Attackers-9th Grade Division #NBC22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I love watching players take defenders off the dribble. Some have explosive first steps to get it done, some have deceptive first steps to get it done and some have a variety of moves, including hesitation, which I call "The Hez" but whatever they use to get it done, the main thing is finishing afterward because THAT is when it really gets done, maybe I should have used The Finishers in the title, wait, got that coming too but I'll also drop the last segment from this division on some other standouts, you can catch that on my <strong><a href="http://girlzprepreport.com/">website</a></strong> late tonight or in the morning </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katie Barahona- ([program_tooltip program_id='713099' first='Oklahoma' last='Aces'] 2025) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barahona impressed me immediately by taking the defender off the dribble in the first 3 plays of the game, in a variety of ways. First, it was the open court after she stole the ball in the backcourt, then she rebounded and went coast to coast, and finally, in the set with her slight HEZ as she found ways to get to the basket and finish after contact included. She also handled the ball under pressure and saw the floor which was nice because her threading the needle on the money led to assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='688245' first='Nadia' last='Adeleke'] ([program_tooltip program_id='712407' first='Austin' last='Elite'] Sparks)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adeleke is one of the most improved players over the summer, the same can be said for twin sister Nadine who made the <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/08/top-5-championship-sunday-9th-grade-division-nbc22/">Championship Sunday Tip Sheet</a></strong> but I love progression on the court and both have shown it each year. Nadia is smooth off the dribble, yet her powerful finishes tell me what's coming because she applies plenty of heat on defense and comes away with steals with her on-the-ball pressure. She also rebounds and can take the ball C2C, the length of the court to finish</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaylah Alexander ([program_tooltip program_id='715647' first='Hoop' last='Lovers'] 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexander was overly impressive with her OTB, on-the-ball defense, and if I did a story about that, she would be there yet she also did a good job of not only getting to the basket but scoring, this includes after the lick. Her deceptive first step got her there and she also showed good body control when she arrived. She also handled the ball in the open court, she also played within herself, one more time, which means she didn't force anything and got hers "in the flow"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morgan McDaniels (AGA 9th)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDaniels is, here ya go, long and athletic and if I gave a pop quiz and you responded "that is the base" you would step to the head of the listeners, but alas, not everyone listens to me or comprehends what I say, but I enjoyed her slicing to the basket from the wing. Her first step is hard to handle and I envision it creating problems, especially since her pull-up jumper is nice. Her release is quick, she showed the stop and pop in transition, yeah she handled the ball in the open court, so that gave her options</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884025' first='Olivia' last='Gilbert'] (HUB 2025/2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilbert scored strongly off the dribble multiple times and she finished after the lick but she also finished on putbacks, yes she rebounds on both ends and runs the floor, on both ends. What she also does is attack the basket from multiple angles, as well as straight down the middle and she did it with either hand which was very nice yet was nicer is her finishing with either. Solid defender and even dropped some jumpers, very good upside </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->