Tennessee Turkey Jam

Many of the top players and teams in the country gathered in Murfreesboro, TN for the 7th Annual Tennessee Turkey Jam presented by Girl Powher Showcases on November 27-29, 2015.

University of Texas commit Alecia Sutton of Parkway North High School (MO) and UCONN commit Crystal Dangerfield of Blackman High School (TN) are considered by most to be the top two point guards in the 2016 class. While they are somewhat different in their approach, they will both be immediate impact players at their respective schools. At 5’9”, Alecia Sutton is the total package; she has excellent size and the ability to defend either guard position. Sutton is a dynamic ball handler and passer with vision with the ball in her hand. She excels in transition and is a terrific finisher over and through traffic. Sutton also has an array of floaters and a very good midrange and three-point shot when given time and space. Texas has a program changing point guard in Alecia Sutton.

University of Connecticut commit Crystal Dangerfield is a point guard who can beat you in a variety of ways. She is a natural scorer who can really shoot from the three or the midrange off the dribble. Dangerfield has a variety of floaters at her disposal that she uses when going into the lane. Dangerfield is dynamic in the open court with her ability to handle, pass, or score. At 5’5”, Dangerfield is an elite athlete that excels in on-ball pressure defending. She has huge shoes to fill in replacing Moriah Jefferson at UCONN, but has the ability to keep the dynasty rolling.

2017 Eva Rubin of Homewood Flossmoor High School (IL) is a rising post prospect. Rubin has a big, strong frame and uses it well in getting in the post position. She has good hands and footwork in the post, and continues to improve her post moves and ability to finish around the basket. Rubin has very good lateral quickness for a big, allowing her to cover a lot of ground when protecting the paint. Rubin is also a terrific defensive rebounder, igniting Flossmoor’s fast break.

2018 Daja Woodard of Mattie T. Blount High School (AL) is an emerging wing prospect. She is a long, athletic player with improving skill. Woodard’s ability to handle the ball, quick first step, and ability to finish over traffic make her a tough cover for defenses. Woodard is a terrific help side shot blocker and projects as a lockdown defender with added strength and experience. She is also a very good defensive rebounder. Her ability to handle the ball off of rebounds and push the ball in transition is a huge advantage for Blount.

2019 Aislynn Hayes of Riverdale High School (TN) is a backup to her sister Anastasia—a top 20 2017 prospect—on a loaded team. Hayes made quite an impression when called upon. She is extremely quick and crafty with the ball, and can shoot the three or pull up from the midrange. Hayes is an excellent passer off the dribble. She is a lightning quick on ball defender with excellent understanding of angles for a young player. Hayes will be a highly sought after recruit in the 2019 class.

Other players that caught my eye during the 2015 Tennessee Turkey Jam were 2016s Brittney Patrick (Bolingbrook - IL), Jazz Bond (Blackman - TN), Jasmine Walker (Jefferson Davis - AL), Cierra Johnson (Mattie T. Blount - AL), Mya Johnson (Parkway North - MO), and Kierra Johnson-Graham (Tucker - GA).

2017s that jumped on my radar were Jnaya Walker (Bolingbrook - IL), Kyla McIntosh (East Central - OK), Sydne Wiggins (Harrison - GA), Zoe Guilmette (Harrison - GA), Karli Seay (Homewood Flossmoor - IL), Nadia Green (Homewood Flossmoor - IL), Jadyn Pimentel (Parkway North - MO), Jordan May (Parkway North - MO), Anastasia Hayes (Riverdale - TN), Audrey McElhaney (Tift County - GA), and Bria Bass (Tucker - GA).

There were a very strong group of sophomores including 2018s Gabby Smith (Bolingbrook - IL), Mya Fuller (Blackman - TN), Breyanna Howard (Career Academy - MO), Ki’Ael Releford (East Central - OK), Kaneisha Rivers (G.W. Carver - AL), Monique Pruitt (Homewood Flossmoor - IL), Amaya Stovall (Parkway North - MO), Amanda Whittington (Riverdale - TN), Alexis Whittington (Riverdale - TN), Brinae Alexander (Riverdale -TN), Allison Mayeux (Riverdale -TN), Kyra Wilder (Stewarts Creek - TN), and Shaquille McGruder (Huber Heights Wayne - OH).

A few freshmen made an early impact on their respective teams included 2019s Sarah Matthews (Forest Park - GA), Destiny Bohanon (Huber Heights Wayne - OH), and Olivia Trice (Huber Heights Wayne - OH).