Music City Showdown: 17U Gamechangers

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger - The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Girls Hoops.

One has to wonder with all of the 17U talent that made appearances at Music City Showdown, how the venue that hosted the event – the TOA Sports Performance Center in Franklin – was able to contain it all.

This past weekend's event was one of three that took place as part of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit – and the fourth as part of the Triumph Region. The venue, located just outside of Nashville, welcomed teams from not only the Volunteer State, but neighboring states such as Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama.

Who were the GameChangers at the Music City Showdown? There were plenty of them among the 2023 AAU teams that made the trek to Franklin.

Kennedy Coleman – 2023 – Archer HS – Georgia Dominance 2023 – Coleman proved to be an integral cogs of a well-oiled Tigers machine that finished 22-7 in 2021-22. She may only be listed as a 5-foot-6 guard, but she will have games where she compiles the rebounding numbers of a forward or big. Fittingly, her uniform number both for Archer and Georgia Dominance 2023 is the No. 3 as she can light up a scoreboard from downtown. She has plenty of games where her ball handling skills as well as her ability to come away with steals also prove to be important elements to a winning plan.

Anu Richards – 2024 – Station Camp HS – Music City Jammers 2023 – Richards began making her case to be a game changer early on as, fittingly, Nashville-based Music City Jammers were one of the first teams that made their presence felt at Music City Showdown. As hard-nosed as she is when defending the basket, she presents plenty of problems for opposing offenses. What she does in the low post as a scorer and rebounder are two elements to her offensive game, but she can also drain 3-pointers and draw contact to put her at the free throw line. She had 10 points in their first game of the tournament – an emphatic win over Arkansas Lady Diamonds 2023.

Brianna Burgess Brianna Burgess 5'10" | SG Creek Wood | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Creek Wood HS – Stars Basketball Club 2023 McLeod – Burgess is one of two Stars Basketball Club 2023 McLeod players on our list after the team finished Music City Showdown with a 3-1 record. Burgess scored 11 points each after victories over Dayton Metro 2023 Welch (54-31) and Georgia Dominance 2023 (70-50). While she will convert on a number of 3-point attempts, Burgess plays with a high basketball IQ as she will put herself in position to be open near the rim. Burgess is also active away from the ball and can be effective herself as a passer.

Samara Saunders Samara Saunders 6'0" | PF Grayson | 2023 State GA – 2023 – Grayson HS – Team Huncho Nxt-Gen 2023 – There are two Rams that make up a Team Huncho Nxt-Gen 2023 roster that finished with a 3-1 mark in Nashville. Saunders stands tall on a travel roster that has many tall players. She will take her opportunities at the free throw line after drawing contact. Saunders also does a great deal of work on the boards. She also makes it hard to score on her with how effective she is as a shot blocker. A force to be reckoned with in the Grayson frontcourt, she was part of a team that a Rams team that won 22 games in 2021-22.

Emaleigh Tarpley Emaleigh Tarpley 5'10" | PF Rockvale | 2023 State TN - 2023 – Rockvale HS – EAB Tennessee 2023 – Tarpley was one of the standout performers for EAB Tennessee a few weeks ago at Knoxville Knockout and returned for another impressive showing at Music City Showdown. Defensively, she plays with a heads-up attitude and can take advantage almost immediately of an opposing ball carrier's miscue. Tarpley will attack the rim, and understands when the time is right to pass and to score. She is also one to deliver a great deal of hustle, will dive after loose balls and does not give up on 50-50 possibilities. Tarpley was part of a Rockets team that went 21-9 this past season.

Amanda Ogbonna – 2023 – Wheeler HS – Georgia Queen Elite 2023 – Some players lead vocally and others prefer to do so by example. Ogbonna is a healthy combination of both and she adds exceptional talent to boot. Standing at an even six feet, she uses her stature to gain an advantage on either end of the floor. That allows her to come away the victor in many a rebounding battle on the glass. Ogbonna also will draw contact and give her team chances at the free throw line. She will make tough shots, find the right teammate to dish the rock off to and keeps her hands outstretched on defense. She had a 12-point performance against Music City Jammers 2023 on Sunday.

Rachel Shropshire Rachel Shropshire 6'3" | SF Franklin County | 2024 State KY – 2024 – Franklin County HS – Richmond Heat 2023 – Shropshire is part of a Richmond Heat 2023 roster where all but three of their players are playing up in class. The only Flyers representative on this year's Richmond Heat 2023 rendition, she is doing her school proud. She stands at 6-foot-2 but possesses the 3-point shooting ability that one would typically find in a shooting guard. Shropshire knows when to pass and to score and has basket-attacking ability to compliment what she gets done from deep.

Deziree Bryant – 2023 – North Hardin HS – Team Firstep 2023 – Bryant has impressed so far roughly halfway through the Circuit. She earned All 17U Victory Region First Team honors after The Exclusive in Chicago and she returned for more at Music City Showdown. She gives all-out effort every time her sneakers make contact with the hardwood. Rebounding is another important element to her game. Bryant finds herself on many occasions at the right place at the right time on the court and has no problems putting points on the board. Hardin played varsity basketball for the Trojans prior to becoming a freshman.

Elizabeth Flynn – 2023 – Ravenwood HS – Stars Basketball Club 2023 McLeod – Flynn can get a team plenty of wins. She is the other Stars Basketball Club 2023 McLeod player on our list and she was a big reason why her travel club finished Music City Showdown sans a blemish on its schedule. Flynn can put points on the board – as she did in a win over Georgia Dominance 2023 where she ran up 19 points. She stands at 5-foot-9 and is also accurate from the field. She is a versatile player who can find time in the backcourt as a guard or in the frontcourt as a forward. Flynn is also reliable as a rebounder and a ball distributor, displays plenty of court vision and gives it her all every game.