Opening Day-10th Grade Divison Standouts #NBC22

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kiaya Kyham (Team Runova 10th- Kalvin)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyham <strong><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/02/top-performers-junior-varsity-division-nchbc/">caught my eye</a></strong> a few months ago and had both wide open as she showed even more than I saw that initial time. She still brought the heat on the defensive end yet on the flip, her "never takes a play off" mindset showed her attacking the basket and finishing with contact, not to omit diving for loose balls. She also played the passing lane well</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenya Palmer- Taylor (Team Takeover Black) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Palmer-Taylor is a "long and athletic" guard and I also wrote SDM, my acronym for a popular hashtag I use, #sizedontmatter because she can flat-out play. Her explosiveness off the dribble, both in the open court and the set, enabled her to get to the basket countless times and finish after contact. She also showed she could drop the mid to long-range</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='959787' first='Kamaria' last='Ford'] (SGBC 2025) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford has an acronym for the automobile yet I gassed up to track her down and get her name, which is something I RARELY do, but after watching her slide 10 feet numerous times for loose balls, she was a SAFE bet to make the Tip Sheet, yes I dropped some baseball in and since did, she rounded several bases as she scored off the dribble and from outside yet her pressure defense was also a HIT</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tajanae Gooden ([program_tooltip program_id='712934' first='Team' last='Lex'] Loaded)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gooden has been one of m "must see" players for, I don't even know how long but I know she was dropping the long ball from afar in probably the 4th or 5th grade and I changed courts. She creates her shot so well and just elevates with ease to drop it but she's also showing she can score from midrange. That and her powerful finishes helped lead them not only to but win their division </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emily Belletini ([program_tooltip program_id='715705' first='C4' last='Attack']) OK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belletini's name brought back memories from my journey through Italy ages ago yet I was wondering how I missed her. Well after using GOOGLE, she's from Oklahoma, and Oklahoma is OK. Her court vision and ability to create her shot immediately stood out, her threading the needle in transition ain't easy yet she made it look like it was. She also showed she could drop the jumper however she wanted, from wherever she wanted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='315215' first='Sarahi' last='Beltran'] (Elevate) OK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beltran is a perfect example of "the game starts at the 1" and I know it actually starts at the tip, but here's a TIP. You go from good to GREAT when you "make those around you better" and her ability to set her teammates up for gimmes is just something you can't teach. She's heady and wants the ball in pressure situations has <strong>JUST DID IT</strong> for me all season from mid to long-range, off the dribble, or just making huge plays </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ze'Kenya Thompson ([program_tooltip program_id='715312' first='Houston' last='Lady Nets'] 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson has been "the glue" all season for her squad when I had a chance to catch them. Yeah, she can slow down the opponent's top scorer, come up with key rebounds as well as putbacks and play the passing lane. However, she also can score off the dribble and finish after contact as well as drop the mid to long-range and her play helped them advance to the championship game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->