Nike Tournament of Champions Top Upperclassmen
Seniors
Satavia Taylor 6’0’’ Guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
Taylor’s strong play and leadership on a young Bolingbrook team was the formula for success this week at the Tournament of Champions. Taylor is a long athletic wing player who can defend and score in a variety of ways.
Monique Oliver 6’2’’ Forward – Poly (CA)
We won’t beat a dead horse by spending time on a player who is a top 5 senior nationally. Oliver’s team Poly struggled at Tournament of Champions mainly because she did not demand the ball and want to take over. For Oliver to take her game to another level her personality will have to change so that she wants the ball in every situation. Oliver has the talent to score at will she just needs to have the will.
Stephanie Holzer 6’3’’ Center – Cardinal O’Hara (PA)
Holzer carried O’Hara over St. Mary’s with 29 points in the win. Holzer’s athletic ability will be a handicap in the SEC but look for an improved skill set to make her an immediate impact player at Vanderbilt.
Ann Marie Armstrong 6’2’’ Forward – Wesleyan (GA)
As good as she wants to be one scout said. After scoring 37 points in a win over Butler, Armstrong only scored 10 points in a loss to Regis Jesuit. Against St. Mary’s, Wesleyan trailed 19-16 before St. Mary’s went on a 14-1 run where Armstrong was invisible. Armstrong has all the tools to be an elite level SEC player but she like many others need to become more consistent.
Alyssa Bennett 5’9’’ Guard – Oak Hill (VA)
Bennett is a very savvy guard who is heading to West Virginia. Bennett is on one of the most talented teams in the country in Oak Hill but struggles to shoot the deep ball. Oak Hill is very limited at the point guard position so Bennett fills the void most of the time.
LaKeesa Daniel 6’4’’ Forward – Oak Hill (VA)
One of the most talented bigs in the event is headed to Wake Forest next year to suit up for the Demon Deacons. Daniel is 6’4’’ but has a game like a power forward where she can step away and hit shots and handle the ball to some extent.
Tianna Hawkins 6’2’’ Forward – Riverdale Baptist (MD)
Hawkins is headed to play with former teammate Dee Liles at Maryland next year where she will play the forward position. Hawkins struggled in Riverdale’s first game at TOC against Bolingbrook but hit her stride in Riverdale’s upset over Long Beach Poly.
Davellyn White 5’9’’ Guard – St. Mary’s (AZ)
White played lights out in the game against Mater Dei even though St. Mary’s lost by more then 20 points. Arizona’s Niya Butts is hitting the state of Arizona hard early with this signing.
Rahneeka Saunders 5’8’’ Guard – Riverdale Baptist (MD)
Saunders is headed to George Mason next year where she should be one of the top young point guards in the Colonial league. Saunders is extremely fast and has great vision from the point guard position.
Mariah Williams 5’4’’ Guard – Regis Jesuit (CO)
A good point guard on a good team is one of the smallest players at that position in the event but is still headed to UCLA next season. Williams is very good to her right on the break but needs to add some range to her game for the next level.
Kortni Jones 5’9’’ Guard – Oak Ridge (TN)
Possibly one of the few candidates for the MVP award at TOC is having a fantastic event scoring 19 points in an upset of H. D. Woodson. Jones who can shoot the ball well for a point guard is heading to Middle Tennessee State next year.
Juniors
Aaryn Ellenberg 5’8’’ Guard – Bishop Gorman (NV)
Aaryn is somewhat of a tweener because of size but regardless of what position you think she’ll play at the next level this Las Vegas product is a big time player. Ellenberg elevates well on her jumper and can score in a variety of ways.
Natasha Cloud 6’0’’ Guard – Cardinal O’Hara (PA)
Cloud verbally committed to Maryland a few days ago but did not stand out in Cardinal O’Hara’s win over St. Mary’s. Cloud looks like a top notch player but struggles to go left and did not show much range in the game.
Samarie Walker 6’2’’ Forward – Chaminade Julienne (OH)
Some think Walker is the top player in the country in this class but that is probably not the case. Walker is skilled but has limited range and lacks a true position at the next level. Walker carried Chaminade to the winner’s bracket but their team lacks the depth to make a run deep in the tournament.
Janae Coffee 6’3’’ Forward – Clovis West (CA)
Coffee is a strong post player who makes her home on the block. Coffee can finish with either hand and does a good job rebounding.
Thadddesia Southall 6’3’’ Forward – Poly (CA)
Southall is a versatile big who is somewhat over shadowed by being on the same team as Monique Oliver. While Oliver gets the majority of the press now, do not be surprised is Southall ends up being the better player in college.
Orsi Szesci 6’3’’ Guard/Forward – Oak Hill (VA)
Szesci is a move in from Hungary and is a Dirk NOwitzi type player for Oak Hill. Szesci can shoot the 3 and is good off the dribble. The only question about Szesci is her ability to defend and foot speed.
Ondrea Shaw 6’4’’ Center – Oak Hill (VA)
While Arieal Johnson gets most of the press for Oak Hill, Ondrea Shaw is their top junior post player. Shaw has a knack for getting the ball in the basket and is very fluid with the ball. As Shaw adds strength and understand she could end up being one of the top posts in the class of 2010.
Afure Jemerigbe 5’9’’ Guard – St. Mary’s (CA)
Jemerigbe is the top junior in the event right now, she can rebound, score, and defend against nearly anyone she faces. If she adds some range and a pull up she could be the top wing in the class of 2010.
Chelsea Gray 5’8’’ Guard – St. Mary’s (CA)
Gray plays at St. Mary’s with Jemerigbe and usually has the better box score, likely because she gets more touches in their dribble drive offense. Gray scores a lot of points but take s a lot of shots. At the next level she will have to become a better defender and have better shot selection. Gray is probably a top 50 player nationally right now.
Jazzmin Hazzard 5’9’’ Forward – Oak Ridge (TN)
Jazzmin Hazzard is probably not on many coaches recruiting lists but if there was a Tournament of Champions track meet she may have every gold medal. Hazzard runs the floor and defends extremely well for Oak Ridge High School.