Winter Jam 6th Grade Tip Sheet (2027)

I love watching young talent and the younger ones I caught throughout the Winter Jam definitely had me on my game because many of them are already on theirs. The Lady Lions defeated Oklahoma Xtreme in a nailbiter to win the championship and to tell you how tough it was, Xtreme defeated Lady Showtime by a basket just to get there so did I catch any next-level players in this division and the answer is “yes I did” but I also caught many on the verge of breaking out and with my numerous years of evaluating talent combined with me “knowing what I’m talking about” at this age, you never count anyone out so to all throughout the event, keep working because I’m going to keep watching, here are some of the standouts

2027

Amelia McGee-5’4 G (Lady Lions)

McGee is long and athletic and her ability to attack and finish strongly, after contact included is just one of the things that stood out. She creates her shot, she has a nice pull-up jumper, the release is smooth and fluid and her full-court defense is smothering. She rebounded on both ends of the floor, she handled the ball in the open court and she saw the floor

Lyric Gillispie-5’4 F (Lady Lions)

Gillispie is so powerful that it’s scary at this stage, she goes hard on both ends, and watching her set the defensive player up to take off the dribble or drain the jumper, mid to long-range is pretty impressive because it’s how she does it, naturally. She’s an and one waiting to happen, she can rebound and go coast to coast, yes she handles the ball under pressure, yes she sees the floor

Camille Mason-5’3 G (Lady Lions)

Mason is athletic and under control, that’s good yet watching her “battle” takes it to a different level and she falls into the “never takes a play off” type of player which is something you can’t teach. She does a good job defending as well playing the passing lane, has good speed, can handle the ball in the open court, and has a very good upside

Jaed Jones (Oklahoma Extreme)

Jones is an explosive guard that can leave defenders standing and she finishes not only after contact but acrobatically and in the above picture, you get an idea about her athleticism, she goes hard on both ends so factor not only does she attack, she can set defenders up by creating her shot for the pull-up jumper and she plays the passing lane

Kyleigh Shaw (Oklahoma Extreme)

Shaw is, drumroll please, long and athletic and for those of you who don’t pay attention or haven’t heard this before, that’s the base I start with on several players because it fits the profiles most colleges look for. Solid skill set and good upside, she understands how to get position in the paint, she rebounds, she defends, showed she could finish and has good upside

Mya Patton (Oklahoma Extreme)

Patton falls into that old saying I hate “you can’t teach size” and I had to amend to “if you can play” and she is definitely showing signs of being a force inside the paint. She has good hands, good footwork, and understands how and when to switch as well as finish around the rim. She also doesn’t mind the physicality, either giving or taking

Cally Walker-G (ORB 2027)

Walker handles the ball well, this includes under pressure and she showed both in the open and half court settings. She’s heady, understands the game and plays solid defense, throw in her hands, she was able to time and steal a few times

Abby Phillips-F (ORB 2027)

Phillips is strong and athletic, that too is a base because she rebounds with power, on both ends of the court and she doesn’t mind battling, again, this is something that can’t be taught. She also showed she could finish after contact, good upside

Jhazmyn Herron (Oklahoma Extreme)

Herron just took me back with her defense as she actually enjoys playing it and watching her hustle back on D as well as hustle for loose balls just kept going but to not get it twisted, she showed me she create her shot while being defended and shoot the jumper, her release is fluid and quick and speaking of quick, her first step enables her to get to the rim with ease

Janaya McCrary-4’11 G (OYG Superstars 2026)

McCrary is athletic, understands how to create her shot under pressure and attack the basket where she finished after contact

Camari Laymack-5’2 G (OYG Superstars 2026)

Laymack was laid back as she set defenders up nicely. What helped, even more, is she understands how to create her shot, she knocked down the long ball so they couldn’t give her much room and if the defense tightened up, she attacked the basket

Ava Bain-5’2 G (Kingston Redskins)

Bain showed a nice pull-up jumper as well as attacking the basket strongly, and finishing after contact. Good upside, she plays within herself and understands how to get hers in the flow

Coby Davis -5’0 PG (Kingston Redskins)

Davis falls into the “size don’t matter” category because she plays bigger than her listed size, case and point, she rebounds against taller opponents, much of that is due to her understanding how to get position, that as well as desire and she also finishes on put backs, plus she’s athletic

Natalie Barrett-5’9 SF (DC Queens 2027 Royal)

Barrett is long and athletic, you know what that means and she’s active on both ends but not only does she bring energy, especially on defense where she plays the passing lane well, she can attack and finish after contact

Gabriella Whisenant-5’3 G (DC Queens 2027 Royal)

Whisenant is athletic, handles the ball under pressure and also creates her shot, under pressure as well. She under strands how to attack the rim while being defended and showed she could hit the outside shot

Paige Fulmer (Lady Showtime)

Fulmer brings size to go along with “long and athletic” but her timing was one of the best at the event and with her length, she blocked, deflected and altered shots not mention the fact that she finished consistently. Add also she can create her shot under pressure and nail it, under pressure, this includes mid to long range and her pull-up jumper …

Savanah Switch (Lady Showtime)

Switch is fast, with the ball and her ballhandling combined with speed and athleticism enabled her to maneuver in the open court. I loved watching her push the ball, she was under control and made the right passes yet her ability to see the floor was definitely included when she had to slow the tempo down and run sets and she has the right name because she can SWITCH gears with the blink of an eye

I’Leeya Combs (Lady Showtime)

Combs used her athleticism nicely, whether it was battling on the inside for rebounds, on both ends of the floor and applying heat on the defensive end. She also attacked the basket strongly and finished after contact

2028

Justice Woods-5’1 PG (Lady Lions)

Woods runs the 1 like a seasoned veteran already, she’s playing up and before it’s over she’ll be up, up and away because she can handle the ball under pressure and make pinpoint passes to her teammates, she doesn’t get flustered with the double-team and she just plays with so much poise on both ends. She also creates her shot and can attack and finish after contact

Khloe Smith-5’3 G (Lady Lions)

Smith just brings energy galore, she reads the offense well while on defense and vice versa but she can slice through the defense and get to the basket sometimes effortlessly and when she gets there, her body control is ahead of her years which enables her to finish strongly or set up an “and one” situation. Nice upside

Taylie Wiebener-5’3 PF (Kingston Redskins)

Wieberner is young and has pull-up jumper already, that got me right there and watching her create her shot playing up and knocking down the midrange was definitely impressive but she also can attack off the dribble and finish