Indianapolis, IN: The LBI crew headed out to Manual High School to check out a great lineup of high school girls basketball games for the fourth annual Manual Extravaganza presented by the Indy Chapter of the Indiana Black Expo. Teams from Illinois and Tennessee joined a few of Indiana’s best to make this an exciting event. The event was headlined by a matchup of the undefeated #1 Homestead Spartans and #4 North Central Panthers. Like two heavyweight boxers, both teams slugged it out until the Panthers were able to outlast the Spartans in an OT thriller by the score of 68-61.
2021 Pa’Shence Walker 5’8” SG Martinsville HS (IN)
With Martinsville down 23-9 with 4 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Coach Jessica Johnson had to be wondering if someone would step up and give the Artesians a boost. Enter sophomore, Pa’Shence Walker, whose strong 2nd half play provided the boast Martinsville needed to secure a 54-53 win in overtime. Walker was aggressive attacking the basket, finishing a few drives and getting to the free throw line on others. Walker finished with a team-high 18 points, including three from beyond the arc.
2020 RaShaya Kyle 6’6” PF Marion (IN)
RaShaya Kyle is an intriguing prospect. Kyle’s offensive versatility was stunning at times. At 6’6”, Kyle showed flashes of guard-like ball handling in transition, then she would switch up and punish anyone standing in the paint for And1 opportunities. On the defensive end, she altered and blocked shots, but also showed some ability to guard on the perimeter as well. If or when she packages all her potential into 32 minutes, the sky truly is the limit for RaShaya Kyle.
2019 Jazmyn Turner 6’3” SF Marion (IN)
It didn't take long to see that Jazmyn Turner has big-time potential. She defended in the length and speed positions on Marion’s 3-2 zone as well as the positions that required more strength. Turner was terrific in the open court as she was able to finish around and over the top of defenders. Moreover, Turner passed the ball extremely well. She was effective passing in transition as well as on the interior. Look for Turner to turn in another All-conference performance this year for the Marion Lady Giants.
2020 Kamilla Cardosa 6’7” Post Hamilton Heights (TN)
Missing this young lady was hard! This 6’7” Junior showed why she's sought after by so many. Cardosa was able to pull down many rebounds, keep it high and finish over the top. Not only is she a formidable threat in the paint, but she can catch in the high post and find open teammates as well. The Hamilton Heights forward was amazing to watch run the floor, as she sprinted back and played both ends of the floor extremely well.
2020 Treasure Hunt 6’1” SF Hamilton Heights (TN)
Treasure Hunt is highly skilled with an elite, next level body to go with it. Her controlled pace alongside the ability to understand the flow of the game was in full effect Friday night. Hunts ability to hit threes in transition seemed effortless at times; combine that with her quickness and strength to take defenders off the dribble, makes her top notch for sure.
2019 Rikki Harris 5’11” SG North Central (IN) (Signed with Ohio State)
Ohio State commit, Rikki Harris got off to a slow start for the North Central Lady Panthers. But as the game headed for the finish line, Harris made big play after big play to help her team pull out a 68-61 overtime victory vs. #1 Homestead. Harris attacked and scored in transition and in the paint including a drop-step layup with 6 seconds that would ultimately send the game into overtime. Harris netted 21 points and garnered MVP honors in her team's upset victory over Homestead.
2019 Sylare Starks 5’9” PG Homestead (IN) (Signed with Detroit Mercy)
Detroit Mercy commit, Sylare Starks plays with uncanny poise and business-like demeanor. She’s a throwback style guard in the mold of former WNBA great Teresa Witherspoon. Like T-Spoon, Starks picked her spots to make crucial shots time and time again to keep North Central at bay including a 10 point 3rd quarter that saw Homestead take a 4-point lead heading into the 4th quarter. Starks finished with 22 points including four makes from beyond the arc.
2020 Jasmine McWilliams 6’0” SF North Central (IN)
McWilliams’ play was electric! She attacked the basket and rebounded at an elite level while causing havoc on the defensive end with steals and deflections. I’ll admit, I got tired just watching her exert so much energy in an effort to will her team to victory and she did just that. Arguably, no one had more of an impact on the game than McWilliams. She finished with 14 points (and probably 14-floor burns) in North Central’s win over #1 Homestead.
2021 Jayla Smith 5’11” PG Lawrence North (IN)
I last saw Jayla in April, and since then, she has packed on muscle and put more game in her bag. Jayla is very poised for a young guard as she handled pressure very well. Her extraordinary length and ability to use that length to get deflections and be disruptive on defense was a catalyst in Lawrence North’s 40-29 win over Jeffersonville. Jayla finished with 10 points.
2020 Katie Davidson 5’10” SF Lawrence North (IN)
Katie Davidson has a Marina Mabrey (Notre Dame) feel to her game. She is very skilled on the offensive end and can score on all three levels. Vs. Jeffersonville, Davidson was in fine form. She was able to score off the bounce, spotting up, and in transition. She always seemed to be in control and have a grasp on what needed to be done for her team to come out of the Manual Extravaganza victorious. Davidson tied Jayla Smith with team-high 10 points in Lawrence North’s 11-point win over Jeffersonville.
