Birmingham, AL Under the Radar Prospects Part 2

As we continue with the series, I will look at a few players who have the opportunity to grow and fill a larger role this season. Players, who if they continue on their current trajectory, could help their respective programs mover their projected ceiling.   [player_tooltip player_id='330733' first='Jaylen' last='Pleasant'] 5'5 2023 Mortimer Jordan High School   Jaylen is a talented on ball defender. She does a good job of angling players to different spots on the floor to prevent her opponent from creating offensive advantages. Jaylen has the ability to help and recover at an efficient rate. She navigates defending ball screens extremely well. Jaylen is very good in transition at changing her speeds to create great opportunities for her team. According to Coach Kelly Robinson, Jaylen shot 52 percent from 2point range and 36 percent from 3point range. Jaylen uses her speed effectively to get to her spots to score for her team. Jaylen also does a great job of making open opportunities from beyond the three-point line. For her size, she does a good job of finishing in traffic when teams close space on her. She does a great job of getting her team organized and helping them maintain structure on the floor. She is definitely a coach on the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='496812' first='Angela' last='Williams'] 6'1 2024 Shades Valley High School   Angela is a skilled player that can slot in any position on the floor. A fluid athlete, that has good play making skills as any player in her position.. She does a good job of rebounding out of her area. This helps her create opportunities for easy scores. She is more than capable of taking the defensive rebound and creating offense for her team in transition. She can score with both hands around the rim. She can score off the elbow jumper or catch and rips attacking in either direction. She is a good defender inside and can also defend smaller players. She does a great job of sliding off her primary opponent to block or alter shots from her weak side defensive positioning. She does a good job of blocking shots and keeping them in play. Angela plays with energy and could help her team have a huge year this basketball season.   [player_tooltip player_id='381463' first='Emma' last='Stearns'] 5'6 2024 Mountain Brook High School   Emma has very good footwork which allows her to get her shot off quickly. Her shooting form is compact. Her ability to catch the ball in her shooting pocket consistently allows her to be able to make contested shots with little space. She does a good job of using her inside foot square up on baseline screens to create sound looks. Emma does a great job of being consistent with her shooting motion. This allows her to use a shot fake and get by more athletic defenders on her catch and drive opportunities. She does a great job of flowing to the in transition for great looks. She does a great job of shooting on the move off of single or stagger screens. She is strong enough to absorb contact and finish at the rim. Emma is a solid defender that does a good job of getting her hands on the ball of steals for herself or a teammate. She does a good job of simply keeping players in front and not putting herself in bad defensive situations.   [player_tooltip player_id='323418' first='Samarian' last='Franklin'] 5'2 2025 Wenonah High School   Highly skilled point guard that can score on all three levels. Started as a freshman and has a great feel for the game. Samarian does a great job of passing the ball ahead in transition. She does a great job passing the ball before the traps arrive. She understands how to attack pressure and create situations to benefit her team. She can shoot the three with range off the dribble or in spot-up situations. For a young player, she does not allow the defense to speed her up or force her to play too fast. For her size she does an excellent job of finishing through contact. She has good touch on her floater she uses against taller player. She has the ability to control the defensive with her ball pressure. Samarian is very fluid in her help and recovery situations that prevents a lot of defensive break downs. She does a good job of anticipating lob passes for steals when she is on the weakside of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='323205' first='Brianna' last='Adams'] 5'9 Minor High School   Brianna is a very good athlete that has the ability to attack the basket with either hand. Her strengths are getting out in transition to score in 1 on 1 situations as well as attacking of the dribble in the half court. She is effective using the right foot jab steps to set-up drives to her left hand. She good passer with a good basketball IQ. She shows good touch on passes to the post on high low opportunities. Brianna does a good job of attacking the hips of her defender when she drives left, which allows her to use her spin move effectively. She has the frame and strength to guard post players 2-3 inches taller than her. She has good lateral movements to keep defenders in front of her. She is a good rebounding guard on both ends of the floor. She is an extremely athletic defender that plays at the top of her full and half-court trapping schemed defenses.

As we continue with the series, I will look at a few players who have the opportunity to grow and fill a larger role this season. Players, who if they continue on their current trajectory, could help their respective programs mover their projected ceiling.