Shutdown Showcase Day 1

Shutdown Showcase: Day 1 Standouts

Mataya Gayle2023 5-7 PG Mataya Gayle – FBC Blitz – River Ridge
A dynamo athlete with terrific bloodlines and success at the varsity level already (15.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.6 spg), Gayle made a lasting first impression on Monday. She is a great athlete with outstanding body control. She has a quick burst to the basket and knows how to finish in congested areas, using a pretty floater and a variety of layups. She gets great lift on her jump shot and has proven that she’s a threat from deep, going 53-160 (33%) as a freshman and sinking two trifectas against Team Elite. Gayle has all the god given abilities to have a historic career at River Ridge. She finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Elle Kenney
2023 5-7 SG Elle Kenney – FBC Blitz – Cherokee
Cherokee’s pipeline just won’t stop. Elle Kenney was by far the best shooter in the gym on Monday. She had a picture-perfect stroke and was near automatic whenever she got a clean look at the basket. She projects to be a premier floor spacer over the course of her career. She handled the ball well against pressure and always seemed to be composed. If she can continue to work on her creativity with the ball and ability to get into the lane, Kenney will become the complete package on offense. Opposing coaches won’t want to forget her name in the scouting report once she cracks the varsity rotation.

2022 6-2 C Sofia Reyes – Team Elite EYBL – River Ridge
A strong presence inside, Reyes made a major impact in Team Elite’s 53-46 win over FBC Blitz. Reyes has a sturdy frame and moves well for her size, able to find her way into rebounding situations. Blitz couldn’t match her activity on the glass as she went for 11 points and 11 rebounds. She had no problem finishing in traffic.

2021 5-9 G Imani Smith – Hoop Dreams Athletics – Hiram
Imani Smith rose her stock in a big way with consistent play for Hoop Dreams Athletics. In Game 1, she lit it up from three, hitting three deep balls in near succession to spark her team. She finished with 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 3 steals. In Game 2, she showcased her ability to attack the basket, netting 8 points to go with 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Smith can serve minutes at 1-3 and is has an aggressive mindset on offense.

Patsy Mosley
2021 5-9 PG Patsy Mosley – WP Celtics Nard – Maynard Jackson
Patsy Mosley was hard to contain in the Celtics’ 58-55 win over Hoop Dreams Athletics. A quick, athletic and aggressive lead guard, Mosley made plays by slashing into the lane and putting pressure on the defense. She provided some flair as well and refused to let her team lose, scoring 9 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter. She added on 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. Schools in need of an electric playmaker need to keep Mosley in mind.

Crystal Henderson2023 5-6 PG Crystal Henderson – WP Celtics Team Henderson – Kell
It doesn’t matter to me that she’s only a rising sophomore or that she’s not as big as other guards – Crystal Henderson is one of Georgia’s elite, regardless of classification. She should have college offers right now. She’s arguably the state’s best shooter and most well-rounded scorer. In a 12-point loss to Team Elite Hubbard, who’s loaded with stars like two-time reigning Miss Sandy’s Spiel five-star point guard Kayla McPherson and state champion Kaleigh Addie, Henderson hung 28 points. In a rout of Hoop Dreams Athletics 56-33, Henderson tacked on 16 points and 4 assists. No team has yet to slow down Henderson. She forced the issue at times when shots weren’t dropping early on against Team Elite, but once she got into a flow, all the opposition could do was try to contain her. Henderson has the ball on a string and handles the rock well, considering how physical bigger defenders try to play with her. Henderson still manages to find a way into the paint when teams try to single cover her and finishes with floaters and scoop layups. It’s always insane whenever I see a defender go under the screen on her, but when you’re a knockdown shooter coupled with a shifty handle, it’s really up to the defense to pick their poison. Aside from her scoring, she’s got great court vision and makes difficult passes look easy. Once “Moochie” starts to pack on muscle to her frame, there might not be a way to stop her if there isn’t one already.

Jamiah Gregory2023 5-9 G Jamiah Gregory – WP Celtics Team Henderson – Kell
More of a wing and combo forward at the high school level, Gregory’s versatility really shined on Monday as she was the secondary option at point guard, taking the role of initiator when the ball wasn’t in Crystal Henderson’s hands. Known for her freak athleticism, Gregory showed some improvement on her outside shot, sinking three three-pointers over two games. An area where she hasn’t needed improvement has been her aggressiveness on the glass. She was a handful all day with her quick second leaps. She had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 1 steal in Game 1, followed by 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in Game 2. Gregory’s slashing was in full effect Monday. While she’s more of a straight-line driver right now, once she adds some side-to-side wiggle with her ball handling she will become ever tougher to stay in front of.

2023 6-2 PF Anna Vereen – WP Celtics Team Henderson – Sprayberry
Length and activity equals production. Anna Vereen changed shots all day in the paint and provided Team Henderson with the perfect back line of defense. Still not fully grown into her body and gangly, Vereen wasn’t afraid to mix it up and provide some physicality. She had 5 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 blocks vs. Team Elite Hubbard before battling D-I forwards 6-3 Taylor Cullinan (Alabama), 6-2 Lauren Walker (Duke) and 6-2 Kharyssa Richardson (HM offers), posting 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 3 blocks. Vereen is a post that D-I schools will want to familiarize themselves with.

