Winston-Salem Steelers D2/ D3 Showcase Tip Sheet
The young are evidently becoming restless in the state of NC. The Winston- Salem Steelers D2/D3 Showcase definitely set the stage for several of these young and anxious ballers to send a message. The upperclassman didn’t make it easy for the youngsters to steal their shine but this event definitely belonged to the future.
2012 List
Jessica Farmer/ Lady Royals (Blue11th) defensively dominant are two of many words that can be used to describe how much better the young 6ft wing player continues to get. Farmer’s length and very impressive wing span allowed her to reek, havoc all over the floor. Even though she is a guard, Farmer consistently demonstrates very good anticipation skill as a shot blocker at the basket and even on the perimeter. Her court awareness is incredible and on display when she is stealing passes as if she is in the mind of the passer almost making the offensive player truly believe the passing lanes are wide open just before she steps in and takes the ball again. Farmer is not at all one dimensional either. She didn’t shoot the ball much because she didn’t have to. After coming up with so many balls throughout the event, Farmer managed to show some very explosive bursts to the basket that usually ended with either easy lay-ups or pretty impressive three point plays. Her love for playing defense will carry her far!
Essence Baucom / Carolina Elite (Hardy) is truly developing into an almost unstoppable point guard. Words like lockdown can not be used in the same sentence with the name Baucom. Guarding this almost complete pg one on one is really not an option. Pressing her full court isn’t either. Baucom’s ability to shift gears in traffic and handle the ball as if it was on a string truly makes it hard for defenses to keep her from doing what she wants. Showing off a much improved mid range jumper and some very impressive passing frustrated not only the person guarding her but the opposing coaches that were trying to figure out ways to slow her down. The speed of Baucom and the ability to create her shot off the dribble are two of her best assets that will transition nicely to her college game. A little more weight and more consistency on her three point shooting will truly guarantee this fast improving pg a spot with some of the elite guards in the country. She may not have the size but she does have the skill!
Jewell Yarborough/ Carolina Lady Elite (Clark) is just simply tough. At her size (5’9) she seals on the block and establishes position like she is demonstrating on a Coach K instructional video. Her ability to operate with her back to the basket is an art. Her drop step to either side is forceful and very effective and impressive. Jewell is a text book post player that rebounds strong with both hands and has a great body for the college game. If she can show a little more of a face up game and the ability to put it on the floor she can really continue to improve her stock!
Tori Cook/ Lady Magic showed a lot of versatility throughout the weekend. Cook’s game looks like it will transfer well to the next level. Confidence is not lacking in her offensive game at all. At one point Cook scored on three straight possessions. The first was a three point shot roughly two feet behind the three point line, the second was about an eight foot runner in the lane over two 6ft plus post players and the last was an and1 in transition. When she wasn’t showing off a number of impressive offensive moves she was spending most of her time on the free throw line. Showing her skills off against some well known national competition could really boost this kids stock!
2013 List
Keri Fulp/ Surry Storm (Culler) has the potential to be pretty good. The 6ft 1 post player has a nice skill set and understanding of how to play her position. Little things like keeping the ball high consistently and making it easy to make entry passes into the low post by establishing and holding good position seem very important to her. Fulp also fought for good rebounding position every possession and ran the floor hard every opportunity she got. On offense she was usually rewarded for her hustle and did not disappoint. Catching the ball in traffic was not a problem for her either. Fulp even also looked very comfortable in the high post utilizing a pretty decent first step, and dribble to get to the rim. On the defensive end, Fulp showed how aware she was on the floor and also how unselfish she was busting her behind to slide over and help on defense at all the right times. She does a lot of things well for her age and will continue to improve with more game experience.
2014 List
Barbara Robinson/ W-S Steelers (Parrish) unfortunately played out of position while playing in the post for her team that was missing its true 6’2 post presents. Standing only 5’8, Robinson made the best out of the matter finishing strong consistently, forcing the bigger defenders to play her in a high pick and roll. Robinson’s showed very good knowledge in executing several different options out of the oldest play in basketball. She hit jumpers when her defender sat back and she rolled when the defender hedged. She even stepped back to show she could occasionally shoot the three ball. If she can do this playing out of position it should be interesting to see what she can do at her natural position. She did show she could lead a break with some speedy dribbling a few times too. Time will tell.
Jasmine Adams/ High Point Lady Stars (15U) is truly a pretty good young guard that will quickly start to attract a lot of attention in the near future. The young guard does have some flash to go with her speed and nice size standing 5ft‘6in tall. Though she is not a big scorer yet she does show she can knock down the open three. Her ability to create and distribute the ball may be her most attractive asset right now. Even at a young age she understands her roll and she makes sure she dictates the pace of the game. It will be fun to watch as her game matures.
