adidas Gauntlet - Phoenix

Adidas Guantlet- Phoenix
During the first NCAA Evaluation period of the 2016 club season, the Adidas Gauntlet invaded the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. Gary Pedersen ran a first class event and the site change was a huge success. College Coaches got the chance to take in some of the top talent on the twelve courts housed on the field at the University of Phoenix Stadium. We will take a look at the Adidas Gauntlet National Division that played in Phoenix plus other outstanding players that attended the event.

AAO Banshees 2017
In the AAO Banshees first year with Adidas, they bring a fast tempo and aggressive defense to the Gauntlet. Lee Shannon and his staff do a good job of developing these young ladies on and off the court. Lead by do it all point guard 2018 Jamilyn Kinney, athletic wing 2017 Lauren Holmes, and rebounding machine 2017 Kellie Lampo, which have been playing together for the last three years, the AAO Banshees will make teams earn it every time they play. Keep an eye on 2017 Grayce Spangler and 2017 Savannah Lowe who look to have a good club season after their performances in Phoenix.

All In 17U Kahleaf
Coach Kahleaf and All In journeyed from Chicago to take on the top west coast Gauntlet teams and more than held their own by reaching the final four before falling to the Northwest Blazers Orange. Lead by  deep shooting point guard 2017 Kelly Weyhrich, All In plays a variety of defenses, in which most are trapping, to keep the opposing team guessing on the offensive end. Wings 2017 Kyra Spiwak and 2017 Jorie Wachal lead an onslaught of shooters that can knock down the three ball from anywhere. Forwards 2017 Katherine Nolan and 2017 Jenejha Williams do a good job of communicating on defense, cleaning the glass plus can step out and shot the three ball as well.

Arizona Elite Black
This year’s Arizona Elite top team is different from their traditional teams because of their lack of size, but don’t look past them. Lead by the Cavinder twins, 2019 Hanna and Haley, Arizona Elite plays a fast pace and can score in bunches, which was evident in the 24 point comeback win in the final game of the tournament. Everyone on the roster can shoot it, and the team does a good job of working for quality shots. 2017 Leilani Peat and 2017 Megan Timmer give opponents matchup problems with shot and create.

BC’s Finest U17 Uprising
Frank Konig has done a good job of assembling a balanced team from British Columbia, Canada. Forward Savannah Dhailwal is a fundamental forward who provides BC’s Finest with an interior scoring threat while 2017 Louise Forsyth, a Canada National team member, provides BC’s Finest with scoring threat on the perimeter with her ability to knock down the three and get to the basket. Two youngsters to keep an eye on are 2019 Tavia Rowell and 2019 Kelsey Roufosse, whose sisters are at University of San Francisco.
 
CBC U17 Elite Adidas
Colorado Basketball Club’s first team with Adidas is a mix of veterans and promising young talent. 2018 Tommi Olson is the team general and leader while 2020 Jana Van Gytenbeek is a spark plug who may be the best 2020 guard in Colorado. 2018 Leilah Vigil is a blue collar athletic forward who sets the pace for 2019 Autumn Watts and 2019 Kasey Neubert.

Della Lamb Running Angels Gauntlet National
The Running Angels made their presence felt in Phoenix with their hard-nose defense. All State 2017 Jordan Sanders gets after you on the defensive end, which leads to run outs on the offensive end. 2017 Meghan Allen and 2017 Breon Gunnels clean the boards and allow the team to be aggressive defensively with their ability to influence shots.

GBL Team Candace Parker 17U Elite
The one thing an opponent can expect any time they play GBL, is they are in for a war. 2017 sharp shooter Chelsey Gipson and 2017 crafty point guard Celine Quintino lead a new unit of GBLites. 2017 Fatou Senmebene and 2018 Krislyn Marsh give GBL athletic forwards who rebound and get out in transition. This team will be a tough out come July in the Adidas Gauntlet.

