2012 Tennessee Turkey Jamm Recap

The day after Thanksgiving, I drove up to Murfreesboro to attend the Girl Powher Showcases Tennessee Turkey Jamm. I've attended this event every year since it started right here in our back yard at Central High School. I felt there was no need to stop now. I'm always impressed to see the talent level of the players and teams participating in this event.


I only wish more Memphis area teams were able to attend. During the two days, I was surrounded by every major high school girls basketball scout, evaluator, and media source that I know of Dan Olson of Girls Basketball Report, Bret McCormick of All Star Girls Report, Kenny Kalina and Bob Corwin of Girls Basketball Insider, Mark Lewis and Prentice Beverly of Blue Star Media, Leslie Toole of Mississippi Girls Basketball Report and Brandon Clay of Peach State Basketball.

I can not leave out the college coaches representing their programs that were also in attendance including Memphis, Rutgers, East Carolina, Lipscomb, MTSU, Old Dominion and more.

Participating in this event was definitely an opportunity for a high school coach to get exposure for their players and team. 

Hall (AR)

Since this summer, I've been hearing the name Tyler Scaife from Halls in Arkansas.  She recently announced that she will be attending Rutgers in the fall. This young lady was worth the trip. One of the first things I noticed about her, was her passion. She plays hard, she makes facial expression and when she make a mistake, she hustles and continues to play.  Her skill level was definitely above the rest of the players on the court and she plays with much ease. She has long arms which she uses to deflect passes, to make great passes herself and to perform her monster around the back move with the ball. She is quick with the ball and in anticipating for the steal.


When you first walk into a Hall game, you may not even notice Scaife, because your focus will take you to her 6'5 teammate, Katelyn Weber. She is also a senior. She's not a fast player but she is huge. She understands her role of rebounding the ball and getting it out to the ball handler.


Central (TN)

Central is one of the original teams of this event and it was nice to see the squad continue to participate although they are no longer the host school. The team has lost much talent to graduations but don't let that fool you. Senior Nina Davis, who is heading to 2012 NCAA Champs Baylor in the fall, is expected to be the primary weapon, however, she is surrounded by role players who should not be taken lightly.


It was great to see Tia Wooten (2014) back from knee injury. She looks like she is adjusting to being back on the court. She's still has her athleticism and loves to shoot the ball from the short corner area.


Woodale (TN)

I was really impressed with Teresa Mays (2013) performance. She has one of the purest and nice looking jump shots.  She also demonstrated her ability to be a play maker for team mates and creating to get them open shots.

Kairneisha "Shay" Trent (2014) put on a nice performance with 19 points and 10 rebounds. This is an extremely gifted athlete. She is around 5'9 and plays in the post. She has freakish agile abilities to slash and get by defenders and she loves to do her up-and-under combo move when she gets cut off.
Once she realizes the kind of athletic abilities and basketball talents she possess, like she showed during the 2013 Fall Exposure League , double-double performances will be a regular thing for her.


H.W. Byers (MS)

This is one of the most defensively aggressive teams I've seen in awhile. They are going to press, press, press and press. They have small, quick, strong looking guards, who can defend and score. They include seniors Precious Rodgers, Shadea Nolan and junior Richenda Crutcher. They also have a rebounding machine in senior Madison McCreless.

Extra, Extra

Blue Star evaluators were in attendance and had this to say about a couple of Memphis players. Link to article

 

Baylor bound Nina Davis of Memphis Central is now carrying the load for Coach Niki Bray.  The 6-1 swing player seems to be embracing the role in a quiet but effective manner.  After a stellar summer playing the forward spot for the Tennessee Flight, Davis  is offering up some diverse play from the wing and in the paint.  She won’t be taking over at the point any time soon but the ballhandling is there to create from the high post or off the entry in transition.  Her floater may look like wishful thinking but it’s an efficient and consistent weapon.  The perimeter shot has come a long, long way and still has much fine tuning to be done but it’s starting to look like something that can at least keep folks honest.  Finishing in traffic and around the rim is something Davis does as well as anyone and even better is her willingness to take a hit and go to the line.  On defense her versatility is a coach’s dream both in pressing situations or matching up in the half court.

Memphis Central – Tia Wooten (2014 – 5-11 forward) is looking lean, fit and fully recovered from her knee injury.

Wooddale – Unsigned senior Teresa Mays (2013 – 5-7 point) had some strong play.  What level could be determined as the year goes on