Benford was hard to miss at nearly six feet tall and handling the basketball like a guard in the station session and when the players got out and played full-court games. Zariyah was calm, cool, and collected with the basketball, pushing the pace in transition as well as initiating the offense in the half-court. She shot the ball well from the perimeter and did a nice job finishing around the basket. Benford had a high release point with good form and follow-through, and that combined with her height and length enabled her to easily get shots off and over smaller defenders. There is a lot to like about her skill set to go with the size and she is just a sophomore. She could emerge as a big time player in the Volunteer State over the next three years.

Zariyah showed a smooth attacking game with positional size, a hesitation move, and touch once she reached the paint. She was difficult to contain in the open floor, where the hesi gave her a way to interrupt the defender’s timing before continuing her attack. Her finishing extended from the paint to the rim. Her vision and playmaking give the offensive package another dimension. She can create more than an individual finish, which makes the relationship between scoring pressure and passing especially important. Her attack draws attention, and her passing gives her a way to use the attention to make plays for teammates. As she continues to develop her floor game recognizing when to finish with touch and when to release the pass will help her open-floor effectiveness carry into possessions with less space. She has a smooth way of getting into the defense and a scoring answer once she arrives; more precise decision-making around the defensive help will make her a more complete creator.

A kid who just competes and is no stranger to putting the ball in the hole. She is willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone and is going to get after it on both ends of the floor. Looking for someone who is a challenger? This young lady wants the smoke and is willing to go at it. She can score from all 3 levels, defend, and contribute on the boards. She is going to be a nice addition to the Lady Patriots program as they look to rebuild and become a major player in the Rutherford County area.