2023 Neville Jones Invitational-Power In The Paint

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm exhausted from my 4 days of action covering New Faces, Top Performers, and SImmie's Standouts from both the Premier Super 64 and their Neville Jones Invitational so as flip flop between the events over the week, I can't get the players that went off inside the paint out of my head at NJI, so let me start with how I closed the quadruple-double out </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zaria Howard-5'7 F ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Tar Heels 2027 JR 3SSB) 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard has a lot going for her when you factor in she's heading into her freshman season but watching her already understanding the importance of "hands and footwork" to score around the basket had me smiling. Her defense was solid inside the paint, she plays taller than she is she rebounded on both ends</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Meron Legesse-6'1 C (2026 THS 15U) 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Legesse stands over "the magic number" and when you factor in her agility and strength, well that's a blueprint for many next-level programs. She keeps the ball high, another plus, yet her lateral movement on defense, in and outside the paint was a big attraction for me, and so was her finishing around the rim. Very nice upside </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caitlyn Turnbow-5'11 PF (Las Cruces Premier) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turnbow impressed me on opening day with her DESIRE to go after the ball off the rim. I love things you can't teach and when she gave me the "hands and footwork" from multiple angles to score with either hand, well that was enough for me. Well it wasn't enough for her as she showed she could take the defender off the dribble and score</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacqueline Oba-5'10 (TSF 17U Black) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oba had me tweet RELENTLESS out because let me say this, you have players that grab my attention going after the ball off the rim and then you have those that GO AFTER EVERYTHING period. Loose balls in the air, tie-ups, no rope needed, even on the floor yet her defense both in the paint and on the ball was nice, and so was her finishing strongly </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kristen Betts-5'10 PF ([program_tooltip program_id='715146' first='SETX' last='Elite']) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Betts brings so much to the table yet every time I catch her I see "on the court" progression so the table hasn't been set. You won't outwork as she also goes after the ball off the rim yet her showing me the coast-to-coast to score after rebounding was nice yet even nicer was her court vision in the open court. She uses her body around the basket well and scores after contact </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Azizah Martin-5'8 (SMA 2024) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin plays taller than her listed height and let me drop something about what grabbed my attention. She understands POSITIONING and that is #THRO[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='[program_tooltip program_id='715726' first='WBA' last='']' last='']' last='']' last='']CK because it enabled her to outrebound taller players, well it also helped her score against them yet her defense inside the paint also needs to be mentioned because she did a good job</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148617' first='Janessa' last='Tennison']-5'11 ([program_tooltip program_id='716025' first='IQ' last='Hoops'] Elite) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tennison is athletic and uses her frame nicely on both ends. She can score from the outside, mid to long-range, but she can also post up players around the basket. Her rebounding, on both ends, as well as scoring on putbacks, after contact was nice yet one play JUST DID IT for me and that was in transition when she received a pass and in one nation made a "touch pass" for an assist</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='300806' first='Easha' last='Potts']-5'10 (2024 WKE 2024 Cossman) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potts has the right name because she was on the fire and off the top, she sent a message to me, not subliminally, not telepathically, but DIRECT, and she not only showed the "hands and footwork" but added the "drop step" to finish after contact. She ignites the break after rebounding and even outran everyone to finish but peep this, she also played the passing lane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cindy Foka-5'10 PF ([program_tooltip program_id='712785' first='Rock' last='Nation'] 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foka has been <strong>ON MY RADAR</strong> since before high school yet injuries at the wrong time have kept her UNDER THE RADAR yet let me say this, I love battlers, I love underdogs and I also love comebacks, and trust me, she's back. She gets the cover so it will give you a glimpse of what she does in the paint, like elevate over defenders to score yet she does the same to rebound, just elevate and when you add she never takes a play-off...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->