She Got Game Classic

With the vast majority of the 2016 class wrapped up, college coaches converged in Washington, D.C. at the She Got Game Classic on December 11-13, 2015 to get a good look at the 2017 class and younger talent. The tournament had immense depth and ability packed into three days of wall-to-wall basketball. Here is a look at some of the standouts:

2017 Andra Espinoza-Hunter of Blair Academy (NJ) is already committed to UCONN. Espinoza-Hunter proved why she is so highly thought of during the tournament. Her size and skill make her a matchup nightmare and her all-out mentality sets her apart. Espinoza-Hunter can do it all from hitting the three with ease, slashing to the bucket and finishing through contact, to posting up smaller players and using her array of post moves. She is a terrific ball handler as well. She works extremely hard on the defensive end and is a strong rebounder from the wing position. Espinoza-Hunter’s versatility and grit on both ends of the floor will serve UCONN well.

2018 Chanel Wilson of McEachern (GA) is a quick rising prospect. Her athletic ability and skill make her challenging for any opposing point guards to cover. A terrific ball handler, with elite vision and passing ability off the bounce, Wilson is a pure point guard. She showed a nice stroke from well beyond three when left open, keeping defenders honest. Wilson’s ability to finish with either hand through contact serves her well. She is a name to watch as many of the top colleges in the country are just getting to know her.

The She Got Game Classic was loaded with a terrific set of 2019s, and wing Ashley Owusu’s of PAUL VI (VA) combination of size, strength, and skill stood out. Owusu has tremendously strong hands, but combines that with a feathery touch out to the three-point line. She is a natural scorer who is comfortable from all spots on the floor. Her blend of athleticism and strength made her a near impossible cover for defenders. Owusu showed a nice floater off the bounce and is a strong passer off the dribble as well. She projects as an elite defender and her versatility of the defensive end make her a coach’s dream.

Other standouts included 2017 Rellah Boothe (IMG Academy – FL), 2017 Lizzie O’Leary (Abington HS– PA), 2017 Octavia Wilson (Eleanor Roosevelt HS – MD), 2017 Bareisha Gill-Miles (Forest Trail Academy – NC), 2017 Leah Church (Forest Trail Academy – NC), 2017 Tera Reed (Life Center Academy – NJ), 2017 Lyndsey Whilby (McEachern HS – GA), 2017 Que Morrison (McEachern HS – GA), 2017 Channise Lewis (Miami Country Day HS – FL), 2017 Kelsey Marshall (Miami Country Day HS – FL), 2017 Mykea Gray (National Christian Academy – MD), 2017 Jaala Henry (National Christian Academy – MD), 2017 Olivia Martin (National Christian Academy – MD), 2017 Sam Carangi (North Penn HS – PA), 2017 Irisa Ye (North Penn HS – PA), 2017 Mia Davis (Saint Frances Academy – MD), 2017 Aisha Sheppard (St. John’s College HS – DC), 2017 Niya Beverly (St. John’s College HS – DC), 2017 Asia McCray (St. John’s College HS – DC), 2017 Madison Lowery (TPLS Christian Academy – VA), 2017 Abby Myers (Walt Whitman HS – MD) and 2017 Olivia Meyers (Walt Whitman HS – MD).

The She Got Game Classic was full of top underclassman. Here are some sophomores that caught my eye: 2018 Aziah Hudson (Baldwin HS – NY), 2018 Jenna Annecchiarico (Baldwin HS – NY), 2018 Shalyse Smith (Bellarmine Prep – WA), 2018 Zenzele Apesemaka-Vital (Bishop McNamara – MD), 2018 Brie Perpignan (Bishop O’Connell HS – VA), 2018 Honesty Scott-Grayson (Blair Academy – NJ), 2018 Katie Douglas (Blair Academy – NJ), 2018 Kharis Idom (Colonial HS – FL), 2018 Ashia McCalla (Eleanor Roosevelt HS – MD), 2018 Carrie Gross (Forestville HS – MD), 2018 Taleah “Noo” Washington (Forestville HS – MD), 2018 Tania Hill (Gwynn Park HS – MD), 2018 Sonya Morris (Incarnate Word Academy – MO), 2018 Imani Lewis (Life Center Academy – NJ), 2018 Bri Hewlett (North Penn HS – PA), 2018 Lauren Ebo (Paul VI HS – VA), 2018 Kate Klimliewicz (Paul VI HS – VA), 2018 Amira Collins (Paul VI HS – VA), 2018 Rochelle Norris (Paul VI HS – VA), 2018 Nia Clouden (Saint Frances HS – MD), 2018 Jaylin Carodine (St. John’s College HS – DC), 2018 Sydney Wood (St. John’s College HS – DC), and 2018 Rachel Stovall (TPLS Christian Academy – VA).

The tournament allowed many freshman and one 8th grader to get a taste of varsity action including 2019 Kaia Harrison (Baldwin HS – NY), 2019 Jakia Brown-Turner (Bishop McNamara HS – MD), 2019 Anissa Rivera (Forestville HS – MD), 2019 Aliyah Matharu (Forestville HS – MD), 2019 Sonia Smith (Frederick Douglass HS – MD), 2019 Denai Bowman (Gwynn Park HS – MD), 2019 Rickie Woltman (Incarnate Word Academy – MO), 2019 Marisa Warren (Incarnate Word Academy – MO), 2019 Maria Alvarez (Miami Country Day HS – FL), 2019 Carlyn Rivera (St. John’s College HS – DC), and 2020 Elizabeth Martino (National Christian Academy – MD).