2015 List
Tatyana Perez/ High Point Lady Stars (15U) is a mirror image of her fellow backcourt mate Jasmine Adams. Perez has a silky smooth handle and some real swag to go with it. It is a headache to pressure her because she is so good handling the ball without over dribbling, and she knows when to give it up. Perez is a pesky defender that swarms like flies on manure. Her speed seems to intimidate offensive players when she runs them down and occasionally strips the ball from them or simply forces them to lose control of the ball. It’s nice to see a young guard that can play fast but also still manage to stay in control at the same time.
Johnaisha Watson/High Point Lady Stars (13U) already stands 6ft 2in tall and is build like a young Courtney Parris. Though the young player has not developed much offensive skill yet, it is evident she is being taught to play on the offensive end. Watson does not lack aggression on either end and she is not scared to try to make a play on the offensive end. At her size she runs the floor decently and will most likely improve with some conditioning. Her lateral movement is very impressive and compliments her desire to play defense very well. Watson, right now, is a very good shot blocker. She is an intimidating presents in the middle with a very nice wingspan. As she matures she will become a major game changer.
Celeste Burgess/ W-S Steelers (Hudson) is a diamond in the rough. Burgess has all the tools to be one of the next big players out of the state of NC and possibly the country. The 5’11 high energy guard is very skilled right now and has a very good feel for the game. Burgess moves with impressive speed and quickness with the ball in hand, making it very hard for defenders to stay in front of her. On several occasions, Burgess elevated over defenders showing she can finish with either her left or right hand beautifully at the rim. To be so young she has a very good shot selection. Shooting the pull-up 15 footer in transition looked so easy for this kid, then again so did shooting behind the arc. The 8th gets off the floor quickly and rebounds well from the perimeter. Unlike most young players her age, playing with older girls, she does not shy away from contact either. Burgess possesses a combination of talent, athleticism, IQ, and skill that can make any coach happy and again she is only in 8th grade.
2016 List
Timber Tate/ High Point Lady Stars (13U) is clearly a future star. The 5’8 lefty wing has quite a few weapons in her arsenal highlighted by a smooth three point stroke. Tate showed off a very effective first step in the high post that led to her scoring or getting to the line on several occasions. In clutch situations, Tate demanded the ball and didn’t disappoint when she got it. She did not only lead by example but was very vocal also. She did also post smaller defenders at times and had some success. Tate has a very mature game to be so young.
2012 List
Jessica Farmer/ Lady Royals (Blue11th) defensively dominant are two of many words that can be used to describe how much better the young 6ft wing player continues to get. Farmer’s length and very impressive wing span allowed her to reek, havoc all over the floor. Even though she is a guard, Farmer consistently demonstrates very good anticipation skill as a shot blocker at the basket and even on the perimeter. Her court awareness is incredible and on display when she is stealing passes as if she is in the mind of the passer almost making the offensive player truly believe the passing lanes are wide open just before she steps in and takes the ball again. Farmer is not at all one dimensional either. She didn’t shoot the ball much because she didn’t have to. After coming up with so many balls throughout the event, Farmer managed to show some very explosive bursts to the basket that usually ended with either easy lay-ups or pretty impressive three point plays. Her love for playing defense will carry her far!
Essence Baucom / Carolina Elite (Hardy) is truly developing into an almost unstoppable point guard. Words like lockdown can not be used in the same sentence with the name Baucom. Guarding this almost complete pg one on one is really not an option. Pressing her full court isn’t either. Baucom’s ability to shift gears in traffic and handle the ball as if it was on a string truly makes it hard for defenses to keep her from doing what she wants. Showing off a much improved mid range jumper and some very impressive passing frustrated not only the person guarding her but the opposing coaches that were trying to figure out ways to slow her down. The speed of Baucom and the ability to create her shot off the dribble are two of her best assets that will transition nicely to her college game. A little more weight and more consistency on her three point shooting will truly guarantee this fast improving pg a spot with some of the elite guards in the country. She may not have the size but she does have the skill!
Jewell Yarborough/ Carolina Lady Elite (Clark) is just simply tough. At her size (5’9) she seals on the block and establishes position like she is demonstrating on a Coach K instructional video. Her ability to operate with her back to the basket is an art. Her drop step to either side is forceful and very effective and impressive. Jewell is a text book post player that rebounds strong with both hands and has a great body for the college game. If she can show a little more of a face up game and the ability to put it on the floor she can really continue to improve her stock!
