#HeatBallShowdown: Names To Know

The Heat Ball Showdown had some talented athletes participate in the tourney, and here are some of the players whose names you need to know.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Kayla-Russell.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889579" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='777546' first='Kayla' last='Russell'] (5'65'6/Wing/''27/[program_tooltip program_id='713476' first='Alabama' last='Heat Elite'])   IG: kayla.russell_1 / alabamaheatelite   X: @KRussell2027 / @BAMAHeatElite   Kayla's squad struggled on the offensive end of the floor as a unit in the game I saw, but I could see a dribble-drive game in Kayla. She was looking to get downhill and make plays in the paint. She didn't do a lot of dancing with the rock; she just made a move and tried to get by her defender. As mentioned, her entire team was a little off, but Kayla showed her ability to win her one-on-one match-ups.       <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Kye-Fincher.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889583" /></figure>   Kye Fincher (5'10/G|F/'26/[program_tooltip program_id='713476' first='Alabama' last='Heat Elite'])   IG: k.michelle_3 / alabamaheatelite   X: @kyefincher3 / @BAMAHeatElite   Kye is a wing with good positional size. She is like a Swiss army knife as she brings a lot to the floor and does a lot of those things very well. She was active on the glass, showed her ability to rim and run, and showed versatility in her scoring. She scored from distance and off the bounce and produced in the scoring column in both the half-court and in transition. She is a really good slasher who loves to attack the rim whenever she can. I really liked her size, length, and ability to get to the cup. There is another level to which she can take her game, which will help her be more aggressive and play much faster.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Mckenzie-Mcannally.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889584" /></figure>   McKenzie Mcannally (5'35'3/PG/''25/[program_tooltip program_id='713476' first='Alabama' last='Heat Elite'])   IG: mckenziemcannally / alabamaheatelite   X: @MckenzieMca3 / @BAMAHeatElite   McKenzie is a small PG who has a solid overall game. She is a reliable ball-handler with a nice floor game and a budding PG IQ. She has a good touch on her perimeter J, as well as her floaters and runners in the paint. She has some good tools that allow her to be in control of the team and keep them flowing in what her coach wants. Her obvious weakness is her 5'3 size, but she will have to make up her mind that she may be small, but her fight, grit, and passion to be on the floor will not allow her size to hinder her time on the floor.      <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Elizabeth-Blake-Maple.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889587" /></figure>   Elizabeth Blake Maple (5'85'8/CG/''27/Team Brandon Wright)   IG: teambwright   X: @teambwright   Elizabeth is on a squad that has several really solid backcourt prospects. All of them, including Elizabeth, can shoot, pass, create off the bounce, and facilitate the offense. Elizabeth showed that she can switch between operating on ball and off. She has a decent level of quickness and agility and was very productive in scoring the rock and getting her teammates involved.       <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Jariyah-Jordan.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889589" /></figure>   Jariyah Jordan (5'9/F/'25/Zone 6 Celtics)   IG: Rockout21_ / zone6celtics   X: @JariyahJordan / @zone6celtics   Jariyah is a crafty scorer who scores it well inside the arc, as she does a good job getting to the cup and producing in her middle game. When she calls her own number, she makes defenders pay as she is a very difficult cover in isolation situations. She is a high-volume scorer and tough shot-maker who scores in a variety of ways. Jariyah's dribble-drive game is highly potent, and defenses have to keep 10 eyes on her at all times, often providing help, which leaves teammates open, whom Jariyah does a good job finding with on-time and on-target passes.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/PGH-Alissa-Hawkins.png?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-889590" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1090902' first='Alissa' last='Hawkins'] (5'25'2/PG/''26/[program_tooltip program_id='713476' first='Alabama' last='Heat Elite'])   IG: cxshout.alissa / alabamaheatelite   X: @Luhawk08 / @BAMAHeatElite   Alissa is a small lead guard who showed her ability to score, which made me look at her as a score-first PG. She is a multi-level scorer who showed versatility in the way she scored the rock. There were times when Alissa was just sensational when scoring. She has good scoring instincts and is at her best playing an up-tempo game, as she can push the pace of play. It is early in the spring, but Alissa has established herself as an integral part of her squad's offensive attack.

The Heat Ball Showdown had some talented athletes participate in the tourney, and here are some of the players whose names you need to know.