ATL SummerSlam
Girls Analysis

ATL SummerSlam: 2022 Top Performers

Natalie Herrin5-8 PG Natalie Herrin – Georgia Dream Team ’22 – Pierce County
It took two years, but I finally got to see Natalie Herrin in action, Pierce County’s all-time leading scorer and already a two-time Region Player of the Year. The wait was worth it as Herrin put up monster numbers to lead the Georgia Dream Team to a 4-0 weekend. Herrin, a softball star, is starting to focus more on basketball. According to Head Coach Guy Coleman, it is her first-time playing travel ball. Herrin is a natural athlete. A strong bodied guard with an aggressive mindset. She has some unorthodox parts to her game like her quick release jumper which isn’t necessarily textbook, but effective. Herrin isn’t a complete finished product yet and has some room for polish but she flashes potential. Herrin is at her best when attacking the rim. She is strong enough to not get bumped off her path and absorbs contact when finishing inside as a foul magnet. Against FBC Reign, she poured in 27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals, going 9-12 from the line. Herrin likes to pull-up in the lane, but also has a eurostep and floater in her arsenal. Natalie routinely makes the right pass in transition using her court vision to find the open man. Herrin likes to shoot the three off the bounce; she will dribble straight to the line and fire. Natalie put up 24 points (10-20 FG; 2-7 3PT; 2-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block in the championship game, a 58-43 win over PSB Elite with only 1 turnover. Herrin is a tough-nosed defender that follows the ball around the top of the zone applying double team pressure. She logs big minutes and rarely subs out as the team’s primary ball handler. She can play either on or off the ball, sometimes preferring to play off so she can get more open looks from three, but with the Dream Team, she is pressed into full-time point guard duties. Jacksonville State and Mercer have shown interest. I think right now she’s an intriguing option for D-II/III programs. With a full-time focus on basketball at the next level, Herrin could develop into a really impactful player.

Ava Hunter6-0 C Ava Hunter – FBC EOTO Black – Union County
Not many can match Ava Hunter’s physicality inside. The North Georgia-commit blends overpowering strength with skillful finesse on the low block. Hunter engages defenders and seals hard before catching and finishing with drop steps or hooks. She can help handle the ball as a safety valve against the press. Defensively, though she may not be overly long or bouncy, Hunter still manages to rebound and block shots at a high clip. Ava had 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks against EAB Gold.

Kehinde Obasuyi5-5 PG Kehinde Obasuyi – Porter Sports – Carrollton
The devastatingly quick lefty did her thing in a 58-49 win over Midwest United. Obasuyi has a different gear that most guards can’t crank to. Her speed and shiftiness with the ball consistently breakdowns defenses. She gets to her spots in the mid-range and has three-point range. Kehinde had 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.

Jessie Parish6-2 F Jessie Parish – Atlanta Cagers BlueChip-Storms – Hebron Christian
If she’s not the premier stretch-four in Georgia, Jessie Parish is darn close. She is such a threat with her size and skill. Parish has an elite college body with broad shoulders thanks to her swimming career. She shoots the mid-range and three-point ball well and can attack with the dribble and finish off two feet through contact. Parish had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist in a 51-42 win over Bria Holmes. Wofford is getting a plug-and-play forward.

Sophie Smith5-7 PG Sophie Smith – Atlanta Cagers BlueChip-Storms – Denmark
D-II hearts broke when Sophie Smith poured in 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in front of a slew of D-I programs. Smith had everything working. She hit 4 threes, getting her shot off the bounce. When Smith decided to get to the rim, she showed off her crafty finishing abilities. Her quickness, ball handling, court vision and three-point range all add up to Smith being a D-I point guard.

5-6 CG Emily Acampora – Atlanta Cagers-Smith – Harrison
The prettiest shot in Georgia, Emily Acampora had her elite three-point stroke working in the two games I saw. She sprayed 7 threes combined as she finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block after netting 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block earlier in the event. Acampora has improved her ball handling but still has room for growth. She is the perfect three-point specialist at the next level. Berry College has offered.

Chesnee Freeman5-3 PG Chesnee Freeman – DL Impact – White County
In a 45-38 loss to the Carolina All-Stars, Chesnee Freeman still managed to impress. The feisty sparkplug is an energy giver. She sparks her team with her on-ball defense and her fearless drives to the hoop. Freeman is a dangerous three-point shooter and a sneaky good finisher at the rim. She had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. I could see D-III and NAIA programs eventually pulling the trigger.

Raven Thompson5-11 F Raven Thompson – FBC Bouncenation 17U – Langston Hughes
The big powerful combo-forward closed out ATL SummerSlam with an impressive showing against Team Knight. Thompson recorded 11 points and 8 rebounds. She attacked the rim hard, driving left and using her body to shield the ball from shot blockers and negate their length. Thompson has quick feet for her size. She will need to work on her left hand and outside shot some, but Thompson is a uniquely versatile piece.