PATERSON, NEW JERSEY - Headed up to the 5th Annual New Year's Resolution Hosted by the New Jersey Sparks this past weekend, let me start off by saying that my normal travel time is usually approximately one hour forty - five minutes. Well not this time, according to the National Weather Associates, New Jersey was only suppose to get 1 - 3 inches. Wrong, the state of New Jersey accumulate 6 - 10 inches in some parts of state, it sure would be nice to have a job like that when you just make predictions on something that if it happens or it doesn't happen your job is safe.
It made travels a little difficult for some teams that were coming up from the Northeast, 31 out of 32 teams made it to the New Year's Resolution, teams came as far North as Canada and South as Florida. But a little snow storm wasn't going to stop all of this talent from coming to one of the most premier event's on the East Coast. Gthing was able to catch some High School talent one day, in some Middle School talent the following day, in this three day event which was held at three different sites John F Kennedy High School, Eastside High School and International High School.
Andrea Aquino - 6'9 - Post - 2018 - Paterson Eastside HS, (NJ) - Superior length and size complemented by agility, uptempo and mobile. Continues to develop a more consistent offensive game... Good footwork... Shot blocker... Defends... Alters shots... Wingspan and size... Low post performer... Active on glass...
Abbey Lawrence - 5'9 - WING - 2018 - Newark Tech HS - (NJ) - Off - Guard who plays along the wing, has range in length. Spot up shooter... Long arms... Defends... Handle... Mid - Range gamer... On ball defender... Lanky frame... Scrappy...
D'aviyon Magazine - 5'7 - Combo-Guard - 2017 - Queen Of Peace HS - (NJ) - Lead guard with good hands, strong upper body with good size, stocky frame. Strong and physical... Creates for shot... Takes on contact... Can knock down big shot...
Amani Boston - 5'4 - Guard - 2019 - Cathedral HS - (MA) - Lead - guard with crafty ball handling skills, gets out on the breaks in runs. Uptempo... Delivers in transition... Consistent... Handle...
Jariah Paterson - 5'9 - Guard - 2020 - Immaculate Conception HS - (NJ) - Athletic combo - guard, combo - guard with a little range. Solid guard skills... Results in traffic...
Tatyana Ashmeade - 5'11 - Forward - 2018 - Paterson Eastside HS - (NJ) - Small forward how brings a lot of energy to the game along with good intangibles. Raw... Rebounds... Garbage points around the basket... Tweener...
Caitlin Townes - 5'7 - Guard - 2018 - Newark Tech HS - (NJ) - Lead - Guard with superior passing skills, creates off the dribble while in transition. Active in lanes... Uptempo... Good hands... Handle... Attacks... Smooth... Drives and deliver with body control...
Jabarria Brown - 5'8 - Guard - 2019 - Paterson Eastside HS - (NJ) - Lead - guard who loves to attacks off the dribble, strong and physical. Attacks in transition... Clock manager... Runs offenses well in a halfcourt set...
Nyla Allen - 5'2 - Guard - 2020 - Potter's House Christian Academy HS - (FL) - Cat like speed, lead - guard who breaks defenses down. Distributes and dictates tempo of game... Interior passes... Quick first step... Handle... Crafty... Gets out in transition...
Onome Akinbode - James - 6'3 - Forward - 2018 - Blair Academy HS - (NJ) - Agile interior performer; great in pick in roll situations. Shot blocker... Rebounds... Defends... Can put the ball on the floor... Creates space in the painted area... Raw... Runs floor...
Jennifer Davis - 5'5 - Guard - 2018 - TPLS Christian Academy HS - (VA) - Lead - guard with high basketball IQ, good stroke from beyond the arc. Make things look easy in the halfcourt set... Shoots the ball at a high percentages...
Taliyah Countrymon - 6'1 - Forward - 2018 - Cathedral HS - (MA) - Versatile perimeter player with size in the front court, can switch to face up game. Size in length... Consistent on both ends of the court... Rebounds... Athletic... Long arms...
Taliyah Countrymon - 6'1 - Forward - 2018 - Cathedral HS - (MA) - Versatile perimeter player with size in the front court, can switch to face up game. Size in length... Consistent on both ends of the court... Rebounds... Athletic... Long arms...
Kelina Menard - 5'7 - Guard - 2019 - Immaculate Conception HS - (NJ) - Smooth floor leader with handle; attacks basket under control. Push tempo in delivers... Passes are money... Energy... Handle... Quick off the bounce...
Forever Toppin - 5'9 - Guard - 2018 - Queen Of Peace HS (NJ) - Confident lead - guard floor leader with speed; Ultra quick... Handle... Uptempo... Handles and dishes in transition... Strives in open court...
Mariah Perez - 6'3 - Forward - 2019 - Newark Tech HS (NJ) - Versatile interior post prospect with strong power game inside; Starting to show her arsenal of weapons on offense... Shot blocker... Strong... Physical... Skilled in the paint...
Erica Martinsen - 5'11 - Combo-Guard - 2018 - Blair Academy HS (NJ) - Combo with exceptional shooting skills, has good range in a quick release. Uptempo, gets out in run... Handle... Quick release... High arc shoot... Shooters touch... Elevates on jump shot... Can create own shot...
Janeen Camp - 6'5 - Post - 2017 - TPLS Academy HS (VA) - Interior post with a intimidating presence, plays well off pick in roll situation. Passes well for size... Excellent foot work... College frame... Good hands... Shot blocker... Mobility... Clogs lane... Size and strength...
Sierra Swanda - 5'10 - Forward - 2017 - Potter's House Christian Academy HS (FL) - Athletic interior player, with good foot work. Moves well without the ball... Quick on the block.. Creates space... Explodes to basket...
Jordan McLemore - 5'7 - Guard - 2018 - Immaculate Conception HS (NJ) - Smooth lead-guard with good awareness, poise and calm. Penetrates and dishes rock while in lane... Plays under control... Mid-Range gamer... Starting to play with confidence...
Jasmine Gaines - 5'6 - Guard - 2017 - Potter's House Christian Academy HS (FL) - Explosive lead-guard who shines in the uptempo game, creates off the dribble. Body control when attacking the basket... Strong upper body... Scorers mentality... Great in pressure situation... Elevates on pull up...
Erica Martinsen - 5'11 - Combo-Guard - 2018 - Blair Academy HS (NJ) - Combo with exceptional shooting skills, has good range in a quick release. Uptempo, gets out in run... Handle... Quick release... High arc shoot... Shooters touch... Elevates on jump shot... Can create own shot...
Janeen Camp - 6'5 - Post - 2017 - TPLS Academy HS (VA) - Interior post with a intimidating presence, plays well off pick in roll situation. Passes well for size... Excellent foot work... College frame... Good hands... Shot blocker... Mobility... Clogs lane... Size and strength...
Sierra Swanda - 5'10 - Forward - 2017 - Potter's House Christian Academy HS (FL) - Athletic interior player, with good foot work. Moves well without the ball... Quick on the block.. Creates space... Explodes to basket...
Jordan McLemore - 5'7 - Guard - 2018 - Immaculate Conception HS (NJ) - Smooth lead-guard with good awareness, poise and calm. Penetrates and dishes rock while in lane... Plays under control... Mid-Range gamer... Starting to play with confidence...
Jasmine Gaines - 5'6 - Guard - 2017 - Potter's House Christian Academy HS (FL) - Explosive lead-guard who shines in the uptempo game, creates off the dribble. Body control when attacking the basket... Strong upper body... Scorers mentality... Great in pressure situation... Elevates on pull up...