Tori Cook/ Lady Magic showed a lot of versatility throughout the weekend. Cook’s game looks like it will transfer well to the next level. Confidence is not lacking in her offensive game at all. At one point Cook scored on three straight possessions. The first was a three point shot roughly two feet behind the three point line, the second was about an eight foot runner in the lane over two 6ft plus post players and the last was an and1 in transition. When she wasn’t showing off a number of impressive offensive moves she was spending most of her time on the free throw line. Showing her skills off against some well known national competition could really boost this kids stock!
2013 List
Keri Fulp/ Surry Storm (Culler) has the potential to be pretty good. The 6ft 1 post player has a nice skill set and understanding of how to play her position. Little things like keeping the ball high consistently and making it easy to make entry passes into the low post by establishing and holding good position seem very important to her. Fulp also fought for good rebounding position every possession and ran the floor hard every opportunity she got. On offense she was usually rewarded for her hustle and did not disappoint. Catching the ball in traffic was not a problem for her either. Fulp even also looked very comfortable in the high post utilizing a pretty decent first step, and dribble to get to the rim. On the defensive end, Fulp showed how aware she was on the floor and also how unselfish she was busting her behind to slide over and help on defense at all the right times. She does a lot of things well for her age and will continue to improve with more game experience.
2014 List
Barbara Robinson/ W-S Steelers (Parrish) unfortunately played out of position while playing in the post for her team that was missing its true 6’2 post presents. Standing only 5’8, Robinson made the best out of the matter finishing strong consistently, forcing the bigger defenders to play her in a high pick and roll. Robinson’s showed very good knowledge in executing several different options out of the oldest play in basketball. She hit jumpers when her defender sat back and she rolled when the defender hedged. She even stepped back to show she could occasionally shoot the three ball. If she can do this playing out of position it should be interesting to see what she can do at her natural position. She did show she could lead a break with some speedy dribbling a few times too. Time will tell.
Jasmine Adams/ High Point Lady Stars (15U) is truly a pretty good young guard that will quickly start to attract a lot of attention in the near future. The young guard does have some flash to go with her speed and nice size standing 5ft‘6in tall. Though she is not a big scorer yet she does show she can knock down the open three. Her ability to create and distribute the ball may be her most attractive asset right now. Even at a young age she understands her roll and she makes sure she dictates the pace of the game. It will be fun to watch as her game matures.
2015 List
Tatyana Perez/ High Point Lady Stars (15U) is a mirror image of her fellow backcourt mate Jasmine Adams. Perez has a silky smooth handle and some real swag to go with it. It is a headache to pressure her because she is so good handling the ball without over dribbling, and she knows when to give it up. Perez is a pesky defender that swarms like flies on manure. Her speed seems to intimidate offensive players when she runs them down and occasionally strips the ball from them or simply forces them to lose control of the ball. It’s nice to see a young guard that can play fast but also still manage to stay in control at the same time.
Johnaisha Watson/High Point Lady Stars (13U) already stands 6ft 2in tall and is build like a young Courtney Parris. Though the young player has not developed much offensive skill yet, it is evident she is being taught to play on the offensive end. Watson does not lack aggression on either end and she is not scared to try to make a play on the offensive end. At her size she runs the floor decently and will most likely improve with some conditioning. Her lateral movement is very impressive and compliments her desire to play defense very well. Watson, right now, is a very good shot blocker. She is an intimidating presents in the middle with a very nice wingspan. As she matures she will become a major game changer.
Celeste Burgess/ W-S Steelers (Hudson) is a diamond in the rough. Burgess has all the tools to be one of the next big players out of the state of NC and possibly the country. The 5’11 high energy guard is very skilled right now and has a very good feel for the game. Burgess moves with impressive speed and quickness with the ball in hand, making it very hard for defenders to stay in front of her. On several occasions, Burgess elevated over defenders showing she can finish with either her left or right hand beautifully at the rim. To be so young she has a very good shot selection. Shooting the pull-up 15 footer in transition looked so easy for this kid, then again so did shooting behind the arc. The 8th gets off the floor quickly and rebounds well from the perimeter. Unlike most young players her age, playing with older girls, she does not shy away from contact either. Burgess possesses a combination of talent, athleticism, IQ, and skill that can make any coach happy and again she is only in 8th grade.
2016 List
Timber Tate/ High Point Lady Stars (13U) is clearly a future star. The 5’8 lefty wing has quite a few weapons in her arsenal highlighted by a smooth three point stroke. Tate showed off a very effective first step in the high post that led to her scoring or getting to the line on several occasions. In clutch situations, Tate demanded the ball and didn’t disappoint when she got it. She did not only lead by example but was very vocal also. She did also post smaller defenders at times and had some success. Tate has a very mature game to be so young.
