Manheim,PA - Last week kicked off the 1st Session of 22-23 Winter Series Tournament, there where 90 teams all under one roof to jump start this amazing event. There where a few shoe circuit teams that came out to rep them. Going into the gym I really didn't know what to expect from the players since the summer time wrapped up in July or mid August. Some kids had been training, in some had been recovering from the long summer session.
The gym was chilling but with so much talent in the gym we all knew that thing's would eventually heat up. By the second day as expected thing's finally did, within the 8th Grade Division when Exodus (NY) took home the chip and sweeping threw the top A-D Division while going undefeated. They use their size to smothered teams which had a few rattle. Exodus when on too beat NEPA (43) - (56) they where led by Ryan Carter. In the E-H Division Championship Mid Atlantic Magic beat Team Pennsylvania (36) - (29) Magic we're Hayley Kolk, Team PA was led by Isabella Super. The 7th Grade Division A-D champs Southern Starz Georgia knock off Exodus (NY). I seen part of this team this past summer in Kentucky, they were under a different organization then but seems to me they loaded up and is looking to make some noise this winter and summer. Loriel Murray led the way for the Starz. In the B Division E-H chip was won by Team Outcast who beat Castle (NY) 41-40. 6th grade A-D Division Championship Fairfax Starz beat New Jersey Raptors (34) - (21). York Thunder knock off Glen Arms Gladiators (52) - (31) in the E-F B Division Championship. 5th Grade Division only had one division champ, which turn out to be Top Notch who beat Fairfax Starz (31) - (27).
Top Performers List:
Zya Smalls - 2027 - Forward - Nepa Elite - Did everything possible to help her team win, but came up short in the Championship against a tough Exodus team. Already a tough long prospect... Still growing... Physical, plays as strong as she looks... Nice frame for a young age.. Displayed a ton moves while on the the block... Her up in under is there... Moves the ball well when she was getting double team or trapped at half-court line...
Ashley MacCalla - 2027 - Wing - Exodus - Stock continuing to rise, pure athlete who can get up in down the floor weather its to score or defend. Mac is still raw, when her skill set catches up with her athleticism she should be one of the top players in her class... Creates on her own... Gets out in transition in pushes the rock... Starting to evolve... Has bounce in her game... Athlete... Active on the glass... Always around the ball... Dives to the floor for lose ball.
Nahkai Worthy - 2027 - Forward - Southern Starz Georgia - A combination of size and strength. Very mobile... Can put the ball on the floor... Has some point forward skills... Mid-Range jumper is there.. Makes moves with a purpose... Top Prospect for the class of 2027... Can mix up her attacks....
Ryan Carter - 2027 - Guard - Exodus - At last weeks event, Carter was by far the most talent kid in the Spooky Nook gym. In session 1, with offers already lined upon the table from this past summer, Carter has taken her game to a whole different level now, she has expanded her range on her jump shot. Creating off the the dribble a whole lot now... Hesitation dribble to the rack is keeping her defenders on their heels... Court vision is on point... Gets her team-mates involved... High ceiling for this prospect... Long arms and athleticism makes it a nightmare match up for imposing teams...
Regina Baker - 2027 - Combo Guard - New Heights - Philly cheese and her team came up short in the semifinals, came down to a foul with 1.5 seconds left on the clock. But baker was in her bag all weekend... Showed some promise... Scoring the ball seems to be getting easier. Goes hard in every game... Scorers mentality... Physical... Not afraid of contact... Pull up game is there...
Cora Castellani - 2027 - Combo Guard - NEPA - Lost but finishes strong against Exodus in the Finals. Can handle the ball in pressure... Excellent shooting ability... Quick release on jump shot. Scorers mentality... High basketball IQ...
Elyse Norris - 2027 - Guard - Southern Starz Georgia - Good young combo guard... Got to the rack with ease on a couple of occasion... Smooth with the ball... Showed us some good ball handling skills... Strong upper body... Athletic...
Kendra Foy - 2027 - Wing - New Heights - Seems like she just loves to play ball... Can do a little bit of everything that is ask of her... Plays hard on both ends... On ball defender... Tough.. High energy player... Brings that toughness to the team...
Keira Sellers - 2027 - Guard - New Heights - One of the smaller players playing in the A division. Efficient point guard play...Strives in the open court... Quick... Finds the gaps in transition... Scrappy... Uptempo guard...
Sydney Santora - 2027 - Guard - K-Low Elite - Very skilled, showed some maturity last weekend... Plays the game the right way... Calm in poise... Scorers in variety of way... Definitely a scoring threat...
Hayley Kolk - 2027 - Forward - Mid Atlantic Magic - Could have a huge upside, Kolk is a forward as of now... Long Athletic, in I'm sure she is still growing... Solid... Showed some good footwork in Winter Series... Can get up in down the floor... Very coordinate... Needs to stronger...
Logan Llyod - 2027 - Wing - K-Low Elite - Superb athlete, Has some bounce in her game... Attacks the rim off the dribble... Long frame along with long arms... Pick up a lot of points from the charity stripe... Pick up a couple of and 1 calls...
Laila Sharp - 2027 - Guard - DPS - Looks better and better every time I watch her... Definitely has skills to match... Blows by defenders while on attack... Wants to get to the basket...
Julia Gerber - 2027- Guard - CPE Elite - Made some good decision while facilitating... Gets a lot of assist by keeping thing simple and relying on her teammates to finish... Doesn't have blazing speed but can get her own.
Kayanah Taylor - 2028 - Forward - Team Pennsylvania - Physical and Athletic... Long arms in reach as well... Has some power in her game... Demands the ball on the block... Good body control for her size in age... Active on the boards... Pick up some early fouls, sometimes she is overly aggressive... Can turn in score in the post...
Mackenzi "Blu" Jackson - 2028 - Combo Guard - Team Durant - Plays ball like shes been here before... Smooth with the ball... Blu has a very deceitful look, but she can go get you a bucket at anytime... Gets to the rack in traffic... Has some wiggle in her game... Gets to her spots in the lane for some tear drops... Offensive threat always.. Has array moves in her arsenal...
Casey New - 2028 - Forward - Team Pennsylvania - Showed some ability of going up in grabbing some tough rebounds... Challenges anywhere along baseline in rim.... Goes hard in paint... Still a little raw with it...
Brea Lexennier - 2028 - Guard - Team Sharp - Had a good 1st session at Winter Series, showed her ability to knock down big shots in clutch moments. Brea's shooting ability was in full effect. Nice rotation on the ball... Her versatility is the key to her game... Mid-range jump shot seems to her specialty... Showed some deep ball threat... Ball Handle is there...
Zoe Wasserlauf - 2027 - Guard - Lady Gauchos - Showed a lot of promise pushing the ball in transition. Good mixes of finishes while attacking... Plays the floor general... Finishes with either hand... Crafty skills with the ball...
Olivia Digiovanni - 2028 - Guard - Team Sharp - Gained some notoriety when her team knock off a loaded Team Durant in OT. Brings a lot of versatility to her game... Fills those stats sheets... Good size and coordination.... Plays with a edge... Cleans up on the boards... Pick and pop she knows her spots...
Youngsters Watchlist
Elly Morris - 2030 - Guard - Fairfax Starz
Ariana Walker - 2030 - Guard - Top Notch
Lele Lopez - 2030 - Guard - Top Notch
Namiah Bittle - 2030 - Guard - Princess Warriors