Brazos Valley Elite wins 2017 Prime Time Nationals 11/12th Grade Division
PLANO, Texas- Brazos Valley Elite definitely came to this year’s Prime Time Nationals with an eye on making a run in the 11/12th Grade Division and they left with not only becoming the 2017 Prime Time Nationals Champion from that division but also the first team from the Brazos Valley area to accomplish that which sort of caught me off guard because I’ve seen some very talented groups but in retrospect, let me add one of many old sayings, talent is everywhere and this team definitely had some of it floating around all over the event. Keoundra Eddings simply went completely off in the finals and you know what that means, we’ll come back to her on the HS Tip Sheet.
Loved Maniya Scott and Talia Griffin, both are long and athletic and definitely attacked well. Scott played the passing lane so well while Scott rebounded on both ends. Angie Shorter plays even taller than what she is, pun intended, but “ups” and desire as well as timing definitely are tools for the next level and I guess great post up moves and that “turnaround” in the paint doesn’t hurt and speaking of paint, Lakeisha Jones has “beast” like capability because she’s powerful, finishes and rebounds strong and is hard to contain but this was a complete team effort and so many pieces had to be filled for the puzzle to work , Tianna Mathis and Thomya Lockett truly played their parts well
Maliah Jedkins did some dazzling handling the ball in traffic plus she has quick hands and that first step can definitely create some issues but the guard play in the championship game sealed the victory because if you apply pressure, you better be able to take it and they did a good job of doing both with Drake or Gucci Man. The energy from Kaliah Bookman just kept everything going in fact she had some momentum changing plays on Sunday and let say this, I love the upside of Deondra Young, athletic, over 6’0 and is so active around the basket and you really can’t teach that. She rebounds and finishes but more importantly, she goes after everything