Deja Faulkner, Justice Martin, Shandricka Sessom shines at Adidas Memorial Tournament

Prentice Beverly of FullCourt.com was in Franklin, TN at the Adidas Memorial Showdown tournament to check out the talented young ladies participating. He was impressed with a couple of Mid-South players including Middleton High's Deja Faulkner, H.W. Byer's Justice Martin and  Byhalia High's Shandricka Sessom.

 Check out the evaluation:

 Deja Faulkner 6-0, Team Po Po 14U, 2015

 If you're looking for an athletic all-around player that plays the game the way it is supposed to be played, then the 6-0 Faulkner is your prospect. She has a solid body with long arms that take up space in the lane. Faulkner plays a very aggressive game at both ends of the court. She has a nice low-post game and finishes well in the paint or gets to the line where she is a good free-throw shooter. Faulkner also showed that she has a smooth face-up game. She used her long arms and good leaping ability to dominate the boards and push the ball up the floor. Defensively, Faulkner defended the low post and perimeter extremely well with a fearless, reckless abandon, blocking several shots. Faulkner has a tremendous upside a BCS caliber prospect.

Justice Martin 5-10, Mississippi Glory Holly Springs, MS, 2013
Martin has a college-ready body and the competitive fire to go along with her versatile game. From tipoff to the final horn Martin was constantly on the attack. Offensively she used her ball handling skills to create space to knock down the three pointers.  In the half court sets Martin was a beast in the low post scoring using a variety of moves which included a nice up-and-under and some well-timed spin moves. She used her face up game to stroke several mid-range jumpers as well attack off the dribble.  Defensively, Martin defended on the block quite well holding off taller opposing players. She also showed the ability to defend on the perimeter.  Martin did a great job communicating at both ends of the court. Martin has a nice game with DI talent.

Shandricka Sessom 5-9, Mississippi Glory Byhlia, MS, 2014

While walking from court to court looking for a game to watch I received a tip from a friend to stop and checkout number 3 from the Mississippi Glory and honestly it was more than a tip. Number 3 turned out to be Shandricka Sessom, an extremely athletic guard with the ability to play multiple positions. She is a sleeper BCS prospect with the total package. Sessom's game reminds me of a young Tamika Catchings all the way down to her athletic frame. Sessom played with a motor that wouldn't quit, wasn't afraid to dive for loose balls and she ran the floor like a gazelle. Sessom was really smooth handling the rock in transition with a nice change-of-direction dribble. She showed off her well- rounded game posting up, attacking off the bounce, facing up and knocking down the mid-range jumper. Sessom was just as comfortable on the wing; she used her ball handling skills and nice spin move to score in the paint. She has a really soft touch from 10 to 22 feet. Sessom rebounded really well, grabbing the ball from its highest point. Defensively, Sessom creates havoc for opposing players by jumping the passing lanes and either finishing off the break or creating for her teammates. She is an excellent on-ball defender and showed the ability to defend multiple positions. Sessom has the rare trait of being a super athletic with a fundamentally sound game. She is truly the total package.

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2012 Tennessee Signings

Click here for 2012 TN Signings provided by HoopsPlus

Click here for 2012 Memphis Signings

Lady Tar Heels seeking 2nd-4th graders for Fall Basketball

FOR ANY 2ND-4TH GRADE GIRLS THAT'S INTERESTED.

WE ARE MEETING AT ARTHUR HALLE STADIUM ON TUESDAY 6/5 AT 6:45pm.

PLEASE COME PREPARE TO DO SOME CONDITIONING.

LADY TAR HEELS
COACH RACHEL DORSEY
901.265.2297

Memphis Girls Basketball Off Season: 5 Jump Rope Drills to Improve Quickness

Quick Feet

While this isn't the most exciting variation of jump roping, it's perhaps the most important. You will simply start with both feet on the ground at the same time while you're turning the rope as quickly as you possibly can. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of this drill. This is a great starting point if you aren't able to currently jump rope and if you are a master you can always work at improving your quickness.

Lateral Quick Feet

This variation is the exact same as the above drill except you're going to move side to side instead of just up and down. This will help improve your ability to move laterally. This is a great starting point for improving the foot/ankle complex to control stability (balance and control) while being quick.

Ali Shuffle

With this drill you will start with your feet staggered (one foot forward and one foot backward). You will then jump up and switch the feet so that you now have your other foot forward. Continue in this pattern working at contacting the ground at the same time with both feet.
The Ali shuffle will help greatly with learning to recover with one foot forward (much like defense).

Hurdle Step

Start with one leg off the ground with the knee up toward waist height. You will hold that leg up and in position while hopping up and down on the other foot.
This drill is great for improving single-leg power and elasticity. Make sure you start with shorter times (or fewer reps) with this drill as the stress on the lower leg is MUCH higher than the double leg versions listed above. Too much single-leg jump roping can cause shin splints!

Lateral Hurdle Step

This is exactly the same as above except you are jumping side to side while on the one leg. This is very challenging as it incorporates stability in the foot/ankle complex.

