Ten Best from Battle on the Beach
It sure felt good to be in a gym even with masks, smaller crowds, and getting those temperatures checked on the way in. DME hosted players from the 2021 class down to the 2026 class (at least) in a controlled…
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Continue ReadingIt sure felt good to be in a gym even with masks, smaller crowds, and getting those temperatures checked on the way in. DME hosted players from the 2021 class down to the 2026 class (at least) in a controlled environment that brought some normalcy to players, coaches, and parents lives for a quick weekend. Here are some awards for players the stood out in what was a loaded tournament in Daytona:
MVP – Ja’Leah Williams Ja’Leah Williams 5'9" | CG Blanche Ely | 2021 State FL (Team Knight)
Ja’Leah was the best overall player of the weekend. She got it done on both ends and impressed some north and central Floridians who hadn’t seen much of her game. One thing that really stood out to me was her ability to push her dribble out in front of her body by using her length on the fast break which made it impossible for her opponents to keep up even when they didn’t have a ball to slow them down. Ja’Leah was a one-girl press breaker by splitting triple teams or making the right pass and not forcing anything. She didn’t turn the ball over very often for a guard that has the rock in her hand a lot of the time and was guarded by some incredible defenders over the course of the weekend. Ja’Leah shot it well from deep, made some tough shots in traffic, and had her hands all over the ball on defense. She was the best player in the gym all weekend. Miami is getting a good one!
Best Passer – Daniella Aronsky Daniella Aronsky 5'8" | CG American Heritage | 2021 State FL (Miami Suns)
It’s no surprise that Daniella is a top producer in the state and the country in assists. It helps to have quality teammates, and she’s always aware of where they are on the court at all times. She doesn’t turn it over often, shoots it well from everywhere, and makes some smooth passes. She was confident and strong in her ability to make one handed passes, fit passes into tight windows, and knew when to make a bounce pass. I really liked her overall game this weekend against some high level competition.
Best Post – Chaniya Clark Chaniya Clark 6'2" | PF Fort Myers | 2021 State #96 Nation FL (Team Knight)
Team Knight is absolutely loaded with frontcourt talent. Chaniya had the best showing this weekend as she scored with ease against anyone and everyone. She has soft hands and a soft touch with a beautiful stroke. Chaniya doesn’t let anyone stop her and uses her strength to score and power through at the rim. She could not be stopped.
Most Improved – Kyleigh Welsh (Tampa Thunder)
Kyleigh is still a very raw player, but she has made some significant strides in her game. She blocked a ton of shots this weekend with impressive timing using those long limbs. Kyleigh was controlling the boards and the paint on both ends. Her footwork has improved immensely and she is developing to be a really nice post player for what should be a strong high school team.
Best 2022 – Amiya Evans Amiya Evans 6'2" | PF DME Academy | 2022 State FL (Miami Suns)
This tournament was absolutely loaded with 2022 talent, even just between the Suns and Hoop Dreams Elite. It was really good to see Amiya battle against some of the best posts in the state and see a good amount of success. She does a really good job of getting position in the post and when boxing out on both ends of the floor as one of the best offensive rebounders I’ve seen. Amiya knows the game and uses her hands, elbows, and a strong stance to give herself an advantage against anyone down low. She also has a pretty shot that she can hit consistently from 15 feet and in.
Best 2023 – D’Yanis Jimenez D’Yanis Jimenez 5'9" | PG Charlotte | 2023 State FL (Miami Suns)
D’Yanis didn’t show as well as she would have liked against some older and really talented players, but there is no denying she had some impressive moments. I have no doubt that she will fit in with this team as she has an incredibly high ceiling as one of the best shooting and ball handling guards in the state. She’s so smooth when dribbling behind her back and between her legs, and she made some impressive passes throughout the weekend. D’Yanis is a really good shooter who plays hard on defense too. She will get a ton of valuable experience playing with this top Suns team.
Best 2024 – Beckham Hockley (Tampa Thunder)
There was a lot of 2024 talent in the gym this weekend with players like Sofia Mendez and Leah Barnes, but Beckham had the best showing from what I saw. She really fit in with a group of girls that were 1-2 years older than her and hit some big shots for her team. Beckham did an impressive job handling the ball with pressure using her silky smooth crossover and her ability to keep her eyes up the floor. The offense ran through her when she was on the floor, and she rotated/relocated off of the ball a few times to get set up for a high percentage shot. You can tell she puts in a lot of work!
Best Worker – Keegan Brace Keegan Brace 5'7" | CG Lake Howell | 2021 State FL (TNBA)
Speaking of work, you don’t need to look anywhere else if you want to see a player with an unreal work ethic. Keegan has made some significant improvements in her game over the years that has made her one of the best in the state. I’d put Keegan up against anyone with her drive and the skills she’s earned on her own. She’s one of those players that you want on your team and hate playing against. She will outwork you on both ends, take a charge, and do the dirty work that most players won’t. Her handles, shot, and vision are really solid which makes her an even tougher competitor! Keegan is only going to better.
Best Shooter – Cheyenne Stubbs Cheyenne Stubbs 5'7" | CG Braden River | 2021 State FL (Team Knight)
Cheyenne hit some clutch shots for Team Knight in their games that helped them pull away with ease. She did more than just hit NBA range threes all weekend, but that was her biggest contribution to her stacked team. Cheyenne does a good job of creating space for herself with and without the ball to get a good look from behind the arc. She’s a strong dribbler and defender too which makes her a strong guard that colleges should be looking at.
Best Defender – Stefanie Ingram Stefanie Ingram 5'7" | CG Lake Highland | 2022 State FL (Hoops Dreams Elite)
Stefanie plays on some really good teams all year long, so some people might overlook her but her game speaks for itself. She is a great on-ball defender and can read the offense to intercept a pass or make a deflection. She was one of the most impressive 2022’s with how much she can affect a game on both sides of the ball. Stefanie finishes strong in traffic and shows some explosive bursts with her change of pace. I really like her feel for the game and her situational IQ that will translate well to the next level.