ELITE 60 GIRLS SHOWCASE
As the first day of NGS Hoops Elite 60 Showcase wraps up, we take a look at some of the standouts from today’s action TOP PERFORMERS.
Londyn is a solid body post with good strength, hands, and broad shoulders. She is a good shot blocker on the defensive end which seems to be one of her best strengths. On offense, she operates rolling fast in screen and roll situations. I like her ability to catch, look, and evaluate her options when posting before she attacks her defender. Her willingness to post deep or seal smaller defenders in the paint forces defenses to collapse, leaving open teammates on every side of Lane. With her continued development, she may mirror former Ohio State big, Shayla Cooper.
Fulton’s game is well above her age group. She is an elite level scorer with otherworldly confidence. She is a scoring threat even five feet behind the 3-point line. She operates with flash, hurting the hearts of her opponents with daggering jump shots followed by menacing celebrations. At times, the game looks a bit too easy for her. On defense her length allows her to contest jump shots even blocking a few. Surely this will not be the last time we hear Kirsten Fulton’s name as I expect to be elite on every level ahead of her.
Southard’s game is simple and straight to the point. Millie’s bag is full of fundamentals which is most refreshing. She is a hard
right driver with a good handle. Once in the lane, she showed her ability to change direction and pace with snatch dribbles resulting in open free throw jumpers. If not stopped early by a defender, her powerful frame allows her to explode to the rim with a
running back like manner while absorbing contact from anyone who dares to contest. Her aggression should result in her being a steady scorer from the free throw line. Southards has all the makings of an TOP prospect in the class of 2029.
Avila put the “ELITE” in Elite 60. At 5’10, Jordan operates all over the court with the height of a power forward. Her athleticism and feathery footwork, give her the quickness and grace of a point guard. She attacks gaps well in the half-court whether with the ball in her hands or slashing violently through the lane. Her court vision coupled with aggressiveness creates mismatches and open teammates which she seems to hit in the right spot every time. She shoots the ball well and finishes with both hands. All in all, you would be hard pressed to find any play during the game that Avila did not affect. Watching her leap through the air, over and past helpless defenders reminded me of a 2012 version of former Norcross guard, Diamond Deshields.
Sims is a gamer. She operates best as a combo guard with swiss-army knife-like versatility. She showed a capable jump shot in the midrange off the dribble as well as off the catch from distance. She can be the ball handler in screen and roll situations, but also would be great short rolling in guard to guard screens due to her strong frame and vision in the middle of the court. She attacks the basket as well. Overall, Sims IQ is somewhat above her age and her development should allow her to figure out how to dominate the game at the next level well before her peers.
McKnight is a steady handed point guard from Oxford. Her hometown’s rich basketball history shines through Jala who was possibly the best passer in the Elite 60. While commanding players to move around the court with a true point guard’s demeanor, she zips no look passes from one side of the court to the other. Mcknight is an intriguing high IQ, lead guard to put on your radar over the next years.
The moment Anderson walks in the gym, anyone can tell she is a ball player. She oozes confidence, and not only in her pregame body language. The 5’5 guard shows shades of a young version of Rutgers guard, Kyomi McMiller. She has the ball on a string and is
not afraid to be flashy with it either. Her flurry of dribble combinations and counters catches the eye of any spectator.
Anderson is an exciting playmaker to watch who has all the tools to develop into an ELITE prospect.
The 5’9 wing was one of the most consistent player today. She has a great 3 point shot with a good touch from mid-range as well. Christian attacks the basket well with straight line drives from either slot. She can be used in multiple positions due to her ball handling skills, shot making prowess, and calm demeanor. Christian has a calm demander, but the game has her fingerprints all over it.
Stovall is a quick, twitchy point guard with a good handle that allows her to get anywhere on the court. She uses her cunning dribble moves (headlined by a killer left to right crossover) to leave her defenders in the dust. Great playmaker and high IQ lead guard.
Standing at a towering 6’3, Fox is a can’t miss prospect from the Hoop State. She has the classic look of a center: tall, slender, and arms that seem to touch the heavens. I immediately noticed her use of both hands around the basket, not only when open but
through contact as well. When catching the ball on rebounds and catches, she keeps it high and finishes high. Expect Madison to elevate to new levels as she continues to increase her strength.
Matchups of the Day
Kirsten Fulton vs. Jordan Avila
This game created sort of an unspoken buzz around the gym. The two versatile players, who seemed to be the all-around best performers at today’s event, were on a crash course to see who would leave the gym with an edge over the other. Fulton was her usual self, shooting shots from any and everywhere and letting her opponents know. She earned wows from all in attendance and gave a show as expected. Avila on the other hand attacked the game with a different approach. Although her strength is dribbling through everyone and galloping to the rim, this game she also ran the point a significant amount. She commanded teammates to get to their spots and used her long arms to cause havoc on defense. I left this matchup extremely satisfied with both individuals and look forward to seeing them playing against each other on national television someday.
Londyn Lane vs. Madison Fox
It was great to see bigs battle. Although it may be lost in today’s game, a great big battle mirrors a battle of gladiators. Lane used her weight and strength to get to the middle of the paint and find her jump hook multiple times. She did a good job on the boards, but her shot blocking affected the game tremendously. Her wide shoulders and strong base also helped her on defense where she acted as a brick wall to anyone who came her way.
Fox’s length allowed her to score over defenders as expected. She showed the ability to use both hands around the rim. What impressed me most was her short memory. Whether a good play or bad play, Fox can be seen hustling back on defense or rim running for layups with consistency. Once she improves her strength she will be a dominant force amongst the nation’s best.