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LBI Event Recap: Nike Tournament Of Champions Day III (Chicago, IL)

By Marcy Reynolds @LBIMarcy, 07/13/19, 9:00AM EDT

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2023 Jadyn Donovan 6' SF MD Belles-Watson

Chicago, IL: Day 3 of the Nike Tournament of Champions was more exciting than the day before.  The day was filled with buzzer beaters, lockdown defense, and amazing plays. Here is just a few of the phenomenal players on the courts yesterday.

Nike Tournament of Champions Top  Performers Day 3

2022 Abbey Kimball 5'8" SG Michigan Basketball Academy 
Kimball may be young, but her confidence and composure surely are not. This fearless guard opened the game by knocking down a long-range three-pointer with a hand in her face, then getting a steal on the other end of the court the very next play. She has solid ball-handling skills and always found a way to get to the paint when she needed to. Kimball has great on the ball defense and is not afraid to get on the floor and go after a loose ball. Abbey stock rose after Chicago performance. 

2023 Jadyn Donovan 6' SF MD Belles-Watson
Donovan was a bright spot for the MD Belles-Watson. She shot it well from the floor but also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim. Jadyn is long and athletic and has a lot of bounce that allowed her to block a couple of shots on the day.  She has a tremendous upside on both ends of the floor.

2023 Sofia Bell 6’0” SG NW Stars White
This young girl came out from the beginning on fire. She stroked a three from the corner that you knew was good the second it left her hand. She managed to get out in transition very well and finish with ease, using her really good length to finish just outside the defenders reach. Bell took her man off the bounce several times, exploding to the rack. Her length, athleticism, and energy level took center stage today for sure.

2023 Madison Booker 6’0” SF AL Southern Starz 2023-Looney Nike
Booker is no stranger to the big lights or the big stage. This young, but a decorated athlete, lives up to the expectations regularly. Booker started the game off with a tremendous bounce in her step and showed it off with flashy tip passes and super-elevated rebounds. Booker has always been a dominant force around the basket because of her elite skill and athleticism, but what a nightmare she’s become since adding a legit three-point option to her repertoire. Madison stroked a couple three’s with some lack-luster defense around, but when her man came to jam her tight-well, Booker let that thing go with zero hesitation, draining one in her face. To go with her outstanding offensive game, Booker always defends the basket well-sending half-hearted shots to nearby courts.

2024 Chloe Spreen 5’8” SG Nike Lady Gym Rats Turquoise 8th
Some kids just have it, and Chloe Spreen is one of those kids. Indiana is in for a treat as Spreen showed why some feel she is the leading candidate for 2024 Miss Basketball. Or at least I do. She showcased her relentless in your face style of play vs. the Alabama Southern Starz at Nike TOC. She made several triples and even took on the daunting task of guarding top 2023 prospect Madison Booker. Time and time again, Spreen found herself in the middle of the action on both ends of the court and was effective. Spreen will be a household name in Indiana very very soon.

2023 Laila Hull 6’0” PF Nike Lady Gym Rats Turquoise 8th
Laila Hull continues to improve and its showing on a national level. Hull ran the floor exceptionally well vs. Alabama Southern Starz. Her activity level has picked up on defense, and as a result, her impact on the defensive end was felt. She blocked shots and corralled crucial rebounds for LGR. Hull’s stock continues to rise with her performance in Nike TOC.

2021 Graciela Roybal 5’3” AZ Swish Black
I love it when the small girls get it going. Graciela Roybal is super fast, and she uses that speed to create shots for her teammates. But what stuck out was her efficiency from three. By my count, she was 4 for five from behind the arc vs. the Northwest Stars, and her impact was felt as the opposing coach was pleading with her team to find her at one point, but most of the time they were too late.
Roybal is a sharpshooter to keep an eye on.

2022 Jada Leonard 5’7” PG Exodus NYC 2022
So you know you’ve done something right when immediately following a time out you see nothing but a faceguard for the remainder of the game. I must hand it to the Kia Nurse squad; they threw new bodies and multiple looks at her once they realize she had a flame thrower from deep. Jada, however, came out from the tip ready to play. She hit long ball after long ball, even relocating after a nice pump game to knock down another. The defense didn’t take long to adjust, but when they did, she made some adjustments of her own. Leonard was able to use her skill to shake the tight defensive strategy and make her way to the rack, throwing in some tough buckets as well.

Nike Tournament of Champions Top Teams Day 3

NW Stars White
With a roster stuffed full of young and talented kids, the NW Stars (White) team competed against older girls and played like older girls. With the dominant and physical play of 2022 Carly Stone, the Stars were able to score inside and out. Stone drove hard and finished tough bunnies. She also was able to knock down corner threes as well. 2023 Kennedie Shuler is a bulldog when she decides to get to the basket, drawing some hard fouls at times. Shooting Guard, 2022 Halle Hageman was a fantastic boost of energy for her team. She turned the corner on several of her drives, extending the lead for her young team. 2023 Sophia Bell rounds out this budding powerhouse roster. This lengthy shooting guard has a ton of skill and excellent drive to give this group a super boost of confidence every time they take the court.