Sandra Meadows Classic 2024 Day 1 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have to be honest, I had no idea what <strong>ICYMI </strong>meant, I usually save my acronym memory for things that I come with or words I don't want to say in front of grandchildren but <strong>IN CASE YOU MISSED IT</strong>, juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='498830' first='Mariah' last='Clayton'] (Duncanville)</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='309654' first='Kiyleyah' last='Parr'] (La Vega) </strong>made my <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/12/sandra-meadows-classic-opening-day-top-performers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sandra Meadows Opening Day Top Performers Tip Sheet </a></strong>while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='388152' first='Tajenae' last='Gooden']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='206964' first='Chloe' last='Mann']</strong> made my article on <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/01/loaded-duncanville-wins-2022-sandra-meadows-classic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sandra Meadows Champion Duncanville</a></strong>. Here are some other juniors that caught my eye(s)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='793235' first='Dawson' last='Jemerson'] (Red Oak)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jemerson's athleticism stood out immediately after watching her not only create her shot but elevate over the defender to drop the jumper. Hearing the announcer call her name numerous times had me smiling as I noticed the numerous ways she scored. Mid to long range, well very deep, as well as off the dribble but I also liked her ability to "catch and shoot" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylyn Gilmore (Red Oak)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilmore also used athleticism nicely but her attacking the basket, with either hand, using a semi-explosive first step, definitely stood out, especially when she completed them off balance using some impressive body control and using either hand. Her pull-up jumper in transition was nice, it also looked good in the set and she did a good job defending "on the ball"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='158867' first='Keyera' last='Roseby']-5'11 SF (Frisco Liberty) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roseby continues to show to unlock the door, you have to have a key, and although I hadn't seen her in a while, she has unlocked several things to add to her game. Initially, she was more of an inside player, then she showed the midrange but watching her drop the deep one consistently as well as attack and finish. I enjoyed her exterior defense as well as her timing to block shots</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mikah Ford-5'7 G (Bishop Lynch)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford doesn't fall into that "Fixed Or Repaired Daily" acronym which is dated yet she fixed some issues on defense by showing baseline-to-baseline pressure to change the momentum. She also repaired some things by coming out of nowhere playing the passing lane to get steals but her athleticism showed on the flip as she scored off the dribble and finished after contact </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kya Mitchell-5'4 SG (La Vega)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell has continued to show that #sizedontmatter when you can play. Her range is something to deal with, she creates her shot under pressure and also creates separation to get her shot off yet her "catch and shoot" with accuracy is also a problem to defend. Watching her get positioning to not only rebound but score on putbacks against taller players was nice </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ri'Azia Smith-6'3 C/PF (La Vega)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is "long and athletic" which will always be the base but watching her maneuver while wearing the knee brace spoke volumes about what she did in front of me. Her first steps an intangible yet so was her timing to block, alter, and (or) deflect shots. Solid defense inside the paint yet she also moved well laterally to defend outside </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='166646' first='Kendall' last='Sneed'] (Hardin Jefferson)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sneed's "poise under pressure" sold me when she was in elementary school which translated into #D1Lock back then. Not one to disappoint, she has continued to elevate her game by comprehending the simple things yet taking them to another level. Her ballhandling and court vision under pressure, along with her unselfishness is major, and so is her scoring, off the dribble as well as mid to long-range </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->