205’s Top Rising Stars
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Featuring: Mortimer Jordan High School, Susan Moore High School, Hillcrest High School Let’s talk about some girls’ hoops! I’ve had the opportunity to study and watch a few girls in the 205 area that really stood out to me coming…
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Continue ReadingFeaturing: Mortimer Jordan High School, Susan Moore High School, Hillcrest High School
Let’s talk about some girls’ hoops! I’ve had the opportunity to study and watch a few girls in the 205 area that really stood out to me coming into this regular season next week. These ladies are some of the best underrated and on-the-rise stars that I have laid eyes on in a long time. Studying these ladies has been a pleasant experience and a tremendous point for girls’ basketball. So let’s start with some of my underrated players in the 205.
Rachel Harris Rachel Harris 5'10" | PF Tuscaloosa Academy | 2023 State AL , 5’11 F/G, C/O 2023-Hillcrest High School
Rachel Harris Rachel Harris 5'10" | PF Tuscaloosa Academy | 2023 State AL is a senior for the Hillcrest High School Patriots. This young lady is a fierce competitor who knows her way around the court. Rachael is a team leader and also a very aggressive ball handler on offense. Rachael will be playing for a new team this upcoming season with the Hillcrest High School Patriots, so she will help lead this team to another successful season. With her great shooting ability, ball handling skills, and a very aggressive drive to the basket, Rachel is one of the most poised athletes I’ve seen in ladies’ basketball, and as she enters a new year for a new program, it will be a very exciting time for her to continue to rise above it all as she helps this team succeed this upcoming season. I can already see Rachel growing her stock not only in the state but in the country.
Keyarra Scottland, 5’6 PG, C/O 2024-Mortimer Jordan High School
Talking about talent, Keyarra is a talented hooper for the Blue Devils. This young lady is a great competitor, game in and game out. Watching Keyarra during Battle 205 last year showed me how great of an athlete she really is. She is a great defender on the court who tracks down the ball very well and is also an excellent playmaker on both ends of the court. Keyarra is a rising star for the class of 2024. She is also a very consistent player who has a great range for shooting anywhere beyond the three-point arc to inside the three-point arc for a two-point field goal. Watching films on Keyarra shows me how quick she is on her feet when she gets the ball, which allows her to create plays from many different angles. I see a lot in this young lady’s future and I can’t wait to see what this class of ’24 point guard does for her new team this upcoming season.
Jaylen Pleasant Jaylen Pleasant 5'5" | PG Mortimer Jordan | 2023 State AL , 5’4 PG, C/O 2023 – Mortimer Jordan High School
Jaylen is another Mortimer Jordan High School kid I’ve been watching for a long time, even during the Battle 205 basketball showcase last year. On a given night, Jaylen is a double-digit scorer for the Blue Devils. This young woman has a strong desire to get to the hoop and create plays. She is incredibly diverse with her passing and gets every teammate on the floor engaged, and 9 times out of 10, she finds an open player for a really excellent assist. Jaylen scans the court very well. Her ability to pass the ball and create plays is incredible. Her mindset is to dominate every play on both sides. She approaches every move on both sides of the ball with the aggressive mindset of dominating it and finishing where she began. Even though the majority of the offers this year have come from junior schools, this young woman has been getting a lot of attention. I think any four-year university would benefit greatly from having her, and I’m along for the ride.
Lani Smallwood Lani Smallwood 5'7" | CG Susan Moore | 2026 AL , 5’4 G, C/O 2026
All I can say is “Rising Star”! A breakout star at Susan Moore High School, her name is Lani Smallwood Lani Smallwood 5'7" | CG Susan Moore | 2026 AL . She is a guard in the class of 2026, and Lipscomb University and Jacksonville State University have each sent two offers to her. Lani is a stunning athlete who plays the game with the maturity of a veteran player. Lani has experience in all areas, including dribbling, shooting, rebounding, assisting, and much more. This young lady is extremely talented and knows how to direct her teammates into the right areas to open up the court or even to pass out for an open shot. It does the game of basketball so much good to understand how she plays. Lani is already on course to become one of Alabama’s top basketball players in the coming years.