JBS Adidas I Gauntlet
Play making 2017 Shanaijah Davidson and physical guard 2017 Zahrie Hendrix lead the way for a solid JBS team. 2017 Cailyn Francis provides JBS with interior defense and rebounding. 2017 Mira Shulman helps spread the floor with her ability to knock down the three.

Kansas Hoopsters 2017
2017 Caroline Hoppock had a great weekend showing her ability to consistently knock down the three  all over the floor. 2017 Abbey Hipp and 2017 Mackenzie Loe give the Hoopsters quality interior play on both ends of the floor. Sharp shooter 2017 Madison Piper gives the Hoopsters the ability to play small or big depending on what position she plays.

Louisiana Lady Select Black
 2018 lefty point guard Megan Abrams leads Louisiana Lady Select in their first year with Adidas. 2017 Krystal Freeman and 2018 LSU commit Cailain Williams gives Lady Select athleticism and scoring in the front court. 2018 Montori Weber, 2019 Alexius Horne, and 2019 Daija Harvey provide pressure defense and scoring on the perimeter.

New Mexico Heat Elite Gauntlet
The Heat are led by super athlete 2017 Michaela Onyenwere and 2018 Amaya Brown, which have been staples on the New Mexico Heat over the last two club seasons. 2017 Jaedyn De La Cerda provides quality point guard play with her ability to run the team. 2019 Brynn Wade and 2019 Ashley Bowen provide the team with gritty interior defense and rebounding and 2019 Carson Boswell is a perimeter scoring threat to keep an eye on.

NLHA Adidas Gauntlet Soyez
2017 Lauryn Snipes was impressive in Phoenix showing off her improved ability to break down her defender and get to the basket. 2017 Kyla Callins, 2017 Regan Tibbits, and 2018 Taylor Robertson play hard-nose defense and can knock down the three, while 2017 Kylie Woods and 2018 Mandi Cooks provides interior defense and rebounding.

Northwest Blazers Orange
2017 N’ Dea Flye leads an experienced Northwest Blazers Orange team that will vie for the Adidas Gauntlet Title after winning the Phoenix Gauntlet stop. 2017 6’5 Lauren Rewers anchors a formidable interior presence with the likes of 2017 6’2 Abby Anderson and 2017 Kyla Watkins. 2017 Jadyn Bush and 2017 Jill Townsend provide a one-two scoring punch as the NW Blazers Orange look to get back to the Final Four at Adidas Uprising Summer Championship.

OC Elite SkillSet 17U
OC Elite is a young team on the Adidas Gauntlet series with some promising players. 2018 6 ’ 7 Patricia Taylor has a load of potential with her ability to influence shots with her length and run the floor. 2018 Tylei Morris and 2018 Julia Iman provide athleticism at the wing position. We look forward to watching this team develop through the Adidas Gauntlet series.

OK PWP Elite 17U Adidas
Oklahoma PWP has a tradition of success and brings that tradition to the Adidas Gauntlet series. It starts at the point guard position with 2017 Maya Mayberry and 2017 Trena Mims, who are in the discussion as one of the best point guard combinations in the country. 2017 6’4 Mallory Vaughn and 2017 Michaela Bethel give OK PWP a dual offensive threat in the low post while 2019 Gabby Gregory can score anywhere on the floor. Look for them to make a deep run at the Adidas Gauntlet title.

Sophia Young Elite Black
After a successful playing career with the San Antonio Silver Stars, Sophia Young takes over Sophia Young Elite in their first year with Adidas. She leads a scrappy bunch lead by 2017 Deziray Turner, who is an athletic slasher. We look forward to seeing their development through out the club season.

Texas Elite adidas 17U Prime
Texas Elite had a hard draw in that they played five games in less than 24 hours, but came three points shy of winning the championship at the Adidas Guantlet- Phoenix. Lead by 2018 point guard Tatum Veitenheimer, Texas Elite has a plethora of scoring options whether it is hitting 2017 Trinity Oliver for a three ball, feeding 2018 6’7 Sedona Prince in the low post, or finding 2018 Cate Reese in transition, Veitenheimer does a great job of getting everyone touches. 2017 Vivan Gray is set to have a break out summer and watch out for 2017 Lauren Heard to turn some heads.
 