Kaleigh Addie
2022 5-7 PG Kaleigh Addie – Team Elite Hubbard – GAC
A habitual scorer, Kaleigh Addie got buckets again dumping in 19 points in a win over WP Celtics Team Henderson. Addie composed a potent backcourt with superstar Kayla McPherson.  The two played well off each other sharing primary ball handling duties. Addie was the beneficiary of a few beautiful McPherson assists. Coming off a Xavier offer, Addie’s stock continues to rise as the offensive standout keeps honing her game.

2022 5-11 G Chae Harris – Team Elite Hubbard – Shiloh
Though she didn’t score, Chae Harris was able to positively affect the game with her defense. A long and athletic guard, Harris’ on-ball defense stymied Crystal Henderson at times. Harris has a great wingspan and quickness to move laterally to stay in front of ball handlers. She helps out on the glass and can push the ball in transition. She had 5 rebounds and 1 block vs. WP Celtics Team Henderson. She averaged 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.4 blocks as a sophomore.

2021 5-6 G Ghylissa Knowles – Team Elite Mann – Fayette County
Another player that didn’t light up the stat sheet, Knowles was still able to be a key cog for Team Elite Mann. Knowles has a strong all-around floor game. She knows when to move the ball, when to attack, how to crash the glass and how to defend without fouling. Her IQ and instincts carried her on Monday, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Autumn Phillips2021 5-6 PG Autumn Phillips – Team Elite Mann – Langston Hughes
Phillips was one of the most fun players to watch on Monday. She’s got some excitement to her game as an aggressive attacking point guard that still finds the time to facilitate. She gets downhill in a hurry in transition but doesn’t overdo it and force the issue. Phillips has wiggle and can slide into the paint. She hit three threes to keep the defense honest. Phillips had the ball poked away from her on the press a few times, but for the most part she was able to handle the pressure and get into the offense.  She finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Her pace of play bodes well for a college that likes to get up and down and let their point guard make reads.

Haley Johnson
2022 5-8 CG Haley Johnson – Justus League – Cass
Johnson was a great pleasant surprise vs. EOTO Black. She played under control, pushed the ball when needed and set up the offense in the half court. Defensive pressure didn’t rattle her and she took what the defense was giving her. She shined with her stop-and-pop game, pulling up in rhythm to splash the mid-range. Johnson also used her size to help out on the glass and on defense. She finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 block. Really nice performance.

2021 6-3 C Ashlee Locke – EOTO Black – Flowery Branch – Mercer
Locke came on in spurts and showed flashes of her D-I pedigree. She had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. She had a strong eight-point second quarter, but struggled at times to finish around the rim. Locke is a mobile post that can step outside and shoot from the perimeter. She has some back-to-the-basket moves when she takes her time and doesn’t get too far underneath the hoop. Even in a mediocre performance, Locke still led all scorers with 12 points, proving her overall effectiveness.

Dasha Cannon
2021 5-7 CG Dasha Cannon – EOTO Black – White County
A big guard with IQ and skills, Dasha Cannon made a strong first impression with her versatile skill set. She is a powerfully built guard, but moves very well and has no trouble pushing the tempo. She can use her frame to body smaller defenders and on the other side of the ball, keep ball handlers out of the lane. Cannon showcased impressive court vision and passing, able to set up teammates on drive and dish opportunities. In a pinch, she could play 1-5 for White County depending on matchups. Cannon ended her day with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals and 1 block.

2021 5-9 W Maddie Futch – EOTO Black – White County
Like her teammate Dasha Cannon, Maddie Futch had a positive first impression. She’s got a good frame for a wing that’s well portioned with muscle, able to absorb some contact when attacking the basket and battling for rebounds. Futch can finish with both hands and has no trouble mixing it up inside, able to play multiple positions, especially 2-5 at the high school level. On Monday, it was Futch’s three-point shot that was working. She hit two pretty looking jumpers and finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.

2023 5-11 PF Kate Jackson – EOTO Black – Lumpkin County
Before coming down with a knee injury with less than a minute to play, Jackson was extremely effective against Justus League. The young post understands how to position herself for rebounds and how to use her body to score inside. She does a good job gathering herself and has nice natural footwork. The physical post put up 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Jackson has a great future ahead at Lumpkin County after averaging 10.2 points and 10.2 rebounds as a freshman.

2021 5-8 G Mone Florence – Team Elite Dave – Eagle’s Landing
Florence had the ultimate green light as she fired away from deep. In a back and forth game, whenever it looked like Team Elite Dave was about to fall out of reach, Florence came up big with a bucket. She scored 14 points to go with her 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals. Florence stretched out the defense with her deep range and did a nice job getting to the basket when she attempted to. She had a sharp eurostep that highlighted her night. Her shot selection may need to improve, but shooters shoot.