Tuesday, March 16, 2021

2021 8th Grade Division "Breakout Players" #DuelStateAllStars

 

KENNEDY WALTERS


I'm always searching, always looking and watching many players for the first time, or getting a really good look at those who I've seen in a different setting is one of the reasons why I consider myself among the best to evaluate, no sleight of hand nonsense because your club team has a certain logo or who isn't showing you how to play the passing lane, take away the baseline, follow your shot, it goes on and on because I've been there with muy own daughter, I know the BS that's involved in this so when I am COVERING an event, I try and look at as many players as possible and at the Duel States All-Star games, I have identified probably 75% of the over 200 players there, many are already locked in at the next level, some at #BCS, many at #D1 but the main thing is "keep working' because your status can change at the blink of an eye, here are some of those BREAKOUT PERFORMERS 

Yaniska Mestre-G (ATL Dream) creates her shot under pressure, deceptive first step allowed her to attack and finish and she showed the "floata" 

Tiara Williams-G (ATL Dream) attacks the rim strongly, finishes the same way, this includes after contact and played solid on-ball defense 

Peyton Dolan-G (Dallas Wings) rebounds well, understands positioning and did a good job battling taller players for the ball, ran the floor well

Tieasia Todd-PG (Dallas Wings) SWB means "speed with ball" and when you add she was under control and hit teammates on the money going coast to coast...

Raylen Kernell-G/F (Dallas Wings) also did a good job blocking out for rebounds, on both ends of the floor and she also finished on putbacks

Kennedy Walters-PG (Dallas Wings) poised and under control, heady point guard that controls the tempo and saw the floor, creates her shot under pressure

Jamie Walker-G (Dallas Wings) uses her athleticism nicely, explodes off the dribble while attacking the basket, and finished, "floata" included 

Meredith Legard-G (Fever) played solid defense, outrebounded taller players, handled the ball in the open court, and knocked the outside shot down 

MiaGrace Delahoz-G (Las Vegas Aces) attacks the basket strongly from a variety of angles, finished after contact, played solid defense

Staci Pettie-SF (Lynx) uses her body well, shows signs of being able to overpower on the inside as she finishes with players hanging on her. also rebounded well

Tatum Howlingwater-G (Mystics) rebounded on both ends and handled the ball coast to coast after grabbing it on the offensive end, attacks and finishes

Gavyn Robinson-PG (Mystics) understands how to control the tempo, sees the floor yet she's an explosive scorer either attacking the basket or knocking down the outside shot

Kandace Barnett-G (Storm) long and athletic is the base if you haven't been paying attention and she makes the defense pay by attacking and finishing acrobatically and plays the passing lane

Taryn Jacobs-PF (Storm) also long and athletic, creates her shot under pressure to attack the basket and finish or show the jumper, very good form on release 

Abbie Martin-G (Storm) does a good job handling the ball under pressure as well as creating her shot, also under pressure and showed she could drop the mid to long-range

Christina Ybarra-P (Storm) uses her body well inside the paint, finishes strong after contact, this includes on putbacks and rebounds on both ends