After anxiously anticipating the arrival of Elite75 Prep’s 1st Annual Girl’s Evaluation Camp, it finally arrived with abounding success. The camp kicked off at 9:00 am at Olympic High School in Charlotte, North Carolina with Coach Eric Short providing the girls with John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success.” Coach Short also gave the girls inspirational words to encourage their further development to become successful at any all endeavors whether basketball or not. After this the camp officially began. Coaches broke kids out into stations to perform various drills. After the drills the games began.
ELITE 75 PREP GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL SHOWCASE EVENT (Players that attended)
HOLLI CHANDLER 2012New London Middle School New London, North Carolina
ISABEL BERNAL 2012JN Fries Middle School Concord, North Carolina
SHELBY WINCHESTER 2012Stanley Middle School Stanley, North Carolina
TIFFANY MITCHELL 2012Providence Day School Charlotte, North Carolina
OLIVA PARKER 2012Piedmont Open Middle Charlotte, North Carolina
TIERA BURKS 2012Smith Acadmey School Charlotte, North Carolina
TASHAUN STEWART 2012Porter Ridge Middle Monroe, North Carolina
AMBER NEELY 2012Kennedy Middle School Charlotte, North Carolina
SARAH BEAL 2012Crestdale Middle Charlotte, North Carolina
AJA YOUNG 2012Southwest Middle School High Point, North Carolina
ALYAH KILPATRICK 2012Albemarle Road Middle Charlotte, North Carolina
CAILAN HOWEY 2012Providence Day School Charlotte, North Carolina
BRIANA MCCRUIE 2011Kannapolis Middle School Kannapolis, North Carolina
AMARA MAYERS 2011Monrovia Middle School Huntsville, Alabama
CIERRA BURDICK 2011Carmel Middle School Charlotte, North Carolina
ALEX GUIRAUD 2011Mill Creek Middle School Catawba, North Carolina
JAZMINE CHARLES 2011North Davidson Middle Lexington, North Carolina
MAE MAE DUNOVANT 2011Northeast Middle School Charlotte, North Carolina
SAMOLIA MCKENNEY 2011Alexander Middle School Huntersville, North Carolina
STEPHANIE TAYLOR 2011Sun Valley Middle School Stallings, North Carolina
CHAYLIA COLEMAN 2011Albemarle Road Middle Charlotte, North Carolina
ALI LANE 2011 Holy Trinity School Charlotte, North Carolina
MASON JEFFERIES 2011Alexander Graham MiddleCharlotte, North Carolina
JASMINE SUYDAM 2011Randolph Middle School Charlotte, North Carolina
TOMESHA MURRAY 2011 James Martin Middle School Charlotte, North Carolina
Day 1 Recap
Game I:
Game I began the highly anticipated match-up of two of the most prolific point-guards in Girls Middle School, Tiffany Mitchell and Mae-Mae Dunovant. Tiffany Mitchell, the leading scorer of this game effortlessly dropped 20 points and Mae-Mae Dunovant not to be outdone, dropped a resounding 18 points herself. Tiffany further mesmerized the crowd when she shot a beautiful long-range 3-point jumper. She continued to exemplify her skills as a point-guard by unselfishly engaging each member of her team. Mae-Mae Dunovant showed poise at the one and further solidified everyone’s opinion that she is more than ready to take on the rigorous challenge of playing and excelling on the high school level next year. Mae-Mae Dunovant also showed her ability to hit open jump shots when needed, controlled the offense like a veteran, and constantly kept her teammates involved. Although the point-guard position was exciting to watch the post players, Cierra Burdick, 6’2”and Chaylia Coleman, 6’ 4” also dazzled the crowds with abilities far beyond their years. While these two young ladies have vastly different styles of play, they are both equally equipped to get the job done. After adding 12 points to the scoreboard, Cierra Burdick has proven that she isn’t a one-dimensional player and can play whatever position that her team needs her to step into. When watching Cierra Burdick move fluidly up and down the court she reminds you of the legendary Candace Parker. Once she adds that 10-15 foot jumper she will be virtually unstoppable. Because of her amazing footwork Chaylia Coleman helped top put the icing on the cake by adding 14 points to the final score. Chaylia Coleman came into the gym and immediately made her presence felt by letting everyone know that she isn’t afraid to go to the rack and will call for the ball in any given situation. She dares anyone to come into her territory because she’s either blocking everything that comes through the lane on defense and every rebound that comes off the block is being slammed back in with “nothing but net!” The final score for Game 1 was 50 to 49.
Game II
The excitement continued to flow as we began Game II. There were many breakout players during the game but the leading scorer of this game was Samolia Kennedy who took the reins of her team and effortlessly dropped 26 points. This game highlighted many unsung players such as Mason Jefferies of Charlotte, NC (Alexander Graham), Amara Mayers of Huntsville, Alabama, Jasmine Charles of Lexington, NC, and Allie Lane of Charlotte, NC(Holy Trinity).
Jasmine Charles exhibited a high basketball IQ on the court. There was also Allie Lane that controlled the offense for team 3 by demonstrating uncanny leadership qualities for someone so young as she helped to lead her team to their marginal victory of 65-35. Team 4 had many stars however two bright stars that stood out were Aja Young of High Point NC and Tiera Burks of Charlotte, NC. Aja Young hustled extremely hard trying to help bring her team to victory. Although her team didn’t win she perservered through the entire game keeping her team’s spirits up never allowing them to quit. For her erfforts she dropped 13 points.
