FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Skill development and increasing basketball IQ is what Adrian Penland does on a daily basis while training basketball players in North Georgia. This year, Penland introduced the inaugural #APBShowcase which is designed to improve basketball acumen as well provide an exposure platform for girls basketball players in the North Georgia area. Every player there was evaluated for the JumpOffPlus.com, a scouting service that is used by nearly 200 schools nationwide. Here is a look back at the standouts from this showcase.

Kaitlyn Duncan (Commerce, Ga.), Banks County – 2015

In previous evaluations Duncan earned a reputation as a versatile forward who brings several tools to the floor to help her team win. She is an active defender and rebounder on both ends of the floor. At 6 feet 1 she brings enough length to affect the game on the interior, however she is agile enough to defend the arc. Today she showed a new layer of her offensive repertoire as she acted as a facilitator and set up her teammates with pin-point passes. She gave her verbal commitment to Furman shortly after this showcase. She will provide coach Jackie Carson and the Lady Paladins versatility from the forward spot that could earn her playing time early on in Greenville, S.C.

Breanna Locke (Flowery Branch, Ga.), Flowery Branch – 2016

Much like Duncan in this setting, Locke brings versatility to the floor. As one of the taller players on the court today, Locke was able to exert her will as a post scorer in the lane. She exhibits effective body control and touch even with a defender on her hip. Locke is currently a three-star prospect because of her ability to face-up, coupled with her interior presence. She is talented enough to score the ball with a jump shot and handle the ball on the wing. Because of her skill set, Locke could be asked to play any one of the five positions for either her high school or club team. Long term, we project Locke as a combo-forward who will use her 5-11 frame to gain an advantage in a number of ways.

AROUND THE RIM

♦ Class of 2015 guard Riley Chlupacek of Tiger, Ga., makes shots. The 5-7 combo guard has no shortage of confidence when she is beyond the arc. This is for good reason as she shoots a very high percentage when she has a clean look at the rim.

♦ We got our first look at class of 2017 point guard Taylor Hawks of Gainesville, Ga. today. The talented left-handed point guard handled herself with confidence and exerted her will as either a scorer or passer.

♦ Coach Ken Huffman is doing a fine job of helping Hope Forrester of Jefferson, Ga., develop. The class of 2017 post player has a number of physical tools that will make her a recruitable athlete in the future. She shows flashes of putting her physical tools together with her skill. Follow @JLHemingwayPSB