The star of the show, the shooting star, to be exact. Super quick release with a high follow-through and plenty of swagger to go with it. When she makes one, you might see that follow-through hang there a little extra. She plays like every shot is going in. What stood out was that she wasn’t just streaky she was knocking shots down in all four quarters. Big-time confidence.

For the past couple of seasons, Shelton has shown how important she is to a winning program. Her ability to switch in and out of compleimentaty role to a focal point role has been great to see. Whether she is off-ball or controlling the pace with the ball in her hand, she is effective.. and if you’re a program that needs versatile guards, she is a player who can fill that need.

Shelton has been a consistent complementary piece to the success that this program has had in recent years. Her ability to make things happen without dribbling the ball the whole possession will be a major factor in how they look to score. She can stretch the floor off of a catch and shoot, she can take a couple of dribbles to get to the midrange to pull up, and she has no issue running the floor on a fast break to finish an easy one. She will forsure have some big moments this postseason.

Shelton is one of the few players who is always on an upward trajectory. She improves with every game-something that needs to happen to play at the next level. All of the skills she’s always had have become sharper—she’s better, stronger, and faster than ever before. Her maturity and leadership on the court is impossible to miss. The college that lands her is getting a steal-great things come to those who wait!

Shelton’s ability to score in bunches, especially from the outside, is why I believe coaches should be taking an extra look. The role she provides as a complementary piece but also a focal piece for her HS program shows more than enough of her versatility as a player. Her confidence alone will translate immediately.

Lyla has been a key piece of Nazareth over the past couple of years, and some might say she’s an X-factor, given the fact that if she gets hot from beyond the arc, it will be a long night for whoever is guarding her. She plays an aggressive game, and sometimes she’s the anchor and enforcer that Nazareth needs. She can be impactful off the ball and with he ball.. I wouldn’t be surprised if she can lock in an all-state selection this year.

Shelton brings more to the table than just shooting, but she is one of the best shooters on both her high school team and AAU program. The confidence in her shot is what stands out more than anything; she truly believes every shot she takes will go in, and most kids don’t have that level of belief in themselves. She can be a perfect complementary piece for a program that allows their gurds to shoot at a high clip.

Lyla showed her passing vision in the quarterfinals, driving downhill with a burst, then making a great dump-off pass to a teammate for the assist. She stepped up offensively in the semifinals, knocking down a mid-corner jumper, finishing layups, and scoring through contact for an and-one layup in transition. Lyla finished with 10 points and went on to energize the team with a huge first half in the Championship game. Lyla forced fouls inside to earn trips to the line and made all five of her free throws. She scored multiple layups off two feet, including a strong finish through a foul, then knocked down her free throw. Lyla drilled a corner three and led the team with 16 points at the half. Lyla dished a jump pass dime to a teammate for an assist in the second half. She handled the ball with poise, threw strong passes to teammates, and helped lead Chicago Hoops Express to the Championship game on Sunday. Lyla has earned All-Tournament Second Team honors.

Shelton has shown growth on both sides of the ball over the past couple of years. From a spacing standpoint, leaving her open is far from what the scouting report reads, and on the defensive end, she can throw an entire offense off with how much ground she covers. She’s a legit disruptor.

Lyla has always been one of my favorite players to watch. Her court vision is unparalleled, allowing her to anticipate her teammates’ movements and deliver precision passes that thread through the defense with ease. When she isn’t in a position to pass, she can shoot the ball effortlessly and score from any spot on the floor.