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LBI Michigan Event Recap: EGB "Middle School" All American Games

By Steve Reynolds @LBI_Steve, 04/03/18, 1:45PM EDT

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Top Middle Schoolers Invaded Columbus During Final Four 4 Weekend


EGB "Middle School" All American Games (Photo Courtesy of Joe Fenelon of NYG Hoops)

Columbus, OH: Hats off to NICC Jackson and the Elite Girls Basketball crew for pulling off a great middle school event on an NCAA Final Four weekend.  There was an amazing collection of talented and skilled young girls’ basketball players in Columbus, OH.  Many of them have the potential to play in their own Final Four one day.  Here are a few performers that stood-out:

2024 Kendall Dudley SF 5’10” MD Belles (MD)
Kendall has great size and length.  She ran the floor well and caught some tough passes as she was able to finish with contact.  She seemed comfortable out on the floor as well.  Kendall was able to take smaller guards off the dribble and finish at the rim. 

2024 Jaloni Cambridge PG 5’5” FBC (TN)
Jaloni has game beyond her years.  She uses her dribble moves to set up drives that look like she’s a running back hitting the whole.  Jaloni has serious handles and really good quickness.  She can use either hand to finish from multiple angles.  She also showed the ability to finish around or over taller help defenders.  The sky is the limit for this kid.

2023 Kyah Smith PG 5’6” Cap City Ballerz (VA)
Kyah has all kinds of swag.  She’s one of those kids who upon laying eyes on her, you know she is comfortable in her own skin.  She was able to use a slick handle to create her own shot and shots for others.  She has good range out to the 3-point line and even showed off a couple pull-up jumpers in the lane which I believe is a must for point guards if they want to play at an elite level.  Kyah is well on her way.

2023 Amiyah Reynolds PG 5’10” Michigan Crossover
What a difference a year makes!  Last year, I thought Amiyah was a little overwhelmed by the moment and only showed a few flashes of her potential.  This year, Amiyah consistently exerted herself into the flow of the games.  She was able to use a nice slow to fast crossover to get to the basket.  She made several triples and finishes at the basket.  She also showed off her defensive versatility that has made her an intriguing prospect.  Able to stay in front of quicker guards, but guard taller and stronger players, she is one to watch as she continues to grow and develop.

2023 Judea Watkins SG 5’11” GBL Lady Rebels (CA)
Judea Watkins may have had the most game-changing performance of all who played on Sunday.  Her gameplay lit up the gym.  My first thought was, “I can’t believe she’s only in 7th grade.”  She runs like a deer.  She can guard 1 through 4 because of her quickness and length.  Judea was unstoppable going right.  She had some blocks that only an ultra-athletic defender, such as herself, could make. Whether going through, around or over the top…she was going to get to the basket and get a bucket.  Judea’s star is beaming brightly…and now even brighter after this weekend.

2023 Samantha Wagner SF 6’0” SA Finest (TX)
I got to sit
behind the bench for Samantha’s game, and I’m glad I stayed there.  Not only is Sammie extremely mobile, skilled, and talented for her height and age, but she has immense leadership potential.  She challenged, encouraged, and coached her teammates.  She checked the selfish kids by imploring them to share and move the ball.  She defined rolls and set some order to her team’s offensive attack.  Sammie was extremely impressive on the bench and on the court.  On the court, she crashes the boards hard and finishes those offensive rebounds with either hand.  She took kids off the dribble displaying soft touch around the basket.  She made mid-range jump shots and a few 3s as well.  But again, seeing her lead with the kind of energy she has was a breath of fresh air and no one came close to matching her leadership.

2022 Paulina Paris PG 5’6” Exodus (NY)
New York in the house!!!  Paulina has all kinds of game.  She has the vintage New York ball handling skills and great decision making to go with it.  And Paulina can shoot!  When I say Paulina can shoot…I mean Paulina can SHOOT.  In her game on Sunday, she hit 4 of 5 triples over a 10-minute span that almost helped propel her team to a victory.  I was really impressed with her poise.  As my uncles would say, “She played like she been here before.”

2022 KK Bransford SF 5’9” Cincinnati Finest (OH)
I try to stay away from comparisons but KK has a little Jackie Young (G Notre Dame) in her game.  She is relentless on defense and on the boards.  She has a really high basketball I.Q. displayed in her ability to draw defenders and deliver a timely pass to cutters and post in short corner for layups.  She’s also the girl I’d pick to guard the other team’s best player regardless of size or position.  KK is very strong and has great footwork on defense.  She’s was arguably the best two-way player in the showcase.

2022 Camille Jackson SF 5’9” Illinois X-Citement (IL)
I have always known that Camille has
exceptional athletic ability.  I have always known she is fast and strong; which is why I must warn you that what I am about to say should scare all of her opponents: Camille is bigger, faster, and stronger.  She made exceptional moves in the air around the basket.  Double clutch finger rolls off the backboard and reverse windmill layups that had all the 80’s babies reminiscing of a young Michael Jordan.  Yes, Camille was “Jordan-esque” in what she showcased for all those in attendance.

2022 Brooke Daniels PG 5’9” Michigan Crossover
Hats off to Brooke Daniels because her two days were outwork sessions.  She ran the floor relentlessly.  She tracked down numerous offensive rebounds and loose balls.  On defense, she was able to give her girl fits and supply help when needed.  When I went to congratulate her on her effort, she could barely breathe still; not because she was out of shape, but because she left everything out on the court.  Daniels has the heart of a Lion.  A joy to watch.

2022 Ayanna Patterson PF 6’2” Always 100 (IN)
I remember seeing Ayanna three years ago in Ft. Wayne and she
was athletically gifted even then. What I see now is the work she’s putting in to get better.  She’s even more agile and athletic which is crazy scary.  She has softer hands which lend to her ability to finish tough shots (with contact, in traffic) around the rim.  She is tenacious on the boards.  Patterson rebounds well in her area and outside of her area.  She seemingly was around everything that caromed off the rim.  The timing of using her athleticism to get in passing lanes is impeccable. Her handle and jump shot is still developing but definitely improved over the last year.  She’s going to make a great impact on her team this summer, so look out.