AZ's Top Performers 4/8-10

Pictured kneeling L-R: Kenna McDavis, Shilpa Tummala, Alexa Jacobs; standing L-R: Jasmine Hotchkins, Cortnee Walton.

Leading into the springs evaluation period many teams and players like to get in some game time in local tournaments to work out kinks, shake off rust, and sharpen timing in preparation.  This weekend was no different in that many players showed why they are highly regarded prospects, new faces arose out of the bunch and budding stars continued to separate themselves.
Here is a briefing on some of the Arizona players to be seen next weekend starting with the 2012 class on through some 2015 players in no particular order.

2012's

• Cortnee Walton, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  Plays hard is her modus operandi.  She doesn't take a play off.  She plays for the team and bigger good, setting screens, blocking shots, rebounding, rotating off help-side defense.  She covers on-ball screens with the best of them, showing well and recovering.  She can hit the 15ft shot consistently. She has vastly improved her ability to put the ball on the ground and attack the basket from the pinch/high post area.  She is relatively proficient with her back to the basket.  Doesn't necessarily possess a variety of moves but knows how to use her body, protect the ball and finish. At 6'2 she possesses a solid build, fit with good shoulders, solid legs, a very durable body.  I've not known her to be injury prone.  Cortnee can greatly improve her game by getting more range on her jump shot, improving on perimeter skills and finishes.  She has been spending the past month running the 300 hurdles for school track team.  She will be traveling with her club team AZ Warriors to Boo Williams 4/15-17. They have not had practice together since high school ended and will be missing play-maker Shilpa Tummala.  Not sure what they will bring to the table this year at Boo.
• Shilpa Tummala, 5'11 G, (AZ12):  Shilpa is a game changer, simply put.  She is very capable of having big games and has had many of them, none bigger than her first half 18pts. before leaving the game with an injury to help lead her high school team, St. Mary's, to a state title this year. Also scored 30pts against Boo in last year's Boo William's event to only come up a possession short of taking the host team down in the first round.  Shilpa scores in a variety of ways, with the three ball, off the dribble, cutting/slashing, running the floor.  Shilpa will get better the better she takes care of her body.  It's very important she work on her defensive footwork, agility, conditioning and speed.  Strength training is going to improve her game drastically and help her to stay better injury free. She has been rehabbing a shoulder injury she sustained in the Arizona state championship game.  She was a last second scratch from Boo and will not be traveling with her club team to Virginia to better take care of her injury and not having the opportunity to prepare for competition.
• Jamee Swan, 6'2 F, (AZ12):  A very energetic small forward that plays with a lot of energy and emotion.  She rebounds with a viciousness and every time I have seen her she has improved more on her outside shot.  She possesses length and athleticism in a solid build. She is a fierce competitor and worker.  She seems to be headed in the right direction with her training, can maybe attack the basket better, add second moves to beat help and counters. Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17
• Shealyn Brown, 6'4 P, (AZ12): The best 6'4 body in Arizona. She has strong legs, good build for a post.  She is still looking to define her game in more detail but more and more I see her she is getting comfortable and making plays.  Shea runs the floor very well.  She is a presence inside and alters a lot of shots. She pulls down rebounds and is strong with the ball.  She has a nice stroke that she can connect on from 15ft.  The physical tools she brings to her game are undeniable but what would take her game to the next level is a deeper low post game.  She stills looks uncomfortable playing with her back to the basket and doesn't show a variety of moves.  I also think she can be great on the bounce but I need to see her attack the basket more.  Will be playing with AZ Elite at Elite Classic in Tempe AZ. 4/15-17.
• Emily Wahlberg, 6'3 F, (AZ12): Not as strongly built as the other forwards and posts listed but has the best range on her shot.  Emily can shoot the three, the mid-range and pull-up off the dribble.  Not enormously quick but with work and strength training she can be a solid small forward because she has solid fundamentals and skills. Emily is probably also the best passer out of the bunch.  Both her high school and club team have good perimeter shooters and she has learned to find them.  Emily's biggest turnaround is going to be her getting stronger, faster and quicker.  She can probably use some tightening up on her dribbling since she is going to be a player that can play out on the perimeter as well as inside.  She doesn't seem to be very physical inside yet and is maybe more apt to place a face up game so possessing those skills are going to be key. Will be playing with AZ Rhythm at Boo.
• JeZhe Newton, 6'4 P, (AZ12): JeZheJeZhe doesn't particularly like to bang inside and struggles against feistier smaller posts that will get physical and hustle more. She tends to lose her legs and struggle finishing in hard battled games. So what I think is really important for her preparation to play at the next level is to learn to be more physical, work on her conditioning and work on her drive to attack the basket. Will be playing with GSB at Boo 4/15-17.
• Simone Westbrook, 5'9 G, (AZ12): Verbal commit to ASU is a crafty guard, very physical with good size. Shows some athleticism on takes and finishes at the basket. Likes to get out in the open court and is a great 1/1 player in those confines. She gets a lot of steels, knows how to anticipate in the passing lanes and when playing ball.  Can be a good rebounding guard. Doesn't have the most orthodox or pretty shot but will connect if left too wide open.  She prefers to drive and get to the rim.  Doesn't really possess a shot off the dribble. Might be too late but does need some work on her jump shot. She anticipates well but does seem a little slow at times.  Maybe doesn't always give all her effort on every possession.  She will be playing for GSB at Boo 4/15-17. **This just in- Simone will not be traveling to Boo, per personal reasons.**
• Arnecia Hawkins, 5'8 G,(AZ12): Early Verbal commit to ASU, very smooth poised player, very sound, disciplined.  Arnecia is very good at getting to the line, knows how to get to the rim and draw contact. She has a great mid-range game. Arnecia's game is getting that first step and pulling up for short jumper.  She is very good and consistent from the 10-17ft area. She is very light on her feet and get down the floor in a hurry.  Her shot can tend to be a little flat which is a bigger factor for her shooting beyond the arc. She is good with the dribble but not exceptionally quick or strong which seems to be a factor against ball pressure.  She looks more comfortable in the off guard roll as opposed to a point guard position.  I would like to see Arnecia getting stronger physically and make her dribble stronger and quicker.
• Cassidy Ranger, 5'10 SG, (AZ12): Cassidy is AZ's most improved player over all.  She didn't even make her varsity squad last year.  She has put in a lot of work with a great shooting coach her in AZ. and continues to make strides in her game.  She has solid shooting mechanics and is getting more and more consistent every time I see her. She has a solid 5'10 frame.  Her biggest adjustments have been catching up with the speed of games, defense, experience and she has made huge leaps since the first time i watched her.  She is still a subpar defender but I have notice improvements in this area and I believe she is committed to the end to continue her growth.
• Lauren Evans, 5'11 SG, (AZ12): Lauren is an athletic long lock down defender. She is highly competitive and brings it every night. Known for her defense, but Lauren is going to give you 15pts & 5-7 rebounds, 5stls a night on top of locking down opponents best perimeter player. Lauren does a great job of getting inside an opponents defense, whether off the drive or cut to knock down that 10-15ft jumper.  She can handle the ball in the back court.  Not a great 3 point shooter but still needs to be guarded outside the arc.  She does tend to over gamble on the defensive side and will have to learn to play more straight up against better ball handlers that will make her pay.  She can learn to become a stronger dribbler and more consistent shooter beyond the arc.

