Cirina has gained more confidence around the rim since I’ve first seen her play at the P.G. County Middle School All-Star game.

Ms. Lee was the more traditional center at the showcase having strong hands to receive the entry pass with her back to the basket, then able to feel the defense and spin opposite of the late help, to finish under pressure.

Look for Cirina to get early playing time under Coach Cabria who also develop Cirina’s toughness to command the paint at the next level.

Lee used her size to establish a strong presence in the paint, finding her spot on the block and calling for the ball high before finishing at the rim. She stayed with her own misses to earn second-chance points and secured defensive rebounds before finding the outlet to start the possession the other way. As the tallest player on the floor, she made things difficult around the basket defensively, tying up opponents when they attempted to drive into the paint.

There weren’t many players in the building who could match Cirina’s size and strength, and she took advantage of that from the start, beginning with the 3-on-3 games. When she got the ball in the paint, she was nearly automatic, especially with shooting fouls counting as scores. She used her physicality well around the basket and also showed a nice touch inside, connecting on a smooth hook shot.

Lee is a physical post player who uses her strength to battle on the glass, create second-chance opportunities, and establish position in the paint. She runs the floor well, can finish in transition, has an effective hook shot, and flashes out to knock down threes. Defensively, she protects the paint and can hold her own against bigger competition.

Cirina made a significant impact by doing many of the little things that help teams win, starting with her relentless work on the glass. She averaged eight rebounds per game at DMV Live and was especially effective creating second-chance opportunities on the offensive boards. Her physicality in the paint, willingness to battle for position, and high motor made her one of the event’s most productive rebounders.

While her game is currently built around her interior presence, she also flashed intriguing upside by confidently stepping out and knocking down a three-pointer. It may not be a staple of her offensive arsenal yet, but it showed she has the shooting range to continue expanding her game as she develops. She is also quicker than she appears, consistently beating opposing post players down the floor in transition. Defensively, Cirina protects the paint with discipline, using her strength and positioning to challenge shots without getting into foul trouble. Her continued growth on both ends of the floor earned her a well-deserved rise in the latest rankings to #8.

Cirina has good size and is physical in the paint. She can catch and finish on the run and has a little hook shot in the lane that’s effective. She rebounds well and shot and made a three. None of which translated into wins as Seton was 0-4 for the weekend but as she continues to improve the outcomes can change in the close games.

Cirina and her Fairfax Stars 14U team played up against the 15U Team Takeover team. She not only held her own but was dominant against a couple of 6’3″ freshmen. She had no fear, playing with a lot of emotion. Her fire fueled the younger Stars to a five point halftime lead. Cirina has high school size and a college frame, she has the mentality to play on both levels now.