Tiera Burks shone also by being a strong rebounder and also continuously remained persistent throughout the game.
Game III
During game 3 both teas came back after the break and continued to play proficiently. Team I however, dominated the game and walked away with a 17 point victory. Final score 57-40. The outstanding players for this game were as follows:
•Olivia Parker
•Jasmine Suydam
•Amber Neely
Game IV
The game of the day proved to be a tenacious display of basketball prowess. Each team seemed to be determined to bring forth their best skills culminating in one of the best games that we’ve seen at this level. The final score of this game was 49-48 which proves that each team was determined to pull out a “W”.
With this game we were given the opportunity to witness two of the best shooters that we’ve ever had the privilege to see, Mason Jefferies & Allie Lane.
All of the ladies that attended the event today played very well, and we look foward to watching DAY 2
Some other observations that were highly anticipated was the post and rebounding of Stephanie Taylor of Indian Trail, North Carolina. With the early games and towards the afternoon, Stephanie Taylor showed post moves and was able to stick the put backs, to help her team gain points. Another guard that hustled from DAY 1 lecture to walking to the parking lot and head home was Holli Chandler of New London, North Carolina. All camp she helped her team by making the extra pass, and helping speed up the momentum of her teammates. Also was a shocker was the young guard skills of Tashaun Stewart of Monroe, North Carolina, who used her body well to get by older defender and was able to handle the ball and bring it up for her team.
Tashaun Stewart of Monroe, NC
Versitle players were also seen in DAY 2 and DAY. A noticable player was Alex Guiraud of Catawba, North Carolina, who was able to play the wing and was also able to post on the elbow for the spin move. In DAY 1 who we were led to be a guard but we caught catching rebounds and in the paint area on ocassion was Briana McCurie of Kannapolis, NC was very strong in both areas.
Camp Competition Winners
3pt Contest Winners:
Tiffany Mitchell of Charlotte, NC
Jazmine Charles of Lexington, NC
Skills Contest Winners:
Tiffany Mitchell of Charlotte, NC
Aja Young of High Point, NC
The Elite 75 staff throughout the whole camp was impressed with the overall talent and success of the event. Like camp staff told many, it would be very hard to pick an overall MVP out of this group of young phenoms, because at any given moment a different player was making huge plays. I believe even the college coach in the gym caught many of these girls excelling in the drills and looking sharp. After evaluating the talent and play of all the girls at this event, there is no question that in the near future many of us will be hearing about all these developing young players. We first like to start our thanks to our Elite 75 Prep Girls Event and summer Director Eric Short and Co-Director Amanda Short for another solid event. Many my not know, but Coach Short was our very first Boys Elite Showcase Director in 2005 and a year ago had a massive heart complication, but through his fight and his grace to work with kids and basketball, he is still striving and able to help young developing students of the game.We would like to thank Coaches Garrie Burks, Tim Fields, Ernest Kilpatrick, Clerance Stewart, Darryl Stewart, and Vince Jacobs for their girls basketball expertise. We would alsolike to give a huge thanks to the Charlotte Queen City Jewels for working with Elite 75 Prep to make the event. Also thanks to the Charlotte Lady Phoenix for there support. Big thanks to Peach State Hoops Brandon Clay and his NC editor Clyde Pritchett. Please fill free to check out a short version of our event report that goes out to other scouting services and coaches
Scouting Notations and Reports
C.Canty- Elite 75 Prep Senior Staff
J. Davis- Elite 75 Prep Senior Staff
Girls Event Director Coach Eric Short
Day 2 Recap
Day 2 started off right were we left off from Day 1. The day started off with a motivational lecture from Head Coach Jenny Yopp of Queens University. Coach Yopp expressed the value of basketball and motivated the girls to strive on and off the court. Then the day kicked off with some more intense drill work. Then the teams that did not match up yesterday began to battle to start the first set of games. Within DAY 2 camp sleepers started to shine and break thru the chains from DAY 1. A solid performance came from extreme fundamental play from such players Alayha Kilpatrick of Charlotte, North Carolina who had showed solid play in Day 1 and continued thru Day 2, a nice size guard who can handle and pull up for the jump shots when needed to pull her team up. Shelby Winchester of Stanley, North Carolina and Cailan Howey of Charlotte, North Carolina showed understanding of the game the entire camp, these guards showed posie and played well into DAY 2. Isabel Bernal of Concord, North Carolina continue to impress us with her hustle and relentless drives to the basket. A scrappy floor runner who can dish it off to post players in the paint if she gets stuck.
Coach Yopp motivates players
Queens University Coach Jenny Yopp speaks to players
Tiffany Mitchell of Charlotte NC
Jasmine Charles of Lexington, NC
2011 Camp MVP
2012 Camp MVP
Jasmine proved consistently throughout the whole weekend how basic fundamentals, work ethic, athleticism go a long way. From the skills stations on Day 1 you saw the work ethic was in place. She also does the little things that box scores don't reflect. The term "total package"
comes to mind when describing her skills.
The Showcase could be described in many ways, but when the words tenacious, crafty, and smooth are mentioned I can only think of Tiffany Mitchell. Tiffany crafty drives and tenacious defense excited all this weekend. Great things are in her future...
Camp Directors Eric Short and Amanda Short after a long thought process pick camp MVP's and give their comments
New London Middle School New London, North Carolina
