Derby City Duel: 16U Wrap-Up

The featured image is of Jarie Thomas (2023) of Henderson County High School (KY) and S.W.I.S.H. City 16U. This past weekend, while attending the PGH Circuit's Derby City Duel event, I was tasked with checking in on each of the 16U teams on hand. While this wasn't a traditional tournament with a champion and was more of a showcase event where teams came and played four scheduled games, I did want to highlight the top performers I saw in an "all-tournament" type of format. So, below is a look at the 15 young ladies who I thought stood out the most in what I was able to catch from this past weekend.   1st Team All-Derby City Duel Jermyra Christian, 2023, 5-5 PG, East Jessamine H.S. (KY), Overtime Performance-1 - OTP-1's lead guard, she was constantly creating havoc at both ends of the floor. She has a strong frame, she's a nice athlete, and she was constantly on attack offensively, while also bothering opponents at the defensive end of the floor. I felt like she changed games for them when she was on the floor. Emiyah Cobb, 2023, 5-7 PG, Clarksville Northwest H.S. (TN), Tennessee Sol - Emiyah was as dynamic of a playmaker as there was in the 16U division. She has great length, she's very quick/fast, and she did a nice job of slicing through defenses to either score it at the rim or find open teammates for easy baskets. She was also a pest defensively with her length and quickness. Avery Patterson, 2023, 5-4 PG, Bloomington H.S. North (IN), Indiana Showcase - New to this team this weekend, Avery made her presence known, and in a big way. While I've seen her play mostly off the ball in the past, she acted as their primary ball-handler a lot of the time, and she was highly efficient and rarely turned it over. Additionally, she is a knockdown shooter with range. Jalyn Shelby, 2023, 5-10 F, Evansville North H.S. (IN), S.W.I.S.H. City - Jalyn brings an intriguing mix of skill to the frontcourt, and she showed her ability to score the ball at all three levels throughout the weekend. She has a strong frame to where she can play in the mid-post consistently. But she's also a solid athlete, and she can get hot outside and bury 3-pointers. Sarah Gick, 2024, 6-1 C, Benton Central H.S. (IN), IGB - The young post was the most consistent front-liner in 16U all weekend. She went toe-to-toe with 6-4 Jhaven Meade (below) and stood her ground, then showed her mobility in other games against wings/forwards. She can score it inside, she rebounds it well, and she plays with a great motor.   2nd Team All-Derby City Duel Marlee Beam, 2023, 6-1 F, Apex Friendship H.S. (NC), ABC Lightning - Marlee is a versatile forward who showed the versatility to play at all three levels. She has some ball skill and touch when playing outside, but she has the size and physicality to play in the mid-post as well. Lydia Betz, 2023, 5-10 W, Forest Park H.S. (IN), S.W.I.S.H. City - Lydia is a point forward type who does a nice job of getting downhill. She is long, wiry strong, and she plays with a quiet toughness to her game. She can be a matchup problem at times because of her ball skill. Jhaven Meade, 2023, 6-4 C, Franklin County H.S. (KY), Overtime Performance-1 - Jhaven is a big, strong, traditional back-to-the-basket post. She has broad shoulders, some length, and she likes to go to the block and enforce her will. She has solid hands and a little touch facing the rim. Kendal Taylor, 2023, 6-2 C, Concord H.S. (IN), Tipping Point - Kendal stood out because she seems to always play hard and doesn't let much rattle her. She has a strong frame, good hands, and she finishes well at the basket. If she can expand her game, she'll be tough. Torri James, 2024, 5-11 F, Rossview H.S. (TN), Tennessee Sol - Torri is an extremely long, bouncy, fluid, and "slithery" type of forward. She doesn't touch it nearly as often as their guards, but when she does, she is always making shots or smoothly getting to the basket.   3rd Team All-Derby City Duel Leah Brown, 2023, 5-7 CG, Holly Springs H.S. (NC), ABC Lightning - Plays both guard spots for this team. She does a nice job of using her length and athleticism to make plays. Elise Cupp, 2023, 6-2 C, Wyoming H.S. (OH), Dayton Metro - Traditional post who plays with a motor. Has solid hands, good length, and some skill facing the basket. Iesha Dean, 2023, 5-9 W, East Jessamine H.S. (KY), Overtime Performance-2 - Extremely long and fluid point forward type. Definitely a hard-working playmaker with the ball in her hands. Jarie Thomas, 2023, 6-0 PF, Henderson County H.S. (KY), S.W.I.S.H. City - Extremely long, fluid, and skillful mid-post kid has a lot of upside. If she develops a 3-point shot, watch out. Linzie Wernert, 2023, 5-8 SF, Lanesville H.S. (IN), IGB - Tough-nosed, physical, high-energy, skilled forward is always around the ball and does the "little things".   Honorable Mention: Devyn Barton, 2023, S.W.I.S.H. City Eva Dodds, 2023, Tipping Point Shae Harris, 2023, Overtime Performance-1 Staci Williams, 2023, ABC Lightning Imari Berry, 2024, Tennessee Sol Carrie Hiler, 2024, Indiana Showcase