MLK Dream Classic: Game Changers on Night One
I had the opportunity to get out to two different MLK Holiday Tournaments over the course of the long weekend in Tampa Bay. Chamberlain HS hosted this event, and I was able to catch two games on Saturday night. The…
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Continue ReadingI had the opportunity to get out to two different MLK Holiday Tournaments over the course of the long weekend in Tampa Bay. Chamberlain HS hosted this event, and I was able to catch two games on Saturday night. The unique part of this event was that a player from each team was selected to read a quote by Martin Luther King Jr which I thought was a neat way to honor the intelligence and kindness he embodied. We must all continue to push his legacy forward with our actions as his work is still not finished. I really enjoyed that aspect of this tournament, and there was also a ton of talent on display with a good amount of media and college coaches to witness it. There were no games that lacked star power, and here are some impact players who can really change the course of a game:
Tampa Bay Tech – 58, Miami Country Day – 55
Jasmine Peaks – Tampa Bay Tech – Jr.
Jaz balled out this weekend. In their big win over Miami Country Day, she went for 18 points on 6 of 8 shooting from the field (4 for 5 from behind the arc). That’s a very impressive shooting day, but she did just as good of a job taking care of the ball. Jasmine is so smooth with it and showed off some quick handles. She’s also got a lethal floater/runner when she takes it to the rack.
Janiah Barker – Tampa Bay Tech – So.
Janiah had the teams only double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win. She hit three 3’s in the win over a very deep and talented Miami Country Day team. She’s got an incredible frame with the skill set to match it. It’s scary to think that she’s only a Sophomore as one of the best players in the state and country, regardless of class.
Andrea Daley – Miami Country Day – Jr.
Andrea played a really strong game against the Titans in a tough loss. She scored 13 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter alone. MCDS outscored TBT 26 to 18 in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit from a less than ideal third quarter. Andrea was the most athletic player in this game, showcased her terrific vert, and crashed the boards hard.
St. Francis (GA) – 72, Armwood – 57
Taviyanna Habib – Armwood – Jr.
Taviyanna is having a great season and even joined the 1,000 point club this week. This is one of the best teams Armwood had played, and Tavi still had another great game against a quality opponent. She lead her team with 16 points and 10 boards in an impressive double-double effort. I have a feeling she’s going to blow up this summer when coaches see the athleticism, length, and jumper this girl has.
Aniyah Jenkins – Armwood – Sr.
Aniyah also had a double-double for Armwood with 15 points, and get this, 19 rebounds! Ten of those rebounds were on the offensive end, too. She added 3 blocks into the mix and is really coming into her own as the regular season winds down. She’s still unsigned but has some offers on the table, rightfully so.
Maraya Cheek – Armwood – Fr.
Maraya is one of my favorite Freshman to watch in the Tampa Bay area. She can score/shoot the ball, gets her teammates involved, and plays tough defense. She was another double-digit scorer for the Hawks, and I expect her to continue to develop into a fantastic player over the course of her young career.
Savannah Samuel – St. Francis – Sr.
Savannah is a special player who led her team to two big victories in Florida. Against Armwood, she put up 25 points by going a productive 11 of 18 from the field. She has a very high arcing shot that didn’t hit much net when she put it through. Savannah has nice size that she’ll take to Oregon State next season as a tremendous basketball player that knows the game well.
Amirah Abdur-Rahim – St. Francis – Sr.
Another player from St. Francis with some size is Amirah. She had a line of 16 points (81% from the field), 5 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The length and size of this team is noticable right when they walked through the door. Amirah will continue her basketball career at Notre Dame.
Mia is an exciting guard to watch as she was relentless on defense with 6 steals. She distrubted the ball well with 4 dimes and shot well from everywhere for 12 points on a high percentage. Mia has a quick first step and a nasty hesitation move. This St. Francis team is solid, and I’m glad they made the trip down to Florida.