Twisters Spin Through Alodia Showcase

ACEY POWELL

The weather didn’t look good for the Alodia Prime Time Rising Stars Showcase and the area was under a tornado watch on Friday. That storm passed over for the rest of the weekend however the tournament was still invaded by some twisters. I’m talking about the Gulf Coast Twisters, a team from Alabama with a couple of players from Florida. Their players range from the 2014 class all the way down to the 2018 class and when I say players, I mean players.

 SHAMINA HUNTER

When I say the game starts at the one, I mean it and Acey Powell (2014) simply took over at will in some games. This gifted speedster showed me she could do a little bit everything as she not only attacked the basket at will while finishing after taking any lick thrown at her, her ball handling and outside shooting were with the top guards from the tournament. She and fellow Floridian Shamina Hunter (2014) provided pressure defense against opponents, I’m sure this is the same type of heat they bring in high school as they both play on the same team in Florida

                                                                          

                                                                                             

This team had a little bit of everything with players standing close to 6’0 like Christian Andrews (2014) and Diamond Leatherwood (2015). Then they had a couple of players who are from the 2014 class that were over 6’0, Zoya Blossom, above, and Katherine Skipwith.

                                                                                       

Skipwith,above, showed she can take over in the paint and has good hands to go along with a solid ready for the next level body right now, while Blossom may just blossom into a big time player as well as she’s long and athletic and they great thing about is that they have tremendous upside remaining

                                                                                                                          

Frenecia Craig (2015) is a freshman that showed tremendous promise for the future while Mary Henderson and Alisha Lee, above, round out the Twisters super sophomores that show they have the ability and desire to do whatever it takes to get there. It’s always good to get my radar at a young age and I’m adding Ja’Quina Webster #24, and Markia Winbush #23, both 2017 players and Robin Jacobs (2018) who is almost 5’9 to my middle school “Rising Stars” watch list.

                                

 Coach Kelvin Thornton was nice enough to bring his team down for the tournament, he’s a no nonsense type of coach that knows his players and how to get and keep them motivated. It was a pleasure not only meeting him but to witness first hand his exciting team that is full of next level players you will be hearing about. I believe I’ll see the Gulf Coast Twisters again in New Orleans so I can observe their progression over the next two months. The magic of social networking at its best