Texas Fire Black
Coach Murphy and Texas Elite Black were down some players, but held their own against some of the best teams in the country. Quick trigger 2018 Gabby Standifer showed her ability to knock down the three plus play down low. 2017 Kendall Lentz, 2017 Daria Cosgrove, and 2017 Hannah Aucoin helped carry the offensive load. We look forward to seeing Texas Fire Black at full strength this weekend at the Heart of Texas National Showcase.
 
The Adidas Gauntlet Elite division hosted 16U teams from all of the above Adidas Gauntlet teams. Here are team evaluations for the Final Four teams plus additional standouts from the division:

Oklahoma PWP Black 16U Adidas
In their first Adidas Gauntlet series event, Coach Lankster lead the Oklahoma PWP Black 16U Adidas to the Adidas Guantlet- Phoenix Championship. This team is full of athletes lead by 2019 Destiny Johnson, who is slashing wing that hits the boards. Shooting is a premier on this squad with 2018 Veronica Harjo, who scored twelve straight points in the semifinal game, 2019 Rhys Anderson, and 2018 Kiael Releford.

Texas Elite Adidas 17U Bounce
Through out the Adidas Gauntlet- Phoenix, Texas Elite Adidas 17U Bounce showed the teams character with a couple come from behind wins plus a game winner to reach the semifinals. Bounce has a balanced scoring attack led by 2017 Grace Daniels and 2017 Haleigh Hill. 2017 Gabrielle Rogers and 2017 Christina Baker clean up the glass and provide a scoring threat in the low post. 2017 Alexa Hoy and 2019 Gabrielle Mureeba run the show.

JBS Adidas II Gauntlet
When JBS Adidas II Gauntlet enters the gym people take notice because of their tremendous size lead by 2018 6’6 Shayley Harris and 2018 6’6 Arianna McCurry, but their height doesn’t stop there. They also have 2018 6’3 Ashlyn Lockard and 2018 6’3 Kassidy DeLapp, who has a chance to be very special. 2018 Azaana Sands creates well off the bounce, and 2018 Makaila Sanders is tough to keep out of the lane.

Texas Elite Adidas 16U Noble
By reaching the semifinals, Texas Elite Adidas 16U Noble seized the opportunity to impress college coaches at the Adidas Guantlet- Phoenix. 2018 point guard Jess Murcer was Noble’s most consistent player all weekend showing her consistent jumper and ability create for her team, while 2018 Quincy Noble continued to show her development and improved jump shot. A name to check out is 2018 Emma Halverson who is known in the Lone Star state, but will make her name on the national stage this summer in the Adidas Gauntlet.

Additional Adidas Gauntlet Elite Division Standouts:

• 2020 Haley Van Lith (Northwest Blazers Gauntlet Black) is a lefty play maker has the ability to create off the bounce and catch, a smooth jumper, and an excellent passer
• 2018 Amber Hawkison (AAO Banshees 2018) is an excellent athlete at the point guard position who can finish through contact and knock down the three
• 2020 Anna Ostlie (Arizona Elite Gold) is a point guard with a pure stroke who does a good job of creating into her jumper
• 2020 6’2 Cali Clark (CBC U16 Elite Adidas) is a forward who rebounds and can score in the low post but was impressed with her ability to step out to knock down the three.
• 2019 6’0 Mikayla Deshazer (Della Lamb Running Angels Gauntlet Elite) is an athletic forward who rebounds very well, influence shots at the rim, and is hard to stop when she puts the ball on the floor
• 2019 Deja Williams (GBL Team Candace Parker 16U National) is a natural leader with above average handles at the point guard position
• 2018 6’1 Ashton McCorry (NLHA Adidas Gauntlet McCorry) is a long wing who can play all three guard positions with her ability to defend and create on the offensive end
• 2020 Navaeh Tot (Sophia Young Elite White) is a tenacious competitor who makes plays on both ends of the floor