Like the other players on this list, Nawel’s reputation precedes her at big events like this and opposing defenses are not immune to the hype which should make scoring the basketball much more difficult. That was a good theory, but the practice of stopping and limiting her scoring proved harder done than said. Nawel has excellent movement at her size and she executes the fundamentals consistently and at a very high level. She is efficient both in scoring the ball and in the process where she usually only needs a couple dribbles to get where she wants to go on the offensive side of the court. She did a great job using her pivot and jab steps, along with pass and shot fakes, to create the necessary space on the perimeter. When Nawel got into the paint she used those same fundamentals to get the defender off their feet and in the air before rising up and scoring the ball herself. When head fakes were not necessary, Nawel was able to get the basketball up and finish quickly at the rim due to her always keeping the basketball at shoulder height our above. She did a nice job drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line, where she shot the ball well. She showed very good athleticism pushing the ball on the break and finishing at the rim. Her offer sheet includes multiple Ivy League schools, some of the best “mid-majors” in women’s basketball, and her most recent offers coming from Power Four schools in the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC.

Tremendous effort battling with WPA’s bigs. Undersized in the matchup defending the 5 but very impactful and successful because of her length, speed and versatility. Aggressive defense made for a handful of steals and blocks. Very quick on the break and getting back in transition D. Tricky southpaw.

Nawel did a great job creating opportunities and stacking sequences. She glided to the basket with long strides, able to get ahead of the pack and carve paths to the hoop. Big-time defensive impact in the paint; long wingspan to swat away shots attempts.

Coming into The Clash I had heard about Nawel and seen highlights posted on instagram, but it was completely different seeing her play up close. She is every bit of 6’1 (I am 6’3 on a good day) and long. That can often times prove difficult for a young player to adjust to, sudden changes in height, making them awkward. That was not the case at all with her, she moved with ease, slashing to the basket on offense and sliding over from the help side on defense. When she had the basketball in her hands, the southpaw showed the stereotypically strong fundamentals people my age associate with international basketball. True to form as she used jab steps, pass and shot fakes, to create the space needed to shoot and her shooting form was excellent when rose up and let the ball go knocking multiple shots from the perimeter. Nawel is a true inside/out threat and she showed soft hands and good touch finishing around the rim. As a result of her performance in Ohio, she was rewarded with scholarship offers from Dayton and Harvard following the event.

Nawel had a strong performance in the sectional state final against West Orange, finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. She has a tight handle and does a good job weaving around defenders to reach her spots on the floor. She also keeps her eyes up while handling the ball and finds open teammates when defenses collapse. A lefty, she finishes well around the basket and moves effectively without the ball to create scoring chances. She is also a reliable shooter from behind the three-point line and makes defenders pay if they fail to close out.