2013's

• Lindsay Leikem, 6'2 F, (AZ13): A very sound fundamental forward.  Lindsay has the best shooting mechanics of any AZ big.  She is solid with her mid-range game.  She has decent ball handling ability, not extremely athletic or quick.  She is a safe player, not very dynamic but doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She plays within her self and fill it up if you can get her open in the right spots.
• Sydney Wiese, 5'6 G, (AZ13): Syd's M.O. is she has massive range, a lefty that is a deadly 3 point shooter. Syd is not afraid to launch it from anywhere on the court in any situation.  She is very offensively minded.  Syd is a great free throw shooter.  In the past year she has learned to set her feet better, quicker and quickened her release.  She seems to demonstrate moxy and poise in big games.  Syd has a very lean frame and is bumped off her dribble to easy. She struggles against stronger, quicker guards and is a sub-par defender.  She just doesn't have the strength or speed to stop elite guards.  She easily gets coerced into dribbling too much and into traps. Problem she has playing good guards is she dribbles with her head down, too much and doesn't have good economy of motion.  Just as her positive M.O. is she has range, her negative M.O. is whe turns the ball over too much and takes too many of her own shots. She is much better off the ball but is primary point guard for high school.  She does also tend to take ill-advised shots in the course of a game but that can be interpreted as what she is being asked to do.  Will be present at Boo with her club team GSB.
• Jasmine Hotchkins, 5'4 PG, (AZ13):  Super quick guard with superb ball skills. Jas is a great defender that can pressure the ball the length of the floor, she is very disruptive defensively and pesky.  She is getting much better off the ball anticipating passing lanes and coming up with steals.  Jas is a great shooting point guard that can score as well as distribute.  She has range, a very quick step and super quick pull-up off the dribble. Although she is becoming more proficient getting to and finishing around the basket amongst the bigs she can probably look to penetrate more with her skills and create for her team.  She can tend to put her head down on the take and miss open teammates.  Needs to learn to be more assertive, better communicator and leader on the floor.  Jas has played with many good players and still tends to pass and hide when she can help her team by being more assertive. Jas will be in Tempe at the AZ Elite Classic with her new club team AZ Rebels
• Britta Nordstrom, 5'11 F, (AZ13): Very athletic, powerful and strong on the take.  possesses good speed in the open court, can finish strong around the basket.  Britta has improved her outside shot but maybe not real consistent yet, much better driver and slasher right now.  She can work on her first step and developing a more consistent shot outside will drastically help that.  Is just an average defender and learn to improve her defensive game.  Will be at Boo playing for GSB.
• Kenna McDavis, 6'1 W,(AZ13): Kenna has good size at the wing and is long.  She has one of the smoothest strokes and can flat out shoot it from outside in transition.  She is athletic.  She can block shots and even play some offense down low or from the pinch/high post. Her size and length helps her on the take but she still tends to drive to upright, doesn't necessarily beat her defender, gets them low and makes a move on them.  Kenna is a great shot blocker but can sometimes be over anxious and find her self in foul trouble. She loves to play the game but sometimes might show too much frustration on the court. Although it is something she has gotten better with. Kenna will be playing with AZ Rebels at the AZ Elite Classic in Tempe, AZ.
• Kyndall Adams, 5'10 G, (AZ13): Athletic, great rebounding guard who knows how to get to the line.  Kyndall has played out of position a lot for her teams, truly a guard that has played a lot of forward.  That is the reason why she probably plays so strong when she drives or goes back up on offensive boards. She has learned to play bigger than she really is.  She has an outside game and the more she gets to exercise it, the more proficient she will become.  Tends to drive a lot when I would like to see her pull-up or shoot the open outside shot more when it presents it self. Confidence to shoot from outside and extending her range will be key to her success. Continually improving her ball skills is a must as I see her as a combo guard at the next level. She will be playing with her club AZ Rhythm in Virginia at Boo.
