player. Brown upside is huge, and her potential is unlimited. She is definitely one to track for the next 2 years!
#23 Keegan Spencer – 5’7 Combo Guard (IMG Academy)
Spencer is a very tough-minded floor general with a very high basketball IQ that can play both the point and shooting guard positions. She is a capable scorer off the ball and does a good job attacking the rim and scoring off 1-2 dribbles. She plays with a ton of energy on both ends of the floor and has a ton intangible assets that help her team be successful and makes her a favorite of her teammates.
We will look to continue to cover news all across the state. Our audience supplies us with some of our best information. Keep us updated on Florida news be emailing me at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM’ing me through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops.
#12
Jordan Campbell
Jordan
Campbell
SG
IMG Academy | 2021
State
FL
– 5’10 Combo Guard (IMG Academy)
Campbell biggest asset is her motor! She is a tall combo guard that does a number of things well and has a well-rounded game on both ends of the floor. Defensively she is a very good defender and rebounds well from the guard position.
*She is a late addition to the Team Dupree roster due to some injuries and is looking to gain some exposure and potentially an opportunity to land on a college roster for next season. She like many in the class of 2021 had her recruiting impacted due to COVID-19.
Class of 2022
#1 Nicole Blanch – 5’3 Point Guard (Riverview Sarasota)
Blanch is a small, dynamic PG that likes to push the ball and makes plays in transition. Offensively she can attack the basket and score at the rim, pull up from mid-range, and knock down the open 3-pointer. She is a tough, gritty player who is very competitive and mentally strong.
*She is currently recovering from a knee injury and will not be on the road for the 2nd half of July.
#2 Ka’Yanti Burden – 5’ 7 Combo Guard (St Pete Catholic)
Athletic and versatile perimeter player. Tough defender and very good rebounding guard. Slasher that gets to the rim and excellent scorer in transition. Can play multiple positions and gets after it on the defensive end of the floor. Fearless penetrator who plays with a ton of energy!
#3
Addison Potts
Addison
Potts
6'0" | CG
South Fort Myers | 2022
State
FL
5’11 Guard (South Fort Myers) MISSOURI
Potts is a tall, skilled scoring guard who has a high basketball IQ and is an excellent decision maker. At 5’11 she has excellent court vision and has ability to see over the top of defenses. She has consistently been the team’s best player throughout the spring/summer. In 8th grade, Potts became one of the earliest verbal commitments in the nation, when she announced her decision to attend the University of Missouri. That verbal commitment has held strong and Potts is planning on signing with the Missouri Tigers in the fall.
#15
Jaela Davis
Jaela
Davis
5'7" | CG
Brooks DeBartolo | 2022
State
FL
– 5’8 Combo Guard (Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate)
Davis has been one of my favorite players of the spring/summer. She is a very athletic, combo guard with elite speed. She does not stop moving and is very active on both ends of the floor. She is an excellent defender that takes a ton of charges and is in the mix for every 50/50 and loose ball. She is the first one on the floor and gives off infectious energy. Offensively, she is most dangerous in transition and can get from baseline to baseline with the ball in a flash!
#20
Taja Stephens
Taja
Stephens
5'8" | CG
Western | 2022
State
FL
– 5’8 Combo Guard (Western)
Stephens is a very athletic, tough perimeter player who has excellent mid-range game and can score from all three levels. She does an excellent job playing off the ball – working to get open on the wing and moving without the ball to help maintain floor spacing and catch defenders sleeping! She has a slight, slender build that hurts her against bigger and stronger perimeter players. Defensively, she is a very good defender and an excellent rebounder from the perimeter positions. She has a high basketball IQ and very high academically in the classroom.
#21
Kyleigh Welsh
Kyleigh
Welsh
6'3" | PF
Clearwater HS | 2022
State
FL
– 6’3 Center (Clearwater)
Welsh is one of this spring/summers biggest stock risers! At 6’3, she has a college ready frame and does an excellent job protecting the rim. Good quick lateral food speed, long wingspan, and excellent timing makes her a big-time presence in the paint. She has a much-improved interior post game and can knock down the mid-range catch & shoot from 15-feet and in. Her activity level on both ends of the floor, the fact that she consistently runs the floor, and the combination of her height and athleticism will make her coveted by college coaches looking for front court players!
#22 Aryanna Hicks 5’6 Point Guard (Charlotte)
Hicks is one of the state’s top athletes with elite speed and athleticism. She can flat out fly and is extremely active on both ends of the floor, flying all over the court! She is not just an athlete as she is a very poised floor general that manages the game well and has a high basketball IQ and a very good defender. She is an unselfish player who does a great job in creating scoring opportunities for her teammates and selectively finds her spots to be aggressive and ways to fill the stat sheet her self!
Class of 2023
#4
Tyra Brown
Tyra
Brown
6'2" | SF
Fort Myers | 2023
State
FL
- 6’3 Forward (Fort Myers)
Brown gives Team Dupree, two 6’3 front court players (along with Welsh) – giving them the option to play both at the same time or rotate them in and out. She is a long, athletic forward that can play in anywhere on the court 15 feet and in – rotating between the low, mid, and high post. She can play both inside and out – showcasing the ability to score with her back to the basket as well as face up on the perimeter. She is a very capable ball handler who has very good passing skills and court vision for a post player. Brown upside is huge, and her potential is unlimited. She is definitely one to track for the next 2 years!
#23 Keegan Spencer – 5’7 Combo Guard (IMG Academy)
Spencer is a very tough-minded floor general with a very high basketball IQ that can play both the point and shooting guard positions. She is a capable scorer off the ball and does a good job attacking the rim and scoring off 1-2 dribbles. She plays with a ton of energy on both ends of the floor and has a ton intangible assets that help her team be successful and makes her a favorite of her teammates.
We will look to continue to cover news all across the state. Our audience supplies us with some of our best information. Keep us updated on Florida news be emailing me at WholeyPrepHoops@gmail.com or DM’ing me through Twitter or Instagram @WholeyPrepHoops. 
