2016 Tennessee Turkey Jamm

The eighth annual Tennessee Turkey Jamm took place on November 25-26 at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, TN. The post Thanksgiving event presented by Girl Powher Basketball Showcases kicks off one of the most wonderful times of the year, Holiday Hoops Season. Between now and New Year’s, there are numerous high quality events around the country and the Turkey Jamm set the table well.
 
22 teams represented several states and included teams from Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The 2017 class participants had numerous division 1 signees from schools like Illinois, Arizona State, Missouri, Georgia Tech, Miami, Mississippi State, Western Kentucky, Memphis, Tennessee, Mississippi Valley State, and Stanford among others.
 
Before getting deep into the teams and the prospects, there are a couple of unsigned seniors to mention: Homewood Flossmoor (IL) forward Michelle Pruitt and Mays High School (GA) PG Kamiya Street.
 
Pruitt is a strong and competitive power forward with a nice feel for the game and good hands. She really got on the glass and made some nice passes to facilitate for her team. Street is a quick and fast PG who wants to push tempo. She is relentless in her pursuit of the paint and pressures defensively.
 
The most impressive team of the weekend was Hamilton Heights (TN). Their starting lineup is five division one players and they have more that comes off the bench. This team moves the ball very well and is full of good passers. They play an aggressive trapping zone in the half court at times that really causes problems for their opponents. They have size, skill, and athleticism at every spot.  They really dominate on the boards. 2018 Jazmine Massengil is a creative ballhandler with a nice shake and is a big point guard. 2018 Elizabeth Balogun is as smooth as they come and can score from three levels. She is long and athletic and is a great defender. 2020 Treasure Hunt is athletic and active and plays multiple positions for this team. 2019 Rokia Doumba is a nice compliment off the bench with her toughness and ability to handle, pass, and create. Do not misunderstand me, those are all really good players, but the gem is 2020 post Kamilla Cardosa-Soares. This is a legitimate big time post prospect. She has all the tools, and most impressively, is a wonderfully engaged teammate. This 6’6” freshman will have coaches everywhere pitching her for her commitment.
 
 
Bolingbrook (IL)
 
Mentionable: 2018’s Gabby Smith, Taylor Robinson, Jahari Smith
 
Noteworthy:
Well rounded group of players at all spots; They do not play a true “post” but have length and athleticism and decent size all around… Illinois signee Jnaya Walker brings some nice versatility. They are very deliberate about attacking the paint offensively and it leads to break downs for easy looks and trips to the free throw line. They have nice contributions off the bench from a couple young guards.
 
 
Houston (TN)
 
Mentionable: 2019’s Jayla Hemmingway, Madison Griggs ; 2020 Destinee Wells
 
Noteworthy:
They have good young guard play and size/length inside with Memphis signee Rochelle Lee. They have a balanced attack offensively with defined roles and sharing of the ball… Good defensively with nice pressure all around… Cannot fail to mention the fresh PINK LEBRON SOLDIER 10’s they were all wearing.
 
 
Olive Branch (MS)
 
Mentionable: 2018 Mohogany Vaught; 2020 Endya Buford
 
Noteworthy:
Best individual performance may have come from Mississippi State signee Myah Taylor on Friday.. They have good guard play and a nice anchor inside with 2018 Katie Blackmon. They like to press and speed up the game and went on some impressive runs.
 
 
Homewood Flossmoor (IL)
 
Mentionable: 2018 Aireal Dickson
 
Noteworthy:
Led by Arizona State signee Eva Rubin, Missouri signee Nadia Green, and Memphis signee Finess Dickson, this group is another well-rounded team with weapons all over the place. They got a good win on Saturday vs a talented and comparable St. Francis squad. Rubin was in foul trouble during most of Friday’s game, and it made a big difference when they played Norcross.
 
 
St. Francis (GA)
 
Mentionable: 2019 Kennedy Powell; 2020 Amirah Abdur-Rahim
 
Noteworthy:
Loaded with a starting lineup that includes Stanford signee Maya Dodson, Tennessee signee Kasi Kushkituah, Western Kentucky signee Nichel Tampa, and with Georgia Tech signee Taja Cummings coming off the bench, this team does not want for talent. They started the game by going inside on the first two possessions, but quickly got away from that and they seemed to make the game hard on themselves. The second half saw them get back to trying to utilize their major strengths in Kushkituah and Dodson, but Homewood Flossmoor stood strong.
 
 
Norcross (GA)
 
Mentionable: 2018 Tehya Lyons (Pitt commit) ; 2019 Tionna Carter
 
Noteworthy:
Miami signee Taylor Mason leads what is a very capable and aggressive group of guards that includes South Florida signee Vanessa Blagmon as well. They are well coached.. They press and really guard the ball well.. Very disciplined defensively. Good guard play can take teams far, and they have good guard play..
 
 
North Little Rock (AR)
 
Mentionable: 2018’s Amber Hawkison, Yo’Myris Morris; 2019 Demyla Brown
 
Noteworthy:
This group likes to play fast and chaotic.. Can work well if you have poised guards and a decent bench.. They do a good job of speeding up their opponent.
 

Some of the other mentionable players from the tournament include:
 
2018:
 
Mikia Dowell (Oak Ridge)
Jaleah Goff (Blackman)
Lapraisia Ward (Maplewood)
Brittni Moore (White Stateion)
 
 
2019:
 
Jada Guinn (Oak Ridge)
Amariah Stanard (Tucker)
Sarah Matthews (Forrest Park)
 
2020:
 
Jasmine Jacob (Forrest Park)
Tatyanna Davis (Lee-Huntsville)
Joelle Patton (Blackman)