• Katie Werner, 6'1 W, (AZ13): Great size out on the wing.  She hustles, plays hard, rebounds and knocks down outside shots.  She does a sound job containing her opponent and keeping players off the boards.  She still tends to drive up-right.  Her ball skills have improved much over the past year and can possibly even help bring the ball up against pressure. I see strength training playing a key role in her development, learning how to get low on her drive. I would like to see her set her feet a little quicker and quicken her shot and realease. She will be playing for her club team GSB at Boo.
• Olivia Lucero, 5'9 PG, (AZ13): Is a great system point.  She has shown her ability to set her team up and consistantly run a teams offense.  She is not necessarily a scorer but possesses tools to score if she has the opportunity.  She takes care of the ball and is heading in the right direction. Has good size at the pg position but can possibly be a more prolific ball handler and stronger. Plays for AZ Elite. They will be competing in their own tournament in Tempe this weekend.
• Alexa Jacobs, 5'8 G, (AZ13): Solid defender, fierce competitor, plays with a lot of energy.  She is pesky and can make plays on the defensive end.  She can knock down the open shot. Shot tends to be a little flat and can improve consistency with a little better arc. Decision making, making reads, and floor leadership are going to be key in her development. Playing for AZ Rebels in Tempe, Az this weekend.
• Chantel Osahor, 6'3 P, (AZ13): Great hands, vision and passing ability.  Probably the best passing post in the nation.  Chantel is very deceptive in everything she does, looks off defenders and can make no-look passes.  She sets up her drive well and can take to the basket.  She blocks shots and rebounds very well.  She can also help bring the ball up against pressure.  She also has to be guarded out on the perimeter because she can hit the three.  Key for Chantel is going to be her commitment to getting in shape.  She tends to get winded easily and she has had issues with injuries that can be drastically reduced with better conditioning. Her durability is a big question.  She will be playing with her club AZ Warriors in Boo Williams.
• Lyndsey Leikam, 6'2 F, (AZ13): Solid fundamentals, great shooting mechanics, solid frame and size for her position.  Lyndsey is a hard match-up because of her versatility with her size.  She can handle the ball, shoot, post, rebound, defend. I would like to see her work on her speed and extend her range.  If she can play more on the perimeter she will truly be a gem. Playing for AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Dominique Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Solid build, strong, tenacious defender. Dom is a bully on ball handlers.  With her build and energy she expends on the defensive end is frightening to other guards. She sees the floor well and knows how to push the ball and create tempo for her team.  Offensive perimeter skills are a little lacking and she might have trouble scoring if she needs to.  She will make her self better with better change of direction moves and working on her ability to shoot from outside. Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo.
• Danielle Williams, 5'9 G, (AZ13): Maybe not as strong as her twin sister but quicker. She also is tenacious on the ball, really knows how to play defense. She has great court vision and makes great reads with the ball. A little better offensively than her sister but can also vastly improve her ability to change directions off the dribble and develop a more consistent shot. Both sisters struggle to find their own offense or create their own shot.  Playing with AZ Warriors at Boo Williams.
• Chloe Johnson 5'6 G, (AZ13): Extremely athletic, fast and strong. She makes strong moves to the basket.  She is very vocal and shows leadership schools.  Not exceptionally quick handles but powerful explosiveness.  Needs some fundamental work on her shot.  Doesn't have great finger tip action, small hands. Ball comes off the side of the hand too much, tends to miss east/west more than north/south. Doesn't know quite how to get her legs in her shot yet. Doesn't have a mid-range game either.  Game is mostly predicated on athleticism and getting to the rim. Traveling with GSB to Boo.
• Aliyah Dickson 5'9 F, (AZ13): Strong, powerful athlete in the small forward/guard position.  Aliyah caries a strong wide frame with guard like athleticism.  She really knows how to use her body and is best at finishing against contact.  Game can be similar to a Bri Smith if she dedicated her self to the game, her team, and conditioning.  Aliyah is not a strong outside shooter.  She can learn to become more consistent outside and improve perimeter skills.  She relies on cutting slashing right now. Traveling with GSB to Boo



