Frisco, TX: As time goes on college coaches look towards the Junior College ranks to find experienced college players who were overlooked in High School, getting their grades in order or seeking a new opportunity as the first one at a university wasn't the right fit or what they're looking for. Whatever the case may be, there are some players in the NJCAA. Dave Neely's Southwest JUCO Jamboree is an annual event that coaches and evaluators flock to year after year to find a talented crop of players and a sure action-packed day of entertaining basketball. Here is a list of standouts from the 2018 event.
5'5" CG Cobriyana Wingfield - Soph - Western Texas College
Wingfield is entering her second season with Western TX and if her performance on the weekend was anything close to what she will bring on a consistent basis during the season it will be a big season. She is the ultimate vocal leader on her team as she often encouraged her teammates while putting them in the right places to be successful. She does a great job absorbing contact at the basket to score, and although her jump shot form an arc may have trouble translating to the next level, she had no problems knocking it down from deep all day. Wingfield is on pace to graduate and is a qualifier.
5'4" PG Nahemiah Johnson - Freshman - Grayson County CC (TX)
A touted PG in high school, the Philadelphia native, had a pretty impressive day while she finds a permanent role as a starter or off the bench, she relished in both spots. Her blistering speed in the open court made her hard to stop in transition as well as a pest on the opposite end. She always attacks with a purpose, and if she gets jammed up in the lane, she finds her teammates consistently to add to the scoring column. Johnson is a shooter herself as her shooting touch was on display.
5-7" SG Jalie Dawson - Freshman - Grayson County CC (TX)
Dawson has a technique that was huge in her game, a very active defender as she always kept her hands in passing lanes and closed out to make it tough on opponents on their shot attempts. Offensively, she didn't shoot the ball much, but it appeared as a bright spot when she did. Can get to the basket, but sometimes got too deep when she drove the ball in traffic which resulted in costly turnovers. Dawson is a qualifier.
5'4" PG Toni Greene - Soph - Murray State College (OK)
Greene is a methodical 2nd-year guard, who has a ton of savvy to her game. A pure scoring point guard, who can knock down shots and create her own, she regularly got to the line by using her body correctly to draw fouls, and she showed a great deal of poise as she didn't get sped up often. Greene is on pace to graduate but not a qualifier currently.
5'6" SG Jaida Muhammed - Soph - Paris JC (TX)
Muhammed would be a what you want in a teammate and a defender, if I had one word to define her, it would be energetic. She is a leader in every sense of the word, she absolutely locks up all over the floor and had no problems checking on "mismatches" either. She is very vocal and kept teammates involved. Her jump shot is streaky and will need to be more consistent moving forward. Muhammed is a qualifier and on track to graduate.
6'2" SF Sydnee Wynn - Soph - New Mexico JC
In my eyes, Wynn was the most versatile scorer at the event. An absolute matchup problem offensively as she moves so well without the basketball and is equipped to play inside and out. When she gets going, she's tough to stop. Knocked down jumpers, had an array of moves on the box, can attack the basket and handle from the perimeter like a guard. Has fluid passing skills as well. The Incarnate Word transfer put on a show all day long and will make a BCS coach very happy next year, her play was very entertaining. The Incarnate Word transfer is a graduate and a qualifier.
6'3" PF Eternati Willock - Soph - New Mexico JC
Willock, a Kansas State transfer is a Pre-Season All American, and that accolade shows in her play. A Tim Duncan style of play; she is so fluent and fundamental out of the post, she kept defenders off their feet with her footwork, she was a willing and efficient passer out the post, can guard four positions on the floor; great shot alteration while playing help-side defense or one on one shot protection. She is a grad and a qualifier.
5'5" PG Mayra Caicedo - Freshman - New Mexico JC
Caicedo, a 1st year player out of Buga, Columbia. Comes to NMJC with a ton of national team experience. She has a very quick first step and hesitation to go with a strong handle to go along with her quick feet on the defensive end. She is strong attacking the basket but has to work on finishing with the correct hand on the same side of the floor, didn't appear to shoot it much outside on the perimeter. Caicedo isn't a qualifier currently.
6'2" PF Fatou Ndao - Soph - Barton CC (KS)
Ndao, a native of Senegal is a raw hybrid forward that has a ton of potential. Her long arms helped as an attribute to be a presence defending the paint. At times, she was the lone bright spot for Barton. She has a nice frame, put the ball on the floor a bit and hustles for loose balls a ton. She is on track to graduate but isn't a qualifier currently.
6'1" PF Mya Perkins - Soph - Angelina CC (TX)
Perkins is a returner that will benefit from improvements to her tone and mobility. She showed versatility creating from the perimeter, wasn't afraid to shot the open three, went and got the ball off the rim, pursuing rebounds on both ends and on the interior she made it hard for defenders to get position inside and make moves. She is on track to graduate and a qualifier.
6'4" PF Natasha Mack - Soph - Angelina College (TX)
Mack, a top 100 recruit out of High School and a Houston transfer, blossomed at this very event last year. This year she was hit or miss but, she is so talented and does so many things well. At times it looked like she settled for post action to settle for mismatches as she often drew guards for defenders. She operated well out of the triple threat offense and used her length to both get in the lane offensively and stop ball handlers in their track on the opposite end. Must play hard consistently every possession! She is currently a qualifier and on track to graduate.
