There were 40 girls at Ron Coleman’s Southwest Showcase for senior girls at South Mountain C.C. on Sunday, October 7th.
Many coaches were in attendance to possibly offer many of these girls, including Mesa CC, Chandler-Gilbert CC, South Mountain CC and Western New Mexico University - a division-II program.
After watching 2 games by each girl, these were there the top 20 girls based on how well they performed - starting with the top prospects from the 2013 class for girls in the state ...
Senior Showcase Top Girls Prospects - Class of 2013
Megan Brown PF 6’2” Highland HS - Megan passes the eye test when you look at her frame. She is long, lean and has arms that don’t stop. She is an amazing rebounder in and out of her area. She alters or blocks anything that comes her way. She does all her work from 15 feet and in. She can hit you with a beautiful mid-range shot, and then use her solid handles to blow by her defender for a lay-up. She also has solid post moves down low in the paint to do some of the dirty work. Her IQ is very high and it usually helps her to make the correct play on offense and defense. She also is a solid athlete. This high-caliber player will find a college very soon.
Nidja Thomas PF 6’1” Buena HS - Nidja also looks the part. She had the longest arms at the event and is very athletic. She can make turn-around jumpers in the paint, and use her handles to create a shot for herself or others. She is a very underrated passer from the post-position. She is a great shot blocker and excellent rebounder on offense and defense. Seems like her best basketball is ahead of her. She has immense upside still yet to be discovered. This powerful athlete will be a great find for any college.
Sydnie Lengyel C 6’0” Marcos De Niza HS - Sydnie isn’t the athlete of the top 2 girls, but she was the strongest girl at the event. She uses her strength to her advantage down low in the paint. She almost bullies her way to the lane to score points in bunches. She also is an extremely skilled shooter. She can hit the mid-range shot with ease. She mainly will hang out offensively in the paint and cause havoc with many moves in her repertoire. Sydnie will pick up a college offer very soon.
Melinda Myers C 6’0” Highland HS - Melinda was the best rebounder at the event. She had 4 offensive rebounds each game and easily grabbed the most rebounds overall at the event. She is not just a rebounder, but also a very skilled scorer. She has a nice touch on her shot and has solid moves down low in the paint. She held her own with the best girls at the event. She also has a solid wingspan to help her out on defense to tap balls away. This glass-eater will help out some college team.
Paloma Anderson PG 5’2” Career Success HS - Paloma is obviously small in stature, but is a dynamo on the court. She has pure speed to get by any defender. She constantly puts pressure on the defense with her ability to go by them or shoot it from deep. She can hit the 3-ball or the mid-range shot. She gets into the lane easily and finds teammates in traffic. She also is a thief on defense. She had about 6 steals in only 2 games. This court-wiz will find a home on the next level.
Shaylin Heredia PG 5’7” Tolleson HS - Shaylin can score on all 3 levels. She can go by her defender and lay it in or use the floater. She also uses the mid-range shot to her advantage and is an excellent 3-point shooter. She has solid defense on the ball and is a great passer. She can make a pass with either hand and also finish off her lay-ups with either hand too. She knows the pick-and-roll game, as her IQ is extremely high. She was the best shooter of all the PG’s at the event. She also was practicing shooting during lunch to get an edge, as she is a hard-worker. This all-around PG will find a college next year.
Rebecca Rudd SG 5’11” Highland HS - Rebecca is another amazing Highland HS girl with college upside. At 5’11” she actually can do damage inside and out. She is big enough to get dirty inside and grab rebounds, but her best thing is shooting the ball. She hit 7 outside shots in 2 games. She hit 3 shots from deep and 4 mid-range jumpers also. Her handles are solid, but she is better with the catch-and-shoot. She also has a solid frame with long arms. This shooter will contribute in college next year.
Alexa Jacobs CG 5’7” Mountain Ridge HS - Alexa is a very strong girl who can get to the hole, or pass it to make a play for a teammate. She’s a natural slasher that slithers her way to the rim and finishes the play off with a left or right-hand lay-up. She can make an outside shot, but since her handle is so strong, she usually takes the ball to the cup. Her defense is also very solid and she is a solid rebounder for a guard. Her butter is her hesitation dribble to freeze the defender to go right by. She also will be a solid secondary PG, as she seems comfortable with the ball in her hands. This strong guard will find a spot at the next level.
Erica Vasquez PG 5’7” Red Mountain HS - Erica is another fast PG with great defense. She also is a pure PG with great vision. She had many assists on the day with her left or right hand. She also was 2nd overall in the event in steals with 5. She also has a nice stroke out to the 3-point stripe and in. She will control most games with her passing and defense. She also is not afraid to go inside if she has to. I’m sure this solid prospect will find a college home.
Kylee Reibel SG 5’9” Millenium HS - Kylee has an all around game with a great IQ. She plays solid defense on every possession, which leads to a few blocks and 2 steals in the 2 games. She also is an excellent outside shooter, as she hit 3 from deep. She knows how to take a smaller player in the post and finish with her left or right hand. Her overall feel for the game is great to see, and you can tell she was taught the right way how to play the game from her mother, who also played. She will find a place to help out a team next year at the college level.
Czarina Walker SF 5’9” Flowing Wells HS - Czarina is a natural scorer from 15 feet and in. She can hit the mid-range shot or blow by you with her left or right hand. She hit 5 mid-range shots on the day, and at one point during the game, hit 3 in a row. She also has solid handles to break down her defender and go by her. When she gets in a rhythm on offense, you don’t know how to guard her, since she can go by you or hit a shot in your face. She is very crafty getting by you, even though she doesn’t have blazing speed. I believe this pure scorer will play in college next year.
Liz Rudd C 6’1” Highland HS - Liz is another star Highland HS girl that is a great rebounder. She is a very active post defender. She is always tapping or swatting passes away that go into the post. When she receives the ball in the post, she always keeps the ball high to avoid any guards swiping it away from her. She is an excellent passer out of the post area. She constantly found girls for lay-ups or open outside shots. She also has nice form on her shot with range out to the 3-point stripe. She won’t wow you with anything, but will be a solid addition to any college.
Marquel Angel SG 5’6” McClintock HS - Marquel is a very good scorer with good handles. She can shoot it from deep or hit you with a mid-range shot. She also can drive by her defender with her smooth crossover. She doesn’t have pure speed, but her crossover is so good, that she goes by her defender. She also has some ability to move over and play a little PG, if needed be. Her defense is solid as she tries hard on all possessions.
Jackie Barlow PG 5’6” San Tan High - Jackie is a very good 3-point shooter with solid vision. She also has good defense and has a solid 1st step. She uses her 1st step well, as she can make lay-ups or make the hard floater shot. Her passing, shooting and 1st step make her a value to her HS team. I’m guessing she will have a great senior season at San Tan.
Kayla Miranda SG 5’7” Highland HS - Kayla is another good player from Highand HS. She is a very tough-minded girl who gets in your grill defensively. She uses her left hand really well, and has many ball fakes to go by her defender or create space to get a shot off. She is a true team player with a gritty attitude on the court. This defensive player will help her HS team immensely.