Get the Bonus Exercise from IHoops

Patosha Jeffery offering 2 June Mini Camps

Saturdays, June 9, 2012 & June 16, 2012
@ Ridgeway Baptist Church Christian Life Center
2500 Ridgeway Rd, Memphis, TN 38119-7499

• Train with Patosha Jeffery and staff for 1 hour
• Prepare for school or local team try out or season
• Develop dribbling, passing, shooting, & agility skills
• $35 per camp or $50 for both camps
• Get Patosha Jeffery Basketball TShirt if you attend both camps
  ONLY TAKING 30 PLAYERS PER SESSION--REGISTER NOW
• For players 10 year old and up
• Players grouped together based on skill level
• Half court drills, Full court drills & Games
• Begin @ 10:00am - 11:00am
  
  
  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

2012 Harding Academy Team Camp Schedule

Harding Academy Team Camp Schedule 2012

2012 Adidas Memorial Showdown Schedule

Adidas Memorial Showdown May 26-28, 2012 Franklin, TN

Memorial girl schedule(1)

Erin Grant joins Memphis Women's Basketball Staff

Erin Grant, a four-year letterwinner at Texas Tech from 2002-06, will join the University of Memphis women's basketball coaching staff, head coach Melissa McFerrin announced Wednesday. The former point guard still holds the Texas Tech and Big 12 Conference career assists record (844) and will oversee the development of the Tigers' perimeter players.

"Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and very high-level experiences to the University of Memphis," McFerrin said. "As an elite level point guard at Texas Tech and in the WNBA, she understands the game from the players' perspective. She played for an outstanding high school coach and for a Hall of Fame coach in Marsha Sharp at Texas Tech. She acquired her knowledge of the game from some of the game's very best.

"She has high-level recruiting and coaching experience from her time in Texas and New Mexico and is a dynamic, charismatic and confident personality. She really is the complete package and will be a great addition to our staff."

Read complete www.GoTigersGo.com news release

2012 Wildcat Memorial Showdown Schedule

CLICK HERE

Amber Dunlap signs with Kent State

image from Southwest TN Community College Athletics site

Amber Dunlap, a transfer from Southwest Tennessee Community College who will be immediately eligible for competition, led her team with 14.5 points, 3.4 assists and two steals per game this past season and was also named first team all-conference. Prior to arriving at Southwest, the daughter of Yolanda George and Latheyal Dunlap averaged 11.6 points per game in her senior season at Bolton High School.

 "Amber is a high quality addition to our Kent State family because she is a skilled scorer and playmaker," said O'Banion. "She brings with her two years of college basketball experience which will help her quickly contribute to our on-court success. We are fortunate to welcome her to the Flash family this spring."

Read complete Kent State article

2012 Rage on the River Schedule

Rage on the River should be a must see event this weekend. Featuring teams from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas including Arkansas Mavericks, Arkansas Mystics, DFW Elite, Memphis Bobcats, Mississippi Glory, Team Memphis Elite, Team Po Po, Tennessee Glory, Tri State Elite, Olive Branch YMCA Elite, and UR Elite.

2012 Rage on the River Schedule SEC Div (17U)

2012 rage on_the_river_schedule_14_u

Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite “Taxi” Varsity Maize/Black-White

Louis Vuitton Sunglasses Spring/Summer 2012

Air Jordan VII GS ‘Gold Medal’

Air Jordan VII Gold Medal
Retro Black/Metallic Gold-Sail

Inaugural Hi-C Leage a Success

The inaugural Hi-C League was a great success. Six 6/7th grade teams and six 8-10th grade teams competed in the event. The competition was awesome. Most games were won by less than 4 points.  Each team was guaranteed an opportunity to go to championship regardless of their record.

The Tar Heels fell to Team Memphis Elite-Little (TME) in the semifinals of the 6/7 grade division and The Way lost to OB Elite. 6/7th championship was OB Elite vs TME with TME winning the division. The 8/9th division was won by The Lady Tar Heels. Great job ladies and keep working.

The HI-C league will be holding a 3-week league starting June 1. The cost will be $100 and there will be a round robin one day tournament at the end of the league.  Contact Rachel Dorsey at 901-265-2297 for more information.

Rachell Hughes, Kelsie Torry signs with Mid-South Community College

Arkela Ware-Jones signs with Fisk University

Premier Basketball Report recognizes Memphis players

Premier Basketball Report is a basketball scouting and recruiting service based out of Texas that helps connect high school girls’ basketball players with college scouts from around the country. They have released their 2013, 2014 and 2015 Watch List and several Memphis area players are on the list.

2013:

Name                  Class.             School.              Club

Nina Davis.           2013             Central.              Flight
Janeka Williams.   2013               East.                 Tri-City Elite
Odegua Oigbokie  2013         Memphis Elite       Ridgeway

2014:

Jasmine Cincore    2014    Team Tenn. Glory      Briarcrest
Ashley Jackson     2014    Team Tenn. Glory      Ridgeway
Tia Wooten            2014     Out due to injury        Central

2015:

Victoria Lewis        2015      Team Tenn. Glory       MHEA
Kaylan Pugh          2015               ?                      St. Mary's

College Coaches at USA Sports Elite Hoop Camp

Unsigned Seniors

This Saturday from 4:30-7:00pm several JUCO and NAIA coaches will be in attendance at the USA Sports Elite Hoop Camp at the Whitehaven YMCA. Contact Coach Torriel at 901-859-4051 for more information.

Pat and Tyler Summitt fight Alzheimer's together

With everything going on in his life, Tyler Summitt says he has not had time to think about his graduation next week from the University of Tennessee.

But worry not, he says, laughing: "I ordered my cap and gown just in time." The son and only child of legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt is coming to terms with an illness millions of children and loved ones before him have had to face: a brain-wasting disease that robs people of their memory and other cognitive skills. Summitt, 59 — the all-time winningest basketball coach, man or woman — has early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Read complete USA Today story