2014's coming





• Courtney Ekmark, 6' G, (AZ14): Displays arguably the best shooting mechanics of guards in Arizona.  She knows how to set her feet, spot up in teams offense.  As good as a shooter Ekmark is she also possesses great patience withing her teams offense.  She will keep working the ball within her teams offense until they get a lay-up or well open, uncontested shot. She is a pure shooter but also has the ability to handle the ball in the full court and has great court vision.  Courtney is not overly quick or strong and can struggle against quicker more athletic guards both on the defensive and offensive end. Courtney has a very lean frame and her lack of strength might be the biggest factor in her inability to explode off the dribble, get open or stay low and move her feet on defense. Having said that her opportunity to gain more mass is important.  She has the basketball tools tot do things maybe her body can't allow her to do right now.  Her 1st step can see improvement, her ability to create her own shot, get open, and play better defense can all improve. She has a superb shot but can possibly quicken her release a little as long as it doesn't take away from her efficiency. Traveling to Boo with her club team AZ Warriors coached by her dad Curtis, who also coaches her high school team.
• Casey Rarrick, 5'9 G, (AZ14): Fearless shooting guard who can attack the basket and connect from outside.  Casey has a certain moxy about her and caries her self with lots of confidence.  She plays big minutes for her high school and club team. Her club team possesses a lot of shooters that help spread the floor and have great ball movement.  My concern with Casey will be how she can handle pressure and how she will be effective against teams that play tighter defense. Her dribble isn't real quick and strong and she plays up-right, as do many young players. Needs to improve her point guard skills. Plays for AZ Rhythm who will be at Boo.
• Emily Wolph, 5'4 PG, (AZ14) Small quick guard, good handles that can shoot from outside. Great game at mid level.  Not sure she has the frame to get that much stronger to be an impact player at the next level.  She will definitely need to get stronger, especially in the legs and clean up her shot mechanics. AZ Rhythm will be at Boo.
• Ceclily Wilson, 5'9 G, (AZ14) Has displayed a lot of athleticism in attacking the basket. Elite athleticism right now.  Needs to continue to work on game and develop an outside shot.
2015's
• Armani Hawkins, 5'6, (AZ15): Showing the beginnings of a budding star.  She possesses strong fundamentals and has a great feel for the game. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Sabrina Haines 5'8, (AZ15): Very good rebounding guard, strong with major game experience for her age. She is a hard worker on the floor and seems to find ways to impact the game, mostly through her hustle and work. Playing for AZ Elite in Tempe.
• Kendall Perry 5'7 G, (AZ15): Kendall is shaping up into a nice leader, capable of running a team. She has sound skills and looks to keep on flourishing.
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