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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Since 1986 the “Super Scrimmage” has been a staple of the preseason landscape in North Carolina scholastic basketball and starting in 2005 has been run in conjunction with Providence Day School becoming a “can’t miss event for recruiters and evaluators alike.

Five years ago, popularity and the subsequent interest led to the creation of “Super Scrimmage II” highlighting even more of the Tar Heel State talent. Saturday’s 2017 edition of the newest showcase featured 35 teams in the line-up including a visiting roster from Virginia and another making the trip from South Carolina. Over the course of the daylong event 34 games took place on two floors at Mt. Tabor High School and an additional court down the road at Jefferson Middle School.

While scrimmage scenarios offer up different coaching approaches, substitution rotations and even a few tweaks to the clock operation and free throw administration, we still had a good opportunity to see some promising talent primed and ready for the 2017 – 18 season. Below are quickhitters highlighting some of the standout performances from Super Scrimmage II operated by Coach Kenny Carter and the folks from Hoops and Dreams.

RiKoya Anderson – 2018 – 5-9 – Swing – Rock Hill – Deceiving player…Solid build but surprisingly quick feet…Good individual skills…Can develop both shots and passes…Quick release also comes with some respectable range…Power element to her game challenges any opposition match up…Can hold her ground defensively while giving up some inches to bigger opponents…What position ultimately?

Jamaya Blanks – 2019 – 5-9 – Wing/Guard – West Ridge Academy – Has some tools…Decent length and athleticism…Gets to the rim…Was a presence in transition…Can spot up on the perimeter…Created moments on both ends of the floor…Lots of upside still in front of her

Lauren Carter – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – Southwest Guilford – Campbell signee…Impressive combination of size and athleticism…Creates a large percentage of offense from her defensive efforts…Upright at times but always attacking and looking to get to the rim…Active both with and without the ball…Anticipates on the weakside of the floor defensively with good vision…Assertive on ball…Corrals ballhandlers with her reach and length…Makes plays

Kirsten Deans – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – West Ridge Academy – In command at the point…Aggressive on the attack…Can create her own as well as improve the looks of her teammates…Gets to the rim with and without screens…Hesitation is lethal…Lots of speed with the ball…Change of direction challenges defenders…Step back is there with good separation…Solid range…Scraps defensively

Mariah Frazier – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Ragsdale – Very promising young guard…Has size, skills and athleticism…Fluid in all her movement…Length serves her well on the perimeter at both ends of the floor…Can create her own looks and improve passing angles to set up her teammates…First step…Length of stride gets her out in transition or back defensively…Impact on ball defender…Assertive effort and aggressive mentality in getting stops…All the tools

Abrianna Green – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Rock Hill – Had some moments…Individual skills allow her to attack in transition and out of sets…Stepback got her some long range looks…Plays physical in the backcourt…Anticipates defensively at times but relaxes on other possessions…More consistency allows for a bigger impact

Makiya Hargrave – 2018 – 6-0 – Post/Forward – Reagan – Undersized interior player…Solid build and strength…Willing to attack on the catch…Took it off the drive from the high post with confidence…Mid-Range is there…Passes well out of the post…Gets on the boards…Level?

Megan Harkey – 2020 – 6-5 – Post – Northwest Guilford – Part of a strong interior tandem…Young with some more growth to come…Lots of legs and a frame to add to…Methodical to a degree at this point but good grasp on what she’s looking for…Things are still a thought rather than a reaction but it’s only going to smooth out and advance each time out…Demonstrates a good foundation

Mikenzie Harvin – 2019 – 5-7 – Point Guard – Lexington – Smooth and fluid at the point…Strong ballhandling and passing skills…Will force things at times…Decent stroke from deep and off the pull up…Reads the floor in transition…Quick attack on the catch…Active defender…Slight build will need some strength

Elizabeth Kitley – 2019 – 6-4 – Post – Northwest Guilford – Has the size, frame and length…Completely aware of her role…Utilizes an impressive wingspan to make herself an option down low…Understands angles and posting to both ball and pass…Holds her ground against physical defensive pressure…Keeps it high on the catch…Step through to a baby hook is there…Has had some good coaching…Shows some mechanical moments but only going to continue to improve

Diamond Monroe – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Dudley – Dynamic young guard…Part of a young team…First step is explosive…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Perimeter shot is off the shoulder to a degree at this point…Physically strong build for her age…Has some “wild” moments but makes her share of plays…A factor both in the halfcourt and in transition…Can be hard for defenders to contain…Watch closely

Madison Moore – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – West Ridge Academy – UNC-Charlotte signee…Size and strength are there…True #4…Lefty…Ability is there to post but can work from the elbows and trail spot as well…Long first step gets her to the rim…Can pull up or has a “semi” jump hook to call upon…Form seems to be there from the perimeter as well…Position skill set translates well to the next level…Not afraid to mix it up defensively…Strong on the glass

Faith Price – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Southwest Guilford – Athletic guard…Good individual skills…Finds her way to the rim…Impressive speed with the ball…Floater is there…Reads defenders and cuts well without the ball…Reads the floor well defensively

Nyah Stallings – 2020 – 5-9 – Combo – Ragsdale – Athletic and attacking…Can play both point and off guard…Pushes it at opportunity…Not afraid to go coast to coast…Takes it into traffic without hesitation…Nice speed on the break…Decent form is in place from the perimeter…Active defender

Olivia Stubbs – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – High Point Central – Sat out last scrimmage with injury…Had a few moments…Wiry built, young guard…Pushes the ball at every chance…Could grow…worth keeping an eye on

Bryanna Troutman – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward/Post – Salisbury – Size, frame and strength…Good agility…Can play both the #4 and #5…Plays in bursts…Created offense with her defense…Took it off the steal the length of the floor on multiple occasions…Ability is there to step out, work from the elbow or shoot it from the trail spot in transition…Can take her game further

Demi Washington – 2019 – 5-11 – Wing/Guard – Heritage – Physically strong with good size on the perimeter…Plays with lots of versatility…Can put it on the floor and penetrate…Stroke and form are there along with some range…lateral speed on defense allows her to match up with smaller guards…Strength lets her mix it up with some players of size…College ready physically…Lots of promise

Mark Lewis is a national evaluator and photographer for Blue Star Basketball as well as the lead columnist for Blue Star Media. Twice ranked as one of the top 25 Division I assistant coaches in the game by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), he logged 25 years of college coaching experience at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and Washington State. Lewis serves as a member of the prestigious McDonald’s All-American selection committee as well as the Naismith College Player and Coach of the Year committees.

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