Opening Day-9th Grade Divison New Faces #NBC22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prime Time Nationals always pumps me up and rightfully so because I've been covering it for what seems like an eternity yet the countless next-level players I have caught and either directly or indirectly, by writing about them, has helped many land spots on college teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> When I write something, it's all verifiable and again, #ThereIsNoMe so, in this era of not keeping it real, I love catching new faces because one more time #TalentIsEverywhere if you know what you're looking at and revisit my <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/08/top-5-championship-sunday-9th-grade-division-nbc22/">Top 5 from Championship Sunday </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kylie Trlicek (Austin Elite Sparks)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trlicek immediately got my attention with her timing because she not only blocked shots, she also played the passing lane yet her rebounding over taller players was another huge plus, so was her scoring off the dribble, with either hand and finishing the same way, with either hand, after contact but her poise under pressure was huge and she was a big play waiting to happen </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Raylen Kernell (Oklahoma Aces 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kernell got the front page cover because, well she was hard to cover and her quick release had me smiling as she showed the "stop and pop" in transition early in the game. She also showed she could "catch and shoot" under pressure and she scored off the dribble but she also showed she could dish while attacking. She defended strongly and played within herself and wanted the ball in the clutch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ja'Meriah Butler (Hoop Lovers 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Butler brought so much energy, on both ends and proved #sizedontmatter because she can play. Her ballhandling under pressure, her court vision, and her ability to score off the dribble were all nice, and so was her "on the ball" defense baseline to baseline. She also has quick hands and came away with steals several times and seeing her zig-zag in the open court was more than solid, and so were her strong finishes </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ariel Morris (AGA 9th)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris was another #sizedontmatter guard that not only brought the heat, but she also showed she could cool players off that were on fire. I'm big on point guards being under control and understanding how to control the tempo, she does that and her being able to see the floor and make the right pass to the right teammate was equally impressive. She dropped the jumper and attacked the basket strongly </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexi Ringold (Yanders Law 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ringold has good size and used it well around the basket to finish, with either hand. She also scored on putbacks, yes she rebounded strongly on both ends and ran the floor, on both ends. I also liked her deceptive first step from the wing as she took the defender off the dribble and the contact didn't matter as she finished but she also showed the midrange, a lost art, and knocked down some jumpers </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lauren Strange (SYA Gifted)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strange is tall, #sizedoesmatter when you can play and her rebounding, on both ends, running the floor, and scoring in the paint were all pluses as she stands over "the magic number" which is 6'0. I love her upside because of not only her size but her movements and doing things fluidly. Her instincts or good, she also reacts well and defended in the paint </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->